No, previous research experience is not required.

No, the NSF requires participants to be US citizens, US nationals or permanent residents. International applicants are encouraged to apply to our i-Scholars program.

No, only non-University of Rochester undergraduate students are eligible to apply. University of Rochester students are encouraged to explore other summer research programs.

Participants are required to be available for the entire duration of the summer program as indicated by the program period on the home page.

Applicants will be notified about the outcome of their application (acceptance or rejection) by the end of March.

Yes, first-year undergraduate students are eligible to apply. An official or unofficial transcript for the first semester at your institution must be submitted with the application. Albeit optional, inclusion of the transcript from the senior year of high school can strengthen the application.

No, the NSF requires that participants have at least one semester of undergraduate study left after completing the summer program.

No, requests for the recommendation letters will be automatically sent by the system to the references once the complete application is submitted. Make sure that the letter writers are aware of the upcoming request. For full considerations, recommendation letters must be submitted before the deadline.

The campus is walkable and it is a walking distance from College Town and its surroundings, which features several coffee shops, restaurants, and bakeries.

In addition, the University of Rochester has a free shuttle system that connects the campus with all the dorms and apartment locations and with popular local shopping and entertainment destinations. University shuttles are outfitted with real-time tracking equipment and enable live bus tracking, arrival predictions, real-time capacity, and proximity alerts using a smartphone app. Rochester has an excellent system of electric bike/scooter share and pedal bike share programs with pick-up/drop-off sites around campus and nearby neighborhoods.

The closest airport to campus is the Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport (ROC), which is less than 10 min from campus. For ground transportation to campus, Uber or taxis are the best options. 

If coming by car, a permit will be provided for parking in a parking lot on campus. The parking lot is likely to be close to your apartment, but you will not be able to drive your car and park freely around campus.

REU students will be housed at shared University housing facilities. These are typically four-person, two-bedroom apartments located on campus. Apartments come furnished with beds, dressers, sofas, desks, tables, lamps, chairs, carpeting, window coverings, stoves, and refrigerators.

You will need to supply your bedding (comforter, set of sheets, pillow), bath linens, dishes, pots and pans, and kitchen utensils. Other amenities offered include air conditioning, an in-house fitness center, big screen TV lounge, outdoor swimming pool, and weekly continental breakfasts.

Summer weather in Rochester range from 60 to 90 degrees F (15-35 C) and it is typically sunny and dry with some rainy days. We recommend that you bring clothing that can be layered. Full length pants and closed shoes are required for working in the research laboratories.

At the end of the summer, you will give a presentation of your summer research and, for this event, we ask that you wear “business casual” attire.

There are outdoor pools around campus and the lake is only 15-minute drive away, so don’t forget your bathing suit!

Travel expenses up to $550 are reimbursed.

If traveling by airplane: Reimbursable travel expenses include airfare (coach only), transportation to and from the airport to campus, and transportation to and from your home airport. The flight must be to and from the Rochester airport (ROC).

If driving: Reimbursable travel expenses are roundtrip mileage from your home address based on the University rate. All travel expenses will be reimbursed after you depart campus and receipts must be submitted along with a travel reimbursement form.