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”

Resources

• List of NSF REU Sites.
• Make a CommLab appointment