Research
Undergraduate Research
USF Undergraduate Research and Arts Colloquium
USF students in all disciplines who are involved in research are encouraged to participate
in the colloquium.
Research Experience for Undergraduates Program
The College of Engineering REU program aims to give undergraduate students an opportunity
to directly participate in research efforts as research assistants with professors
and graduate students on a variety of exciting and interdisciplinary research projects.
Typically, students new to the program are given smaller projects, which they carry
out under the guidance of graduate students and professors. Graduate students and
professors both serve a dual role as research partner and mentor to the REU students.
The goal is to introduce students to the scientific process, and research ethics and
professionalism. As the students progress in the program, their projects become more
individualized and complex. Several past REU students have published their work in
major scientific journals and contributed to international conferences. This experience
is also highly regarded in the engineering field and is useful for future job placement
and graduate school applications.
REU Coordinators
Inquiries about research opportunities in the departments should be directed to these
REU Coordinators:
Ashwin Parthasarathy, Electrical Engineering
Stephanie Carey, Medical Engineering
Ryan Toomey, Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering
Jeff Cunningham, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Yu Sun, Computer Science and Engineering
Hadi Charkhgard, Industrial and Management Systems Engineering
David Murphy, Mechanical Engineering
Lisa Staes, Center for Urban Transportation Research
Research Topics
Engineering and the Service Sector
Energy and Environmental Systems
Nanotechnology
Robotics and Sensor Technology
Information and Communications Technology
Transportation and Logistics
Advanced Materials and Manufacturing
Critical Infrastructure
Bioengineering
Search for an REU site at the National Science Foundation
Engineering Undergraduate Research Fellowships
Sponsored by the Dean, the USF Office of Undergraduate Research, and the Faculty Mentors,
the Research Experience for Undergraduates Program offers a limited number (depending
on the availability of funds) of Engineering Undergraduate Research Fellowships. Students
are expected to volunteer for a limited time before being enrolled in the program.
This volunteering period serves to establish a track record with the advising faculty,
and the identification of an interesting research project. Our aim is to offer an
exciting research experience to as many students as possible.
REU Courses
Another way to participate in research projects as an Undergraduate Research Assistant
is offered through new elective "Undergraduate Research" courses offered by several
of the college's academic departments. Students choosing to take such a course need
to find Faculty Mentors before enrolling. Participating students are expected to participate
in the research projects conducted in the Faculty Mentor's laboratory. These courses
allow variable credit hours (1-3) to suit the student's availability. The students
will not be funded through Engineering Undergraduate Research Fellowships while taking
this course. Taking this course can be used to substitute the volunteering period
before a fellowship can be awarded (see Apply section below).
Apply to the REU Program
All undergraduate students of all levels of the College of Engineering are eligible
for participation. Engineering undergraduates can join any research group in the College
of Engineering or in any other USF division outside the College of Engineering at
USF (for example in departments such as Chemistry, Physics, or the Center for Ocean
Technology or the Moffitt Cancer Center). Underrepresented group students are especially
encouraged to apply.
- Find a Faculty Mentor who agrees to hire you. The first step in this process is to determine what you are interested in. The COE-REU Coordinators in the departments can assist you with this process. Once you know which groups interest you, make appointments with the professors and meet them for an interview.
- When you find a professor who agrees to hire you, start volunteering in the professor's laboratory. No paperwork needs to be submitted during this period. Alternately, you can take a Undergraduate Research course offered by several departments.
- After successfully volunteering for some time, you are ready to become a member of the COE-REU program.
Sign-up procedure:
Fill out the application form and submit. You will receive emails about the status of your application. Please,
note that the final approval of your enrollment will be made based on the availability
of funds.