The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is soliciting applications from eligible colleges and universities to nominate undergraduate students to participate in the SURF Program. The SURF Program is designed to inspire undergraduate students to pursue careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) through a unique research experience that supports the NIST mission.

Since 1993, SURF students from across the country have had the opportunity to gain valuable, hands-on experience, working with cutting edge technology in one of the world’s leading research organizations and home to three Nobel Prize winners. Over the course of 11 weeks, SURF students contribute to the ongoing research of one of the seven NIST facilities which are the Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology (CNST), Communications Technology Laboratory (CTL), Engineering Laboratory (EL), Information Technology Laboratory (ITL), Material Measurement Laboratory (MML), NIST Center for Neutron Research (NCNR), and Physical Measurement Laboratory (PML). A description of the seven laboratories and project topic areas are provided in the attached full solicitation. To learn about the multi-disciplinary nature of each laboratory, please visit www.nist.gov/laboratories.cfm.

The SURF Program is administered at the Boulder, Colorado, and Gaithersburg, Maryland, locations. For additional information regarding each SURF location, please visit the following websites:

SURF Boulder: www.nist.gov/surf/surf-boulder
SURF Gaithersburg: www.nist.gov/surf/surf-gaithersburg

Eligibility:
Each undergraduate student nominated to participate in the SURF Program from the applicant college or university must meet all of the following requirements:

1. Be a U.S. citizen or permanent U.S. resident.
2. Commit to 11 full continuous weeks, or nine full continuous weeks for the nine-week program, (Monday through Friday) from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., during the summer of 2018, to participate in the SURF Program. Students are expected to participate in SURF Boulder and SURF Gaithersburg through the last day of the Program: August 3, 2018 and August 10, 2018, respectively.
3. Be a currently registered undergraduate at the applicant university or college in the U.S. or its territories at the time of application. Graduating seniors may apply for the program but must be a registered undergraduate at the time of application.
4. Is considering pursuing a graduate degree (M.S. or Ph.D.). Students with biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, materials science, mathematics, nanoscale science, neutron research and/or physics majors are always encouraged to apply. There may also be research opportunities for students with other majors. Refer to the evaluation criteria and selection factors for additional recommendations.

Key Dates

• Sponsor Proposal Due: February 12, 2018

If you are interesting in applying for this funding opportunity, please contact OSRP .