2026 Harvard MRSEC REU for Undergraduate Student Participants

About the 2026 MRSEC REU

Dates: June 3 - August 8, 2026

Duration: The summer 2026 REU Program is 10 weeks in duration.

Eligibility requirements:

• Must be a U.S. Citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident, or U.S. National
• Must be a currently enrolled undergraduate who will not graduate before December, 2026

Benefits: Students receive a stipend, travel, and free on-campus housing and meal plan

Funding: The research was supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation through the Harvard MRSEC DMR-2011754.

MRSEC Research Areas: Study the mechanics of films and interfaces, design and test materials for soft robotics, and engineer materials and techniques for biological studies at cellular scales.

Apply for the 2026 REU program at REU Application for Summer 2026, and is due February 1, 2026, 11:59 PM EST. Selection of the summer students proceeds with Center faculty through April, 2026. With direction from a faculty advisor, and in most cases, a postdoctoral fellow or graduate student, the REU student defines and sets up a program in an REU Research Area necessary to accomplish the ten-week summer project. A final presentation is given by each student at the "end-of-summer" seminar attended by Center faculty, student mentors, and fellow REU students.

• Multidisciplinary Research Projects - Each REU project has a clearly identifiable research goal at a challenging yet appropriate level for undergraduates during the summer program. Participants have the unique opportunity to work in an interdisciplinary environment with highly talented scientific mentors. Most experimental projects involve hands-on research in one or more of the state-of-the-art central instrumentation facilities with training and supervision provided by expert technical staff.
• Faculty-Led Seminars - Faculty present on various research topics including discussion of ethical issues.
• Technical Writing & Presentation Skill Workshops - Weekly writing and communication workshops assist with the program deliverables and provide insights into technical writing for academic journals, how to improve your personal statements, resumes, etc.
• Multimedia & Public Outreach Training - Learn how to effectively communicate research through engaging multimedia presentations and in everyday conversation. Hone your elevator pitch for colleagues and people of all ages in the community.
• Graduate School & Career Workshops - Learn from faculty, industry panels, and former REU students about their experiences.
• Networking & Social Activities - Visits to local research institutes are arranged and students explore Boston-area attractions.
• Deliverables - A final written report or multimedia project, an abstract, and a presentation before peers for sharing and documenting your research.
• End-of-Program REU Symposium - Students present their projects and research results to peers and colleagues.

More information can be found at the Office of Education Outreach & Community Programs where you can read the FAQ page about the application and selection process, and the program details and expectations before submitting your application.