This program offers interdisciplinary research experiences at the forefront of the chemical sciences. Although our faculty research groups are grounded in "traditional" areas of chemistry (analytical, inorganic, organic, physical), most of their research projects cross boundaries between these areas. A unique aspect of our REU program is that all projects will involve collaboration between two or more research groups, including both experimental and computational researchers, drawing on UNT's world-class resources in both instrumentation and high-performance computing. Possible research areas include:

Light-Harvesting Organic/Metal-Organic Materials * Computational Catalyst Design * Transition Metal Catalysis for Organic Synthesis * Electrochemical Characterization of Semiconductor Materials * Porous Materials for Environmental Remediation * Gas-Sensing Materials * Pharmacological Modeling of Illicit Substances * Organometallic Precursors for Electronic Materials * Computational Biochemistry * Corrosion-Protective Materials

In addition to a meaningful research experience, this program includes a career program involving career-active researchers at major international chemical companies, tours of local companies to see how chemistry plays a role, "hands-on" learning experiences and training in scientific communication (written and verbal), "Research Boot Camps" providing intensive training in computational and experimental research methods, and a scientific ethics component.

We strive to provide an immersive research experience combined with valuable career training.

Early application is encouraged, as we anticipate heavy interest in this unique program.

Eligibility Requirements

• Applicants must be U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or U.S. permanent residents
• Applicants should be majoring in Chemistry or a closely related discipline
• Applicants should have an interest in pursuing a research career in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics) field
• Applicants must be classified as undergraduate students before and for a full year after program participation
• Participants must be available full-time for the duration of the program, from start to finish, and must live on the UNT campus in housing provided by the REU program
• One of your reference letters should be from a faculty member at your institution who commits to mentoring you in research for the academic year after the summer program
• Preference is given to students who have completed no more than two years of college
• Students from federally designated Hispanic Serving Institutions in Texas are especially encouraged to apply

Application Documents

• Personal Statement - a short statement discussing research interests and career goals
• Transcripts - please upload a copy of your current transcript
• 2 Recommenders - At least two recommendations must be provided by university faculty in the sciences (such as Chemistry, Biology or Mathematics). An optional third letter can be included from anyone outside this group, but must describe the applicant's potential for research. Please note that the two recommendations from university faculty must come from your course instructors (past or present) and/or research advisors, not academic advisors, lab instructors, employers, etc. Please also note that Post-Doctoral Fellows are not considered university faculty. Recommenders will be emailed a link to the online recommendation form.

Our Program begins with an arrival date of May 17, 2026 to campus. The program is 10 weeks from May 17, 2026 to July 24, 2026 for Summer 2026.

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