Federal Grant Award Summary

Duke University received a $574,468 Project Grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Physics under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences program (CFDA 47.049), awarded June 1, 2026, with completion targeted for May 31, 2029. This Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Site award supports a ten-week summer research program in nuclear and particle physics conducted through the Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory (TUNL), a consortium consisting of Duke University, North Carolina Central University, North Carolina State University, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The program provides direct research mentorship to twelve undergraduate students annually: eight students conduct research at TUNL facilities in Durham, North Carolina, while four students participate in research activities with Duke's High-Energy Physics Group at CERN in Geneva, Switzerland.

The primary deliverables include undergraduate research training integrated into active research groups, professional development in scientific writing and oral presentation skills, and educational activities including laboratory tours, seminars, and discussions that expose students to advanced theoretical concepts and state-of-the-art research technologies in nuclear and particle physics. Students interact with faculty mentors, postdoctoral researchers, and graduate students while gaining exposure to world-renowned physicists and learning about graduate program opportunities across the consortium universities. This award reflects NSF's commitment to strengthening the nation's scientific workforce by providing formative research experiences to the next generation of scientists.