This REU Site award to the State University of New York at Albany’s RNA Institute, located in Albany, NY, will support the training of 10 students for 10 weeks during the summers of 2026–2028. Students will participate in high quality, hands on research that contributes to scientific discovery in the broad field of ribonucleic acid (RNA) science and RNA based technologies. This work is important because RNA plays a central role in nearly all biological processes and advances in RNA research help transform biotechnology, medicine, and our understanding of life. The program benefits society by cultivating a skilled and diverse scientific workforce, expanding technological capacity, and encouraging innovation in fields that underpin national competitiveness. A key goal of this REU Site is to broaden participation in STEM, especially among students with limited access to research opportunities. Students will learn how research is conducted, receive mentoring from faculty and staff, and many will present their work at scientific conferences. Program assessment will include both in person and online qualitative and quantitative surveys. Students should apply to the REU Site using the NSF Education and Training Application (ETAP) at https://etap.nsf.gov. The training students will receive is aligned with the NSF priorities in Biotechnology and Artificial Intelligence. The REU in RNA focuses on how the structure and function of RNA governs cellular processes and can be leveraged to illuminate the molecular mechanisms of complex biological systems and develop new RNA based technologies. Students will work alongside faculty affiliated with the RNA Institute and a range of departments including Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Biomedical Sciences, and Bionanosciences. Each student will conduct an individual research project in an Institute laboratory under the guidance of a faculty mentor, while also participating as part of a cohort in professional development activities th