Research Experiences for Undergraduates (or REUs) are competitive summer research programs in the United States for undergraduates studying science, engineering, or mathematics. Such programs usually focus on targeting women and underrepresented minorities (African-Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans). The programs are sponsored by the National Science Foundation, and are hosted in various universities. They are among the most prestigious summer programs that an undergraduate can participate in. Individual REUs tend to be specialized in a particular field of science. There are REUs in many scientific fields such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, and computer science (For example: Feeding the Family in Troubled Times (NSF-REU 2004).
Students may apply directly to REU Sites and should consult the directory of active REU Sites on the Web at http://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/reu_search.cfm. REU sites typically consist of ten undergraduates working in the research program of the host institution either in the US or abroad, for example, CERN. As the program is funded by the NSF, undergraduates must be citizens or permanent residents of the US or its possessions. Applications are typically due between February and March. The length of the application ranges from a single letter of reference without supporting materials all the way up to something comparable to a college admissions application. The programs generally require between one and three letters of reference, a transcript, 0-2 essays, a letter of interest, a resume, a biographical form, or some combination thereof.
Compensation
Students are generally provided with a modest stipend ($3000-$5000 for 10 weeks of work), housing, transportation to and from the site, and often arrangements for food.
History
The precursor to the REU program was the NSF-funded URP, which ran through the 1970s.
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