The Center for Undergraduate Research (CUGR) at the University of Maine facilitates faculty-mentored research, scholarship, and creative activities for undergraduate students across all academic disciplines since its inception in 2008. Additionally, the CUGR office plans and organizes the UMaine Student Symposium for Research and Creative Activity (UMSS).
- Fellowships & Research Experiences
- Maine Space Grant Consortium (MSGC) Research Experiences
- Final Report Guidelines/Upload
- Research Scholar Micro-Credentials
- EPIC Certificate
- INT 125 -an introductory course for students from any degree program, featuring applied problem-solving and highlighting resources available through our cooperating organizations.
- External Research Opportunities
Available Research and Creative Projects Board
Faculty Member: Ayesha Siddique Faculty Department: Electrical and Computer Engineering
Location: UMaine Campus
Description: Artificial intelligence (AI) systems often face challenges related to reliability, security, and energy efficiency, especially in modern deep learning models and large language models (LLMs). These challenges often limit the practical deployment of AI in real-world applications such as autonomous cars and healthcare. In this project, we will develop advanced fault mitigation and adversarial defense methods to ensure robustness and trustworthiness.
This is: CUGR Fellowship Opportunity (opportunity to turn experience into a CUGR Fellowship proposal, Unpaid
How to apply: Please send an email to ayesha.siddique@maine.edu with the subject line Undergraduate Research – CUGR. Please include: 1. A brief statement (3–5 sentences) about why you are interested in this project and any previous experience with Python, Verilog/ VHDL, and AI/ML. 2. Resume/ CV 3. Availability during the semester and summer
Faculty Member: Vikas Dhiman Faculty Department: Electrical and Computer Engineering
Location: UMaine Campus
Description: Graduate students in CVAR lab are working on improving navigation algorithms on delivery robots. We need undergraduate help to investigate, implement, evaluate and compare algorithms, document their failure modes. Additional details about experiments will be decided and communicated along the course of the project. The undergraduate student should be willing to learn Python and ROS, see the video below for the recent algorithms that we will be replicating on our in-house robots.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zH8LaIapF6w
This is: Unpaid, CUGR Fellowship Opportunity (opportunity to turn experience into a CUGR Fellowship Proposal)
How to apply: Please email vikas.dhiman@maine.edu
– Indicate in the subject your interest in CUGR Proposal
– Mention any programming experience you may have
Faculty Member: Jaime Garzon Faculty Department: Cooperative Extension
Location: UMaine Campus
Description: The forage projects include several trials evaluating the performance, nutritive value, and ecosystem services provided by grasses and legumes of livestock interest in the Maine industry. Students will assist with field sampling and sample processing. They can also participate in forage/livestock extension events if interested. This is an appropriate work for students interested in learning about the forage industry and research in Maine, closely related to livestock, equine, and small ruminant operations, and to environmental science, especially directed toward soil health.
This is: Paid
How to apply: Email jaime.garzon@maine.edu
Faculty Member: Vikas Dhiman Faculty Department: Electrical and Computer Engineering
Location: UMaine Campus
Description: As a part of UMaine Ballooning program (http://www.umhab.org/), we send balloons to space and we need help to setup the payload, set up trackers launch the balloon and retrieve the payload. This typically happens during September, October, April and during May. This is a paid position with hours contributed on the balloon launch date.
This is: Paid
How to apply: Email vikas.dhiman@maine.edu, reason@maine.edu with your CV and UMHAB CUGR in the subject
Faculty Member: Zhangyu Wang Faculty Department: Computing and Information Sciences
Location: UMaine Campus
Description: AI is increasingly used to solve problems on Earth. For example, computer vision is commonly used to analyze remote sensing images, and Transformers are used to model long-term carbon emission fluctuations. How to properly model the geospatial factors in these AI models, however, remains an open and cutting-edge research question. The SIT (Spatial Info-Telligence) Lab led by Prof. Zhangyu Wang offers undergrad research opportunities to allow motivated students to work on machine learning and deep learning models that directly solve forestry, remote sensing, climate change and other geoscience problems. Solid Python programming skills and basic machine learning/deep learning knowledge are preferred.
This is: Paid, CUGR Fellowship Opportunity (opportunity to turn experience into a CUGR Fellowship proposal)
How to apply: Send an email with a brief introduction of your background and research interest to zhangyu.wang@maine.edu
Faculty Member: Dawn Emerson Faculty Department: Kinesiology and Physical Education
Location: UMaine Campus
Description: Looking for students to be involved with different studies on exertional heat stroke risk factors! One project involves developing and reviewing a survey on risk factors for individuals who had an exertional heat stroke. Students can help with finalizing and piloting the survey. We plan to collect data within the next year. Two other projects include literature searches and writing review papers on how mental health medications affect physiological responses related to thermoregulation and water/electrolyte balance. Tasks include finding and reviewing literature. Students may be involved with the writing process as well. Two other projects are on heat illness concerns among marching band artists. One study is finalizing a heat acclimatization protocol and guidelines for activity in the heat specific to marching band. The second study is related to the thermal resistance of marching band uniforms and how this can impact someone’s heat strain.
