Home
Research
NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates

NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates

Get a jump start on your research

A small group of undergraduate students—usually about 10—comes to Indiana University each summer to engage in animal behavior research that involves neuroscience, cognitive science, and molecular approaches as well as traditional fieldwork and behavioral analysis. This work is made possible through the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) in Animal Behavior.

Funded by the National Science Foundation, the REU program has been running since 1990 and is one of the most successful undergraduate summer research programs in the country. It offers talented undergraduates a unique opportunity to conduct key research and gain valuable skills while exploring career opportunities in the sciences.

Find out how to apply

Having trouble with your application or want more information? For the fastest help with common problems and questions, check out these FAQs.

Frequently asked questions + answers about the REU Program

I graduate in the spring. Am I eligible to apply?
The REU program is funded by the National Science Foundation. The eligibility criteria for applying are: - Applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States. - Applicants must be enrolled as undergraduate students during the REU program. - Program participants must not attend classes or hold outside employment during the term of their internships.
Is there a minimum GPA to be eligible to apply to your REU program in Animal Behavior?
We do not have a minimum GPA to be eligible to apply. In addition to academic ability, our program looks for good matches of interest between interns and the labs they enter, so think about the research that most interests you before you apply.
I transferred schools during my undergrad studies. Do you want transcripts from both schools?
Yes, please send transcripts from schools you’ve attended as an undergraduate.
My school’s semester ends June 15^th. Am I eligible to apply and arrive after the program starts?
The first few weeks of the course have several important components needed for the duration, so we generally do not accept people who are going to have to miss significant portions of the program.
When will the internship decisions be made? How will I know if I’ve been chosen? The review process starts immediately following the application deadline and ends when all 10 internship positions are filled. Mentors contact applicants they are interested in either by phone or email to discuss a potential research project. The program director sends chosen applicants an email offering an internship. The decisions are finalized by mid April.

The REU in animal behavior program dates are 5/27-8/1/2025. Now accepting applications until 2/10/2025.

Please contact Laura Hurley (lhurley@iu.edu) with any additional questions.

Indiana University REU Program in Animal Behavior

Every summer, The Program in Animal Behavior and the Center for the Integrative Study of Animal Behavior (CISAB), with generous support from the National Science Foundation, invites ten talented undergraduates to Bloomington, Indiana to work with IU faculty on individualized research projects in animal behavior.

The REU schedule

During the first two weeks, interns divide their time between group training activities and their home laboratories. Group training activities include research seminar presentations, hands-on training in field and laboratory techniques, trips to visit wildlife rehabilitation centers and/or animal sanctuaries, and a workshop on research ethics.

For the remainder of the summer, students conduct individual research projects under the guidance of their mentors, preparing final presentations of the results. They can also attend brief workshops on taking the GRE, applying to graduate school, and designing professional presentations in Power Point.

Benefits offered by REU

With the help of the National Science Foundation, the Animal Behavior REU program provides each student with the following during the 10-week program:

A single occupancy room
A food stipend
Travel expenses
A stipend of about $7000 (Stipends depend upon available funds)

Bloomington offers culture, nature, + action

Located in the heart of Bloomington, IU is a Big Ten university with a national reputation for research in the sciences. The city is nestled in the hilly, wooded countryside of southern Indiana near local lakes, state parks, and the Hoosier National Forest. It is conveniently located one hour south of Indianapolis (home of the Indy 500, the Colts and the Pacers, and the largest children's museum in the US), 2.5 hours from Cincinnati, and 4 hours from Chicago.

The area offers a variety of outdoor activities including biking, boating, caving, camping and hiking, as well as a rich cultural life of music, museums, and restaurants. An extensive public bus system can take you anywhere you want to go.

Explore Bloomington

I had an extraordinary REU experience. I learned a great deal about how to properly and professionally conduct research. The experience improved my writing skills and showed me that I am capable of reaching my goals. I will use the knowledge and skills gained with me throughout the rest of my academic career. The program was very warm and welcoming, with many mentors helping us along the way. I loved my experience and highly recommend other motivated students to apply to the CISAB REU program.
Taran DePaola, Senior, Psychology Major at Northern Arizona University

REU Mentors

The REU is sponsored by the Center for the Study of Integrative Animal Behavior. We represent more than 40 Indiana University faculty members whose primary homes are in biology, psychological and brain sciences, anthropology, neural science, and the medical sciences.

Many of these researchers and their postdocs, technicians and graduate students are available to REU interns each year as possible summer mentors. Previous REU interns have studied the behavior of a wide variety of animals, including birds, bats, hamsters, lizards and insects.

The National Science Foundation offers many REU Programs across the United States.

I am grateful for having been part of the 1995 CISAB-REU program and have had a very successful career in part because of the opportunity afforded to me.
Dr. Mabel Lopez, Director for Mental Health Services at Florida Spine and Brain; Chief of Psychiatry and Psychology for Lee Memorial Health Systems

NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates

Get a jump start on your research

Indiana University REU Program in Animal Behavior

The REU schedule

Benefits offered by REU

Bloomington offers culture, nature, + action

REU Mentors

Center for the Integrative Study of Animal Behavior social media channels

The College of Arts & Sciences