REUs

Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs)

REUs are research opportunities for undergraduates, which exist in all types of fields, however this page focuses on mathematics. They typically are 8-10 week programs in the summer, and are great experiences to gain for people who are interested in research and/or pursuing an academic career in the future. Typically applications are due in the late winter/early spring for the following summer, and are most commonly attended by students who have just completed their sophomore or junior year as an undergraduate.

Yearly Summer Programs for Undergraduates

These programs are hosted yearly by various Mathematical Sciences Institutes in the US.

REU Lists and Databases

These lists and databases are regularly updated with REU opportunities. Many REU opportunities are posted in November-December, with applications due January-March.

  • Math REU List – This list is compiled and maintained by Steve Butler at Iowa State University. It includes opportunities in statistics and data science as well as math. You can access several years-worth of REU lists. It also contains a page with application advice.
  • NSF REU Search – This is a list of NSF funded REUs. Searchable by location, research area, and keywords.
  • AMS REU List – This list contains REU opportunities that have been submitted to AMS for advertising.

Resources for REU Applications

  • Steve Butler’s REU Advice Page – This is a page of advice about applying to REUs from Steve Butler at Iowa State University.
  • Advice on Asking for Recommendations – This is a page of advice about asking for recommendations from Ravi Vakil, professor of math at Stanford University.
  • REU Workshop Google Slides – These are slides produced by Luke Seaton at Michigan State University and Vanessa Sun at the University of Utah and give general advice and many REU opportunities.
  • Advice for Applying to REUs – A blog post of recent participates reflecting on their REU experiences and offering advice for new participants.

Student Accounts of Their Experiences at REUs

University of Michigan-Dearborn REU, attended Summer 2021 by Siena Truex

struex@middlebury.edu

This was a really cool REU in Michigan that I attended in summer 2022. I studied the density of elliptic Dedekind sums, a topic in Number Theory, with Professor Tian An Wong. The program is organized by Yunus Zeytuncu, an absolutely wonderful and kind mathematician that focuses on geometry. It is a funded program, with a stipend for the summer as well as travel reimbursements. There were projects there on Geometry, Number Theory, more applied mathematics, and also on Music Theory, which was something that was unique to this program. I am still actually doing some research with my group and working on getting a solid paper to submit for publishing. Overall I recommend this program, and definitely ask if you have any questions about it!

Iowa State REU, attended Summer 2022 by Abby Nix

anix@middlebury.edu

This was a great REU run by really kind and friendly faculty members that tried really hard to create a community among all the REU students. The projects they have vary a little, but there is normally one or two projects in graph theory, and then around two others outside of graph theory (last summer there was one on logic and one applied project). The program comes with a stipend as well. I highly recommend this REU if there is a project you are interested in and feel free to reach out with questions!

Middlebury College Research, done Summer 2022 by Ai Hattori

ahattori@middlebury.edu

This is not an REU, but some Midd professors have summer research assistant positions (paid) available. Professor Crodelle mentored me and one other student in the summer of 2022. Research on math modeling for neuroscience. A panel about grad school hosted by Middlebury URO (undergraduate research office). You can continue your research in the following fall semester or J-term, too. Highly recommended! Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.