The 2026 M-SHORE REU projects will address key societal needs that can be met by semiconductor materials and device innovation such as: photocatalysis for solar fuels and carbon sequestration needed to mitigate the effects of climate change; new materials and integration methods to achieve nanoscale control of electronic properties for the next generation of computational circuits and high-resolution sensors; and innovation in photonics circuits and efficient power conversion devices to reduce global energy consumption.
Thrust Area: Quantum and Photonic Devices
Project 1: Programmable Control of Quantum Integrated Photonic Chips (Prof. Zheshen Zhang, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science)
Silicon nitride (Si3N4) quantum photonic integrated chips (QPICs) offer ultra-low photonic losses enabling new paradigms for photonic quantum information processing systems. This project aims to develop a programmable control system—comprising both hardware (electrical I/O interfaces) and software (control codes)—to actively detune, and stabilize functional components integrated on Si3N4 QPICs. REU students will participate in both the hardware and software development aspects of this project. In addition to QPIC fabrication, they will gain hands-on experience in cutting-edge quantum PICs, including device testing, quantum system calibration, and data-driven feedback control. Specifically, the REU student will lead the development of programmable control software using Python, with a focus on open-source frameworks and feedback-compensation algorithms. These tools will be used to extract measurement data and guide design optimizations of the Si3N4 QPICs.
Project 2: Metasurface Design and Fabrication for Neutral Atom Experiments (Prof. Alexander Burgers, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science)
Studying the fundamental controllability and coherence of the atoms is essential in the pursuit of quantum computing, sensing, and communication. This project is focused on optical metasurfaces, which enabled the engineering of an arbitrary diffraction-limited focal spot pattern, which can be used for trapping neutral atoms without the need for bulky free-space optical components. This REU project will enable students to learn Lumerical software for designing metasurfaces and access a cleanroom to fabricate these devices. After fabrication, the students will characterize these devices using an optical system that they help set up. Students will gain experience in modeling, nanofabrication, and optics setups. Furthermore, the REU student will gain valuable exposure to quantum information science, which can inform their future research interests.
Project 3: Photonic crystal nanobeam cavities (Prof. Parag Deotare, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science)
Building hybrid quantum information systems requires transduction between radio frequency (RF) signals and optical photons. This project focuses on designing and fabricating photonic crystal nanobeam cavities that are optimized for RF/optical transduction with quality factors (Qs) of ~106. Nanobeam photonic crystal cavities have orders of magnitude smaller mode volumes compared to ring resonators, thereby improving the coupling rate between RF and optical fields, resulting in 100 – 1000 times larger conversion The REU student will gain hands-on experience in the design of these cavities using commercial software, in nanofabrication processes, and in preliminary characterization.
Project 4: Integrated photonic micro-ring resonators for sensor applications (Prof. L. Jay Guo, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science)
Micro-ring resonator arrays are an important integrated optical element due to their exceptional capability to process multiplexed signals. By precisely tuning the radius of each micro-ring at the nanometer scale, these arrays can generate distinct resonant wavelengths within a narrow wavelength range. This precision allows for dense wavelength division multiplexing, which is pivotal in increasing the capacity and speed of optical communication systems. The REU project will focus on acoustic and ultrasound detection using nanoimprinted polymer microring resonators. The REU student will test a variety of polymers to improve detection sensitivity for signal modulation applications.
Thrust Area: High Temperature or High Voltage Devices
Project 5: High-Performance Ferroelectric Nitride Memory Devices Operating at Harsh Environment (Prof. Zetian Mi, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science)
As microelectronic systems are increasingly deployed in harsh environments ranging from aerospace and defense to high-power and high-temperature industrial applications, the demand for non-volatile memory (NVM) technologies that can operate reliably under extreme conditions has become critical. Current NVM solutions, particularly those based on HfO2 ferroelectric memory, suffer from inherent thermal instability due to the metastable nature of their ferroelectric phases, significantly limiting their applicability in mission-critical and high-temperature systems. A promising alternative is single-crystalline ferroelectric ScAlN. To improve heat dissipation and scalability, we propose developing a 3D fin structure that offers enhanced gate electrostatic control and superior thermal dissipation capabilities. This REU project will investigate selective area growth (SAG) of ferroelectric ScAlN/AlGaN/GaN epitaxial layers in fin geometries. The REU student will also support efforts to develop high-performance ferroelectric ScAlN/AlGaN/GaN FinHEMTs capable of stable operation at extreme temperatures (e.g., beyond 600 °C), a regime where current memory technologies fail to operate reliably.
