University of Michigan Biophysics Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (REU)

Program Dates: June 7 - August 16, 2026

The University of Michigan Biophysics Department Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates Program (REU) in Biophysics provides selected undergraduate students from around the United States an opportunity to conduct 10  weeks of summer research with some of the country's leading biophysicists across a range of experimental biophysics fields. The Program is conducted in concert with the NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates Program and is supported by, and contingent upon, funds from the National Science Foundation.  REU students have the opportunity to participate in a biophysics laboratory that uses various techniques, including X-ray crystallography and NMR.  

The Biophysics Program at the University of Michigan is one of the very few standalone biophysics programs in the US and has a long tradition of interdisciplinary research.  Since Biophysics is extremely intellectually diverse, our aim is not only to provide research experience in a subfield of the discipline, but also to provide an overview of state-of-the-art research in the field and the experimental and theoretical/computational methods and techniques commonly used. 

Students will be assigned to labs that match their interests and are run by experienced, innovative scientific researchers. Students will participate in hands-on exploration of biophysical methods and techniques, introducing them to various modern experimental and computational research methods.

Upon completion of the Program, students will have gained exciting research experience and acquired a biophysical toolkit, making them more successful and competitive in the scientific and academic environments.  This core experience will be augmented by weekly research seminars and workshops, as well as opportunities for social interaction, which will often be coordinated with other summer undergraduate research programs to broaden our students' integration into our scientific and professional communities.

To apply for the Biophysics REU Program, applicants are required to complete the online application and submit unofficial copies of transcripts (from all schools attended) and 2 two letters of recommendation. Applications for summer 2026 are now live. For full consideration, applications and letters should be received by February 28, 2026. 

Please contact biophysics-reu@umich.edu with any additional questions.

**Please note: Our funding only allows for us to accept US citizens into the program. Support can be granted to permanent residents with the proper documentation. 

Eligibility:

Applicants must: 

• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident (with the necessary documentation)

• Be an active undergraduate student enrolled in a bachelor's program and at least 18 years of age or older 

• Have completed at least one year of college by the start of the summer

• Be enrolled at an institution other than the University of Michigan (current U-M students are not eligible)

    *Most students admitted to the program are between their third and fourth year of undergraduate education.

Benefits: 

Students who are selected to participate in the program will receive:

• • A stipend of $6,000.

  • Travel reimbursement up to $500 for travel to and from Ann Arbor.

  • Housing near campus.

  • Access to the University library system

  • Access to world-class research facilities.

  • One-on-one instruction from internationally recognized faculty.

REU projects are available in many different biophysical areas.  Please click here and here for a list of specific faculty interests.  You may assume that every faculty member is interested in hosting an REU student.  Active REU research areas in Biophysics at Michigan include:

• • Biochemistry 

  • Biomolecular Structure & Dynamics 

  • Complex Biosystems

  • Computational/Modeling

  • Enzymology

  • Imaging 

  • Membrane Biophysics

  • Neurobiophysics

  • Quantitative Cell Biology 

  • RNA 

  • Single Molecule

  • Structural Biology

  • Spectroscopy & Microscopy, including NMR 

  • Virology

Applications are live for the 2026 program! Apply now by February 28, 2026 

Previous participants have stated:

"Overall, I really loved this program. I had such a great time and I'm so grateful that I got to be here. My lab was amazing and so were the program directors - they were always very helpful and easy to talk to. I am also much more excited and hopeful to apply to graduate school now because I feel like I have many more tools, not just in terms of research experience, but writing and how to write about my accomplishments." (2024)

"This is an excellent program. I had a great summer and learned a lot." (2024)