Student and Postdoc Funding Opportunities
Research Experiences for Undergraduates Program
The Illinois Materials Research Science and Engineering Center is excited to offer an NSF-sponsored Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program. Our ten week summer research program offers undergraduate students the opportunity to work closely with MRSEC faculty mentors on solving a challenging, meaningful scientific question through taking part in the interdisciplinary Illinois MRSEC research. The program also provides training to help students in their professional development as scientists and engineers, with particular emphasis on those skills related to communicating their scientific discoveries to help broaden its reach and make science more accessible.
Open Quantum Initiative Undergraduate Fellowship
The Open Quantum Initiative (OQI) Undergraduate Fellowship provides undergraduate students with research experiences working in quantum science laboratories and research groups.
With the support of Chicago Quantum Exchange (CQE) member and partner institutions this fellowship helps to open pathways into careers in quantum science and research for undergraduate students. Through the Fellowship, students expand their understanding of quantum information science and engineering (QISE), connect with leaders in academia and industry, and increase awareness of quantum career opportunities, including the wide range of opportunities to leverage applied quantum research in fields such as drug design, bioimaging, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and finance. The summer experience is aimed at developing students' research literacy skills and exposure to the wide range of fields and subfields (including experimental, computational, and theoretical approaches) in quantum computing, quantum communication, quantum sensing, quantum optics/information science, and quantum materials.
Lonnie Edelheit Award in Quantum
The Lonnie Edelheit Award in Quantum provides graduate students a $5,000 award to help defray the costs associated with a summer internship in the private sector.
The funding for this award is made possible by Dr. Lewis S. Edelheit (Lonnie) who is an alumnus of the Department of Physics who has been an innovation leader for nearly three decades. He served at GE producing several of the world’s most important products. More can be found about Lonnie here.
PPG-MRL Collaborative Graduate Research Program
Under support of the PPG foundation, this program will support a team of two graduate students from different research groups on a student-initiated collaborative seed project. Students are encouraged to be from different departments, though not required. The project should not be a direct extension of the individual student projects although the project can be related to one or both the students’ projects. Targeted areas include materials science and engineering, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, chemistry, and related areas of study of potential relevance to PPG.
PPG-MRL Graduate Research Assistantship Program
Under support of the PPG foundation, this program will support up to five doctoral-level students conducting research broadly related to coatings science and specialty materials. Targeted areas include materials science and engineering, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, chemistry, condensed matter physics, and related areas of study.
Professor Joe Greene Postdoctoral Fellow Program
These prestigious postdoctoral positions are designed to support outstanding early-career scientists and engineers specializing in Materials Science, Physics, Chemistry, and related fields. Successful candidates will initially be appointed as full-time Postdoctoral Research Associates for one year, with the option of a second year. This program is available thanks to an endowment created by Phyllis Greene, Joe’s wife of 55 years, to honor Professor Joe Greene (Dr. J.E. Greene), who was a distinguished faculty member in Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a former director of The Materials Research Laboratory. Prof. Greene was renowned for his enduring impact and dedication to fostering the careers of young scientists and emerging leaders in the fields of materials science engineering, basic science, and applied technology. Read more about Professor Joe Greene's Legacy.
The selected fellow(s) will become part of a research group led by a current Materials Research Laboratory faculty member. The current list of MRL faculty and their research areas can be found here. While it is not necessary that an applicant identify a research group to serve as their host, applicants will be asked to indicate up to 5 preferred research group(s). If a faculty member has agreed in advance to host an applicant should they be selected, applicants should indicate this as indicated below. Please note that while we expect many of the strongest applicants will have identified an MRL faculty mentor willing to serve as their host should they be selected, and potential research directions in their proposed mentor’s group, all applications will receive full consideration.
Applications and supporting materials must be received by the application deadline of 5:00 p.m. CST, Friday, October 16, 2026. Fellows in the 2027 class are expected to start in 2027. Awards are expected to be made in late November 2026.
- Fellows receive an annual salary of $67,000 and a $5,000 research budget that can be spent on research activities including supplies and equipment, and professional development activities including conference and workshop travel.
- Fellows are appointed annually for up to two years.
Fellows are required to write annual reports and check in quarterly with the director of the MRL.
- Ph.D. degree or equivalent within the last 10 years.
- Relevance of the stated research interests to the portfolio of the MRL faculty and their research areas can be found on the MRL website.
- Graduate students and Postdoctoral Scientists at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are eligible to apply.
- International and external prospective postdocs are also encouraged to apply.
- The application package includes three letters of reference:
- At least two of the three letters should address the applicant’s prior professional experience.
- One letter may come from a proposed MRL faculty mentor. Note, an MRL faculty member can provide a letter even if that faculty member has not agreed in advance to host the applicant should they be selected.
- Fellows in the 2026-2027 class should start their appointments between February 2027 and December 2027 of the award year.
The applicant should complete the online application and upload PDF files per the application instructions. Applications and supporting materials must be received by the application deadline of 5:00 p.m. CST, Friday, October 16, 2026. Applications not submitted through this website will not be considered.
For full consideration, the following application documents are required:
- A CV that includes a complete list of publications, including all authors and titles.
- One representative publication (published, submitted, or in preparation), or an extended abstract of your dissertation not to exceed five pages.
- A research statement, not to exceed 3 pages, outlining your previous research accomplishments and future research interests should you be accepted as a Professor Joe Greene Postdoctoral Fellow; citations or the bibliography for the research may be included on an additional page.
- The names and email addresses for three letters of reference. It is your responsibility to request letters of recommendation from your references and ask them to email their letters as an Adobe PDF file to mrl-director@illinois.edu by the application deadline.
- A list of up to five MRL faculty you would be interested in working with. If a faculty mentor has agreed in advance to mentor you should you be selected, in the list write “(agreed to serve as my mentor)” after that individual’s name.
The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, COVID-19 vaccination requirement, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.
Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodations portal, or by contacting the Accessibility & Accommodations Division of the Office for Access and Equity at 217-333-0885, or by emailing accessibility@illinois.edu.
The University of Illinois conducts criminal background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer. Convictions are not a bar to employment. The University of Illinois System requires candidates selected for hire to disclose any documented finding of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment and to authorize inquiries to current and former employers regarding findings of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment. For more information, visit Policy on Consideration of Sexual Misconduct in Prior Employment. As a qualifying federal contractor, the University of Illinois System uses E-Verify to verify employment eligibility. The University of Illinois must also comply with applicable federal export control laws and regulations and, as such, reserves the right to employ restricted party screening procedures for applicants.
These prestigious postdoctoral positions are designed to support outstanding early-career scientists and engineers specializing in Materials Science, Physics, Chemistry, and related fields. Successful candidates will initially be appointed as full-time Postdoctoral Research Associates for one year, with the option of a second year. This program is available thanks to an endowment created by Phyllis Greene, Joe’s wife of 55 years, to honor Professor Joe Greene (Dr. J.E. Greene), who was a distinguished faculty member in Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a former director of The Materials Research Laboratory. Prof. Greene was renowned for his enduring impact and dedication to fostering the careers of young scientists and emerging leaders in the fields of materials science engineering, basic science, and applied technology. Read more about Professor Joe Greene's Legacy.