Brandeis Science Communications Lab

REU: A Secret to Getting Paid to do Science Research over the Summer

The information below was written by the Brandeis Science Communication Lab. Please seek permission before sharing widely.

What is a REU?

REU (Research Experiences for Undergraduates) is a NSF (National Science Foundation) Paid Summer Internship. There are other summer programs that are not NSF funded, but the same principles apply.

  • NSF internship for undergraduates who work in the research programs of the host institution
  • Work on a specific research project, under faculty and other researchers
  • Paid ~$5,000/10 weeks, with free housing, travel, and food
  • Must be a citizen or permanent resident who will still be a college student after the summer REU
  • ~700 REU Sites around the country and each site accepts only 6-10 students

What is Involved in an REU Application?

Each REU Site (or a small collection of REU Sites) has their own online application that may include:

  • Personal information
  • Unofficial transcripts
  • CV/Resume
  • Two strong letters of recommendation from college professors/former employers
  • Personal statement or essay questions
  • Due dates: most REU programs have a February deadline BUT many have rolling admission, so it helps to submit your application earlier if it is weaker (less competition)

What Makes an Application Stand Out?

  • Strong academic background
    • As and Bs in science classes and calculus (if weak, address this in essays)
  • Desire to pursue a research career
    • The NSF measures the success of an REU by how many REU alumni become PhD or MD/PhD students (not MD students). Therefore, if applicants are open to a PhD, they should state that goal to increase the likelihood of being accepted/getting an
  • CV/Resume: Provide context, details and motivation behind work experiences and organized participation. Not a laundry list!
  • Two strong letters of recommendation from professors/former employers
    • One letter must be from a science professor
    • Make the acquaintance of faculty so your letter writers can write something personal and say more than “So-and-so took my 200 person class and got a 85% on the first test and a 91% on the final ”
  • Essays must be proofread, ~2-3 paragraphs in length, and answer the specific questions asked
    • Have energy and enthusiasm for the Show curiosity to learn more
    • Correlate previous work to the specific REUProgram
    • State how participation in the specific REU program will benefit your future academic and professional careers
    • When describing any previous research/ coursework, state the meaning of the experience
    • Do not convey in any way these sentiments: “this will be great for me” or “my career” or “I need (or think I do) this for medical/dental school”

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