Eight students will be presenting the summer work at the Ocean Sciences Meeting in March 2022!
Research Experiences for Undergraduates
Maryland Sea Grant offers students the opportunity to conduct marine research on the Chesapeake Bay. During the 12-week program, each student works with a mentor on an individual research project. It’s a special opportunity to develop your research skills and interests by working with top science mentors studying America’s largest estuary.
Each REU fellow will receive:
- $8,400 stipend
- Free housing at your research lab
- Round-trip travel expenses
Research areas include: Benthic environment, Climate change, Contaminants, Environmental chemistry, Estuarine processes, Fisheries, Modeling and analysis, Molecular biology and genetics, and Physical oceanography.
Eligibility
We strive to create a safe and inclusive environment for all participants in our program. We strive to support students from a diversity of majors, colleges, backgrounds, and life experiences in our cohorts.
The program is best suited for students majoring in marine science, ecology, environmental science, biology, chemistry, engineering, physics, mathematics, and related degrees.
Students from colleges and universities where research opportunities are limited and from groups underrepresented in marine and coastal science are welcome and encouraged to apply.
Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and have completed at least two years of study towards (but not yet completed) a bachelor’s degree. Preference is given to students who are rising seniors.
How to Apply
Interested students are required to submit and application through the NSF Education and Training Application Portal (ETAP):
- Application form
- Short answer questions
- Resume
- Unofficial transcripts
- A list of courses in progress
- A contact to request a recommendation
Learn more about how to apply to the program.
Learn more about Maryland Sea Grant's REU program
- Schedule, Programs, and Seminars: Summary of key dates, field trips, seminars on careers in science, and more.
- Frequently Asked Questions about the program.
- Research Topics and Mentors: Learn about the research topics studied in previous years by participating students and the mentors who advised them on those topics.
- Our Students and Their Research: Photos and names of past students and descriptions of their projects and publications.
- Read a feature article all about our program in Maryland Sea Grant's magazine Chesapeake Quarterly.
- Read and share our flyer about the program.
- Watch our video to learn about the REU program from members of the class of 2014:
Maryland Sea Grant Welcomes All Applicants
Sea Grant is committed to building inclusive research, extension, communication, and education programs that serve people with unique backgrounds, circumstances, needs, perspectives and ways of thinking. We encourage applicants of all ages, races, ethnicities, national origins, gender identities, sexual orientations, disabilities, cultures, religions, marital statuses, veteran status types, and income, and socioeconomic status types to apply for this opportunity. Learn more about our mission here.
Contact Information
For more information about the program, please contact:
Dr. Michael Allen, Associate Director for Research & Administration
Mr. Chris Flight, Professional Development and Aquaculture Education Coordinator
Maryland Sea Grant College
5825 University Research Court, Suite 1350
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20740
Phone: (301) 405-7500
E-mail: reu@mdsg.umd.edu
Funding for this Research Experiences for Undergraduates site was provided by the National Science Foundation's Division of Ocean Science's located in Arlington, Virginia.

