Abstract
Smart Structures Technologies (SST) is receiving considerable attention as the demands for high performance in structural systems is increasing in recent years. Although both the academic and industrial worlds are seeking ways to utilize SST, there is a significant gap between engineering science in academia and engineering practice in the industry. To bridge the gap and facilitate the research infusion, San Francisco State University (SFSU) and the University of South Carolina (UofSC) collaborate with industrial partners to establish a Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Site program, which provides undergraduate students a unique opportunity to experience research in both academic and industrial settings through cooperative research projects. In this paper, the development of the program, the two years implementation, as well as the lesson-learned, are discussed.