Chemistry Summer Research Program
May 27 - August 1, 2025
Carnegie Mellon hosts the Mellon College of Science Summer Scholars Program, a NSF-funded research experience for undergraduates (REU). This will be the 5th year of the program, which is hosted jointly with chemistry, math, physics, and biology. Summer scholars work with graduate students at CMU professors to complete an 10-week research experience (May 27 - August 1) with topics including environmental chemistry and sustainability, catalysis, and biomaterials. The program is hosted by the MCS Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and includes weekly professional development workshops and social activities designed to enrich the summer experience.
Scholars receive a competitive stipend, meal allowance, travel and housing support.
Financial details:
- Stipend: $700/week
- Meal Allowance: $1250
- Travel Support: up to $750
- Housing is provided
Research Opportunities
- Garcia-Bosch Lab: The REU student will be involved in the development of Fe, Cu and Ru complexes capable of performing multi-electron multi-proton transformation in a reversible fashion (electron-coupled-proton buffers). The project entails the synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of the metal complexes in different protonation/oxidation states, and analysis of their reactivity with PCET (proton-coupled-electron transfer) reagents.
- McDonough Lab: A summer research opportunity is available in the McDonough laboratory investigating the bioaccumulation of per/polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in marine benthic organisms. PFASs are toxic water contaminants that are ubiquitous in marine environments and are often stored in sediments at impacted sites. The sediment-water partitioning of these ionizable pollutants is difficult to predict using traditional equilibrium partitioning models. We will be conducting experiments in which marine polychaetes will be exposed to PFAS-fortified marine sediments and the accumulation of PFASs in polychaete tissue will be measured over time to determine uptake rates, biota-sediment accumulation factors, and elimination rates, and to describe the impacts of water and sediment quality parameters on these values. These data will be used to advance our understanding of the predominant biological reservoirs for PFASs and to investigate the mechanisms that drive PFAS partitioning and uptake between marine sediments, porewater, and benthic biota.
- Jin Lab: Metal nanoparticles are typically in a metallic state as that of bulk metals (bandgap Eg = 0). Interestingly, when the particle size is reduced to ~2 nanometers, strong quantum size effects come into play, manifested in the emergence of a distinct Eg that is size dependent and the resultant significant alternations to the nanoparticle's optical and catalytic properties. In this project, students will learn how to precisely control the size and shape of ultrasmall nanoparticles (1-3 nm diameter) with atomic precision. In addition, students will learn optical spectroscopy techniques to characterize the quantized electronic structure and photoluminescence of atomically precise nanoclusters of gold and bimetallic systems.
- Armitage Lab: The student will develop peptide nucleic acid (PNA) molecules to bind to DNA and/or RNA target molecules of biological interest with the long-term goal being to interfere with gene expression pathways involved in cancer, neurodegenerative and/or infectious diseases. The project will involve a combination of chemical synthesis, biophysical characterization and biochemical assays.
Application requirements
- Unofficial transcripts of each institution that you attended, regardless of whether you received a degree there.
- An official copy will be required in the event that you are accepted.
- Updated Resume or CV
- 1-page statement of purpose explaining previous experiences, your motivation for wanting to participate in this program, and your research interests. Please describe any barriers and challenges to gaining research experience that you have encountered.
- One letter of recommendation