Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Internship Program

Overview:
Immersive lab experiences and strong mentors are essential to fostering the next generation of plant scientists. The Research Experience for Undergraduates summer internship program exposes students to all aspects of modern scientific research, from design to experimentation to reporting. By pairing each intern with a faculty mentor, students gain unique insight into the process and training involved in becoming a scientist, and the broader impact of scientific discovery.

Program Details:

• Duration: 10-week summer program (May 26, 2026 – July 31, 2026 for 2026 cohort)
• Work Requirements: Minimum 40 hours per week; no vacations permitted except official Danforth Center-wide holidays (Memorial Day, Independence Day)
• Funding Source: Made possible through generous support from the National Science Foundation (NSF)

Geographic Scope

• Primary location: Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, Missouri, US
• Students must be able to relocate or have local housing

Eligibility Requirements

• Academic Status: Must be enrolled in an undergraduate degree program (part-time or full-time) leading to a baccalaureate or associate's degree
• Citizenship: Must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Due to federal grant restrictions, the Center cannot fund program participants who are not citizens or permanent residents.
• Field of Study: Should be majoring in plant science, a life science field, or a related field with relevant coursework
• Prior Experience: Prior research experience is not required
• Time Commitment: Must be able to work at least 40 hours per week for the entire 10-week term
• Reapplication: Students who have already participated in the program are not eligible to reapply. Those students are encouraged to work with their previous mentors regarding rehiring.
• Special Note: Students transferring from one institution to another (and accepted at the second institution) may participate. High school graduates who have not yet enrolled are not eligible. Students who have received their bachelor's degree (or will receive a degree before the program dates) and are no longer enrolled as undergraduates are not eligible.

Program Requirements

• Be present for the full 10-week period
• Work at least 40 hours per week with no vacations (except official holidays)
• Turn in a research paper at the end of the program
• Attend all-day symposium on final day and make a 12-15 minute presentation

Special Considerations

• Housing: The Center offers information about housing options; local participants can arrange their own housing
• New Roots for Restoration (NRR): Interested applicants can participate in the NRR Biology Integration Institute (BII) as part of their experience
• Informational Questions: The application collects (for informational purposes only, not affecting eligibility): previous NSF REU experience, gender, first-generation college student status, veteran status

Contact Information

• Email: reuinternship@danforthcenter.org
• Letters of recommendation should be submitted directly to: reuinternship@danforthcenter.org

Note on Application Timeline: All other internship applications for high school or undergraduates will open in March.

Application Process

Required Materials:

1. Completed online application form (16 steps)
2. Resume (PDF, DOC, or DOCX format; max 15 MB) - Name file as: Lastname-Firstname-Resume
3. Personal Statement (PDF, DOC, or DOCX format; max 15 MB) - Name file as: Lastname-Firstname-Statement
4. Unofficial Transcripts (PDF, DOC, or DOCX format; max 15 MB) - Name file as: Lastname-Firstname-Transcripts
5. Two (2) letters of recommendation - References must submit directly to reuinternship@danforthcenter.org

Application Form Sections (16 steps):

1. Contact Information
   • First and last name (required)
   • Email and alternate email (required)
   • Phone number (required)
2. School Address
   • School address (required)
   • School city, state, zip, country
3. Permanent Address
   • Permanent address (required)
   • City, state, zip, country
4. Residency & Work Authorization
   • Legal authorization to work in the US (required)
   • Note: Federal grant restrictions prevent funding for non-citizens/non-permanent residents
5. Availability
   • Availability for May 26, 2026 – July 31, 2026 program dates (required)
   • Option to explain alternative availability
6. Housing
   • Indicate if local housing available or if housing assistance needed
7. REU Experience & Prior Application (Informational only)
   • Previous NSF REU-funded internship experience
   • Whether applicant has applied to program before
8. Demographics (Informational only)
   • Gender (Female, Male, Other, Prefer not to answer)
   • First-generation college student status
   • Veteran status
9. Current School & Academic Information
   • School type (Semesters, Quarters, Trimester, or Block system)
   • Academic department (required)
   • Major (required)
   • Minor/Specialization
   • GPA (required) - enter 0-100 scale
   • GPA scale (required) - specify what scale (e.g., 4.0)
   • Date of entry into college (month/year) (required)
   • Current classification/class standing as of May 1, 2026 (Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior) (required)
   • Expected graduation date (month/year) (required)
10. Laboratory Skills
    • Brief list of laboratory skills (900 character limit)
11. Labs of Interest
    • Indicate which labs most interest applicant
    • Note: Not all labs participate each summer; final placement based on lab needs and intern interests
12. New Roots for Restoration (NRR)
    • Interest in participating in NRR Biology Integration Institute (BII)
    • Options: Yes, No, Maybe - I'd like to know more
13. Academic Experience
    • List most relevant courses and grades (note "IP" if in progress)
    • Up to 10 rows for courses
    • Highlight courses directly related to major/internship program
14. How Did You Hear About Us?
    • Multiple selection options:
    • Danforth Center Website
    • Internet Search/Other Website
    • Flyer
    • Social Media
    • Previous program participant
    • Professor
    • Recruiting Visit/Recruiting fair
    • Other (with comment field)
15. Accommodations
    • State any accommodations needed to succeed in program
16. Requirements & Eligibility Acknowledgements
    • Confirmation of understanding:
    • General program requirements (40 hours/week, no vacations except official holidays, full 10-week commitment, research paper, symposium presentation)
    • Eligibility requirements (undergraduate enrollment, work authorization, major field, coursework, 40 hours/week commitment, no reapplication after participation)
    • Acknowledgement that any change in eligibility status during application/selection process must be reported immediately, resulting in application withdrawal

Submission:

• All materials and 2 letters of recommendation must be submitted to be considered
• Confirmation screen appears after submission
• Applicants should save a copy for their records
• Contact reuinternship@danforthcenter.org for submission problems

Selection Process:

• After all applications received and reviewed, a pool of candidates is selected
• Interns are then assigned to labs based on lab needs and intern interests
• Perfect matches and specific lab placements cannot always be guaranteed