Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) in Digital Twins of Road Infrastructure
West Virginia University·Morgantown, WV·2026 cycle
Closed for cycleComputational/Data ScienceEngineering / Applied Technology✓ verified
This 10-week summer research program provides U.S. undergraduate students with hands-on experience in digital twins for road infrastructure. Students will spend 8 weeks at West Virginia University (WVU) or the University of Wisconsin–Madison (UW-Madison), followed by 2 weeks at the University of Cambridge (UK). Digital twins are virtual models that mirror physical road systems, enabling seamless data transfer between the physical and digital worlds. They provide powerful tools to monitor, analyze, and optimize infrastructure performance. This REU prepares students to address national challenges such as aging highways and limited maintenance funding by applying digital technologies to improve infrastructure monitoring, decision-making, and long-term resilience. During this program, students will: Conduct impactful research at the intersection of civil engineering, computing, and infrastructure systems. Receive joint mentorship from U.S. faculty, graduate students, and scholars at the University of Cambridge. Gain specialized training in digital technologies and their applications to infrastructure. Collaborate closely with international peers and experts. Strengthen cross-disciplinary knowledge and global perspectives. Program Support: 10-week stipend ($7,000). Meal & housing support ($5,263). Airfare support for U.K. travel ($1,400). Outcomes: Participants will cultivate international competencies, cross-disciplinary collaboration skills, and advanced research capabilities, all of which will prepare them for graduate study and future leadership in sustainable and technology-driven infrastructure.
Digital twins for highway infrastructure, Pavement performance modeling, Roadway asset management, Edge computing for road asset management, Sensor-based monitoring (LiDAR, UAVs, IoT), Traffic data analytics and visualization, AI and machine learning for infrastructure, Computer vision for roadway inspection, Infrastructure resilience and sustainability, BIM (Building Information Modeling) for road assets, Data integration across physical and digital assets, Predictive maintenance of road networks, Cross-disciplinary applications of digital engineering, International collaboration in digital infrastructure
Applicants must meet the following criteria: Be enrolled in an undergraduate program in civil engineering, computer engineering, data science, or a related field. Hold a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent to a “B” average). Demonstrate interest in civil infrastructure digitization, digital twin technologies, and/or infrastructure asset management. Be a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident.
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