Apply Now

University of Michigan Biophysics Summer REU

Application

Program Dates: June 7 - August 16, 2026

For full consideration all materials are due by February 28, 2026. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and offers to outstanding applicants may be made in advance of the deadline. Recommendation letters should be sent no later than February 28, 2026.

To be eligible for this REU program, students:

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

2. Be an active undergraduate student enrolled in a bachelor's program and at least 18 years old

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

4. 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. 

Application Materials:

Please ensure that you have it all when you start, as applications cannot be saved and returned to at a later time.

1. Personal contact information

2. Educational Information - (you will need to upload your unofficial transcript)

3. Previous Work/Research Experience  - (you will need to upload your resume/CV)

4. Reference Letters - Two reference letters are required; this section will prompt you to enter your email address and a message to your reviewers. 

5. Research Area of Interest & Lab Choice - You will be prompted to select your desired area of research and select three faculty members with whom you are interested in working from the Biophysics Core and Affiliate lists.

6. Statement of Purpose & Personal Statement -  In a single PDF or Word file, please upload your Statement of Purpose, which should clearly explain why you want to pursue summer research, both in general and specifically at Michigan. You are encouraged to elaborate on your areas of interest, noting whether you have a strong preference for a specific area or are open to exploring new topics. While your personal statement, which should typically be about one page long, should provide more insight into your background and experiences—essentially, it should tell us who you are! This is an opportunity to discuss any previous work or research experience you may have.                       

*These two statements are essential components of your application and will be carefully reviewed by the selection committee. 

The Biophysics REU sites directors will utilize a common deadline of March 1, 2025, for students to accept or decline first round offers at domestic (non-international) sites. Sites may send offers to students at any time before this date, and students may accept or decline offers at any time after receipt, but students will not be required to decide before March 1. Because of necessary organizational lead time, international REU sites may require earlier acceptance dates.

Questions? Please e-mail biophysics-reu@umich.edu.

Start Application Now