The Department of Computer and Information Sciences in Temple’s College of Science and Technology has received a grant from the National Science Foundation to bring top undergraduate students in computer-related disciplines to Temple for a summer research experience.

The three-year, $319,932 Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) grant will support 10 undergraduate students for eight weeks, during which students will work with Temple faculty on research projects in mobile computing, wireless communication and cloud computing. The grant includes funding from the U.S. Department of Defense’s Awards to Stimulate and Support Undergraduate Research Experiences (ASSURE) program.

Chiu Tan, assistant research professor in computer and information sciences and the principal investigator on the grant, said that the grant will allow students to come to Temple to get “hands-on” research experience and use equipment and resources which they may not have access to at their own schools.

“Research equipment is expensive and there are some universities that don’t have the equipment and resources that we have available at Temple,” he said.

CIS professor and chair Jie Wu, a co-principal investigator on the grant, said that attracting the top computer students from around the country and providing them with a rewarding research experience could ultimately lead to some of those students considering Temple for graduate school.

The competitive program, which is also open to Temple students, begins this summer and will run from May 27 to July 25. Eligible students must be either a junior or senior, a U.S. citizen and permanent resident, as well as majoring in the fields of computer science, information science, computer engineering, electrical engineering or other computer-related discipline.

The 10 selected students will receive transportation, living costs and a $4,000 stipend.