NSF-REU: Food, Energy, and Water Security – Summer 2026
Mississippi State University | Department of Chemistry
The Mississippi State University Chemistry Department seeks applicants for an interdisciplinary, NSF-supported Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program occurring in Summer 2026. Students who have completed at least their freshman year of college and who have not yet graduated are invited to participate fully in the Food, Energy, and Water Security Summer Research Program, working on a research project under the direction of a faculty mentor.
The cohort of students will engage in hands-on research in renewable energy, environmental chemistry, and sustainable materials, while also participating in professional development workshops, social activities, and outreach events.
Student participants will receive a $7,000 stipend, on-campus housing and meal plan for ten weeks, and travel assistance to and from the program.
Eligibility
Undergraduate participants must:
- Have completed their freshman year of college but not yet graduated
- Be U.S. citizens or permanent residents
- Come from a variety of academic backgrounds, including chemistry, biochemistry, engineering, environmental science, and related fields
Key Dates – Summer 2026
- Applications due: February 15, 2026
- Program begins: May 26, 2026
- Program ends: July 31, 2026
For more information, including project descriptions and application details, contact:
Dr. Todd Mlsna
Program Director, Department of Chemistry
📧 tmlsna@chemistry.msstate.edu
Research Projects
More information on each project is listed below.
- Using pyrolysis chars and bio-oil from forestry and agricultural wastes as additives in renewable solid fuels
- Development and testing of green adsorbents for water purification of toxic chemicals
- Greenhouse studies to develop and test sustainable soil amendments
- Characterization of a gamma-ray imaging system for use in depleted uranium remediation efforts
- Production and testing of engineered biochar for the removal of phosphorus from stormwater runoff
- Environmentally friendly, heterogeneous catalytic systems for cross-coupling reactions
- Analysis of pharmaceuticals by mass spectrometry and ion mobility spectrometry: from clinical analysis to wastewater monitoring
- Let it Bi: A Radical Approach to Sustainable Catalysis
- Protein Interactions with Micro- and Nanoplatics
- Microbial Soil Amendments and Plant Growth
- Nanocrystals for Solar Light Absorption
Research Project Summaries
1. Using pyrolysis chars and bio-oil from forestry and agricultural wastes as additives in renewable solid fuels
Students will create and characterize biochar and bio-oil from forestry and agricultural wastes, testing their performance as renewable solid fuel additives. When used as additives, biochar and bio-oil can improve wood pellet characteristics by increasing durability and calorific value. Students will gain hands-on experience in analytical techniques including GC–MS, proximate and ultimate composition analysis, and solid fuel characterization methods.
2. Development and testing of green adsorbents for water purification of toxic chemicals
Biochar materials with high surface area and tunable surface functional groups can effectively adsorb environmental contaminants. This project focuses on developing and characterizing new materials for water purification. Students will gain experience with techniques including TEM, SEM, AA, IR, UV–Vis, and gas chromatography.
3. Greenhouse studies to develop and test sustainable soil amendments
Carbon-rich soil amendments are designed to enhance nutrient retention and plant growth. Students will develop new formulations, conduct greenhouse studies, and assess agricultural performance using plant growth assays and biomass analysis.
4. Characterization of gamma-ray imaging system for use in depleted uranium remediation efforts
Students will help optimize a gamma-ray imaging system to detect and characterize depleted uranium contamination in the environment. Training includes bench-top lab skills, data collection, spectroscopic analysis, and software simulation validation.
5. Production and testing of engineered biochar for the removal of phosphorus from stormwater runoff
Students will scale up engineered biochar production and test its use in bioreactors for phosphorus removal in agricultural settings. Activities include soil and water testing, lab analyses, and field deployment.
6. Environmentally friendly, heterogeneous catalytic systems for cross-coupling reactions
Students will design and test new heterogeneous catalysts for C–N bond formation using environmentally friendly metals and renewable solvents. Experience includes materials synthesis, catalysis, GC, LC, and organic spectroscopic techniques.
7. Analysis of pharmaceuticals by mass spectrometry and ion mobility spectrometry
Students will analyze pharmaceutical compounds to study their dissociation pathways and separation via ion mobility. The goal is to develop improved methods for detecting and characterizing pharmaceuticals in clinical and environmental samples.
8. Let It Bi: A Radical Approach to Sustainable Catalysis
This work explores the development of new catalytic systems that utilize compounds as environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional heavy metal catalysts. The research focuses on harnessing radical reaction pathways to enable cleaner, more efficient chemical transformations that align with the goals of green and sustainable chemistry.
9. Protein Interactions with Micro- and Nanoplastics
This project investigates how micro- and nanoplastic particles interact with biological molecules such as proteins, potentially affecting their structure and function. Students study these interactions using advanced biophysical and spectroscopic techniques to better understand how plastics behave in living systems and the environment.
10. Microbial Soil Amendments and Plant Growth
This research examines how beneficial soil microorganisms and carbon-rich amendments enhance plant growth and nutrient uptake. Students evaluate microbial activity, soil chemistry, and biomass response through greenhouse studies and analytical assays, contributing to the development of sustainable, biologically based soil improvement strategies.
11. Nanocrystals for Solar Light Absorption
This project focuses on designing and synthesizing semiconductor nanocrystals capable of efficiently capturing and converting solar energy. Students will explore how particle size, composition, and surface chemistry influence light absorption and energy transfer for renewable energy applications.
FEWS – Food, Energy, and Water Security Application
We are now accepting applications for the Summer 2026 Program!
Questions:
Contact the MSU Department of Chemistry at tmlsna@chemistry.msstate.edu or the Chemistry Department office at 662-325-3584.
All application materials are due by February 15, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Central Time.
Positions will be filled as application materials are received.