Dream : DREAM Results : 2007 - 2009

DREAM Results

Over the last six years, the DREAM REU program has enabled 68 undergraduates to participate in a materials-related research experience at Drexel University. In addition to working directly with faculty and graduate mentors on their own research projects, the DREAM participants were instructed in appropriate lab safety methods and on all forms of technical communications. They visited national research laboratories and local industries, heard introductory lectures on advanced materials research topics, witnessed demos on high-end materials characterization equipment, heard a patent lecture, participated in a graduate school panel and a women in engineering panel discussion, and had lunch with the Dean of the College of Engineering. They were also exposed to arts and culture in Philadelphia.

The 68 DREAM participants hailed from 44 universities: Bloomsburg, Brigham Young, Bucknell, Burlington County CC, CMU, Cedar Crest College, William and Mary, Colorado College, Columbia University, Community College of Philadelphia, Cornell, Delaware State, Drexel, Duke, Florida IT, F. W. Olin, Iowa State, Lehigh, Lincoln, MIT, McGill, Montgomery College (a community college), NCSU, Ohio State, Penn State, Philadelphia University, Princeton, RPI, Rowan University, Swarthmore, Texas U. of Math and Science, Union College, U. Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, U. Mass Lowell, U. Mich. Ann Arbor, U. Penn, U. Texas at El Paso, Vanderbilt, Washington State, West Chester, WPI, and Youngstown State. A third of these students came from schools that do not offer graduate degrees in engineering.

Demographics of the DREAM REU participants. Notable are the large percent of Freshmen and Sophomores which is in line with the program focus and the favorable level of female student participation (53% in REU DREAM versus 43% in REU programs in general)

87% of REU DREAM alumni completed or are currently in or intend to pursue graduate school.