Ferguson College of Agriculture

OSU Urban Horticulture Research and Extension Experience for Undergraduates (REEU)

Do you have an interest in plants, locally-produced foods, hydroponics, teaching or even possibly graduate school? If the answer is yes to one or more of these, then you should consider the Urban Horticulture REEU and explore your career opportunities! 

REEU Online Application

The OSU Urban Horticulture REEU is a program that will introduce undergraduates to the world of horticulture sciences and agricultural research. If you like plants, have interest in locally-produced foods, enjoy teaching, or think graduate school might be in your future, you should definitely apply.

• Who Can Apply?
  Anyone over the age of 18 and enrolled as a full-time student in a school of higher education for Fall 2024. This includes both two-year and four-year institutions.
• Why You Should Apply:
  The OSU Interdisciplinary Plant REEU is a program that will introduce undergraduates to the world of horticulture sciences, agricultural research and extension, and related disciplines like invasive plant ecology, soil health, greenhouse production, and turf management.  If you like plants, have interest in locally-produced foods, enjoy teaching, or think graduate school might be in your future, you should definitely apply.  If you are unsure, please email the Program Director Charles Fontanier and he can advise you.
• Application Requirements:
  1. Complete the online application.
• Where will you live?
  Students will be housed in one of OSU’s on-campus residence halls.  Each student will have a private bedroom and shared living space (two students per unit).  Students who choose not to use the program sponsored housing will be required to obtain and pay for their own housing.  A partial housing stipend may be available for such situations.
• Program Start and End Dates:
  • Start Date: Monday, May 20, 2024
  • End Date: Friday, July 26, 2024
• Stipend:
  $500 per week for 10 weeks
• Parking and Student Recreation Center: 
  Students should also be aware of and follow any campus parking regulations, which may require purchase of a parking permit.  If a permit is required, the student should notify program director Fontanier to secure a discounted rate.  Dr. Fontanier will also coordinate discounted rates for students interested in Colvin Center access during the first week of the program.
• Course Credit: 
  This program can be used by OSU students to receive up to 3 credits of HORT 2010 or HORT 4990.  For non-OSU students or non-HORT students, we encourage you to seek guidance from your advisers if applying program participation towards course credit.  This program will not cover expenses associated with tuition and fees.
• Faculty Mentors: 
  You will be teamed up with one of eleven research faculty mentors and spend the entire program learning about their research/extension program.  Professors will include Drs. Bene Bachelot, Bruce Dunn, Charles Fontanier, Shivani Kathi, Niels Maness,  Tyler Mason, Shelley Mitchell, Ravi Jadeja, Beatrix Haggard, Karen Hickman, William McGlynn, Lou Anella and Lu Zhang.  These faculty represent a diverse group of expertise ranging from greenhouse production to turfgrass science to plant extraction sciences. 
• Research Opportunities: 
  While working with your faculty mentor, you will be assigned a project associated with their expertise.  The mentor will provide training and guidance on how to conduct good research in either lab or field settings.  Students will be expected to share their research with other students and present their findings at the conclusion of the program.  For students working in a more extension-oriented field, summary presentations of their experiences and impacts will be expected in place of a research presentation.
• Field Trips:
  During the 10-week program, you will have group field trips to highlight applied plant sciences in action.  These trips will include visits of small-scale farm systems, greenhouse facilities, and hydroponics operations.
• Student Community Garden:
  During the program, you will participate in team projects designed to train you on basics of vegetable production, urban horticulture, and related topics.  Student build projects are also in the works with hopes of constructing high tunnels, and install irrigation system.
• Education:
  In addition to learning activities at the Student Farm, students will gain knowledge of hydroponics system construction, pollinator health, laboratory equipment, food preservation and safety, and floriculture.
• What We Expect from You:
  As a student fellow in the REEU, you are expected to maintain a minimum 40-hr work week, be punctual to program events, have lots of questions, have fun, and share your experiences with your fellow students.  Most importantly, we expect that you will be INTERESTED and EXCITED to take part in this unique opportunity. 
• Typical Week: 
  Your typical week will be more or less as a full time intern and subject to the specific lab you are working in. You will work with your assigned faculty mentor on independent research or some other aspect of his/her program. This may include establishing plants, maintaining plants, working in a laboratory setting, reading literature, and collecting data.  Approximately one day per week, you will work in the Student Farm to maintain vegetables, build raised beds, install irrigation, etc. One day each week, students will develop a 3-minute oral summary of their activities. Students will also be presented with expert guest speakers and workshops pertaining to horticulture in the state. Students will not have structured events in the evenings but may have homework assignments or library research related to their projects. In some cases, students will be responsible for maintaining their research projects over the weekend but otherwise would have weekends free.