Project Grant 2548211

The National Science Foundation Division of Physics awarded the University of Oklahoma $431,074 on August 15, 2026, under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences program (CFDA 47.049) to operate a Research Experiences for Undergraduates and Research Experiences for Teachers site in physics and astronomy at the Norman, Oklahoma campus through July 31, 2029.

The award supports a three-year renewal of the REU/RET site, which will engage eight undergraduate students and two high school teachers per summer in research projects across astrophysics, atomic and molecular physics, condensed matter physics, and high energy physics. Participants will work on cutting-edge topics in quantum information science through the Center for Quantum Research and Technology and in machine learning and artificial intelligence through advanced data analytics. Teachers will conduct research alongside students and develop small-scale experiments, demonstrations, and transportable curriculum for classroom use. The program will deliver daily faculty mentorship, a semi-weekly seminar series covering research culture, career pathways in physics across academic and industry sectors, graduate school preparation, and research tools training. Students will present their own work in final seminars. The site aims to strengthen STEM education infrastructure and workforce development by building a substantive bridge from student and teacher to practicing scientist, exposing participants to physics research spanning particle physics to cosmology and abstract theoretical to applied work.