Research Experience and Mentoring (REM) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The Research Experience and Mentoring (REM) Program is a yearlong opportunity for undergraduates to conduct hands-on STEM research, receive structured mentoring, and present their work at a national conference. Students complete an 8-week paid summer research experience and continue developing professionally during the academic year.

New Frontiers of Sound (NewFoS) is a National Science Foundation (NSF) funded Science and Technology Center for emerging fields of science, made up of universities and labs studying Topological Acoustics — how sound and vibration can be used in new technologies. REM students get access to this network with real labs, real researchers, and real opportunities.

The commitment includes:

• 8 weeks of full-time summer research
• Regular remote meetings with mentors during fall and spring
• A one-hour course during the Fall and Spring to prepare for the conference and gain other professional skills
• Preparing a poster for the ERN Conference
• Brief professional development activities throughout the year

Summer research runs for 8 weeks during June–July 2026.
Exact start/end dates may change, but will most likely be arrival May 31s for a June 1st start and end on July 24th.

Students stay connected through:

• Regular meetings/emails with their host site and a mentor at their home institution (if different)
• Working a few hours a month in a lab at their home institution or continuing their summer work
• Weekly one-hour course
• Prepare for conference

Students from participating partner institutions listed on the REM website may apply. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents and must have completed their sophomore year by June 2026.

Yes. Eligibility is limited to U.S. citizens, nationals, and permanent residents, this is a requirement from the National Science Foundation (NSF).

No. REM is designed for students with any level of research experience — including none. Curiosity, commitment, and an interest in STEM research are what matter most. Though an understanding of certain levels of math are necessary.

You must be a rising junior or senior (having completed your sophomore year by June 2026). Only rising juniors at institutions who have significant senior projects will be accepted as well. 

It is selective, but students with a wide range of backgrounds are accepted. Applications are reviewed holistically, and no prior research experience is required. If  you qualify, you will be interviewed by the Education Team for further exploration of your application, interests, and expectations.

Each research site hosts a limited number of REM students. The exact number varies by lab and year. This year, 2026-2027, we will have a total of 14 summer REM students.

Projects typically involve:

• Acoustic and mechanical metamaterials
• Wave behavior and simulation
• Materials and vibration testing
• Topological or nonlinear systems

Each research site lists its own focus areas.

Students rank their preferred research sites in the application. Similarly, the researchers who will serve as your mentors will read your applications and rank their choices. Placement is based on interests, fit with the lab, and available space.

At one of the participating REM research sites listed on the website. Students travel to that university or lab for the 8-week summer experience.

Projects vary by lab but are designed to be manageable for undergraduate researchers. They may include simulations, hands-on experiments, materials testing, or data analysis.

Most labs follow a weekday, full-time schedule (approximately 30 hours/week). Activities may include experiments, coding, reading papers, attending meetings, and analyzing data. An additional 5 hours/week will be taken by the NewFoS Education team for meetings to report to your fellow REM students, Professional Development and Leadership trainings, social media planning, general check-ins, and a fun social hour.

You will be part of an active research group that may include graduate students, postdocs, and faculty. You will have your own tasks but will not work in isolation.

Training is provided. You do not need specialized skills before the program begins. The whole program starts with a Topological Acoustics Bootcamp to give you an overview of the projects found within NewFoS.

Yes. The REM team will handle housing for the summer if you are traveling to another site. The details will vary from site to site, but we will work with you to secure that housing.

Yes. Travel to the research site (if not local) and any required program travel is funded.

For the most part, No. REM is a full-time summer research program, and students must be available Monday–Friday. However, some students have had success with online courses during this time.

Not during the summer research period, unless that job is on the nights and weekends. During fall and spring, part-time work is usually fine as long as it does not interfere with REM meetings.

Yes, depending on time zones and your ability to attend remote meetings/classes. Students should notify the REM coordinator over the summer if they plan to study abroad. However, in the Spring, you will be expected to attend the ERN conference (usually held in Atlanta, GA).

University of Arizona students will receive one-credit per Fall/Spring REM Course. Students at other institutions may get credit for that course as well, depending on how the institution allows us to set that up. Some institutions may also allow students to pursue independent study credit — students should consult their departments.

Approximately 2–4 hours per week, including meetings/class, additional lab work, and conference preparation.

You’ll be supported by a full Mentoring Ecosystem designed to help you succeed throughout the year. This includes:

• Your summer research mentor (faculty PI or research lead)
• Graduate students and postdocs in your lab who provide day-to-day guidance and technical support
• Undergraduate peers at your research site who you will work alongside and learn from
• Your REM cohort, who meet together for shared development and community
• Faculty or staff mentors at your home institution, who can support your academic planning during the school year
• REM education staff, who guide your professional development, communication skills, and conference preparation throughout the year

This multi-layered structure ensures that you always have people to turn to — for research questions, academic planning, navigating STEM pathways, and getting the most out of your REM experience.

The Emerging Researchers National (ERN) Conference in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) is hosted by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Center for STEMM Education and Workforce (CSEW) Programs and the National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorate for STEM Education (EDU) and is in alignment with updated 2025 NSF priorities. The conference is aimed at providing professional development for all college and university undergraduate and graduate students, studying any STEM discipline, including minorities, persons with disabilities and women.

Yes, for the most part. All REM students are required to apply to present a poster based on their summer research.

Yes. Travel, lodging, and registration are all covered by either NewFoS or ERN through their Travel Grant application process.

Students develop research experience, communication skills, and mentoring relationships that strengthen applications for internships, graduate programs, and future STEM opportunities. NewFoS Education team and the students mentors are also available to review application artifacts and give advice on the selection process. You will be part of a large network in the STEM field that can assist with the process.

Yes. Many students use their REM experience as a stepping stone to additional research programs or competitive internships.

Applications are reviewed holistically. All researchers will review all applications and give them scores then rank at the end those they would like to host. During that review, the Education team will interview all applicants that qualify to get a better understanding of the applicants interests and expectations in order to help better match the students and labs.

Students will be notified after the application review period; sometime between mid-February and early-March.

The application deadline is January 25, 2026. Additional dates (review, decisions, onboarding) will be posted on the REM website.

Travel is arranged or reimbursed by the program. Students will receive instructions after acceptance.

That is perfectly fine — REM is designed for students at all experience levels. Training, guidance, and mentoring are built into the program.

While no specific coursework is required to be completed, most of the projects will require certain levels of mathematical knowledge, which is why we ask what your highest level of math will be by the time the program starts.

Students of many majors can participate. Past REM participant majors were Material Science, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Optical Science. However, many other engineering, physics, or STEM majors could find this opportunity enlightening and worthwhile. 

Yes. Students receive site-specific onboarding and program-wide orientation materials before the summer begins. As well as attend a bootcamp the first week of the summer program.

Yes. You will get close to the students across the country at all locations. In some cases, you may get tired of seeing one another, especially via Zoom, but we all look forward to meeting one another in person at the ERN conference.