The Hub & Spoke Program is a collaborative initiative between the Manufacturing Demonstration Facility (MDF) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and the Advanced Structures and Composites Center (ASCC) at the University of Maine. The collaborative research performed between these two world-class research facilities combined with industry guidance focuses on forest-derived bioproducts with an emphasis on large-scale additive manufacturing. 

The Hub and Spoke REU program is designed to provide an opportunity for twelve, highly qualified undergraduate students to participate in a ten-week research experience at ORNL or UMaine. Students will be granted access to state-of-the-art research facilities and equipment, will be mentored in research by world-class scientists and engineers, will gain experience in technical writing and oral presentations, take part in an ethics in research workshop, and will join their fellow students on professional field trips and industrial tours. The program will run between May 28th and August 4th, 2023. Accepted students will be awarded a $6,500 stipend over the course of the program, and all transportation and lodging costs will be covered. The program is fit for students in a variety of disciplines, including material or polymer science, bioenergy, bioengineering, chemistry, bioproducts or biomaterials, chemical engineering, environmental engineering, wood science and technology, forest products, or forest operations.

To be considered for the summer of 2023 session, complete applications must be received prior to 5:00 AM EST, on March 1, 2023. However, since complete applications are reviewed as received and awards can be made earlier, it will increase your chances of being selected if you submit sooner than the due date. In addition to completion of all questions on the application form, we must receive two letters of recommendation and a copy of your most current transcript. The transcript may be sent electronically directly by the student to angelina.buzzelli@maine.edu. The letters of recommendation MUST be emailed directly from the recommenders to angelina.buzzelli@maine.edu.

Please click here to view our program website, where you will find more information, FAQ's and additional contact information.

Please note that 6 students will work primarily at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Knoxville, TN and the other 6 will work primarily at the University of Maine Advanced Structures and Composites Center, as listed in the job location.