UHD recently received $258,681 from the National Science Foundation (NSF)’s Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program in support of the Computer Science and Engineering Technology (CSET) department’s program, “Research Experiences in Computational Sciences and Engineering.”

The REU program supports intensive research by undergraduate students as either a Site or a Supplement. UHD’s CSET program is an REU Site. Award funds will be used to engage students using a three-pronged strategic approach to research:

• Eight-week summer research experiences.

• Yearlong follow-up coaching and mentoring.

• Dissemination of research results through presentations and/or publications (locally and nationally).

The bulk of the award dollars will provide student stipends that can be used for housing, food, and other basic needs during the student’s research project.

This three-year program, which is open to UHD students as well as undergraduates at other institutions, is designed to improve participating students’ desire to pursue STEM careers and provide the confidence to do well in STEM. The program is expected to help students improve their performance in STEM courses and support their ability and motivation to graduate with STEM degrees.

The program also seeks to encourage students to pursue careers related to computational sciences and engineering, pursue graduate studies, challenge themselves for continuous self-improvement, and provide “soft” career skills such as communication.

Research projects will expose a diverse body of students to problems in computational sciences and engineering as well as approaches to solving them through the application of methods from cybersecurity, data analytics, machine learning, human-centered computing, bioinformatics, process automation, structural engineering, and data-driven safety management. The hands-on experiences will significantly enhance student’s problem-solving skills, appreciation of the role of the scientific method for solving or investigating societal problems, and the link between theory and practice.

Dr. Vassilios Tzouanas, Department Chair and Professor of Computer Science & Engineering Technology, is the principal investigator on the grant. “We are thrilled to receive this award,” said Vassilios. “Both theoretical and applied research are critical to helping students achieve their goals in the sciences. We want to provide students a stimulating academic environment to not only motivate them to pursue a career in STEM fields but also enhance their desire and passion for research in Computer Science, Engineering, and related sciences.”

Co-principal investigators and research mentors include Dr. Dvijesh Shastri, Dr. Ben Soibam, Dr. Emre Yilmaz, Dr. Henry Foust, Dr. Mahmud Hasan, and Dr. Arash Rahmatian, all members of CST’s Computer Science & Engineering Technology faculty.

For more information on REU grants, visit the NSF webpage on Research Experiences for Undergraduates