{"id":247,"date":"2025-08-19T18:28:07","date_gmt":"2025-08-19T22:28:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/?page_id=247"},"modified":"2025-12-09T12:36:56","modified_gmt":"2025-12-09T17:36:56","slug":"program-overview","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/program-overview\/","title":{"rendered":"Program Overview"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>In summer 2025, the University of Rhode Island Plastics Initiative NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) welcomed ten exceptional undergraduate students from across the United States. Over the course of ten weeks, students conducted cutting-edge research, developed professional skills, and experienced coastal Rhode Island through academic, cultural, and social activities. <a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/apply-now\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"314\">Apply now <\/a>for our 2026 program. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Research<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Students worked alongside URI faculty and graduate student mentors on a range of research projects addressing the challenges of plastics and sustainability. Each student was immersed in a hands-on research project, gaining experience in experimental design, data collection, and analysis while contributing to ongoing research surrounding plastics and sustainability. Our faculty mentors come from six different departments in three colleges across the university, bringing an interdisciplinary approach to the problem of plastic pollution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"955\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/Alex1-955x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-252\" style=\"width:331px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/Alex1-955x1024.jpg 955w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/Alex1-280x300.jpg 280w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/Alex1-768x823.jpg 768w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/Alex1-1433x1536.jpg 1433w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/Alex1-1911x2048.jpg 1911w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/Alex1-364x390.jpg 364w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/Alex1-500x536.jpg 500w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/Alex1-1000x1072.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/Alex1-1280x1372.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/Alex1-2000x2144.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/Alex1-2560x2744.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/Alex1-scaled.jpg 2388w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 955px) 100vw, 955px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Projects spanned four major focus areas:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Developing novel tools for detecting plastics<\/strong>&nbsp;across scales, from visible debris to microscopic particles.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Exploring methods for removing and recycling plastics<\/strong>, including innovative approaches to wastewater treatment and reuse in construction materials.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Studying the ecological and human health impacts of plastics<\/strong>, from marine organisms to advanced biomedical models.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Investigating societal and economic interventions<\/strong>, including consumer behavior, policy, and market-based solutions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Benefits<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Students in the program received: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Free room and board on campus in the <a href=\"https:\/\/events.uri.edu\/international_engineering_house_iep\">IEP Housing Complex<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Stipend of $7,000<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Up to $500 for travel expenses to and from campus <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>RIPTA local bus pass and\/or free on-campus parking for a personal vehicle<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Professional Development<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The REU emphasized building skills for future academic and career success. Highlights included:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Graphic Design, Visual Communication, and Scientific Posters Workshop at the Rhode Island School of Design, preparing students for poster presentations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Exploring Graduate School Options seminar with URI College of Engineering Career Specialist Lauren Creamer.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Additional workshops on scientific communication, 3D visualization, and technical skills, offered through the Rhode Island IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (RI-INBRE).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Opportunities to attend a professional conference, the Circularity Conference of the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists held at URI. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Students could customize their professional development experiences to align with their individual educational goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Presentations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Throughout the program, students refined their science communication skills by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Delivering mid-program research updates.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Presenting final research talks to faculty, mentors, and community members.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Showcasing their work at the Rhode Island Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium (RI-SURS), an event drawing over 400 attendees from across the state.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Click <a href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/?page_id=274\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"274\">here<\/a> to view the posters created by the 2025 cohort. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"711\" data-id=\"253\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/1754316208878-1024x711.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-253\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/1754316208878-1024x711.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/1754316208878-300x208.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/1754316208878-768x533.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/1754316208878-1536x1066.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/1754316208878-364x253.jpeg 364w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/1754316208878-500x347.jpeg 500w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/1754316208878-1000x694.jpeg 1000w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/1754316208878-1280x888.jpeg 1280w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/1754316208878-2000x1388.jpeg 2000w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/1754316208878.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"254\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/1754316215667-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-254\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/1754316215667-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/1754316215667-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/1754316215667-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/1754316215667-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/1754316215667-364x273.jpeg 364w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/1754316215667-500x375.jpeg 500w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/1754316215667-1000x750.jpeg 1000w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/1754316215667-1280x960.jpeg 1280w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/1754316215667-2000x1500.jpeg 2000w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/1754316215667.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Field Trips<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The REU also brought research to life through immersive field trips, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A visit to the Mystic Aquarium, where the URI REU students met the Mystic Aquarium REU students, shared their research, and explored aquarium exhibits.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tour of Field\u2019s Point Wastewater Treatment Plant, a behind-the-scenes look at urban water infrastructure in Providence.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Beach cleanup at Black Point Trailhead, collecting plastic samples and logging pollution data.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"256\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/1753279849657-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-256\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/1753279849657-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/1753279849657-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/1753279849657-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/1753279849657-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/1753279849657-364x273.jpeg 364w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/1753279849657-500x375.jpeg 500w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/1753279849657-1000x750.jpeg 1000w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/1753279849657-1280x960.jpeg 1280w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/1753279849657-2000x1500.jpeg 2000w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/1753279849657.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"255\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/1753723668993-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-255\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/1753723668993-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/1753723668993-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/1753723668993-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/1753723668993-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/1753723668993-364x273.jpeg 364w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/1753723668993-500x375.jpeg 500w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/1753723668993-1000x750.jpeg 1000w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/1753723668993-1280x960.jpeg 1280w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/1753723668993-2000x1500.jpeg 2000w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/1753723668993.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Community and Social Activities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>All students lived on campus in the TI House. Outside the lab, students built friendships and explored Rhode Island through activities such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A Newport Gulls baseball game.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A day trip to Block Island.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Visits to local beaches.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"659\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/1750101124575.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-257\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/1750101124575.jpeg 800w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/1750101124575-300x247.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/1750101124575-768x633.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/1750101124575-364x300.jpeg 364w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2218\/1750101124575-500x412.jpeg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Apply? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The URI Plastics Initiative REU offers undergraduate students a unique opportunity to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Engage in meaningful research on plastics and sustainability.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Develop professional skills for graduate school and STEM careers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Connect with peers, mentors, and a vibrant scientific community.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Experience the culture, beauty, and resources of Rhode Island.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Applications for Summer 2026 will open this winter. To subscribe to future updates, contact us at plastics@etal.uri.edu. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In summer 2025, the University of Rhode Island Plastics Initiative NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) welcomed ten exceptional undergraduate students from across the United States. Over the course of ten weeks, students conducted cutting-edge research, developed professional skills, and experienced coastal Rhode Island through academic, cultural, and social activities. Apply now for our 2026 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5039,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-247","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/247","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5039"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=247"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/247\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":329,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/247\/revisions\/329"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/plastics-reu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=247"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}