2026 Program Dates: Tuesday, May 26 - Friday, July 17

The Program

After two weeks of intensive introduction to a selection of open problems and problem areas, participants will break into groups working on problems in different areas (although anyone may work on anything, and it may well happen that a participant will belong to two or more of the specializing groups).

Participants will be asked to make short presentations in daily seminars and problem sessions of background literature and of progress made, or of obstacles encountered. Participants are asked and will be encouraged to maintain contact with the project directors for program evaluation, for further research, and concerning publication of publishable results.

Some Discrete Mathematics problems will require the use of Computer Algebra. For work in Computer Algebra, participants will be trained in MAGMA. It is preferable, but not required, that participants have some background in Abstract Algebra.

2026 Application Form
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How to Apply

Applications consist of:

  1. Online application form including submission of college transcripts (unofficial transcripts are acceptable) and an essay describing your mathematical background and interests.
    Submit Student Application
  2. Two letters of recommendation to be submitted by faculty members or other individuals knowledgeable of your research potential.
    Submit Recommendation Letters

Deadline: Applications completed by March 1, 2026 will receive full consideration.

View Sample Problems and Problem Areas

Explore our collection of sample problems and problem areas that have been worked on by participants in Auburn Math REU's from 1999 to the present. 

Problem areas include:

  • Coloring problems, Euclidean and otherwise
  • More Euclidean coloring problems
  • The Frobenius Problem
  • Number Theory
  • Graph Theory

Additional Information

Non-Auburn residents will receive free on-campus or near-campus housing in dormitories together with other REU participants. Auburn residents (or students who have secured summer housing in Auburn) will receive a housing allowance in addition to their stipend.

Participants will receive a stipend of $4,500 and will live on or near campus with housing paid.

Travel and food are the responsibility of the participants.

NSF funding is restricted to US citizens and permanent residents. Other self-funded students are welcome to apply.

You must be an undergraduate student, meaning that you are pursuing a bachelor's or associate degree that will not be awarded before August 2026.

We recommend that long distance participants arrive via Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. There is a bus shuttle service, Groome Transportation, that will bring you from the airport to Auburn University. Arrangements will be made so that someone (usually a program director) will meet you upon arrival to assist with settling in to your residence.

Contact Information

Direct inquiries should be sent via email to:
Professor Pete Johnson
Email: johnspd@auburn.edu

For a list of other REU programs in mathematics, visit the NSF REU Sites in Mathematical Sciences .

NSF Support: This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 2349684. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
Last reviewed: January 28, 2026