When will the 2026 applications open?
1/16/26 Update: After recent communication with NSF, we are not confident that we will be notified of our funding status for 2026 in time to successfully plan and run M-SHORE this summer. Disappointingly, we have thus decided to cancel the 2026 iteration of M-SHORE. We hope to be back for the summer of 2027.
The program is contingent on receiving funding for 2026. If we do not receive funding, the program will not run in 2026.
Any updates to our funding status will be posted here.
What application materials are required?
M-SHORE is using the NSF ETAP system for applications. You will need to create an account with NSF to apply. You may sign-in through your home institution.
In addition to basic contact and biographical information, applicants are required to upload three documents:
1) Personal statement of no more than 500 words. Use this statement to explain your interests in semiconductor technology and your career goals.
2) Unofficial transcript, including grades for the first academic term in the 2025-2026 school year
3) Resume or CV (2 page max). Please list any awards or scholarships you have received.
4) A letter of recommendation from a mentor, supervisor, or someone else who can speak to your abilities and character. Letters of recommendation are managed through the ETAP system.
When is the application deadline?
11:59 pm on January 21, 2026.
What are the academic eligibility requirements?
Applicants must be enrolled in an Associate’s Degree or Bachelor’s Degree program at a U.S. institution, including U.S. territories (Puerto Rico, Guam, etc.). Students who have already completed their bachelor’s degree or will complete it before the end of the program in August 2025 are not eligible.
In addition, students at U-M Ann Arbor are not eligible to apply. Applicants from U-M Flint and U-M Dearborn are welcome.
We encourage applications from the full spectrum of talent that the U.S. has to offer, including students at primarily undergraduate institutions (institutions with no PhD program), at community colleges, and at institutions with limited nanofabrication facilities.
In accordance with Michigan State Law and U.S. Federal Law, this program will not discriminate against nor give preference to any individual on the basis of religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), marital status, height, weight, or disability.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old by the start of the program.
What are the selection criteria?
The selection criteria are follows:
- Academic major, course relevance to the M-SHORE REU, and grades
- Willingness to perform hands-on research in a cleanroom environment
- Personal statement (documented interest and specificity to the M-SHORE REU, career goals, ability to communicate)
- Strength and specificity of the letter of recommendation
- Relevant information from resume such as prior jobs, research activities, extracurricular activities, and/or activities that demonstrate a sustained commitment to service.
- Preference will be given to applicants who do not have prior semiconductor cleanroom experience.
What topics should students address in their personal statement?
Please use the personal statement to explain your interests in semiconductor technology and in hands-on research in a cleanroom environment. Please describe your career goals. Finally, please address any aspects of the selection criteria that are not covered elsewhere in your application (i.e. in your CV, transcript, or letters).
Does my personal statement have to address all selection criteria?
We encourage all applicants to attempt to address all selection criteria. However, applicants weak in one criteria and strong in the others may still be competitive.
How should I submit recommendation letters?
All letters of recommendation will be submitted through ETAP. The ETAP system will allow you to send an invitation to your recommender via email and you can monitor if they have submitted their letter.
What if I need to edit my application?
Once you submit your application in the ETAP system, you will not be able to edit your application. If you need help, please email shore-reu@umich.edu.
Are the start and end dates flexible?
No, you need to be available full-time for the entire duration of the program.
I have a vacation/travel/other obligation scheduled on work days during the middle of the program. Is that OK?
No, you need to be available full-time for the entire duration of the program.
Can I list a faculty member who does not have a project listed?
Yes, you may list any faculty member at the University of Michigan who works in semiconductor technology. However, only the projects listed on the Project Descriptions page have been confirmed; there is no guarantee that a faculty not listed will have an open position for a summer undergraduate student or that we will have space in the REU program (which is limited to nine students per year) to accommodate their project. Therefore, you are encouraged to list at least one project from the published list.
Should I contact the faculty member before applying?
If you have a question about their project, feel free to reach out directly. However, most faculty are very busy and may not have time to respond to all inquiries. Once you are selected, we will work to match you with a project and faculty advisor.
Are there quotas for students?
No.
Can international students participate?
Our program is limited to US citizens, US nationals, and permanent residents. Applicants must be enrolled in an Associate’s Degree or Bachelor’s Degree program at a U.S. institution, including U.S. territories (Puerto Rico, Guam, etc.).
How is this program different from other summer undergraduate programs?
Our program is unique in that it is dedicated towards hands-on experiences in a cleanroom with semiconductor technology, an interdisciplinary field.
As a large institution, the University of Michigan has a large number of undergraduate research opportunities programs. These include the Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP), Community College Summer Fellowship Program (CCSFP), and a variety of NSF-sponsored REU programs including at the Physics and Chemistry Departments. Applicants are encouraged to apply for all programs that they are interested in. All programs are administered independently–applying to one program will not positively or negatively affect applications to a different program.
If I have previously participated in this M-SHORE REU, may I apply to participate a second year?
One of the goals of the M-SHORE REU is to provide a hands-on semiconductor-related research experience for students who have not yet had such an experience. A second goal is to increase the number of individuals who have access to this type of experience. Therefore, priority will be given to applicants who have not had such a research experience. Students who have already participated in our M-SHORE REU program are discouraged from applying again.
When will you begin sending out acceptance notifications?
We intend to begin sending out acceptance notifications beginning in March 2026, but this is contingent on funding being awarded by the National Science Foundation.
What if I have more questions?
Please email shore-reu@umich.edu.