Shenoy Undergraduate Research Fellowship in Neuroscience (SURFiN)
- Undergraduate Student Application (LOI) Opens in SAM:
- SAM Webinar:
- SURFiN Informational Session:
- Undergraduate Student Application (LOI) Deadline:
- Mentor and Fellow Interviews Begin: June 12, 2023 –
- Fellows Notified of Lab Placement:
- Deadline for Fellows to Accept:
- Mentors Notified of Match & Full Application Opens in SAM:
- Full Application Deadline:
- Start Date:
- Undergraduate Student Application (LOI) Opens in SAM:
- SAM Webinar:
- SURFiN Informational Session:
- Undergraduate Student Application (LOI) Deadline:
- Mentor and Fellow Interviews Begin: June 12, 2023 –
- Fellows Notified of Lab Placement:
- Deadline for Fellows to Accept:
- Mentors Notified of Match & Full Application Opens in SAM:
- Full Application Deadline:
- Start Date:
- Administrative Inquiries:
neurogrants@simonsfoundation.org - Scientific Inquiries:
SURFiN@simonsfoundation.org - Technical Assistance:
samsupport@simonsfoundation.org
(Mondays–Fridays: 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Eastern Time)
Opportunity
The goal of the Shenoy 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.
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.
Application Process
Undergraduate students interested in applying to SURFiN should first review the list of available lab opportunities here. Applicants may select and rank up to three (3) opportunities of interest that they must be able to regularly commute to and engage in regular in-person lab activity. Undergraduate students must apply by submitting an application, also known as a “Letter of Intent” (LOI). Please see the How to Apply instructions for more information.
Applications will be reviewed by Simons Collaboration on the Global Brain (SCGB), Simons Collaboration on Plasticity and the Aging Brain (SCPAB), and Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI) scientific staff and an external review committee. Reviewers will weigh criteria related to the applicant’s potential to engage in and benefit from working in a scientific laboratory. Prior laboratory experience is not required and will not be heavily weighted in the review process.
After review, undergraduate finalists will be invited to interview with potential mentors in June 2023. Simons Foundation staff will assign final pairings based on mentor and finalist feedback from these interviews. If matched with a lab, fellows will be notified of a lab placement by June 30, 2023 and allowed until July 14, 2023 to accept or decline. Mentors will be notified of the final pairing by July 20, 2023.
All fellowships and awards will begin in September 2023.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the Shenoy Undergraduate Research Fellowship in Neuroscience (SURFiN) Program, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Applicants must be currently enrolled at a degree-granting undergraduate institution (including community colleges) and intend to remain enrolled through Spring 2024.
- The program application is open to women, individuals who are Black or African American, Hispanic or Latine or Native American or American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and other Pacific Islanders, individuals with disabilities and individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. We will consider applicants to have come from a disadvantaged background if they meet at least two (2) of the following criteria:
- were or currently are homeless;
- were or currently are in the foster care system;
- were eligible for the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program* for two or more years;
- have/had no parents or legal guardians who completed a bachelor’s degree;
- were or currently are eligible for Federal Pell* grants;
- received support from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children* as a parent or child;
- grew up in one of the following areas: a) a U.S. rural area, as designated by the Health Resources and Services Administration Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer, or b) Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services-designated Low-Income and Health Professional Shortage Areas (qualifying zip codes are included in the file). Only one of the two possibilities in this bullet can be used as a criterion for the disadvantaged backgrounds.
- *For non-U.S. applicants, please consider approximately equivalent programs.
- Individuals identifying as LGBTQIA+ within the above listed communities are encouraged to apply.
- Applicants should be able to regularly engage in in-person lab activity.
- It is not necessary for applicants to have prior laboratory experience.
- Individual hosting institutions may have additional eligibility requirements; applicants should check that they meet both SURFiN’s programmatic eligibility criteria listed above and any additional criteria listed for the lab opportunities selected in their application.
We cannot make a formal determination of any individual candidate’s identity, disability status or disadvantaged background. Applicants must review and sign a self attestation form regarding these eligibility criteria. This self-attestation form will be available for you to download on the Simons Award Manager (SAM). If you meet the criteria, you are welcome to apply.
