Applications Open for 2026–2027 Undergraduate Research Fellowships in Neuroscience

Aniaba N'Guessan presenting his poster at the SURFiN Symposium 2025. — Aniaba N'Guessan at the SURFiN Symposium 2025. Emily Tan/Simons Foundation

The Simons Foundation is now accepting applications from undergraduate students to participate in its Shenoy Undergraduate Research Fellowship in Neuroscience (SURFiN) program for the 2026–2027 academic year. The SURFiN program aims to spark and sustain interest in neuroscience among undergraduate students who have not had access to research opportunities. The paid fellowships will run from September 2026 through May 2027.

SURFiN fellows gain hands-on, in-person research experience in labs supported by the Simons Foundation. Funding will be provided to pay each fellow $25 per hour for 10 hours a week over 30 weeks during the academic year. Labs will receive a $2,000 resource stipend to further support the fellow. SURFiN is an initiative of the Simons Foundation’s Autism & Neuroscience Division, which includes the Simons Collaboration on the Global Brain (SCGB), the Simons Collaboration on Plasticity and the Aging Brain (SCPAB), the Simons Collaboration on Ecological Neuroscience (SCENE) and the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI). The program is named in honor of neuroscientist Krishna Shenoy.

Prior laboratory experience is not required. Students enrolled in bachelor’s or associate’s degree programs near a SURFiN lab may apply, and in most cases do not have to be attending the institution where their lab is located. This year’s opportunities are located in cities across the United States, Canada and Europe.

During the program, fellows receive direct mentorship in the lab and participate in career development and community-building activities, including a scientific symposium in New York City in spring 2026.

The application deadline, including recommendation letter submission, is 12 p.m. (noon) Eastern Time on April 21, 2026. For additional information about the program, including eligibility requirements, see the SURFiN request for applications page.