Program Overview

Application Deadline: Sunday, March 4, 2018 (Closed)

The University of Massachusetts AmherstSpringfield Technical Community College, and Holyoke Community College host the Massachusetts Center for Autonomous Materials Physics (MassCAMP) Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Site.

MassCAMP seeks to train scientists to develop fundamental science for a critical future technology: autonomous materials that will sense their environment, reconfigure their shape and function, and interact collectively to solve global challenges in building construction, exploration, oil-spill remediation, or energy harvesting. Inspired by natural systems that have these remarkable qualities, we seek to learn how we can incorporate the ability to sense and respond to the basic building blocks of materials. Our students will be trained in soft matter, biological physics, and quantum materials and a variety of techniques in experiment and theory. The University of Massachusetts has a highly collaborative group of faculty in these areas and we welcome new students to our team.

The MassCAMP REU is a partnership among UMass, Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) and Holyoke Community College (HCC). MassCAMP REU builds on and replaces our former B-SMaRT REU. B-SMaRT was very successful, and now we are expanding the scope of our research and increasing the number of participating students.

The research and educational activities are to be supported by the National Science Foundation, Office of Special Programs, Division of Materials Research (proposal DMR-1757491, pending). In addition to a summer stipend of $5,000, we will provide convenient and comfortable dormitory housing. Reimbursement for child-care expenses and travel expenses can be arranged.

Contact information: masscamp-reu@umass.edu

Faculty organizers:

At the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Dept of Physics:

Anthony Dinsmore (REU Director),   Irene Dujovne, and Shubha Tewari

Program administrator: Brittany Bonenfant

At Springfield Technical Community College (STCC): Barbara Washburn

At Holyoke Community College:  Ileana Vasu