The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded a 3-year, $458,989 "REU SITE: MECHANOBIOLOGY AT VCU" project grant to Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) to annually engage 10 undergraduate students in biomedical engineering research projects focused on mechanobiology. The program aims to: 1) increase participation in mechanobiology research, 2) enhance scientific literacy and communication at the engineering-life sciences interface, and 3) prepare participants for graduate study or research careers in mechanobiology or related fields. Students will gain hands-on experience with microfabrication, mechanotransduction pathway analysis, cell-material interactions, and mechanically enabled drug delivery. They will also develop and teach new K-12 STEM outreach activities. Upon completion, students will present their research at a national scientific meeting. No sub-awards are planned under this NSF Engineering program grant (CFDA 47.041).