BROADN 2025 REU Summer Program – Apply Now

2025 Summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) in Aerobiome Research

Have you ever considered the air to be a place that is full of living microscopic organisms that is constantly changing?

Our team of researchers has, and we are working together to investigate a wide range of important and unanswered questions:

• What microbes are in the air?
• Where do they come from, and where do they go?
• What do they do while they are in the air?

If these sound like interesting questions to you, then consider joining our team of diverse scientists for a unique and exciting summer research program.

Program Information

• The program will run from May 27 – August 1, 2025, in Fort Collins and includes boarding, a stipend, and support for travel.
• Priority application deadline: Friday, February 7, 2025, by 11:59 PM MST.
  • During the application process, you will be asked to submit unofficial course transcripts and provide email contact information for one person who can write a letter of recommendation for you. Letters of recommendation must be submitted by the application deadline. For assistance or questions regarding letters of recommendation, please see here.

Eligibility Criteria

• Students who will graduate at the end of spring semester 2025 are not eligible for this program. 
• Participants must be either U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. or its possessions (NSF requirement). 

Potential Summer Research Projects

During the application process, please reference at least two of the projects* below that interest you. Click on the project titles for more information. *We will do our best to match students with their desired choice based on preference and availability, but please note that projects are subject to change. 

Project 1: Characterizing Spore Emissions of Cronartium ribicola

Project 2: Gene Discovery: How do microbes survive in the aerobiome?

Project 3: Unmasking Aerobiome Superpowers: Genetic Dissection of Microbial Survival Traits

Project 4: Innovative Bioaerosol Sampling and Analysis: Developing and Evaluating a High-Efficiency Virtual Impactor for Environmental and Health Applications

Project 5: Fungal Resilience: Unraveling Survival Mechanisms of Fungi Under Atmospheric Stress

Project 6: Ice Nucleation Dynamics in the Aerobiome: Analyzing INP Spectra Under Diverse Atmospheric Conditions

Project 7: Investigating DNA Stability and Microbial Survival: Evaluating Filter Storage Conditions for Bioaerosol Samples

Participants will:

• Conduct original scientific research on a project in a BROADN advisor’s research group. 
• Participate in a cohort of undergraduate students working on interrelated projects in parallel.
• Develop professional skills for communicating science (elevator speeches, formal presentations, science communication in popular media).
• Discuss resources for professional pathways in STEM careers.

Participants will receive: 

• A stipend of $600/week for 10 weeks ($6,000 total). These funds are considered a scholarship/fellowship and may be taxable. NOTE: If you receive financial aid, please check with your Office of Financial Aid prior to accepting the stipend, regarding any potential impacts to your financial aid package.
• Room and board (includes on-campus housing and a meal plan).
• Roundtrip travel to and from the CSU Fort Collins campus.

The BROADN REU program at Colorado State University is sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and offers undergraduates a mentored research experience to work with a diverse team of scientists to investigate how the microbiome of the air is altered by environmental stresses, and how it impacts human, animal, and environmental health.

For more information or questions about the application process, please contact: Brad.Borlee@colostate.edu, BROADN REU program director.