Project Grant 2548464

The National Science Foundation Division of Engineering Education and Centers awarded Illinois Institute of Technology $465,000 on October 1, 2026, under the Engineering program (CFDA 47.041) to operate a ten-week Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) site in advanced robotics and manufacturing at the Chicago campus through September 30, 2029.

The REU site provides undergraduate students with structured research training in robotics, automation, and additive manufacturing, with emphasis on students from community colleges and institutions with limited research capacity. Participants receive training in robot programming and safety, human-robot collaboration, and additive manufacturing processes including laser powder bed fusion, binder jetting, material extrusion, and aerosol jet printing, alongside materials design and characterization methods for establishing process-structure-property relationships. Students learn to formulate research questions, develop and test hypotheses, conduct experiments, and communicate findings through an interdisciplinary research program. Partnerships with manufacturers, innovation hubs, and national laboratories in the Chicago area expose participants to real-world applications and career pathways. Program outcomes include enhanced undergraduate research participation, stronger workforce readiness, and broader dissemination through publications and presentations that integrate research findings into educational curricula.