Informational Sessions
The Simons Foundation held an informational session on how to submit an application through our new grants management system, Simons Award Manager (SAM), on Tuesday, April 4 – Click here to watch the recording.
For an overview of the SURFiN Program, interested undergraduate students are encouraged to review the informational webinar held on Wednesday, April 5 – Click here to watch the recording.
Instructions for Submission
The deadline for the Letter of Intent (LOI) application submission is 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, May 4, 2023. All LOIs must be submitted via SAM. For more detailed instructions on how to submit a LOI, please refer to the How to Apply instructions.
The following information must be submitted:
- Expected Graduation Date
- Field of Study
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae (not to exceed one (1) page)
- Transcript (official or unofficial copy)
- Statement of Interest (300 words or less):
- Please explain your interest in applying for the SURFiN Program, including how participating in this program will help you achieve your academic and career goals.
- Summary of Research Experience (300 words or less):
- Please provide a brief description of your prior and/or planned experience in the following subject areas: neuroscience, psychology, biology, computer science, math, physics or other relevant subjects. Experience may include research, project(s) or coursework. Applicants are not expected to have research experience. In the absence of research experience, please detail any relevant coursework. This is intended to help us better understand each applicant’s transcript and assess their fit with lab opportunities.
- Signed Self-Attestation of Eligibility (available for download in SAM)
- Letters of Reference (separate, blind submission):
- At least one (1) and up to two (2) letters of reference are required. Letter-writers should be able to speak to the applicant’s potential to engage in and benefit from the program, and may include academic advisors, counselors, teachers, professors or instructors, including teaching assistants or resident advisors, though this is not an exhaustive list. Confidential letters must be submitted through SAM.
- Selection of at least one (1) and up to three (3) lab opportunities the applicant would be interested in working in if selected. A list of laboratory opportunities to choose from is available here.
- Any additional application information (100 words or less, if applicable): Describe any additional information or circumstances not reflected elsewhere in your application.This may include an explanation of factors that may have affected your past academic or extracurricular performance, such as family care responsibilities, illness, military service or other factors.
List of Lab Opportunities
A list of available laboratory opportunities can be found here. Applicants may indicate up to three (3) opportunities of interest in their application. Undergraduate students must live within a reasonable commute of an available lab opportunity and engage in regular in-person lab activity.
Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Many of the greatest ideas and discoveries come from a diverse mix of minds, backgrounds and experiences. The Simons Foundation is committed to grantmaking that inspires and supports greater diversity and inclusiveness by cultivating a funding environment that ensures representation of all identities and differences and equitable access to information and resources for all applicants and grantees.
The Simons Foundation provides equal opportunities to all applicants for funding without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, pregnancy, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic disposition, neurodiversity, disability, veteran status or any other protected category under federal, state and local law, except when identifying from a disadvantaged background or underrepresented group is an eligibility requirement of the request for application (RFA).
- Undergraduate Student Application (LOI) Opens in SAM:
- SAM Webinar:
- SURFiN Informational Session:
- Undergraduate Student Application (LOI) Deadline:
- Mentor and Fellow Interviews Begin: June 12, 2023 –
- Fellows Notified of Lab Placement:
- Deadline for Fellows to Accept:
- Mentors Notified of Match & Full Application Opens in SAM:
- Full Application Deadline:
- Start Date:
- Administrative Inquiries:
neurogrants@simonsfoundation.org - Scientific Inquiries:
SURFiN@simonsfoundation.org - Technical Assistance:
samsupport@simonsfoundation.org
(Mondays–Fridays: 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Eastern Time)
The deadline for the application, also known as the “Letter of Intent” (LOI) submission is 12:00 p.m. (noon) Eastern Time on May 4, 2023.
Applications must be submitted via the Simons Award Manager (SAM). Please click on the Funding Opportunities icon and navigate to the Shenoy Undergraduate Research Fellowship in Neuroscience (SURFiN) student call. Click the Create Application button to begin. LOIs should be started and submitted under the applicant’s own account in SAM.