This is: Unpaid
How to apply: Please reach out to Dr. Dawn Emerson – dawn.m.emerson@maine.edu if you are interested in any of the studies. Individuals with all experience levels with research are encouraged. Whether you are just looking to get involved and gain some research experience or have previous experience and looking for something new or interesting, feel free to reach out.
Faculty Member: Juan Romero Faculty Department: Animal and Veterinary Sciences
Location: UMaine Campus
Description: Attending sheep, lab analysis related to animal metabolism
This is: Paid
How to apply: Email juan.romero@maine.edu
Faculty Member: Michael Wilczek Faculty Department: Northeastern University, The Roux Institute UMaine Faculty Partner: Faculty Department:
Location: Remote
Description: This student will work on interface design and develop 3D models for activities in Augmented Reality (AR)/ Virtual Reality (VR) related to STEM fields, specifically Biology. The goal of this project is to create an immersive learning environment that teaches students gene expression, sequencing, or other molecular techniques and concepts. The candidate should possess strong personal motivation, exhibit initiative and creativity, display strong written and communication skills, and have effective problem-solving capabilities. The student should be well-versed in biological concepts and have a creative lens. The student does not need to be efficient in 3D model development programs like Blender or Unity, but the willingness and motivation to learn these programs are required.
This is a: CUGR Fellowship opportunity (opportunity to turn experience into a CUGR Fellowship proposal)
How to apply: Email Michael Wilczek at m.wilczek@northeastern.edu with resume/ CV attached to the email
Faculty Member: Nicholas May Faculty Department: Communication Sciences and Disorders
Location: UMaine Campus
Description: Seeking assistance from UMaine engineering students with a background in 3D modeling (SolidWorks) and printing for voice research. This particular research project will involve the development of a novel vocal fold model mounting structure that allows for: 1) changes in medio-lateral adduction (via changing anterior-posterior vocal fold angle in one or both folds), 2) changes to longitudinal tension, 3) changes to vertical height in one or both folds, and 4) maintenance of an air-tight seal between the vocal fold mount and sub-glottal (tracheal) and supra-glottal (vocal tract) tubes. The overarching objective would be to imitate the degrees of freedom (control) of the human vocal folds as realistically as possible. A more detailed problem statement can be provided upon request. Pay cannot currently be offered (although this may change if grant funding can be secured); however, authorship on conference presentations and research papers may be offered depending on the level of student involvement.
This is a: CUGR Fellowship opportunity (opportunity to turn experience into a CUGR Fellowship proposal); Unpaid
How to apply: Contact Dr. May at Nicholas.a.may@maine.edu
Faculty Member: Juan Romero Faculty Department: Animal and Veterinary Sciences
Location: UMaine Campus
Description: Support research activities in the lab and field related to PFAS in livestock and hay spoilage
This is a: Paid Position. The starting hourly rate of $16.00 per hour, which can go as high as $20 per hour as students gain experience with our projects.
How to apply: Email juan.romero@maine.edu.
Faculty Member: Vikas Dhiman Faculty Department: Electrical and Computer Engineering
Location: UMaine Campus
Description: We need students to program, maintain, upgrade and fix robots so we can try new algorithms on them. We have a lot of new algorithms that we are developing. The specific tasks include maintaining specific robots:
1. Programming and maintaining Drone with a multi-spectral spectral camera: We have a drone with a multi-spectral camera attached to it. You will be trained to become an expert at flying that drone and fixing it if it falls and breaks a component or two. Also, you would create a replica of the drone so that we have a backup drone.
2. Programming and maintaining 4WD rover: We have a small rover that can navigate autonomously. You will make navigation more robust so that the robot can traverse anywhere in Barrows hall with just audio commands.
This is a: CUGR Fellowship Opportunity (opportunity to turn experience into a CUGR Fellowship proposal); Unpaid
How to apply: Send vikas.dhiman@maine.edu an email with why they are interested in this position, and their CV.
Faculty Member: Morgan Talty Faculty Department: English
Location: Remote
Description: The project is the foundation of a Virtual Creative Writing Hub that helps readers, writers, and the community come together to celebrate literature and writing.
Marketing and Content Assistant Structure: Work Hours: Part-time, 12-15 hours per week. Supervision: Reports to the Marketing and Content Manager. Training: Training on content creation, social media tools, and basic research methods.
Duties:
Marketing Responsibilities: Create and schedule social media posts to promote events and services. Monitor social media engagement and respond to comments. Draft content for newsletters, blogs, and promotional emails.
Content Responsibilities: Conduct research on literary topics and industry trends. Assist in writing, editing, and proofreading articles and educational materials. Help curate and create content for blogs, newsletters, and social media.
