Each summer, the Department of Agricultural Biology at Colorado State University will host undergraduate students for an eight-week Research and Extension Experiences for Undergraduates (REEU) program.

Students interested in applied agricultural research, pest management, plant health, and communicating science to diverse audiences are encouraged to apply. Through hands-on research, field and laboratory experiences, professional development and building science communication skills, participants will work alongside CSU faculty, postdocs, and graduate students while gaining experience addressing real-world challenges in agriculture. 

Questions? Reach out to Dr. Ada Szczepaniec, a.szczepaniec@colostate.edu

How to apply

Access the application document here

1. Fill out the information requested in the application document. Draft short statements to address your research experiences and interests.
2. Share copies of your current transcripts (unofficial OK) and two letters of recommendation.
3. Compile all documents into a single PDF.
4. Email your application to a.szczepaniec@colostate.edu by February 15, 2027.

Program details

The ARIDS REEU (Applied Research and IPM for Dryland Systems) is an eight-week summer program designed to give undergraduates hands-on experience in applied agricultural research and Extension. The 2027 program will run from June 1 to July 23, 2027 at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado. Participants receive:

• A $5,800 stipend
• Lodging and meals
• Reimbursement for travel to and from Colorado State University

After being accepted into the program, you will be matched with a faculty mentor whose research best aligns with your interests. Over the course of the summer, you will contribute to an applied research and/or Extension project while building skills in scientific inquiry, communication, and problem-solving. At the end of the program, you will present your work and share what you learned with fellow participants, mentors, and members of the CSU community.

Research and extension focus areas

Entomology:

• Arthropod diversity and pest management in urban forests
• Integrated Pest Management implementation and outreach resources
• Insect diversity-productivity relationships in rangelands
• Integrated pollinator management in urban landscapes
• Modern techniques in plant-pest interactions (e.g., RNAi)

Plant Pathology:

• Molecular virus-host interactions in wheat
• Disease surveillance and diagnostics in wheat
• Modern techniques in plant-pathogen interactions (e.g., disease resistance screening, mapping of loci and molecular mechanisms, recombinant viruses)

Plant Molecular Biology:

• Characterization of aphid salivary effectors in wheat, sorghum, or potato under drought stress
• Gene expression analysis of drought stress on crop responses on a diurnal scale
• Developing CRISPR technology to modify aphid and host genes involved in crop (wheat, sorghum, or potato) colonization
• Techniques used: DNA and RNA extraction using the Opentron OT-2 robot, PCR and qRT-PCR, plant and aphid bioassays, and CRISPR

Weed Science:

• Developing novel weed management tools in wheat
• Effect of environment on herbicide metabolism
• Optimizing CoAXium wheat production system