2010 ASPIRE and QoLT REU Website

Thanks for checking out the 2010 ASPIRE and QoLT REU Website!  We are excited for another excellent summer full of great undergraduate research.  There is one application for both of these programs so an applicant can apply simultaneously for both the programs in which he/she is interested.  However, we ask that you please pick the program which best matches your interests and you will automatically be considered for the alternate program if we feel your academic/research interests fit better.  The ASPIRE and QoLT REU programs offer the same stipend, housing opportunities, and similar laboratory accommodations. We've consolidated the organization of the programs to create a larger interactive group experience for the participants and so that the programs may share a single coordinator.

Here is a description about each program which we hope will help you decide which is the best fit for you:

American Student Placements in Rehabilitation Engineering (ASPIRE) focuses its Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Program on research in the rehabilitation engineering and assistive technology fields. Rehabilitation engineering employs a systematic approach to the design, modification, customization and/or fabrication of assistive technology for persons with disabilities. Research efforts in rehabilitation engineering are focused on identifying and addressing problems critical to achieving and maintaining the highest possible level of function in areas related to mobility, communications, sensory (e.g., hearing, tactile, vision), and cognition and in activities associated with employment, independent living, and education. The primary objective of the ASPIRE REU program is to provide an exemplary mentoring and resourceful environment that enables undergraduate students to 1) transition from dependent to independent thinkers, 2) develop a sense of excitement about entering an engineering or technical field and 3) be well prepared for their future careers.

The Quality of Life Technology Engineering Research Center's (QoLT ERC) vision is to transform lives of people with reduced functional capabilities due to aging or disability through intelligent devices and systems. The QoLT ERC is a unique partnership between Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and the University of Pittsburgh, integrating CMU’s strength in the design, implementation, and technology transfer of intelligent systems, and Pitt’s strength in rehabilitation, health sciences and aging research. The primary objectives of the QoLT REU program are to excite undergraduate students about technology and engineering, engage them in cross-disciplinary research in QoLT to gain understanding of how to relate human functions (physiological, physical, social, and cognitive) to the design of intelligent devices and systems that aid and interact with people, expand their knowledge of emerging technologies in QoLT, and prepare them for graduate studies or professional careers in QoLT.