The summer REU program occurs over 10-weeks at the University of Arkansas and take place between May 17 and July 26. All students will have access to computers located on campus during the 10-week program.
Undergraduate students from across the United States are encouraged to apply with an application deadline of FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 2025. Selected students will be notified of their acceptance by April.
In order to apply:
- Fill out the application form
- Email a copy of your unofficial transcript and your resume/CV to lauriem@uark.edu with the subject line “Crime Analysis REU Application Materials: (your name)”.
Students who are selected to attend the REU will work with their faculty mentors and other research community students to:
- Review foundational literature and build a literature library to prepare them for participation in a relevant research community.
- Develop brief project descriptions to be completed within the 10-week timeline.
- Learn fundamentals of research design and data analysis in both one-on-one trainings and REU-wide workshops.
- Conduct original analysis of data related to issues of crime, justice, and health, specifically projects related to terrorism and homeland security, online hate, and health and justice inequities.
- Visualize research process and findings in the form of a research poster.
- Discuss their career aspirations and/or graduate school relative to those aspirations with both their mentors and other students in their REU cohort.
- Learn to translate scientific findings into different types of scholarly products, including academic articles, policy briefs, and presentations.
- Build capacity to become more qualified researchers, independent thinkers, and problem solvers in topics related to crime and justice.
- Meet virtually and face-to-face with practitioners across a range of analytic fields to better understand how the skills they are building at the REU translate to the workforce.
Logistics
During the 10-week research experience, students will be in a cohort of up to nine other undergraduate students, divided into their respective research communities. We recognize that leaving your community to come to the University of Arkansas can place financial and logistic burdens on students and their families, so we aim to provide the necessary resources for students to focus on growing their research skills and the mentoring we will provide through our research communities.
What we provide
Student Stipend: Each undergraduate student will receive a stipend of $600 per week, totaling $6,000 per student for each summer.
Housing Stipend: The stipend will fully cover housing at The Marshall through the University of Arkansas.
Student Travel To & From UA: Student travel to and from the University of Arkansas will be paid for.
Meal Stipend: Each student will be provided meals up to $750 per student for the 10-week period of the program.
Special Events: We will have several special events that will be covered by the program, including Dinner & Dialogue with keynote speakers, kickoff meals, and an end-of-program celebration.
Materials and Lab Setup: Students will have access to computers housed on-campus in Old Main 101.
Alumni Travel to Conference: REU students can request up to $750 to travel and present their REU-related research at a conference in the academic year following the program. This will allow students to showcase their research skills, further expand their social networks, and link up with prospective mentors whose work is also presented at those conferences.
REU Field Trip: A critical component of this REU is the practical application of social data analytics, especially among practitioners who use the research and skills we develop at places like the University of Arkansas. All students will be invited to attend one or more field trips to visit practitioners (e.g., crime analytics specialists) at their institutions and organizations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to participate
Current undergraduate students with a graduation date later than Spring 2025 may apply.
Please note, the program is open only to undergraduate students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, as required by funding agency guidelines. If selected for the program, you may be asked to provide proof of citizenship or residency (e.g., U.S. passport, birth certificate, or green card).
Do I get to pick my research community?
In your application you will have the opportunity to rank your project choices. However, program administrators will make the final decisions.
What are the research communities?
To make the 10-week period more impactful for attendees, students will focus on one of three research areas that will form a “research community.” The three areas are: (1) Terrorism and Homeland Security, (2) Cyberhate and Extremism, and (3) Health and Justic Inequities. Please reference the Research Communities page for more details.
How do I send my resume/CV and unofficial transcript?
Please email them to lauriem@uark.edu with the subject line “Crime Analysis REU Application Materials: (your name)”.
Additional Questions? Please review the website or direct questions to lauriem@uark.edu.