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The University of Southern Mississippi is now accepting applications for its 2026 Smart Polymer REU Program, where undergraduates can spend 10 weeks developing next-generation responsive materials. With projects spanning self-healing plastics, adaptive hydrogels, and stimuli-sensitive coatings, students will gain hands-on lab experience while earning a stipend and professional development opportunities that prepare them for graduate school and careers in materials science.

Meanwhile, astronomers studying the giant molecular cloud Sagittarius B2 have detected complex organic molecules that may hold clues to life’s chemical origins. By peering into this stellar nursery near the Milky Way’s center, researchers are uncovering how the building blocks of biology can emerge in interstellar space, bringing us one step closer to understanding our cosmic beginnings.

Upcoming Opportunities

🧪 Smart Polymer Composite Materials & Structures REU

Undergraduates can join a 10-week summer research experience exploring cutting-edge polymer composites and structural materials. Students will work under faculty mentors across chemistry, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, and computer science while gaining hands-on lab training, professional development, facility tours, and opportunities to present their research.

📅 Program Details

• Application Deadline: March 2026 (applications accepted until spots are filled; March 8 final consideration)

• Program Dates: May – August 2026

• Location: On-campus (details provided to selected students)

• Stipend & Support: $7,000 stipend, on-campus housing, travel reimbursement, dining card, summer conference opportunities

• Apply Here: [Website]

✅ Eligibility

• U.S. citizen or permanent resident

• Enrolled in a 2- or 4-year undergraduate program

• Minimum GPA: 3.0

• Strong interest in research and/or pursuing graduate school in your major

⚠️ Bonus Opportunities You Should Know

• 🧪 NSF REU Summer Research Programs: List of funded undergrad research programs. (Search here)

• 🎓 Zintellect: List of scholarships, research fellowships, and internship opportunities funded by the U.S. government or private sector. (Search here)

• 💰 NASA OSTEM Internships: List of NASA Internships for high school and undergraduate STEM students. (More info)

• 🪖 Department of Defense (DoD) SMART Scholarship: $30,000-$46,000 scholarship awarded to top STEM students. (Link)

🌍 International Opportunities

• 🧲 Pathways to Science: List of upcoming internships, scholarships, and research programs hosted by any country [open to international students]. (Search here)

• 🔬 Amgen Scholars Program: Prestigious summer research program for undergraduate students in the U.S., Europe, or Asia. (More info)

• ⚛️ European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN): Search for any upcoming internships related to chemistry, physics, engineering, or data science! (Link here)

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Scientist’s Scroll

🌌 Webb Reveals Star-Birthing Secrets in Sagittarius B2

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has captured unprecedented views of Sagittarius B2, the Milky Way’s most massive and active star-forming region. Using its NIRCam and MIRI instruments, Webb pierced dense cosmic clouds to reveal clusters of massive young stars and glowing dust, while also highlighting dark, gas-rich cocoons where stars are still forming.

Despite holding just 10% of the galactic center’s gas, Sagittarius B2 generates half of its stars. The new images will help researchers probe how long star formation has been underway and why this region is far more active than its surroundings. Webb’s observations are reshaping our understanding of stellar nurseries and raising new questions about the forces that drive galactic evolution.

🔗 Read the full article here —>

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Tip of the Day

📚 Study Before Classes Start: Set the Stage for Success

Getting a head start doesn’t mean burning out—it means easing the transition and boosting your confidence:

• Preview the Material: Skim syllabi, textbooks, or lecture slides to spot recurring themes and key concepts.

• Build a Foundation: Review prerequisite topics (math, chemistry, coding, etc.) so you’re not relearning under pressure.

• Create a System Early: Set up digital or paper note-taking, calendars, and study spaces before assignments pile up.

• Practice Lightly: Work through a few problems or readings to spark memory and reduce the first-week shock.

• Stay Balanced: Use this time for low-stress prep, not perfection—your goal is momentum, not mastery.

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Today’s Theme: Meme Monday

Because Mondays suck, here are three science memes to make you laugh!

👇🏾 Vote for your favorite in the comments or share with a lab mate!

🧪 Meme #1

🔬 Meme #2

🥼 Meme #3

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