Academics

Summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates

Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs) and other undergraduate research-based programs are offered during the summer in most fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.  These programs are held for 6 to 10 weeks at colleges, universities, laboratories, hospitals, and institutes across the country and abroad.  They are usually intended for students after their sophomore or junior years of college, but there are some programs that seek students after their first year.  A student's time at an REU is generally devoted to working in small groups with students from other undergraduate institutions on original research projects.

REU programs usually pay each student a stipend of several thousand dollars to participate.  In addition, they often cover travel and living expenses for the duration of the program and fund travel to present research at conferences.

Benefits of attending an REU program:

  • REU programs help students explore their field of study beyond the standard undergraduate curriculum.
  • Participating in an REU strengthens a resume or graduate school application.
  • Working with students and faculty from other colleges and universities can result in valuable networking connections.
  • Students gain exposure to research-based careers.

Resources:

  • *** The National Science Foundation (NSF) has a list of the numerous summer research programs it sponsors.
  • The American Mathematical Society (AMS) has a list of REUs in mathematics
  • Summer Program for Women in Mathematics (website) at the George Washington University in Washington D.C.
  • Summer Mathematics Program for Women Undergraduates (website) at Carleton College in Minnesota
  • Summer Undergraduate Research Programs in the Biosciences (website) at the University of Iowa
  • Student Research Opportunities (website) at Des Moines University
  • The Iowa Department of Natural Resources sponsors Pollution Prevention Internships (internships / program).  The program is designed to assist companies in making operational improvements to accomplish waste or energy reduction goals with cost savings.
  • Undergraduate Summer Research Fellowships (website) with the American Physiological Society
  • Summer in Biomedical Science (SIBS) undergraduate research program in the department of pathology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham
  • The Mathematical Sciences Research Institute Undergraduate Program (MSRI-UP) at U.C.-Berkeley in computational mathematics.
  • The Medical College of Wisconsin has a Summer Program for Undergraduate Research (SPUR) in their Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.
  • The Summer Research Program (SRP) at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln offers experiences in a variety of fields
  • Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program (SURF) in the department of chemistry at Missouri State University
  • The Oak Ridge Associated Universities Internship Program (ORAU) has an extensive list of summer internships available in many disciplines.
  • The Industrial Math Summer School (MITACS) at a university in Canada is a month-long research experience in mathematical modeling.  There is no stipend, but travel and accomodation will be covered.
  • Willamette Valley REU-RET Consortium for Mathematics Research (website) is a summer research experience for undergraduate math students and teachers of mathematics.
  • The Computational and Systems Biology Summer Institute (CSBSI) at Iowa State University is supported by the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation.  The program introduces students to computational and systems biology, with no prior experience required.
  • EDGE 2009 Summer Program (EDGE) is designed for women and minority students who are graduating seniors and who have applied to graduate programs in the mathematical sciences.
  • The University of North Carolina-Asheville has an REU (website) in mathematics that is designed to be accessible to students who have just completed their first or second years of study.
  • The National Undergraduate Fellowship Program in Plasma Physics and Fusion Energy Sciences (website) is administered by the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory.
  • AAAS Mass Media Science & Engineering Fellows Program (website)strengthens the connections between scientists and journalists by placing advanced science, mathematics and engineering students in newsrooms across the country.
  • Research Internships in Science and Engineering (RISE) at universities in Germany.
  • The Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates in Microbiology (website) at the University of Iowa.
  • The Program for Women in Science and Engineering (website) at Iowa State University has internships that are open to students after the completion of their freshman year of college.
  • The Department of Homeland Security has a summer intership program ( HS-STEM ) for students in homeland security related science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines.
  • The Center for Discrete Mathematics and Theoretical Computer Science and the Homeland Security Center for Dynamic Data Analysis sponsor programs (website / website) for students majoring in computer science or mathematics, several of which include a trip to the Czech Republic.
  • Summer Undergraduate Medical Science Training Program (MSTP) at the University of Iowa provides students interested in future combined MD/PhD training an exposure to the career of the physician-scientist.
  • The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists ( WDTS ) has opportunities for undergraduates in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
  • The Stowers Scholars Program for students in the biological and physical sciences (website) at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research in Kansas City.
  • The Office of Science at the U.S. Department of Energy has Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships (SULI) available for all students, including students between their undergraduate studies and graduate school.
  • The Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation in La Crosse, Wisconsin, has summer internships available under the Interns/Fellows link on this webpage.
  • The Virginia Bioinformatics Institute (VBI) at Virginia Tech has three summer research opportunities for undergraduate students.
  • The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Biological and Environmental Research has a Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) to involve undergraduate students in global change research.
  • The Office of Science at the U.S. Department of Energy has a summer program for pre-service teachers ( PST ).
  • Iowa State University has a Research Experience in Molecular Biotechnology and Genomics (MBG).
  • Iowa State University has a Summer Program for Interdisciplinary Research and Education in Emerging Interface Technologies (SPIRE-EIT).
  • NEW Washington State University has an REU in physics and astronomy (WSU).
  • NEW The Simpson College mathematics department will hold its second Dr. Albert H. & Greta A. Bryan Summer Research Program for its mathematics majors next summer (SCMath).
  • NEW Sevilleta Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) is managed by the Department of Biology at the University of New Mexico and has a summer REU.
  • NEW The National Weather Center (NWC) in Norman, Oklahoma, has an REU for motivated students from any major.
  • NEW The University of South Florida (USF) has REUs in several fields of study, including an interdisciplinary program in hurricane studies. 

