Applying to SURP

  • Applicants must be a US Citizen, Permanent Resident or DACA students.
  • Applicants should be undergraduates who have taken basic science and/or biology courses. 
  • Priority will also be given to candidates intending to pursue a PhD or career in research.
  • Applicants from institutions including small colleges with limited research opportunities will be prioritized.
  • This program requires full-time participation for the entire 10 weeks.

Application instructions

Application Instructions

  • Prepare the application materials

Application Materials

  • A personal statement

  • Your CV or Resume

  • Your unofficial school transcript

  • Two letters of recommendation. 

  • Answer the additional questions at the NSF ETAP page.

Personal Statement

The personal statement should describe your personal and academic background and your research interests. Please address the following questions in your statement. What are your future goals and how performing research at NYU Biology will help meet them? What are your major personal traits that contribute to your success? Traits including resilience, handling and learning from failure, uncertainty or risk, creativity, problem solving, and independence. Please provide a specific example/situation to help us learn more about you and your personal traits. How does your social network support or not capable of supporting your career preparation in STEM? What are some courses or academic experiences you found most rewarding and why? During the academic year, what other activities were you balancing with coursework? These may be jobs, care-giving responsibilities, campus-activities, or others.

Note that traditionally, society has held stereotypical views of who is suitable for STEM, resulting in underrepresentation of certain demographics. If you belong to any of these groups, we urge you to not select yourself out but apply!

Please do not exceed one page.

CV or resume

There is no specific format but please provide the following information at minimum:

  • Education (please include degree pursuing and expected degree date)

  • Research experience (You are not required to have any. If you have, please provide the title of the project, location, lab advisor, brief summary of what you did, skills acquired. If this was a previous REU, please indicate).

  • Academic awards/grants/fellowships/honors/scholarships

  • All employment and internship experiences

  • Relevant coursework

  • Lab, computer, and field skills (can be from classes)

  • Other relevant skills and activities including service and outreach

Unofficial transcripts

If you have attended multiple schools, please include transcripts for every one you attended for at least 2 semesters.

Letters of recommendation

The letters can be from professors or non-academic employers. The letter writers should know you well enough to comment on your academic performance, aptitude, experience, personal traits, strengths and characteristics at the workplace.