As summer comes to a close at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA), student researchers across multiple summer programs are reflecting on their accomplishments over the season. NCSA’s student research programs offer undergraduates a way to get involved in hands-on, cutting-edge research. They’re embedded in research teams led by highly experienced NCSA research staff and affiliated faculty at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (U. of I.), giving students an up-close opportunity to learn as they work on research projects.
This summer, NCSA hosted undergraduate researchers across four major summer programs:
- Students Pushing INnovation (SPIN)
- REU FoDoMMaT (Foundations of Data Science, Mathematical Modeling, and Advanced Technology)
- NCSA International Research
- CS Distributed REU
Together, these programs offered students from U. of I. and institutions across the nation the opportunity to collaborate directly with seasoned research staff and faculty. From advanced cyberinfrastructure and machine learning applications to computational modeling and data-driven domain sciences, interns tackled cutting-edge projects with real-world impact. Students refined their work through weekly Lightning Talks and showcased their findings at the 4th Annual STEM Symposium.
Read the full article featuring outstanding 2026 Summer SPIN interns and mentors, as well as highlights from the 4th Annual STEM Symposium, here