Stipend and Travel 

Participants receive a total stipend of $7,000 for summer 2025. This amount will be split into 3 payments throughout the summer program (beginning, middle, end) and will be direct deposited to your account. Participants must be set up as a vendor in Payment Works to receive the stipend. Visit the onboarding section of this website for details.

Participants can be reimbursed up to a maximum amount determined by the program for approved travel expenses. Each expense must be reviewed by the program/department. Example travel expenses include:

• If flying: round trip economy flight

  • Baggage fees

  • Taxi, Uber, Lyft to/from Houston airport and UH campus

• If driving: mileage reimbursement based on the current State of Texas rate.

Participants must have an approved travel request in Concur before any travel expenses are incurred. Visit the onboarding section of this website for details.

Travel reimbursement will occur AFTER the program ends as the travel does not end until the program ends and participant return home.

UH does not issue a W-2 nor a 1099-MISC for your stipend.

Based on the NSF statement (Section III Award Information): 

"The REU experience is a research training experience paid via a stipend, not employment (work) paid with a salary or wage. In this case, the student's training consists of closely mentored independent research. For administrative convenience, organizations may choose to issue payments to REU students using their normal payroll system. The funds received by students may be taxable income under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and may also be subject to state or local taxes. Please consult the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for additional information. Students might find the IRS's "Tax Information for Students" website (https://www.irs.gov/individuals/students/students-page-higher-education) to be particularly helpful."