The Research Experience for Undergraduates program, formerly called the Summer Undergraduate Research Program, began in 2001 in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at the University of Virginia. The program sponsored 6 participants in the summer of 2001; 13 in 2002; 10 in 2003; 12 in 2004; and 17 during our current 2005 season.

The program provides an extensive, hands-on research experience for undergraduate engineering students in cutting-edge engineering research laboratories. Primary support comes through a Research Experience for Undergraduates grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). Further REU program support is provided by the University of Virginia's NSF-sponsored Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC): The Center for Nanoscopic Material Design.

The program exposes students to first-class technical research under the direction of faculty across a wide variety of scientific and technological disciplines at the University. In addition, the students enroll in a two-credit seminar course analyzing the ethical and practical ramifications of the field: STS 300, The Societal Dimensions of Nanotechnology, for which they receive university credit. Their research experience culminates in the production of a research poster, written report, and an oral presentation.

REU students have numerous social opportunities, including outings to Charlottesville's historic downtown for dining, shopping, and seeing movies or live music performances; hiking excursions to the nearby Appalachian Mountains and Shenandoah National Park; and special activities such as planned amusement park trips or tubing excursions.

Applicants are selected through a faculty evaluation process on the basis of their academic background, capability for research, area(s) of research interest, and potential to pursue graduate studies.