Program Overview

2025 Program Dates: May 25 – July 31, 2025
Summer 2025 application opens October 1

Every summer we bring 10 students to campus to work closely with VINSE faculty on research projects in cutting-edge areas of nanoscale science and engineering. Students receive a true interdisciplinary research experience in an environment where physicists, chemists, biologists, and all engineering disciplines collaboratively solve problems and create new scientific understanding.

 

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Section Contents

A Summer Opportunity for Students Nationwide

Each student works directly with VINSE faculty members and their research groups and has access to the VINSE laboratories, which are shared facilities available to all authorized users. Weekly lunchtime meetings are held for all faculty and students that cover topics ranging from ethics and the responsible conduct of research to demystifying graduate school and how to present research findings.

Furthermore, the Vanderbilt campus is just one mile from downtown Nashville, which is one of the most vibrant and cosmopolitan mid-sized cities in the United States.

This summer program is funded by the National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (NSF-REU) program.

Program Highlights

  • Choose from 30+ projects available each year for 10 positions, giving increased flexibility to match student interests

  • Receive a $7,000 stipend plus room and board, plus a $500 travel allowance to offset the cost of getting to Nashville

  • Undergo informal training in scientific writing and giving oral presentations

  • Enter a poster competition to receive a travel award to attend a national professional meeting to present their work

  • Participate in a field trip to the Oak Ridge National Laboratory

  • Engage in optional outreach opportunities with local high school students, social activities, and a final banquet 

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