Tips on applying to summer research programs:

  • The Division of Natural Sciences supports undergraduate research, so in your applications inform the programs that you have the opportunity to expand on your summer research after you return to Simpson College.
  • Specialize your applications for each of the programs.  When applying to a program, indicate why you are interested in that program specifically.
  • Each program has different requirements for its participants, so pay close attention to them.  For example, some programs expect their participants to have completed certain classes and many require U.S. citizenship.
  • Emphasize your potential by mentioning any undergraduate research you have completed and any outstanding projects or term papers you have completed for your classes.
  • Indicate any interest in graduate school that you may have.
  • Note that programs in biological or medical fields generally prefer students who have an interest in graduate school rather than students who are strictly interested in medical school.
  • Every application will require recommendation letters, so do not wait until the last minute to request them from your professors.

Simpson students who completed research experiences in Summer 2008:

  • Naiara Barbosa at the Institute of Genetic Medicine at the Johns Hopkins Medical School (Biology)
  • Alonzo Barkley at Coe College (Physics)
  • Jennifer Binning at Iowa State University (Biochemistry)
  • Allison Boardman at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Research Foundation(Biology)
  • Clinton Bradfield at the University of Iowa (Microbiology)
  • Helen Carlson at the University of Colorado (Biology)
  • Kurt Carpenter at Monsanto in St. Louis (Chemistry)
  • Chelsy Croson at the University of North Carolina - Asheville (Mathematics)
  • Tim Fairfield at Simpson College (Computer Science)
  • Kendra Frush at the Winneba Government Hospital in Ghana (Projects Abroad)
  • Katrina Housholder at Simpson College (Mathematics)
  • Athen Kimberlin at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln (Chemistry)
  • Michelle Lingscheit at Simpson College (Mathematics)
  • Emily Lundt at the University of Wisconsin - Madison (Biostatistics)
  • Chad Onstat at Simpson College (Mathematics)
  • Tracy Robson at the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton (Mathematics)
  • Kiersten Ruff at Simpson College (Mathematics)
  • Lynnette Snyder at Willamette Valley at Linfield (Mathematics)
  • Erin Vinnedge at Worchester Polytechnic Institute (Applied Mathematics)
  • Emily Wagoner at Simpson College (Mathematics)
  • Jeremy Ward at Simpson College (Mathematics)

Simpson students who completed research experiences in Summer 2007:

  • Heidi Arjes at the University of Kassel in Germany (Biology)
  • Jennifer Binning at the University of Missouri-Columbia (Chemistry)
  • Patrick Carlson at the University of New Mexico (Computer Science)
  • Megan Crawford at Kemin Industries, Inc. (Biology)
  • Casie Schmitt at University of Oklahoma (Physics)
  • Nate Smith at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln (Chemistry)
  • Katie Wiggenjost at Des Moines University (Biology)
  • Mack Worthington at Des Moines University (Biology)

Simpson students who completed research experiences in Summer 2006:

  • Elise Ahrens at the University of Iowa College of Medicine (Biology)
  • Jonna Anderson at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln (Biology and Mathematics)
  • Heidi Arjes at the University of Pittsburgh (Biology)
  • Tasha Beenken at Des Moines University (Biology)
  • Patrick Carlson at the University of New Mexico (Computer Science)
  • Carrie Christensen at Des Moines University (Biology)
  • Jean Clipperton at Valparaiso University (Mathematics)
  • Laura Hupp at the University of Maryland - Baltimore County (Biology)
  • Reid Leichty at Texas A&M - Corpus Christi (Biology)
  • Derek Lyons at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln (Chemistry)
  • Joan Ritho at Des Moines University (Biology)
  • Tracy Robson at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln (Biology and Mathematics)
  • Britni Stevens at Des Moines University (Biology)
  • Ben Sweet at the Medical University of Ohio at Toledo (Biology)


If you notice any errors or broken links, please contact Bill Schellhorn.  Contact Bill if you want any information or links included above.

Last Updated: 2/6/09