HCII Seeks Applicants for 2026 Summer Research Program

November 14, 2025

The Human-Computer Interaction Institute (HCII) Summer Undergraduate Research program is an opportunity for students to spend a summer with us at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.

Accepted students work closely with CMU faculty and researchers on one research project, with the potential for publication and impact on the future practice of the field.

We have another great lineup of human-computer interaction (HCI) summer research projects available for summer 2026, with diverse options at the intersection of psychology, computer science, learning sciences and technology. Students can find projects to match their interests in a variety of HCI areas, including human–AI interaction, accessibility, visualization, social computing, educational technologies, and more. 

“Our REU program is an amazing opportunity for our faculty to introduce undergraduate students to HCI and to support them with real-world experience conducting cutting-edge research,” said Adam Perer, associate professor and HCII REU faculty director. “Our goal is that, by the end of the summer, students will learn first-hand how exciting academic research in HCI can be!”

In addition to the valuable experience of conducting HCI research with us, this paid, 10-week position provides other professional learning opportunities throughout the summer. 

The team hosts weekly seminars for the cohort to learn more about a variety of topics, including the field of HCI and its research, industry career options, and grad school options. Programming activities vary by summer, but typically include social events and a research showcase where students present their work to the community.