Undergraduate Research Program

The ECE Department of the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez has established a tradition of producing highly qualified Computer Engineering graduates with the necessary skills, knowledge, and expertise to succeed in either graduate school or the industrial environment. We have proven that involving undergraduates students in research will: increase their enthusiasm and interest in their studies, provide them with additional knowledge and experience, increase their employment opportunities, and motivate them towards graduate school.

The effect of our undergraduate research program in encouraging minority participation has been significant. Two-thirds of the students who participated are pursuing graduate studies. Remarkably, 39% of those who went to graduate school have continued studies toward the Ph.D., in doctoral programs at MIT, Columbia, RPI, Michigan, Texas A&M, Maryland, Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech. Even more significantly, women are 43% of the students who went to graduate school and 33% of the Ph.D. candidates.

Our undergraduate students have been very active participating in regional and local research conferences and seminars. During this year, they have made over 20  research presentations.