The SETI Institute's Research Experience for Undergraduates program is for highly motivated students who are interested in research related to astronomy, astrobiology, and planetary science. Students will work with scientists at the SETI Institute and NASA Ames Research Center. Research topics span the field of astrobiology, from microbiology to planetary geology to observational astronomy.

The program includes a week-long field trip to Hat Creek Radio Astronomy Observatory in Northern California and to nearby Lassen Volcanic National Park. At Hat Creek, students will engage in a collaborative radio astronomy project focused on the SETI Institute’s Allen Telescope Array. At Lassen, a field experience studying hydrothermal systems will give students an opportunity to consider habitability and other topics in astrobiology.

Students will also participate in local field trips to places such as historic Lick Observatory, the NASA Ames Wind Tunnel facility, and other nearby locations of scientific interest. They will attend seminars, lectures, and discussions on astronomy, astrobiology, and planetary science. Students will live in dormitory housing at nearby NASA Ames Research Center. At the end of the summer, students will give presentations on their research projects, and many will be funded to present their research at various national scientific conferences.