What’s Happening Today!

Welcome to a new & exciting daily drop from That Black Chemist! 

If you're a STEM undergrad looking for paid summer research, the Brandeis MRSEC REU might be your next big move. This $6,000 fully-funded research fellowship comes with housing, travel, and a spot in a cutting-edge materials science lab. Whether you're at a big-name school or a community college, this is a golden opportunity you don’t want to miss.

Next, Microsoft just revealed something straight out of a sci-fi movie: a quantum chip powered by exotic physics. Using particles first predicted in 1937 and highly stable materials, their Majorana 1 chip may be the key to unlocking powerful quantum computers.

Finally, let’s rewind to 1840, when a German scientist peered into a microscope at an earthworm and accidentally discovered hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying protein that makes your blood red and your body breathe.

Upcoming Opportunities

🧪 $6,000 Brandeis MSREC REU - Materials Science & Engineering Summer Fellowship

The Brandeis Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) offers a competitive 10-week summer research experience for undergraduates in biology, chemistry, physics, materials science, and related STEM fields. Participants are placed in MRSEC research labs and receive faculty mentorship, grad school prep, and professional development workshops, culminating in a poster presentation at the annual SciFest.

This NSF-funded REU supports students with a $6,000 stipend, free housing, and travel and meal allowances. Students from community colleges and underrepresented backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.

📅 Program Details

• Award: $6,000 stipend + housing, travel, and meal allowances

• Duration: June - August 2026 (~ 10 weeks)

• Location: Brandeis University (in-person)

• Includes: Mentorship, workshops, social events, SciFest poster session

• Application window: Fall 2025 - February 2026 (for summer 2026)

• Apply Here: [Website]

✅ Eligibility

• U.S. citizen or permanent resident

• 18+ years old

• Enrolled in an undergraduate program in a STEM-related major (community college students welcomed too)

• Must return to undergrad studies the semester after the REU

⚠️ 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)

• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Intrax Global Internships: STEM-focused internship program for international students hosted by the U.S. Department of State. (More info)

📤 Share This with a Friend in Need!

Like What You See? Subscribe for More Daily Content!

Scientist’s Scroll

💾 Microsoft’s Majorana Chip Pushes Boundaries of Quantum Physics

Backed by early NSF funding, theoretical physicist Chetan Nayak began exploring topological materials in the early 2000s. These materials have unusual surface properties that remain stable even when the material is bent or scratched. That stability could lead to qubits (the building blocks of quantum computers) that resist environmental disruption better than traditional designs.

At the heart of this technology is the Majorana fermion: a quasiparticle that doesn’t behave like anything in our everyday world. By cooling nanowires made of topological materials near absolute zero, Microsoft’s chip may create and control these particles in a form usable for quantum logic.

While the Majorana 1 is still in the early stages, it represents a new frontier in material-based quantum computing. With NSF support going back over two decades, this project is a testament to how risky, curiosity-driven research can one day fuel the next generation of transformative technologies.

🔗 Read the full article here —>

Tip of the Day

🔬 Choose the Right Research Group, Not Just the Right School

Getting into grad school is just step one. Success, sanity, and long-term career growth often hinge on who you work with, not just where you go. Here's how to be strategic when picking a lab:

• People > Prestige: A famous PI doesn’t always mean a healthy lab. Look for advisors who mentor, not just manage. A less flashy name with a solid support structure is often the smarter choice.

• Follow the Vibes: Talk to current grad students, especially the ones who aren’t near the PI when they speak. Do they feel supported, burned out, or valued? You’re joining a workplace, not just a lab.

• Paper Trail: Read recent papers from the lab. Do they match your interests and values? If students are listed as co-authors, that’s a green flag.

• Fit Over Fame: You’re not just choosing a project, you’re choosing a 4-7 year relationship. A healthy, intellectually curious, and respectful lab will grow you far more than clout will.

Subscribe to explore daily research opportunities!

Today’s Theme: Throwback Thursday

🩸 Hemoglobin: From Worm Blood to Nobel Prize

In 1840, German scientist F.L. Hünefeld spotted strange red crystals while studying earthworm blood under a microscope. He had unknowingly discovered hemoglobin, the protein responsible for transporting oxygen in the blood, though it wouldn’t get that name until 1864, when Hoppe-Seyler coined the term Haemoglobin.

Fast forward to 1935: Linus Pauling, an American biochemist, unveiled how hemoglobin changes shape when it binds oxygen—and in doing so, he uncovered the molecular basis of sickle cell anemia, launching the field of molecular medicine.

Finally, in 1962, Max Perutz and Sir John Kendrew won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for revealing the 3D structure of hemoglobin using X-ray crystallography, a milestone that connected biology, chemistry, and physics at the molecular level.

🔗 Read the full article here —>

📩 Like this post? Share it with a friend!

🤔 Got a news article or tip to share? Reply and I might feature it!

💰 Donate to support my project: ko-fi.com/thatblackchemist

📅 Subscribe to ‘That Black Chemist’ for more daily posts!

Recommended Newsletters

Thanks for Reading to the End!

If you enjoyed this article, you’ll enjoy these newsletters too!