Funder: National Science Foundation
Due Dates: August 20, 2025 (Full Proposal) | Third Wednesday in August, annually thereafter
Funding Amounts: Typical Site awards: $100,000–$155,000/year (up to $500,000 total); Supplements: variable; Project duration: 3 years typical, up to 5 years possible
Summary: Supports undergraduate research participation in any NSF-funded area via REU Sites or Supplements, including interdisciplinary and international projects.
Key Information: REU Sites must recruit a significant fraction of students from outside the host institution and from institutions with limited STEM research opportunities.
Description
The National Science Foundation's Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program funds active research participation by undergraduate students in any area supported by NSF. The program operates through two mechanisms:
- REU Sites: Independent proposals to create research programs engaging cohorts of undergraduates, typically 8–10 students per year, in a single discipline or interdisciplinary theme.
- REU Supplements: Add-on support for undergraduate research within new, renewal, or ongoing NSF-funded projects.
Projects may be domestic or have an international dimension, and are encouraged to broaden participation in STEM, especially among underrepresented groups and students from institutions with limited research opportunities.
Due Dates
- Next Full Proposal Deadline: August 20, 2025 (third Wednesday in August, annually thereafter)
- REU Supplements: Rolling, aligned with the deadlines of the underlying NSF program or award
Funding Amount
- REU Sites: Typical awards are $100,000–$155,000 per year, generally for 3 years (up to 5 years in some cases), with a maximum of $500,000 total.
- REU Supplements: Amount varies; typically supports 1–2 students per supplement, with costs expected to be comparable to REU Site participants.
- Student stipends: ~$700 per student per week; total project costs generally not to exceed $1,550 per student per week (higher for international or special circumstances).
- Estimated number of awards: 1,300–1,350 annually (includes ~175 new Sites and ~1,150 Supplements).
Eligibility
- Who may apply: U.S. academic institutions, research organizations, and other eligible organizations as defined in the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide. Unaffiliated individuals are not eligible.
- PI eligibility: A single individual may serve as PI; one Co-PI allowed if needed for shared responsibility.
- Student participants: Must be U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or U.S. permanent residents enrolled in undergraduate degree programs (associate or baccalaureate). High school graduates accepted to college but not yet started are eligible; students who have completed a bachelor's degree are generally not eligible.
- REU Sites: Must recruit a significant fraction of students from outside the host institution and at least half from institutions with limited STEM research opportunities (e.g., two-year colleges).
Application Process
- REU Sites: Submit full proposals via Research.gov or Grants.gov by the annual deadline. No letters of intent or preliminary proposals required.
- Proposal must include a project summary, description (max 15 pages), budget, and required supplementary documents.
- See the solicitation for detailed instructions.
- REU Supplements:
- For new/renewal proposals: Include supplement request in the main proposal.
- For ongoing awards: Submit a supplemental funding request via Research.gov; contact the cognizant NSF program officer for guidance.
- Budget notes: No cost sharing required. Indirect costs are not allowed on participant support costs.
Additional Information
- International REU projects are encouraged and may have higher allowable costs.
- Special partnerships exist with the Department of Defense, Department of Energy, and Semiconductor Research Corporation for relevant research areas.
- Student recruitment: Sites must have a clear, inclusive recruitment plan and may be required to use NSF's Education & Training Application (ETAP).
- Mentoring: High-quality mentoring and professional development for students are required.
- Reporting: Annual and final project reports are required; Sites must maintain a public website for recruitment and dissemination.
External Links
Contact Information