Learning Opportunities: Develop skills in content creation and digital marketing. Gain experience in research and audience engagement. Improve communication and organizational abilities.
This is a: Paid; Work-Study; CUGR Fellowship Opportunity (opportunity to turn experience into a CUGR Fellowship proposal); Unpaid
How to apply: Contact Morgan Talty at morgan.talty@maine.edu
Faculty Member: Qing Jin Faculty Department: School of Food and Agriculture
Location: UMaine Campus
Description: Successful students will work on either 1) developing economic viable and environmentally friendly processing technologies to produce value-added bioproducts; 2) developing sustainable food packaging materials.
This is a: Paid
How to apply: Interested applicants are encouraged to reach out to Dr. Qing Jin (qing.jin@maine.edu) for detailed information. Please include your resume or CV or a brief self-introduction.
Faculty Member: Daniel Puhlman Faculty Department: Child and Family Studies
Location: UMaine Campus
Description: I am looking for students who are interested in studying families to get involved with the Parenting Relationships Research Lab. I have several projects going forward that include coding, participant recruitment, and data analysis. If you are interested in learning about research on families and parents this is the place for you! The key projects in the lab are focused on the intersection of technology and parenting experiences. Current projects are related to Artificial Intelligence and Video games. Students can also engage take CHF 496 Field Experience and earn up to 6 credits for participating in the lab!
This is a: CUGR Fellowship opportunity (opportunity to turn experience into a CUGR fellowship proposal); Unpaid
How to apply: Please send an email to Dr. Dan at Daniel.puhlman@maine.edu for more information.
Faculty Member: Greg Nelson Faculty Department: Computing and Information Science
Location: Remote
Description: Our lab mission at the You Empowering Sustainable Systems (YESS) lab is to empower you to design and build better tools and communities that you find meaningful, in an environment that helps us all grow and become who we want to be. Ongoing projects include 1) designing and building better tools for AI, learning and doing computing, student agency and voice, professional skills, and sustainability, and 2) understanding the effects of generative AI tools on people, learning, careers, and professional identity. Here are some more details on projects going on in the lab: 1) Building and designing better and more learnable tools and interfaces for generative AI that center human needs and values 2) Building and designing tools and processes for learners to have more agency and voice to improve their education and learning communities 3) Building tools and learning communities that center and embrace neurodiversity and disabled people 4) Improving learning of professional skills, such as reflection, continuous improvement, and meta-cognition, including tools and learning activities 5) Building better tools for learning programming and AI 6) Understanding the effects of generative AI tools on people, learning, careers, and professional identity 7) Sustainable computing for justice 8) What else would you like to design, make, and/or understand that you would find meaningful and could have a significant positive impact?
This is a: Paid, CUGR Fellowship opportunity (opportunity to turn experience into a CUGR Fellowship proposal), Unpaid
How to apply: Visit this link: https://forms.gle/HBjw5VhBahmFuZNM8
Faculty Member: Michael Wilczek Faculty Department: Northeastern University, The Roux Institute UMaine Faculty Partner: Caitlin Howell Faculty Department: Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
Location: Remote
Description: The project’s primary goal is to learn how to structure and analyze large datasets, specifically viral genomes isolated from patients, to determine disease outcomes. The student will plot the data, perform statistical measures, and determine associations between disease outcome and exposure. The student will use the programming language R and learn other bioinformatic analyses, like alignment and entropy analysis. The candidate should possess strong personal motivation, exhibit initiative and creativity, display strong written and communication skills, and practical problem-solving capabilities. Being proficient in a coding language (R, MATLAB, Python, C++, etc.) is not a requirement, but the willingness and motivation to learn the coding language is required.
This is a: CUGR Fellowship opportunity (opportunity to turn experience into a CUGR Fellowship proposal)
How to apply: Email Michael Wilczek at m.wilczek@northeastern.edu with resume/ CV attached to the email
Faculty Member: Zihan Wu Faculty Department: School of Computing and Information Science
Location: Remote
Description: You will have the opportunity to design and develop AI-supported learning tools, understand learnings/educators, and conduct evaluations with real users to see how we can help people learn better.
This is a: Paid, CUGR Fellowship opportunity (opportunity to turn experience into a CUGR Fellowship proposal)
How to apply: They should read Dr. Zihan Wu’s website to gain a better understanding of the type of work that she does, and apply by filling out the interest form linked on her website: https://zihanwu.com/
If you are interested in posting an opportunity here on our website, please email cugr@maine.edu for more information!
AI Tools Disclaimer: All students are required to be transparent about their use of AI tools in the drafting of material for Fellowships or the Symposium. Students are reminded that they are ultimately responsible for the accuracy of any and all content submitted for these opportunities. While AI tools are powerful and can be helpful, they can and often do return incorrect information (known as “hallucinations”) when asked to generate text.