Education Programs

The Center on Polymer Interfaces and Macromolecular Assemblies (CPIMA) provides qualified undergraduates in chemical engineering, chemistry, materials science, physics, and related fields with a ten week summer research opportunity. The SURE program allows students to work on independent research projects involving direct interaction with research scientists, post-doctoral scholars, and graduate students at Stanford University, IBM Almaden, University of California - Berkeley, University of California - Davis, or a CPIMA Industrial Affiliate. Students participate in a number of SURE activities including the CPIMA Forum where they present their summer research in a poster.

Program Details

• 10 week program
• Open to all undergraduate students who will be sophomores, juniors, or seniors majoring in an engineering or physical science discipline.
• Applicants must have an interest in pursuing a graduate degree in engineering or physical sciences.
• Applicants must be a U. S. Citizen or U.S. Legal Permanent Resident.

Stipend: $4500.
Travel: Some travel reimbursement is available.
Housing: Housing is included.

• Applications are especially encouraged from students at primarily undergraduate institutions, women, students who are members of underrepresented groups, and disabled students.
• Participants are required to work full time and may not have outside jobs or enroll in classes that interfere with normal working hours.

Research Topics (details)

The goals of the RET Program are similar to those of the SURE Program: to spark teacher interest in and excitement about science and scientific research; to expose teachers to research environments; to teach teachers fundamental concepts of science and engineering; to provide teachers opportunities to work closely with faculty, industrial scientists, postdoctoral researchers, graduate students, and undergraduate students to build a valuable networking arena; and to energize teachers through a professional development experience. Most importantly, we aim to provide teachers with a solid foundation of how research is conducted in today’s world and assist them in incorporating what they experience into materials they can use to teach their students.