Project 6: Electrochemical ion intercalation into 2D materials (Prof. Yiyang Li, Materials Science and Engineering)
Electrochemical intercalation is a widely applicable method for creating diverse functional devices, including batteries, electrochromics, and neuromorphic computing. In this project, the student will study how the intercalation of guest ions like lithium and sodium into 2D materials can be used to control their electronic properties. The student will use the LNF to design and fabricate microelectrodes, and then exfoliate 2D materials onto these microelectrodes to enable the insertion and removal of lithium and sodium. The student will investigate how the electronic and optical properties of the 2D materials change with ion insertion. This project is ideally suited for students with interest in both materials chemistry and electronic engineering.
Project 7: Fabrication of Efficient and Scalable Thermophotovoltaic Modules (Prof. Andrej Lenert, Chemical Engineering)
Thermophotovoltaic (TPV) cells use infrared radiation from a nearby heat source to generate electricity. Advancements in TPV technology at the University of Michigan over the past decade have led to the design of TPV cells with a world-record efficiency of 44%. To scale-up single cells into functional panels, the cells must be interconnected into one electrical system called a module. In this project, the REU student will help develop an interconnection process for TPV cells that minimizes the spacing between cells to maximize the amount of active area, or the geometric fill factor, for a module. The student will deposit a conformal polymer film, serving as an insulating barrier between the active regions of the devices and the conductive interconnects, and then deposit and pattern layers of metal to bridge the cells’ exposed top contacts to the rear contacts on neighboring cells. The student will leverage a suite of metrology and device characterization techniques within the LNF and the TPV research labs to evaluate the outcomes of the process development and ultimately achieve a key milestone in the TPV community.
Project 8: Selective-area p-type doping for high power electronics (Prof. Rachel Goldman, Materials Science and Engineering)
Due to their wide bandgap, low turn-on resistance, and high breakdown voltage, GaN-based electronics are promising for high-power and high-frequency applications. Furthermore, vertical GaN p-i-n devices are expected to provide improved thermal management and reduced leakage current compared to lateral devices. For this purpose, high efficiency p-type doping methods with both lateral and vertical selectivity are needed. Building upon the studies of M-SHORE REU alumni, the REU student will build p-n and p-i-n diodes using the combined Mg nano-implantation plus ultra-high pressure annealing approach. In addition, the REU student will participate in the integration of Mg focused-ion-beam into molecular-beam epitaxial growth processes. Working on a discrete subset of a larger project, the REU student will have the opportunity to make important contributions to the development of game-changing technologies for high power electronics.
Project 9: High voltage power devices made using germanium-tin dioxide semiconductors (Prof. Becky Peterson, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science)
Wide bandgap (~3 eV) semiconductors such as GaN and SiC have been commercialized for numerous power electronics applications including power inverters in electrified vehicles and fast AC to DC charging. To make electronics that work at even higher voltages and powers, we need ultra-wide bandgap (UWBG) semiconductors (~4.5eV+), such as germanium tin dioxide or (Sn,Ge)O2. In this project, the REU student will work with a graduate student in Peterson’s group to deposit germanium tin dioxide films using CVD and use cleanroom equipment to make electronic test structures and devices such as diodes and transistors. The REU student will learn how to use numerous nanofabrication tools (no prior knowledge is assumed), and will perform materials analysis and electrical characterization. The project will contribute significantly to advancing (Sn,Ge)O2 as an UWBG material for future high voltage and high power electronics.
Disclaimer: Please note these are generalized project descriptions and actual projects will depend on the needs of the PI and the direction of their research at the beginning of the program.