The Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program provides opportunities for undergraduate students to engage directly in National Science Foundation–funded research. Through hands-on participation in active research projects, students gain valuable experience across a wide range of scientific and engineering disciplines.

The program supports student research in two ways:

• REU Sites bring groups of students together to work on research projects organized around a clear intellectual theme. These sites may be housed within a single department or span multiple disciplines.

• REU Supplements provide support for undergraduate researchers within existing NSF-funded projects.

Many REU opportunities also include international research components, encouraging global collaboration.

Eligible participants must be U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents. Students apply directly to individual REU Sites or projects, each of which manages its own selection process. A searchable directory of active REU Sites is available on the NSF website.

Learn more about NSF REU Sites here

FABRIC is an international, next-generation research infrastructure designed to support large-scale experimentation across networking, cybersecurity, distributed computing, storage, virtual reality, 5G, machine learning, and a wide range of science applications.

Built as a distributed system of advanced computing and storage resources, FABRIC spans 29 sites located in commercial colocation facilities, national laboratories, and university campuses. These sites are linked by high-speed, dedicated optical connections and integrate with specialized testbeds, the public Internet, and high-performance computing resources—creating a versatile environment for innovative research.

FABRIC Across Borders (FAB) expands this ecosystem globally, adding interconnected nodes in Asia and Europe to enable international collaboration and experimentation at scale.

Learn more about FABRIC here 

If admitted into the program, you will be matched with one of our mentors  for the duration of the program. 

If admitted into the program, here is a list of the potential projects you could be working on. 

Eligible applicants must be U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents enrolled as undergraduates in good academic standing. They must commit full-time and work on research in networking, distributed systems, cloud computing, or related fields.

Required Skills: Proficiency in Python, basic understanding of computer systems, fundamental networking concepts, and familiarity with distributed or cloud computing.

Preferred Skills: Hands-on experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP), testbeds, experimental infrastructures, distributed computing, distributed applications, network emulation/virtualization platforms, or empirical systems research; familiarity with version control (Git), Linux/Unix, or debugging tools; prior research or open-source experience; and interest in multidisciplinary collaboration and new tools/infrastructure.

Applicants must provide references on technical/personal strengths, commit to hybrid collaboration, and may indicate project preferences; matching projects and student interest will be considered.

Applicants must submit a complete application package, including a reference, a CV/resume, a personal statement, and an unofficial transcript. Detailed instructions and submission links are provided on the application page.

Yes. Summer participants receive housing accommodations arranged by the program. Additional details, including move-in and move-out dates, will be shared after acceptance.

All selected students receive a competitive stipend to support their participation during the program. The stipend amount and payment schedule will be communicated upon acceptance.

Students can expect a mix of research activities, meetings with mentors, professional development sessions, and cohort events. Most days include dedicated research time, workshops, and community-building opportunities.

UNC’s free Chapel Hill Transit system provides convenient access to campus and surrounding areas. Bus schedules, maps, and route information will be provided to participants, and major routes stop near student housing and research facilities.

Yes. Participants receive temporary UNC–Chapel Hill credentials that allow full access to campus libraries, study spaces, and online research resources.

Yes. This REU program is offered in a hybrid format, blending in-person research activities at RENCI with virtual components to support flexible participation and collaboration.