CoB - Research Experience for Undergraduates
Make a lasting impression with the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program.
As an undergraduate research assistant (RA), you’ll work alongside a faculty mentor on an in-depth project, learning a wide range of research skills such as reviewing literature, developing surveys, collecting and cleaning data, and analyzing results. At the same time, you’ll make valuable connections with JMU faculty as you collaborate on research topics of mutual interest.
The REU program will give you a chance to build your professional skills or prepare for graduate school. These experiences also may give you a competitive edge in applying for prestigious national scholarships or Hillcrest scholarships, which often provide the opportunity for international travel and study.
"The REU program helped cultivate my analytical mindset and gave me an avenue to explore new and interesting research topics. As a Purchasing Analyst I'm constantly investigating innovative savings opportunities, and the skills I developed during this program have allowed me to advance in my career and positively impact my company."
Leigh Mulligan
Management ‘17
"The REU program lets me share what I find interesting and exciting about my research with a student who wants to learn more about how the research process works. I also get to know individual students better and to have more of a mentoring relationship with them."
Laura Leduc
Professor, Business Management
Apply Here
- Fall applications close in August
- Spring applications close in December
- Summer applications close in April
- Contact program director Andre Neveu for specific dates each semester.
Applying for a Continuation
Students and faculty wishing to continue working together in subsequent semesters must reapply and submit individual evaluations of their work from the previous term.
Subsequent research awards may be granted, contingent upon the faculty-RA team successfully meeting their project’s "completion standards."
FAQs for Students
You must submit an application to participate in the REU Program. If you and a particular faculty member already have discussed working together, you are encouraged to submit applications together noting your mutual request. If you do not apply with a faculty collaborator in mind, you may be matched with a partner with similar research interests. Submit a student application.
Students applying to the RA program must be in good academic standing and have a 2.75 GPA to be accepted into the program, as well as to reapply for future assignments. You are not required to be enrolled in the Honors College or to be admitted to the CoB at the time a project begins. However, preference will be given to underclassmen demonstrating a high likelihood of ultimately gaining entry to the CoB. Upperclassmen are also eligible for awards.
You will be conducting academic research that meets definitive benchmarks or guidelines—not simple or menial tasks. Through this experience, you should develop a wide range of skills, from reviewing literature, developing surveys and collecting data to conducting statistical and qualitative analysis and writing results.
Your first assignment will last for one semester. However, you may apply to continue your project into a second semester or apply for a totally new project after completing the first. Projects also may be initiated and completed over the summer. Each new assignment or renewal requires an application.
Work should range between five and 10 hours per week. Research assignments offer a flexible schedule, with hours to be negotiated between the student and faculty adviser.
RAs will receive an hourly rate for time worked up to $1,000 per semester. Two-semester or summer assignments may qualify for payment up to $2,000.
No. If you are interested in completing a research project for course credit, talk to your academic adviser about the possibility of completing an independent study project.
You do not need to complete work that would be submitted for publication, but faculty-RA pairings must collaborate on a brief presentation and/or reflection of the work completed. Students are encouraged to present their work at either the Honors Symposium (if applicable) or through departmental poster presentations.
Pending a recommendation from faculty mentors, funds may also be made available for student travel to present their joint work at professional conferences (e.g., Council on Undergraduate Research Poster Session on the Hill, the National Conferences on Undergraduate Research (NCUR), or other discipline specific professional conferences).
FAQs for Faculty
Yes. If you and a student already have discussed working together, you are encouraged to submit applications together, noting your mutual request. However, students and faculty who do not apply with a collaborator in mind may be paired with a partner with similar interests. Submit a faculty application.
The program is open to all JMU faculty, with preference being given to CoB faculty.
This program does not provide direct financial support for faculty.
Research tasks should be substantive with definitive benchmarks or guidelines, and not simple or menial tasks. Students should learn a wide range of research skills such as reviewing publications, developing surveys, collecting and cleaning data, and analyzing results.
Faculty should expect to spend time helping develop students' skills and knowledge. The program is initially focused on helping students start taking part in research projects early in their academic careers (ideally the sophomore year). These students are interested in research, but may not yet possess the raw knowledge or skills necessary to conduct high-quality independent study. Positions are renewable, making the time spent with these students increasingly useful over time.
Work should range between five and 10 hours per week. Summer research assignments allow for more flexible hours, to be negotiated between the student and faculty adviser.
The faculty-led project does not need to be concluded (e.g., submitted for publication) within the RA’s term of assignment, but faculty-RA pairings must collaborate on a brief presentation and/or reflection of the work completed. Students are encouraged to present their work at either the Honors Symposium (if applicable) or through departmental poster presentations. Completion standards for the faculty-RA pairings may be used in helping determine future awards of undergraduate RAs.
Students and faculty completing a one-semester RA position may reapply to continue working together in subsequent semesters, pending acceptance of a follow-up faculty-RA application. Subsequent research awards may be granted, contingent upon the faculty-RA team successfully meeting their project’s “completion standards” as described above.
Hours of operation:
Mon - Fri: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