Informational Sessions for Potential Applicants:
The Simons Foundation held an informational session on how to submit an application through our new grants management system, Simons Award Manager (SAM), on Tuesday, April 4 – Click here to watch the recording.
Additionally, informational videos on submitting applications in SAM can be found here.
For an overview of the SURFiN Program, interested undergraduate students are encouraged to review the informational webinar held on Wednesday, April 5 – Click here to watch the recording.
Letter of Intent (LOI) Submission:
- Proposal Tab:
- Applicant Details: Please complete the required field listed below. This information should be completed in the user’s profile. The applicant may use the Edit Profile button to update their information as needed.
- Academic Rank: Please enter “Undergraduate Student”.
- Personal Data: Please complete the required demographic data fields. This information should be completed in the user’s profile. The applicant may use the Edit Profile button to update their information as needed.
- Degrees: Click the Add/Modify Degree(s) button to provide this information.
- Application Details: Please complete the required fields listed below:
- Title: Please enter “2023–2024 Simons Undergraduate Research Fellowship in Neuroscience.”
- Start Date: Please enter September 1, 2023.
- End Date: Please enter May 31, 2024.
- Proposal: The following information must be entered/uploaded:
- Expected Graduation Date: Please enter the month and year you expect to graduate from your undergraduate degree program (e.g., May 2024).
- Statement of Interest: In 300 words or less, please explain your interest in applying for the SURFiN Program, including how participating in this program will help you achieve your academic and career goals.
- Research Experience Summary: In 300 words or less, please include a brief description of your prior and/or planned experience in the following subject areas: neuroscience, psychology, biology, computer science, math, physics or other coursework. Experience may include research, project(s) or subject area study. Applicants are not expected to have research experience. In the absence of research experience, please detail any relevant coursework. This is intended to help us better understand each applicant’s transcript and assess their fit with lab opportunities.
- Preferred Lab Opportunity: Please list at least one (1) and up to three (3) lab opportunities you would be interested in if selected. Include both the name of the mentor and the name of the principal investigator.
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV): Please upload a copy of your resume or curriculum vitae (CV). Please do not exceed one (1) page.
- Signed Self-attestation of Eligibility (template provided in SAM): Please upload the signed letter attesting that you meet the eligibility requirements for SURFiN.
- Transcript: Please upload either an official or unofficial copy of your current transcript.
- Additional Application Information (Optional): In 100 words or less, please include additional information or circumstances not reflected elsewhere in your application. This may include an explanation of factors that may have affected your past academic or extracurricular performance, such as family care responsibilities, illness, military service or other factors.
- Field of Study: Please enter the name of your degree program/major.
- Contacts & Personnel Tab: You are not required to grant any institutional contacts access to your application and can leave this tab blank.
- Institution Administrative Contacts: Institution contacts are not required. However, if you would like to grant an institutional official or administrator access to assist in the completion of the LOI, please add them to this section.
- Project Personnel: Project personnel are not required. If you would like to grant a mentor or advisor access to assist in the completion of the LOI, you can do so by assigning them the role “Key Personnel – With Application Access”.
- Letter of Reference Tab:
- At least one (1) and up to two (2) letters of recommendation are required from letter-writers able to speak to your potential to engage in and benefit from the program. This includes, but is not limited to, academic advisors, counselors, teachers, professors or instructors, teaching assistants or resident advisors. Confidential letters must be submitted through SAM.
- Instructions on how to invite referees are provided in this tab within SAM. Please note that you must enter a date by which the invited referee should submit their Letter of Reference and click Save Draft prior to sending the invitation. This will ensure that the email invitation sent to the referee includes the due date you set. A video on the Letter of Reference process can be found here.
- You will not be able to submit your application until at least one (1) letter of reference is submitted by a referee.
- Check Application Progress: Click the Check Application Progress button to check for any missing required information or files. All missing required information will be listed at the top of the screen and must be corrected before the LOI can be submitted.
