Semiconductor Electronics and Photonics REU

Applications for the summer 2027 REU program will open on Dec. 1 and will be due on Jan. 31, 2027. The first round of selected students will be notified on Feb. 15, 2027 and have 3 weeks to respond. If needed, a second round of selection notifications will be sent on March 15, 2027.

• An $7,000 stipend upon successful completion of the REU.
• Housing in UD student dorms. Participants will be housed in single or double rooms in the same building.
• Partial meal allowance. Dining options on campus are limited during the summer, but participants will receive a small allowance for meals on campus.
• Allowance for travel funds up to $1,000 roundtrip (either by land or air) to attend the REU.
• Allowance for research project materials and supplies. Mentors will receive a $500 stipend for purchasing materials and supplies that are necessary for the research project.
• Weekly workshops on how semiconductor devices and integrated circuits are manufactured, semiconductor material fundamentals, basic device physics, techniques for lithography, deposition of materials, etching of materials, layout and design and applications of integrated circuits and hands-on fabrication of representative semiconductor manufacturing processes.
• Training at, and on the use of, UD's Nano-Fab Lab.
• Completion of the Rapid Certification: Foundation Level of the Ohio-southwest Alliance on Semiconductors and Integrated Scalable-Manufacturing (OASIS) program, sponsored by Intel.
• Professional development workshops on an overview of graduate school and how to apply, applying for fellowships and scholarships, technical writing, giving technical presentations, ethics in research, networking and interpersonal communication, time management, membership benefits and outreach in professional/ technical societies, and branding and entrepreneurship.
• Focused mentorship with a UD faculty member who works closely with participants to help them progress.
• Opportunity to present your research at UD's Summer Research Symposium.

• Semiconductor lasers and optical emitters for silicon photonics
• Phase change materials for reconfigurable photonic devices and optical memory
• Infrared photodetectors for low-light imaging and telecommunications
• Direct laser writing of electronic and photonic devices
• Synthesis and characterization of semiconductor nanoparticles
• Memristor devices for neuromorphic computing

• Must be enrolled in an undergraduate degree program in science or engineering and have status as an active student at an accredited college or university.
• NSF funding is for U.S. citizens, permanent residents or U.S. nationals.
• No minimum GPA to apply.
• No knowledge or experience with semiconductors is necessary.

Provide these documents in addition to the online application as a single PDF attachment.

• Personal statement in PDF format, maximum of 750 words. Tell us about yourself, why you are applying to the program, and how this program will help you in your future career. You can also address things like your financial need, having overcome significant obstacles or personal events that have affected your academic performance. Applications with personal statements exceeding the 750-word limit will not be considered.
• Resume or curriculum vitae (CV) in PDF format.
• Unofficial transcript from the college or university you attend. There is no minimum GPA for this REU program.
• Contact information and reference letters from two professional references. Choose references that are familiar with your academic performance or can speak to your potential for success in research. Reference letters, if available, must be combined into one PDF with the other attachments above. If your referees prefer to send the reference letters directly to the program principal investigator, Dr Swapnajit Chakravarty, then the names and contact information of the referees must be included in the application PDF.

For more information about this REU, contact Dr. Swapnajit Chakravarty, UD Engineering Department of Electro-Optics and Photonics.