The Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biodesign (B3) research experience for undergraduates (REU) is a National Science Foundation supported summer program at the City College of New York (CCNY). It embeds 10 students into faculty research labs across the Departments of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Biology, Physics, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, and the CUNY School of Medicine. Participants gain hands-on experience at the laboratory bench or in front of a computer, complemented by activities designed to promote interactions among students, peers, senior colleagues, and faculty mentors, and to expose students to science both within and outside the laboratory setting.