Research Experience for Undergraduates
REU Possibilities from Every SoE Department
Amazing research goes on within Stanford’s School of Engineering and you can be a part of it. Through the REU program, enrolled Stanford undergraduates have a unique opportunity to work on cutting-edge research guided by Stanford faculty. Professors are excited to work with bright, enthusiastic undergraduates.
The program runs ten weeks, from June (beginning shortly after commencement) through August. The program is coordinated jointly by the Office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, the Office of Student Affairs in the School of Engineering, and the individual engineering departments.
Students who are accepted into the program will receive a summer stipend. On-campus housing and a meal plan may also be provided through the Summer Research College (SRC) but must be applied for separately. Whether well into your major or still testing the waters, all engineering students are strongly encouraged to consider taking advantage of what the REU program can offer.
If you are interested, look below to learn more:
Who Should Apply for REU?
If you are a Stanford undergraduate interested in engineering research, consider applying. Each engineering department has its own requirements for applicants; visit the links in the How to Apply section for more information.
How to Apply
The application process is department-specific, so pick one (or several!) departments that interest you and visit the department's website to learn more. Most departments open up applications for summer research in mid-winter or early spring quarter. Not all majors are listed below. If you want to work with one of your professors in an area not listed, talk to them directly about opportunities.
Here are the departments that have offered REU in the past. Some provide a webpage and application, in others a person within the department to contact about possible research opportunities:
| Dept/Program | Application Deadlines | Contact | Informational Website |
| Aeronautics & Astronautics | Early March | Jenny Scholes | AA REU |
| Bioengineering | See BIOE website | Eric Giudice | BIOE REU |
| Biomechanical Engineering | See Mechanical Engineering below | ||
| Chemical Engineering | Mid-February | Andrew LeMat | CHEME REU |
| Civil and Environmental Engineering | Mid-February | Tiffany Branum | CEE REU |
| Computer Science | Mid-February | CURIS | |
| Electrical Engineering | Mid-February | REU Administrator | EE REU |
| Engineering Physics: | end of February | Physics REU OR contact specific School of Engineering faculty mentor | |
| Management Science & Engineering | Mid-February | Lori Cottle | MS&E REU |
| Materials Science & Engineering | Early February | Haoxue Yan | MATSCI REU |
| Mechanical Engineering | February 15 | Erin Krynen
| ME REU |
FAQ
I've never had any research experience before. Is the REU program really a possibility?
Everyone starting research has that question, so do not be deterred. Around 200 students are part of the program each summer. If you are eager and ready to learn you will almost certainly succeed. Be persistent.
I missed the deadline for applying to my department's summer research program. Can I still get involved in research?
Try contacting a particular professor in the department that you would like to work with, and ask if he or she still has openings for undergraduates. Realize, however, that the number of positions in limited.
What is the stipend?
For the most part, a summer research program will provide a full-time stipend of up to $7500 for the 10-week summer session and, when applicable, a need-based addition.