Undergraduate Student Researcher with poster

DPE Summer Research

". . these young scientists and engineers teach us something beyond the specific topics that they’re exploring. They teach us how to question assumptions; to wonder why something is the way it is, and how we can make it better. And they remind us that there’s always something more to learn, and to try, and to discover, and to imagine -- and that it’s never too early, or too late to create or discover something new."

- President Barack Obama

Use your creativity and classroom knowledge as guides through the process of discovery. Undergraduate research gives you the opportunity to learn by being directly involved in it. Explore your interests and discover passions while improving collaboration, technical, and communication skills. Seize the chance through summer research to gain insight about your career and graduate school plans.

DPE offers undergraduate research opportunities for engineers as well as for those in STEM fields. Learn more about our summer Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation Research Experience for Undergraduates (LSAMP REU) which is open to students from Cornell and other universities. 

We also have a unique summer program, the Engineering Summer Math Institute (ESMI), that offers select Cornell Engineers, who are enrolled in a summer session math course, a research opportunity.

See also:

Resources

CUES Engineering Summer Math Institute (ESMI)

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The Engineering Summer Math Institute (ESMI), a component of CUES, is an 8-week summer program for select students enrolled in a summer math course (MATH 1920, 2930 or 2940) to engage in undergraduate research. Throughout the summer, ESMI Scholars also participate in peer facilitated workshops to support their coursework.  Further, scholars participate in team building, graduate school preparation workshops, and technical talks. Ultimately they present their research at the Cornell LSAMP REU & McNair Research Symposium.

Research:

Rising sophomores and juniors independently seek research opportunities with faculty for the ESMI program. However, ESMI provides all scholars the opportunity to engage in a small group research project.

  • Participants without a pre-identified undergraduate research opportunity work on an applied math research project, which will give them the opportunity to work in small teams on a project that is of a mathematical and computational nature.

  • Participants who have secured research positions under the auspices of faculty research mentors conduct research in their intended majors.

Eligibility:

  • A rising Sophomore or Junior enrolled in an engineering major at Cornell University
  • Available to be on campus for the entire duration of the program
  • From any one of the following backgrounds traditionally underrepresented in engineering:
    • A first generation college student (neither parent has a four year degree)
    • African American/Black
    • Hispanic/Latino
    • Native American
    • Native Hawaiian
    • Native Pacific Islander
    • Native Alaskan

Benefits:

  • Tuition is provided for your summer math course MATH 1920, 2930 or 2940
  • $2000 research stipend provided to each participant
  • On campus housing will be provided

Apply:

Contact the DPE office for an ESMI application.

Priority consideration is given to those students who must take or retake a summer math course in order to stay on track for affiliation.