RIMSE Summer Schools: Training Opportunities for Graduate Students, Undergraduate Students, Post-Graduate Trainees, High School Students, K-12 Educators, Visiting Scholars, and Researchers from Industry, Government, and National Laboratories.
What is RIMSE? RIMSE stands for Research Immersion in Materials Science and Engineering. Sponsored by the U.S. National Science Foundation as part of the UC San Diego Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC), the RIMSE Summer Schools are immersive, hands-on courses meant to prepare trainees to work in Materials Science and Materials Engineering research laboratories. They generally run for 8 to 10-weeks each summer on the UC San Diego campus. The UC San Diego MRSEC currently runs three RIMSE schools:
Who can participate in RIMSE? The RIMSE schools are unique in that they blend researchers from a wide range of backgrounds and educational levels - your team may include local high school students, undergraduate students (including incoming UC San Diego transfer students and REU students), graduate students (including incoming UC San Diego PhD and MS program students), post-doctoral trainees, k-12 teachers (through the RET program), and visiting international scholars, industry researchers, or government laboratory researchers (through the Researcher in Residence program).
What are the Program Elements of RIMSE? Focused on materials science research in topics of interest to the UC San Diego MRSEC, each of the RIMSE Summer Schools are run by MRSEC faculty who serve as senior mentors and/or instructors. Each RIMSE begins with an intensive training in theory, techniques and laboratory methods, and includes a capstone “Discovery Project”—an independent research project implemented by the trainee in a small team and under the mentorship of a current UC San Diego MRSEC researcher. Though each Summer School runs its own topical curriculum, they share common activities including:
Training on several of the key analytical instruments used in materials science (in the MRSEC Materials Characterization Facility).
“Pathways” luncheon seminars given by academic, industry, and government laboratory scientists that give insights into STEM career paths.
Professional development workshops (research safety, research ethics, science communication, information literacy, graduate school / career preparation).
Team-building activities including nature hikes, beach days, a San Diego Padres baseball game, and a kayak tour of the La Jolla cove.
A final projects day (oral presentation at the UC San Diego Summer Research Conference or a poster presentation).
Each school emphasizes different research aspects related to the MRSEC, including soft materials and biomaterials, self-assembled materials, and computational design, and they share a set of core training elements focused on: research-critical instrumentation (electron microscopy, Raman and FTIR spectroscopy, x-ray and electron diffraction methods); integration of computational methods; critical laboratory safety and the safe handling of chemical, biological, and nanotechnological hazards; and research ethics.
Dates: In Summer 2025, the RIMSE summer schools will run from Monday, June 23 through Friday, August 15, 2025 (8 weeks). Trainees have the option to extend their laboratory research participation for longer periods either before or after the formal training program, depending on the particular Summer School and participant category.
Expectations of Participants: Full-time commitment to immersive lab work and engagement in program activities (Monday – Friday, 9am – 4pm), including presentation at the UC San Diego Summer Research Conference (SRC) in mid-August.
Application: The different participant categories have different application processes (see below). The deadlines vary by participant category. In addition to completing a registration form, you will be asked to select a RIMSE school (and potential MRSEC faculty mentor) that best fits your interests, and to submit the following application materials:
Personal Statement
CV/Resume - It is recommended that you seek out academic recommenders (university/college faculty members, rather than your RA or your high school coach) who in their letters can address your accomplishments, skills, knowledge, scholarly dedication and suitability for undergraduate research. Be sure to contact recommenders at least 3-4 weeks in advance of the application deadline. Send thank you notes once recommendation letters have been submitted and follow up to let your recommenders know the outcome of your application.
Current Transcript (if applicable)
2 Letters of Reference