The application period is now open for the Summer 2026 Boulder Solar Alliance Research Experience for Undergraduates (BSA REU) program, which is hosted by the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) at the University of Colorado Boulder. Federal funding for the program, which is supported by the National Science Foundation, was renewed this fall for the next three years.
“It’s a privilege to host this program, and we are honored to be able to continue providing these vital undergraduate research opportunities to students,” said REU Program Principal Investigator Willow Reed.
Established in 2007, the BSA REU program offers students from a wide range of backgrounds the opportunity to collaborate with scientists and graduate students on hands-on scientific research in solar and space physics.
The program leverages the solar and space physics scientific community in Boulder, recruiting mentors from LASP, the National Solar Observatory, High Altitude Observatory, NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center, NOAA/CU Boulder Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, Southwest Research Institute, and more.
Since its inception, more than 300 students have participated in the program, with many continuing their education and obtaining graduate degrees in solar and space physics. Studies have shown that undergraduate research experience is highly beneficial for careers in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).
“Hands-on research experience gives students the technical and problem-solving skills they will need to enter America’s STEM workforce,” said LASP Director Bethany Ehlmann. “This ensures that tomorrow’s engineers, scientists, and explorers are ready to maintain the United States’ position as a global leader in science, especially for understanding how stars like our Sun and space weather work.”
The Summer 2026 application is now open, with a deadline of Jan. 21, 2026. To be eligible for the BSA REU, applicants must be a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident, and be enrolled as an undergraduate student pursing a bachelor’s or associate’s degree in Fall 2026.
To learn more about the program and apply, visit https://lasp.colorado.edu/reu/.
Founded a decade before NASA, the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at the University of Colorado Boulder (LASP) is revolutionizing human understanding of the cosmos. LASP is deeply committed to inspiring and educating the next generation of space explorers. From the first exploratory rocket measurements of Earth’s upper atmosphere to trailblazing observations of every planet in the solar system, LASP continues to build on its remarkable history with a nearly $1 billion portfolio of new research and engineering programs.
