SD Mines Hosts Student Research Opportunities

RAPID CITY, SD (Feb. 19, 2019) – Undergraduate students from around the country will get real-world research experience this summer while participating in Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) programs and other research opportunities on the campus of South Dakota School of Mines & Technology.

Funded through the National Science Foundation (NSF), REUs are paid 10-week research opportunities for undergraduate students hosted by various institutions both national and international. An REU research experience usually consists of a group of approximately 10 undergraduates who work in research programs at each host institution. Students work closely with faculty and researchers, gaining critical research experience. Through hands-on experience and access to state-of-the art research facilities and equipment, students develop a breadth of skills that make them competitive in a research environment, increasing their entrance into graduate research programs.

“The National Science Foundation funds REU site programs around the country to engage students in cutting-edge research projects with faculty and get student interested in research,” said Michael West, head of the Materials and Metallurgical Engineering Department at Mines. “In addition, these programs provide professional training for students that will be valuable if they decide to pursue an advanced degree in STEM and work on a thesis project.”

REU draws a diverse array of students from across the country, providing a unique learning environment while preparing students for an increasingly interconnected world.

The Materials and Metallurgical Engineering Department will host a REU site this summer. The REU site is titled “Back to the Future,” and focuses on integrated research involving metallurgical engineering, many with historical, social and artistic themes. Students will participate in seminars and workshops in art, history and archaeometallurgy that will intersect their academic training in materials and metallurgical engineering with historical and cultural framework for current research.

To apply for Back to the Future, students can click here.

Other Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) programs or Undergraduate Summer Research Opportunities also being hosted by SD Mines this summer include:

· BuG ReMeDEE is a “Genome-to-Phenome” initiative (Award # 1736255) on education and research in methane cycling. Students will study microbes isolated from extreme environments of a 4,850-feet deep mine and Yellowstone National Park. This summer research program includes projects and training on such topics as genome editing, data mining, microbial fuel cells, machine learning, nanotechnology and protein engineering. Project details are given here. Students will get the opportunity to visit the deep mine for real time experience on microbial sample collection. Upon completion of research activities, students will present their research work at a state-wide conference. To apply, contact Saurabh.dhiman@sdsmt.edu.

· Andrea Surovek, a research scientist in the Mines Mechanical Engineering Department, is hosting a research opportunity on problem-solving approaches used by students, faculty and professionals – a position that will include statistical analysis of demographic information and creativity assessments. To apply, email surovek@sdsmt.edu.

· BioSNTR, a state and federally-funded research center that supports growth in human, plant and animal biotechnology business, is providing 15 undergraduate research awards to conduct research with BioSNTR faculty at SD Mines, South Dakota State University, University of South Dakota/GEAR or Sanford Research. For more information, visit http://www.biosntr.org/

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About SD Mines

Founded in 1885, the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology is a science and engineering research university located in Rapid City, S.D., offering bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees. The university enrolls 2,654 students with a student-to-faculty ratio of 15:1. The SD School of Mines placement rate for graduates is 97 percent, with an average starting salary of more than $61,300. Find us online at www.sdsmt.edu and on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Snapchat.

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