Texas Center for Undergraduate Research in Energy and Propulsion: An NSF REU Site at Texas A&M University

Abstract

Since 2010, a Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) site focusing on energy-, propulsion-, and combustion-related research topics has been held at Texas A&M University (TAMU). A major focus of the site has been the recruitment of undergraduate participants from schools within the state of Texas that do not have major research programs in engineering. To this end, 85% of the 10-week, summer participants have fallen within this category. Four main summer sites have been held to date, involving 40 total participants. Of these students, at least 63% of them were also from underrepresented groups within the STEM fields (female, Hispanic, Black, and Native Americans). Other aspects of the REU site include the participation of one high school teacher each year and a year-round research program that involves 2 students from TAMU as well as 2 students from one of two different partner universities representing non-Tier-One research institutions in Texas, namely the University of North Texas and the University of Texas at Brownsville. Highlights on the overall program, a summary of the research projects and mentors, and details from the last four years of the REU site are provided in this paper.