NHERI REU Summer Program
NHERI STRONG-R REU Summer Program
2025 NHERI REU cohort in front of Large Wave Basin in the O.H. Hinsdale Wave Research Laboratory at Oregon State University, during the NHERI REU Research Symposium.
Updates
Applications for the 2027 NHERI STRONG-R REU Summer Program will open on October 5, 2026. Interested students are encouraged to learn more about the program by attending one of four virtual information sessions hosted by NHERI Education and Community Outreach (ECO). Registration for all sessions is available through Eventbrite.
Virtual Information Session Dates
- October 20, 2026, 7:00 pm CT
- November 23, 2026, 3:00 pm CT
- December 17, 2026, 3:00 pm CT
- January 26, 2027, 7:00 pm CT
These sessions will provide an overview of the program, application process, research opportunities, and participant experiences, with time available for questions from prospective applicants.
Program Information
The Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure (NHERI) Strengthening Resilience through Observation, Networks, and Research (STRONG-R) Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Summer Program or NSF NHERI STRONG-R REU for short, is an NSF-funded, ten-week undergraduate research experience designed to prepare future engineers and scientists to address challenges in natural hazards and community resilience.
Through a partnership among three NHERI research sites and the NHERI Education and Community Outreach (ECO) team, students work alongside faculty mentors, graduate students, and research teams on projects related to natural hazards and community resilience. Participants gain hands-on experience with advanced simulation, field reconnaissance, data science, cyberinfrastructure, and resilience-focused research while using state-of-the-art facilities, computational tools, and real-world datasets.
Students contribute to projects that explore infrastructure vulnerability, hazard impacts, mitigation strategies, and community resilience. In addition to research, the program includes professional development workshops, networking opportunities, and mentoring designed to help students strengthen their technical and professional skills while learning about graduate school and careers in natural hazards.
This hybrid program requires a full-time commitment of approximately 40 hours per week. Participants engage in research activities both online and in person while taking part in research group meetings, professional development workshops, networking events, mentor evaluations, reflections, timesheet reporting, and research writing activities.
Each of the facilities listed below will participate in the June 14 – August 20, 2027 NSF NHERI STRONG-R REU Summer Program. Click the links below to learn more about each site.
- The NHERI SimCenter at University of California, Berkeley
- The NHERI DesignSafe Cyberinfrastructure and Data Management team at University of Texas at Austin in collaboration with TACC
- The Rapid Response Research Facility (RAPID) at University of Washington
REU participants receive:
- Travel funds to and from the research facility;
- Housing subsidy to help with living expenses;
- Research stipend ($7000) for summer work;
- Research and career experience alongside faculty mentors; and
- Travel funds to and from the NHERI REU site to present a research project and a chance to network with engineering researchers, social scientists, and natural hazards experts.
Eligibility
Applications are open to students who are U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents who are enrolled in an undergraduate degree program. Undergraduates who will graduate before June 14, 2027, are ineligible.
Because student projects vary in scope, we are looking for a variety of majors including civil engineering, computer science, and architecture, to name a few. If you are interested in solving engineering problems dealing with natural hazards or understanding natural hazards' impact on society, this undergraduate research program is for you!
Application
The NSF NHERI STRONG-R REU Summer Program application is now open. Applicants are required to provide the following:
- Background information including the college(s) you attended, your GPA, and credits earned.
- Two letters of recommendation, with at least one from a professor.
- Research site ranking in order of preference.
- Brief essay questions about your goals and experiences as an undergraduate student.
- Optional documents — unofficial transcripts, resume, and other scholarly undergraduate work.
To view the complete application before applying, select the image on the right.
Explore
Click the boxes below to check out the posters, presentations, and papers created by REU Alumni.
Also be sure to check out the REU Playlist on YouTube for testimonials from previous participants with reasons to be involved in the program.
Contact Us
The Education and Community Outreach (ECO) and the ECO Committee develop and host the NHERI REU Program. If you have questions about the NHERI REU Summer Program or the application process, please email us at reu-request@designsafe-ci.org. We want to hear from you!