2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure (NHERI) hosts approximately 33 students every summer at 11 distributed sites across the country for a unique Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Program. These sites, located at universities, focus interdisciplinary research on experimentation, computation and simulation, reconnaissance, and social science aimed at mitigating the effects of natural hazards. The NSF NHERI REU program aims to broaden participation of underrepresented groups including women and racially minoritized students. Faculty mentoring is a key component in the structure of the NHERI REU program that aims to increase interest and preparation in engineering research and graduate studies. Experienced faculty working on research projects at the NHERI sites are assigned to students as mentors at each site. Many sites also provide a network of mentors, including faculty mentors, graduate student mentors, peer mentors, and staff mentors.
Over the course of seven years, the NHERI REU program underwent formative changes, including modifications to the mentor training. A comprehensive analysis of qualitative and quantitative data reveal valuable lessons learned about mentoring best practices across interdisciplinary fields and various modalities, including remote, hybrid, and in person research settings. Through a case study analysis, data from REU students’ pre- and post-assessments demonstrate the program’s effectiveness in broadening their interactions with knowledgeable faculty mentors, significantly enhancing students’ overall research experiences. Additionally, through qualitative survey responses and an end-of-program focus group, students articulated their conceptions of quality and exemplary faculty mentorship. Their feedback highlighted how mentors can create advantageous and detrimental situations, particularly significant for impacting the future interest of those engaging in research for the first time. The case study presents data spanning seven years, illustrating how the program has influenced students’ perceptions of engineering research and graduate school through their research assignments and challenges. Results showcase how mentors can work together to provide the necessary support for their success in research and to increase their interest in the field, graduate school, and research.
This case study offers a comprehensive view of the students’ experiences with NHERI REU mentors, emphasizing the critical role of effective and inclusive mentorship in shaping students’ growth in engineering.