Project Grant 2547979

Washington University in St. Louis received a $333,375 Project Grant award from the National Science Foundation's Division of Physics (CFDA 47.049—Mathematical and Physical Sciences) on February 15, 2026, to establish a Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Site focused on Artificial Intelligence in Modern Physics Research. The award, with an ultimate completion date of January 31, 2029, provides a fully immersive 10-week summer research experience for undergraduate students selected nationwide, with particular emphasis on Midwestern participants. The program delivers comprehensive support including stipends, housing, and travel funds to ensure broad accessibility, combined with an intensive AI bootcamp providing hands-on machine learning training followed by placement in research groups applying computational methods to physics research challenges.

The REU Site produces trained undergraduate researchers equipped to integrate artificial intelligence methodologies with traditional physics understanding across multiple physics subfields including astrophysics, nuclear physics, atomic and molecular physics, condensed matter physics, and biophysics. Through the program, participants develop technical skills in three core machine learning applications—image segmentation and recognition, time-series and spectral analysis, and reduced models with feature identification—while addressing authentic physics research questions such as exoplanet atmospheric composition determination, black hole binary X-ray analysis, and material magnetization reconstruction. The program advances workforce development by preparing participants for diverse career pathways in both academia and industry while addressing a fundamental gap in modern physics education.