Research Experiences for Undergraduates

Maryland Sea Grant offers students the opportunity to conduct marine research on the Chesapeake Bay. During the 12-week program, each student works with a mentor on an individual research project. It’s a special opportunity to develop your research skills and interests by working with top science mentors studying America’s largest estuary.

Each REU fellow will receive:

• $8,400 stipend 
• Free housing at your research lab
• Round-trip travel expenses

Download our flyer!

Research areas include: Benthic environment, Climate change, Contaminants, Environmental chemistry, Estuarine processes, Fisheries, Modeling and analysis, Molecular biology and genetics, and Physical oceanography.

Eligibility

We strive to create a safe and inclusive environment for all participants in our program. We strive to support students from a diversity of majors, colleges, backgrounds, and life experiences in our cohorts.

The program is best suited for students majoring in marine science, ecology, environmental science, biology, chemistry, engineering, physics, mathematics, and related degrees.

Students from colleges and universities where research opportunities are limited and from groups underrepresented in marine and coastal science are welcome and encouraged to apply.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and have completed at least two years of study towards (but not yet completed) a bachelor’s degree. Preference is given to students who are rising seniors. 

How to Apply

Interested students are required to submit and application through the NSF Education and Training Application Portal (ETAP):

• Application form
• Short answer questions
• Resume
• Unofficial transcripts
• A list of courses in progress
• A contact to request a recommendation

Learn more about how to apply to the program.

Learn more about Maryland Sea Grant's REU program

• Schedule, Programs, and Seminars: Summary of key dates, field trips, seminars on careers in science, and more.
• Frequently Asked Questions about the program.
• Research Topics and Mentors: Learn about the research topics studied in previous years by participating students and the mentors who advised them on those topics.
• Our Students and Their Research: Photos and names of past students and descriptions of their projects and publications.
• Read a feature article all about our program in Maryland Sea Grant's magazine Chesapeake Quarterly.
• Read and share our flyer about the program.  
• Watch our video to learn about the REU program from members of the class of 2014:

Maryland Sea Grant's Commitment to DEI

Maryland Sea Grant champions diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) by recruiting, retaining, and preparing a diverse workforce, and proactively engaging and serving the diverse populations of coastal communities. Sea Grant is committed to building inclusive research, extension, communication, and education programs that serve people with unique backgrounds, circumstances, needs, perspectives and ways of thinking. We encourage applicants of all ages, races, ethnicities, national origins, gender identities, sexual orientations, disabilities, cultures, religions, marital statuses, veteran status types, and income, and socioeconomic status types to apply for this opportunity. Learn more about our mission here.

Contact Information

For more information about the program, please contact:

Funding for this Research Experiences for Undergraduates site is provided by the National Science Foundation's Division of Ocean Science's located in Arlington, Virginia. The NSF contact for this program is Elizabeth Rom. This program is currently up for renewal in 2025. Once a funding decision has been made by NSF, we will proceed with applicant selection and/or notification for next summer's program.