In higher education, research is often the exclusive territory of graduate students and faculty. But 10 undergraduate engineering students will have the chance to jump into the arena this summer during our new "Research Experience for Undergraduates" program, funded by a nearly $300,000 National Science Foundation grant.

Studying some of the most important telecommunications issues impacting everyday lives, these students will focus on network and communication systems for eight weeks under the guidance of Tennessee Tech mentors. Six professors in Electrical and Computer Engineering and Computer Science will guide five of our undergraduates and five students selected from across the country in a variety of research projects.

"We expect this program to increase our visibility nationwide," says Ben He, principal investigator of the grant. "An NSF program of this caliber offers undergraduate students a unique opportunity to work together with faculty members who have similar interests and can share expertise."

A beginning two-week short course will cover basic research techniques and procedures. Students will choose a specific research project from a list identified by the faculty and work closely with a small, focused research team of faculty and graduate students for an additional six weeks.

Proposed topics include the study of high-speed, reliable storage networks; next generation ultra-broadband access networks; quality of services applications to multimedia; and survivability of network infrastructures. The program allows some participants to continue their research during the fall and spring semesters as well.

“This year-long research experience will enable the university to carry out more substantial research tasks and thereby gain a more enriching, fulfilling experience,” says Nasir Ghani, co-principal investigator of the grant. “We anticipate that this program will motivate our own students to pursue graduate research here. REU is a terrific introduction to the research community. Our students will gain the tools they need to excel.”

REU’s emphasis on diverse participation and outreach activities contributed to obtaining the NSF grant, says He.

“An important aspect of the program is our commitment to building a more nationally diverse workforce. Forty percent of our participants each year will be women or students from under-represented groups.”

REU also calls for students and mentors to reach out to local and regional rural high schools and community colleges.

Participants will not spend all their time on campus or in labs. To enrich their research experience, students will visit Oak Ridge National Laboratory for a first-hand look at large-scale research facilities. Mentors are also planning a range of team-building activities.

Participants will receive a stipend and travel and living allowance, including room and board on campus.

REU begins June 6.