The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) operates a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) site in its Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory (MSEL) as part of a NIST-wide activity hosting 110-120 undergraduate students working in all seven Laboratories. Students are recruited from across the country for an eleven-week summer research experience, with an emphasis on recruitment of members of underrepresented groups in science and engineering. Students in MSEL participate in a wide range of research in the areas of ceramics, solid state chemistry, metallurgy, polymers, neutron condensed matter science, and materials reliability. In addition, students attend a weekly seminar series and participate in various social activities. The REU students have access to exceptional instrumentation and facilities at NIST. The experience includes an early and valuable exposure to the interdisciplinary research environment of a national laboratory.
