Federal Grant Award Summary

The University of Akron's School of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering received a Project Grant award of $362,138 from the National Science Foundation's Division of Materials Research under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences program (CFDA 47.049), effective May 1, 2026 through April 30, 2029. This Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Site award supports an annual nine-week summer research program recruiting nine undergraduate students from across the United States to engage in mentored polymer science and engineering research. The program delivers integrated educational and research services combining laboratory experimentation, computational modeling, and data-driven materials discovery approaches, with particular emphasis on sustainable polymers, circular and reprocessable materials, and advanced manufacturing technologies.

Program participants receive foundational training through a dedicated bootcamp addressing core polymer concepts, responsible research practices, and introductory data science and machine learning tools, followed by supervised research project work aligned with contemporary materials challenges. The award additionally supports professional development activities, industry engagement initiatives, and site visits designed to expose students to real-world applications. By recruiting from institutions with limited research capacity, the program explicitly targets workforce development and broadened participation objectives while preparing undergraduate scientists and engineers for careers advancing U.S. innovation in sustainable materials and manufacturing sectors.