Simons Foundation Undergraduate Research Fellowship in Neuroscience (SURFiN)

Opportunity

The goal of the Simons Foundation Undergraduate Research Fellowship in Neuroscience (SURFiN) Program is to spark and sustain interest in neuroscience among undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds underrepresented in neuroscience research. SURFiN provides funds and programming for undergraduate research assistants (fellows) to work in-person in Simons Foundation-supported neuroscience laboratories under the mentorship of graduate students and postdoctoral researchers (mentors) during the 2023-2024 academic year.

The Simons Foundation is invested in supporting the next generation of researchers and provides this program in recognition that diversity improves scientific innovation and collaboration. Through programs like SURFiN, the Simons Foundation and our scientific community aims to expand access to research experiences, support early career scientists in advancing in their careers, and work to create a more inclusive research training environment.

This request for applications (RFA) is aimed at undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds underrepresented in neuroscience research who are interested in gaining in-person laboratory experience. The application is deadline is May 4th. 

Undergraduate students accepted into SURFiN can expect to:

• Complete an in-person, paid undergraduate research assistantship located at one of the U.S. or international laboratory sites offered for the 2023-2024 academic year (September 2023 through May 2024). Undergraduate students must live within a reasonable commute of an available lab opportunity and engage in regular in-person lab activity.
• Work with the guidance of a graduate student or postdoctoral researcher mentor.
• Participate in both virtual and in-person professional development and community-building activities, including a computational sciences boot camp as it relates to lab placement or interest.
• Connect with the SURFiN scientific community and Simons Foundation.
• Travel to and present at the Simons Foundation in New York City in Spring 2024 for an undergraduate research symposium, with travel and lodging coordinated and covered by the Simons Foundation.

Level and Duration of Funding

Fellowships will be for the 2023–2024 academic year. Fellowships will begin in the Fall 2023 academic semester and continue through the Spring 2024 academic semester.

Fellows will receive the following financial support throughout their academic year fellowship, administered by the hosting principal investigator’s (PI’s) laboratory:

• $7,500 salary support/stipend: These funds must be used to cover the total wages earned by the student during the academic year at a rate equivalent to $25/hour for 10 hours a week over 30 weeks.
• Fringe Benefits: If eligible, the student will also receive fringe benefits.
• $2,000 resource stipend: These funds are to be used to support the fellow’s work and professional development during the academic year. This may include small equipment such as a laptop computer for coding projects or fees for training courses. Any equipment purchased with these funds will be the property of the laboratory and should remain with the lab after the SURFiN fellow’s project concludes. Please note that commuting costs, renewable reagents and animal costs may not be requested through this supplement. The resource stipend may also be used toward travel costs or registration fees for the SURFiN fellow to attend conferences related to the research project.

After the academic year program, PIs, mentors and fellows may have the opportunity to request an extension of the fellowship for fellows who remain enrolled in their undergraduate degree program through the summer and/or next academic year. Alternatively, mentors and fellows may seek other funding sources to support a fellow after the 2023–2024 academic year. 

To learn more about this opportunity and apply, please visit: https://www.simonsfoundation.org/grant/simons-foundation-undergraduate-research-fellowship-neuroscience-surfin/?mc_cid=1d6594dbad&mc_eid=bfc03f78a0