The SURF (Summer Undergraduate Research at Florida) program is a partnership between the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering and Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) programs within individual departments at the University of Florida. The Summer 2026 SURF model will only be supporting students from REU programs. This includes UF engineering departments, faculty, and PIs who have already received a REU grant for a small cohort of students, or REU supplements for individual students. SURF and REU support provides the opportunity to work with a premier faculty adviser and a senior Ph.D. student and/or Postdoc mentor. Students will engage in research and spend in-depth time furthering their career path, which may include applying and enrolling in a Ph.D. program at the University of Florida.
Summer 2026 REU Programs Partnering with SURF (confirmed federal grant funding)
AHA CRSSTP: American Heart Association Cardiovascular Research Summer Scholar Training Program (5 to 6 students)
- Get exposure to a diverse array of projects related to utilizing engineering strategies to address challenges in vascular health
- Conduct meaningful hands-on research experience at the intersection of engineering and pathophysiology
- Develop innovative tools and novel techniques to advance research with potential for clinical translation
- Explore careers in the biomedical engineering ecosystem, including industry, healthcare professional degrees, and graduate school
- Interact with faculty mentors in Materials Science & Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, UF College of Medicine
Apply Here: https://www.eng.ufl.edu/graduate/surf-application/
Assured Autonomy and Networking REU (8 students)
- Work on real robots, real networks, and real impact. You’ll tackle cutting-edge problems in autonomous systems, AI/ML, wireless networking, and cybersecurity using the unique testbeds at UF’s Autonomy Park
- Experience truly interdisciplinary research. Projects blend control, machine learning, communications, formal methods, and security – perfect for students who like connecting ideas across engineering and computing fields
- Be mentored by a strong research team. You’ll work closely with faculty from four departments and trained graduate mentors who are invested in your growth as a researcher
- Build a standout research profile. Participants present their work, write research papers, and network with industry professionals – excellent preparation for graduate school or R&D careers
- Who should apply. All engineering and computing majors. Curious, motivated Juniors and Sophomores, especially students from underrepresented groups or non-research institutions – who want hands-on experience and are excited about safe, secure autonomous systems
Apply Here: https://etap.nsf.gov/award/8413/opportunity/11766
Astronomy REU
- Research Areas
- Galaxy Formation & Evolution
- Cosmology & Large Scale Structure
- Exoplanets
- Star Formation in the Milky Way & Nearby Galaxies
- The First Stars
- Compact Objects, & LIGO Electromagnetic Counterparts
- The Interstellar Medium
Engineering for Healthcare REU (10 students)
https://mae.ufl.edu/research/research-opportunities/reu-program-information/
- Experiential learning to participants on critical engineering challenges in healthcare
- Customized, hands-on research activities, guided by engineering mentors
- Gain or improve foundational research and other skills via training and workshops
- Learn about high-priority engineering challenges in healthcare via seminars and field trips to industry and medical/clinical facilities
- Disseminate research results
- Establish a long-lasting network of research peers
- Customizable to individuals in the program
- Preparation to explore research as a future career and make career decisions regarding industry, government laboratory/agency, graduate school or medical school
Apply Here: https://etap.nsf.gov/award/8308/opportunity/11410
NSF IoT4Ag ERC REU: Internet of Things for Precision Agriculture (3 students)
- Research to address the societal grand challenge of food, energy, and water security by advancing technologies that increase crop production, while minimizing the use of energy and water resources and the impact of agricultural practices on the environment
- Projects focus on the creation of internet of things (IoT) technologies from multi-mode distributive sensors, autonomous robotics, and energy and communication devices for field-scale operations to AI-driven digital twins of row and tree crops and human-centered decision-Ag interfaces for field management. These technologies will be integrated into systems that capture the microclimate and spatially, temporally, and compositionally map heterogeneous stresses for early detection of intervention to better outcomes in agricultural crop production
- Research spans range of disciplines from agronomy, agricultural engineering, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, environmental science, mechanical engineering, materials science, mechanical engineering, robotics, sensors, data science, and social sciences
Apply Here: https://www.eng.ufl.edu/graduate/surf-application/
USDA REEU: U.S. Department of Agriculture & National Institute of Food and Agriculture Research/Extension Program (8 – 12 students)
- Research Areas
- Circular Economy & Digitalization Skills
- Future Agricultural & Food Systems
- Research in Diverse Areas of Food Systems
Apply Here: https://cdskillsreeu.com/apply/