NSF DREU 2026 Student Application

NSF DREU Program - 2026 Student Application
On behalf of the Computing Research Association's Widening Participation Committee (CRA-WP), thank you for your interest in the NSF Distributed Research Experiences for Undergraduates (NSF DREU) program. We appreciate the time and effort you are putting into this application.

The application should take approximately 30-40 minutes to complete. To prepare, please have the following materials ready for upload:

- Your CV or résumé
- Your unofficial transcript(s)

This application is designed to help us get to know you better through a short series of questions. If you encounter any technical issues or have questions or concerns at any point, please reach out to the CRA-WP staff at DREU_Staff@cra.org.

We look forward to reviewing your application and learning more about you.

Statement of Honor & GDPR Questions
Statement of Honor & GDPR Questions
Name:*
(First, Middle, Last Name and suffix if applicable)
Statement of Honor*

By selecting the button, I hereby attest that all information in my application, including my research statement, is my own work, factually true, and honestly presented.
Statement of Privacy*

By selecting the button, I understand that my application will be provided to program administrators, potential faculty mentors for review.
CRA Communications Email Preferences*
To execute CRA programs and events, it is often necessary to share your name and contact information with third parties. Examples include sharing this information with accounting firms in order to process travel reimbursements, and for arranging accessibility services. Please select:*
If you select option B, you will be automatically disqualified from participating.
E-mail*

Confirmation Emailexample@example.com

Academic Year Contact Information
Academic Year Contact Information
Current Address*
Street Address, City, State/Province, Zip Code, Country
Current telephone number:*

Country/Area Code (####)Phone Number
Current institution email:*
School Email address

Educational History
Educational History
Institution 1*
Please select from the following
If you indicated OTHER to the previous question, please specify*
Degree Program*
Please select from the following
Major*
Major GPA*
Major GPA scale (e.g., 4.0, 5.0, 12.0, etc)*
Put N.A. if you do not yet have a GPA during the time of this submission.
Program start date*

YearMonthDay
Expected graduation*

YearMonthDay
Degree awarded?*
Please select from the following
Need to add another institution?*

YesNo
Institution 2
Please select from the following
If you indicated OTHER to the previous question, please specify
Degree Program
Please select from the following
If you indicated OTHER to the previous question, please specify
Major
Major GPA
Major GPA scale (e.g., 4.0, 5.0, 12.0, etc)
Program start date

YearMonthDay
Expected graduation

YearMonthDay
Degree awarded?
Please select from the following

CV and Supplemental Materials
CV and Supplemental Materials

Please upload the required documents. If you have multiple transcripts, please combine into one file.
Unofficial Transcript*

Cancelof
List the courses you are currently enrolled in or will have completed by Spring 2026 that don't appear on your transcript.*
CV / Résumé*

Cancelof
Research Interest Statement*

Research Statement: Describe any previous research experience (if applicable). Discuss new areas of interest you want to explore. This can be brief—1-2 paragraphs will suffice.
Cancelof

Recommenders
Recommenders

*You must add 2 recommenders.Your recommender will receive an email notification, to the email address you input for them, with instructions to upload their letters' of recommendation to your application, following your submission.
Recommender 1 Name:*
(Title, First, Middle,, Last Name and suffix if applicable)
Recommender 1 Email:*
example@example.com
Recommender 1 Role:*
Please select from the following
Recommender 1 LOR File Upload

Cancelof
Recommender 2 Name:*
(Title, First, Middle,, Last Name and suffix if applicable)
Recommender 2 Email:*
example@example.com
Recommender 2 Role:*
Please select from the following
Recommender 2 LOR File Upload

Cancelof

Research Interests
Research Interests
Potential Research Area Interests:

Accessibility
Algorithms
Complexity Theory
Theory
Artificial Intelligence and Robotics
Bioinformatics
Computational Biology
Computer Architecture, CAD, and VLSI
Computer-Human Interaction
Computer Music
Computer Vision
Computer Science Education
Database and Information Retrieval Systems
Graphics and Visualization
Natural Language Processing, Computational Linguistics
Networks
Operating Systems
Parallel and Distributed Computing
Programming Languages and Compilers
Scientific Computing
Security and Cryptography
Software Engineering
Speech Processing
Please enter up to three research interests in the box below. It is OK if you do not yet have specific research areas in computing of interest. In that case, enter "Unsure".*
Statements
Please submit a brief technical skills statement describing any specific skills you have (programming language proficiency, operating systems familiarity, hardware design experience, software development experience, and other skills not evident from your transcript).*
Why are you interested in participating in DREU and how do you think it will benefit you?*
Challenges and Obstacles: Please briefly describe any challenges or obstacles you have faced in becoming a computer science student and succeeding in your undergraduate degree. How have you used resources such as support from a mentor, online resources, academic support groups, or other resources to address challenges in your undergraduate degree?*
Please use this space to provide the DREU selection committee with any additional information that you feel may help them evaluate your application. For example, this would be a good place to note any exceptional hardships, achievements, or other personal responsibilities and challenges you have faced in becoming a computing student and succeeding in your undergraduate degree. *

DREU Preferences
DREU Preferences
Earliest start date*

YearMonthDay
Latest start date*

YearMonthDay
Does anything prevent you traveling to another site during the summer?*
Please select from the following
If you indicated yes to the previous question, please specify and explain below.*
Do you have preferences of where you would like to spend the summer?*
Please select from the following
If you indicated yes to the previous question, please specify *
Do you have a preferred Mentor?*

YesNo
Preferred Mentor's Name:
(Title, First, Middle,, Last Name and suffix if applicable)
Preferred Mentor's Email
example@example.com
Preferred Mentor's Affiliation
Please select from the following
If you indicated OTHER to the previous question, please specify.
Undergrad Research Experience Possible Answers:

I have NOT participated in undergraduate research
DREU summer research program in the past
CREU program (academic year) in the past
UR2PHD - Undergraduate Research Methods Course
Undergraduate research in the past, at my home institution during the summer
Undergraduate research in the past, at another institution during the summer
Undergraduate research in the past, at another institution during the school year
Please indicate any Undergraduate Research Experiences you have participated in from the list above. (Include all that apply and separate with a ";")*
Conferences or Programs Participation Possible Answers:

ACM Programming Languages Mentoring Workshops (PLMW)
NSF DREU - Distributed Research Experience for Undergraduates
UR2PHD - Undergraduate Research Methods Course
STARS Computing Corps conference or workshops, or home team meetings
Residential/Living Learning Community on campus
None of the above
Have you participated in any of the following conferences or programs list above? (Include all that apply and separate with a ";")*

Application Review
Submit my NSF DREU application*

I have reviewed my materials and am ready to submit my application
Should be Empty:

NSF DREU Program - 2026 Student Application

Statement of Honor & GDPR Questions

Personal Information

Academic Year Contact Information

Educational History

CV and Supplemental Materials

Recommenders

Research Interests

Statements

DREU Preferences