How do I apply?
Apply directly through the NSF-ETAP website. Create an account and enter SMSC in the search bar, or go directly to our program page: https://etap.nsf.gov/award/7921/opportunity/11407.
The deadline to apply is January 30, 2026.
What are the program dates?
June 1 to August 7, 2026.
Students need to arrive at the REU site facility (SMSC, Front Royal, VA) on the day before the start of the program (Sunday, May 31) and depart the facility on the day following the last day of the program (Saturday, August 8). Students must remain in residence at the facility for the entire 10-week experience. A brief excused absence of a few days may be permitted in prior consultation with the program directors and your mentor.
How much will I be paid? What is covered in the program?
Participating students will be paid a stipend of $7,000. In addition, students can receive up to $500 in travel support to and from the REU site facility (SMSC, Front Royal, VA). Students also receive full room and board during the experience (free housing and food). Upon successful completion of the program, students can receive up to $200 in conference participation support.
What hours will I be working? Is there any vacation?
The REU is full time (40 hours per week), for 10 weeks. Students usually work during business hours, Monday through Friday, but weekend work and work outside those hours may be conducted depending on the project and mentor’s schedule (e.g. potential field work or research collection trips). There aren’t vacation days, but participants may be excused for a day or two for special occasions (i.e. wedding, funeral, reunion, graduation).
Weekends are mostly free time, and we have various conservation-related excursions planned on some weekends throughout the experience, for example: behind-the-scenes tours of the Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park (NZP) and the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) in Washington, DC; as well as social activities such as hikes to the nearby Shenandoah National Park, Shenandoah River State Park, George Washington National Forest, Appalachian Trail, and canoeing on the Shenandoah River.
What do you expect students to do during the research experience? What is a typical week like?
During the REU, all students will: 1) Refine research question(s) and objectives with mentor input and guidance; 2) Collect/generate needed data and/or engage in data synthesis, evaluation, and analysis; 3) Communicate the results and importance of the project to peers and professionals through a formal symposium; and 4) Provide local and global impact by disseminating knowledge via various media/platforms, including social media.
Mondays through Fridays are spent working on your project. Students are expected to attend weekly professional development sessions and expert-given late afternoon colloquiums, with the opportunity to dine with the speaker afterwards, on Mondays. The research experience is supplemented by a “boot-camp” during the first week, where students learn about basics of the research process, the responsible and ethical conduct of research, and data and statistical skills (in R computing language). Students are also expected to attend weekly data work sessions during the remainder of the REU. During the last week, time will be spent practicing and presenting oral presentations for the final symposium and making a visual abstract poster to be presented at a local library to the public. The REU will conclude with a closing ceremony and celebration dinner.
What are the research projects?
The list of available projects and associated mentors can be found HERE. Students will conduct research on the conservation needs of populations of threatened or declining species. Students will work in one of three topic areas of species conservation: 1) Monitoring and Assessment; 2) Integrity and Recovery; and 3) Human-care (Ex situ) Management. In research projects within these three topic areas, students will help enact innovative ways to monitor and assess populations in the wild, determine how species persist in response to human-caused threats in their environment, or develop best practices for species management out of their native habitats.
Can I develop my own research project?
You will conduct an independent research project, under the guidance of a conservation scientist. Research project topics have already been established/outlined by mentors (see list HERE), but once students are placed in their projects, they will be encouraged to help formulate research questions or objectives of particular interest, as well as help design research methods.
I don’t have any research experience. Can I still apply?
Yes! The SMSC REU considers applicants who are from institutions with limited exposure to research opportunities and/or who are at earlier stages of their college experience. REU funds are intended to provide opportunities for students who have not had as much access to research opportunities.
What are you looking for in an applicant?
The personal essay of each applicant is considered, and we are looking for students who show promise/potential to become future conservation leaders and who will benefit professionally from the REU experience (i.e. the REU will have a high impact on their potential to reach their academic and/or career goals). We are looking for a range of different student experiences to help students gain access to a broad network of contacts and opportunities for their conservation careers.
Who should write my letter of recommendation?
Letter writers should be persons able to judge your ability to succeed in a research program, generally a college professor, supervisor or coach, and ideally those that can provide a strong, positive and specific recommendation letter. The letter writer should be from a professional capacity and be able to speak about your academic potential, such as academic skills, problem-solving, critical thinking, work ethic, communication, collaboration/teamwork, etc., and other personal characteristics that would make you a strong candidate (i.e. sense of responsibility, ability to follow direction, organization, time management, etc.).
When will I be notified if I have been accepted or declined to participate?
Students will be contacted in mid-March about being accepted as a finalist into the REU, and all applicants will be notified of their status by April 1st. Students need to confirm their attendance to secure a spot no later than April 15th.
If I am selected to participate, do I need to do anything special before arriving to the site?
Yes! The Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Virginia, is a federal facility that is closed the public. Since it is a federal facility, students will be required to complete a federal background check to receive an ID badge (for accessing the facility). Most of the background check can be done online, and is typically a fast process.
Where will I be living? What is the food situation?
Students will be living on site at the SMSC Residence Hall Facility. The Residence Hall features rooms with private bathrooms, air-conditioned accommodations, streaming service, wireless internet, and access to laundry facilities. This building also features a study lounge, three small conference rooms, and a large central atrium where students can gather and socialize.
REU participants will be provided three meals a day at SMSC’s Dining Commons which offers a wide variety of meal options. A changing menu offers hot entrees, sandwiches, salads, soups, pasta, and desserts, etc. and caters to any type of dietary needs (e.g. vegan, gluten-free, etc.).
Do I need to bring my own laptop/computer to perform research?
Students are welcome to bring their personal laptops, however, SMSC REU provides desktop computers with access to printers, high-speed internet, and software for data management (e.g. Excel), statistical analysis (e.g. R), and geospatial analysis (e.g. ArcGIS). All other equipment needed for any field or lab work will be provided.
Do I need a car?
No, transportation will be provided by mentors (e.g. for any field work), and transportation will be provided for organized field trips and social events throughout the experience. However, students are welcome to have a car on site, and parking is available free of charge.
Who can I contact if I have more questions?
For more information, contact the REU Faculty Program Director, Dr. Anneke DeLuycker at [email protected].