- Submit Application: When the LOI is complete, please click on the Submit Application button. A confirmation email is also sent upon submission. Make sure that spam filters allow emails from no-reply@simonsfoundation.org. Please contact neurogrants@simonsfoundation.org if you did not receive this email and it is not in your spam folder. The LOI will appear in the Submitted tab of the Applications in Progress table. Please note that you will not be able to submit an LOI if the deadline has passed.
Once your application has been submitted, the Simons Foundation will be in touch if we require any additional information or revisions for your submission. Please monitor your inbox and make sure that spam filters allow emails from neurogrants@simonsfoundation.org and surfin@simonsfoundation.org.
- Undergraduate Student Application (LOI) Opens in SAM:
- SAM Webinar:
- SURFiN Informational Session:
- Undergraduate Student Application (LOI) Deadline:
- Mentor and Fellow Interviews Begin: June 12, 2023 –
- Fellows Notified of Lab Placement:
- Deadline for Fellows to Accept:
- Mentors Notified of Match & Full Application Opens in SAM:
- Full Application Deadline:
- Start Date:
- Administrative Inquiries:
neurogrants@simonsfoundation.org - Scientific Inquiries:
SURFiN@simonsfoundation.org - Technical Assistance:
samsupport@simonsfoundation.org
(Mondays–Fridays: 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Eastern Time)
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Is this an in-person or virtual experience?
SURFiN is an in-person research experience. Undergraduate students must live within a reasonable commute of an available lab opportunity and engage in regular in-person lab activity. The SURFiN Program was designed so that fellows could be placed in labs within commuting distance of where they typically live. As such, you should not apply to labs that would require you to relocate.
SURFiN professional development and community-building activities will take place both virtually and in-person.
SURFiN fellows can expect to 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.
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Who can apply for this fellowship program?
In order to be eligible to apply for this program, you must meet the following criteria:
- Applicants must be currently enrolled at a degree-granting undergraduate institution (including community colleges) and intend to remain enrolled through Spring 2024.
- The program application is open to women, individuals who are Black or African American, Hispanic or Latine or Native American or American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and other Pacific Islanders, individuals with disabilities and individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. Please refer to the considerations regarding disadvantaged status outlined in the Program Guidelines, Eligibility section.
- Individuals identifying as LGBTQIA+ within the above listed communities are encouraged to apply.
- Applicants should be able to regularly engage in in-person lab activity.
- It is not necessary for applicants to have prior laboratory experience.
- Individual hosting institutions may have additional eligibility requirements; applicants should check that they meet both SURFiN’s programmatic eligibility criteria listed above and any additional criteria listed for the lab opportunities selected in their application.
We cannot make a formal determination of any individual candidate’s identity, disability status or disadvantaged background. Applicants must review and sign a self attestation form regarding these eligibility criteria. This self-attestation form will be available for you to download in SAM. If you meet the criteria, you are welcome to apply.
-
What qualifies someone to be from a disadvantaged background?
We will consider applicants to have come from a disadvantaged background if they meet at least two (2) of the following criteria:
- were or currently are homeless;
- were or currently are in the foster care system;
- were eligible for the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program* for two or more years;
- have/had no parents or legal guardians who completed a bachelor’s degree;
- were or currently are eligible for Federal Pell* grants;
- received support from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children* as a parent or child;
- grew up in one of the following areas: a) a U.S. rural area, as designated by the Health Resources and Services Administration Rural Health Grants Eligibility Analyzer, or b) Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services-designated Low-Income and Health Professional Shortage Areas (qualifying zip codes are included in the file). Only one of the two possibilities in this bullet can be used as a criterion for the disadvantaged backgrounds.
- * For non-U.S. applicants, please consider approximately equivalent programs.
-
Do I need to have prior experience working in a lab or research setting?
Prior experience working in a lab or research setting is not required. Reviewers will weigh criteria related to the applicant’s potential to engage in and benefit from working in a scientific laboratory. Prior laboratory experience will not be heavily weighted in review.
All fellows in the SURFiN Program will be offered the opportunity to participate in a variety of workshops throughout the academic year to develop professional and technical skills.
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Do I need to attend the same institution as the lab I’m interested in working in?
No. You may select a lab opportunity at another institution so long as you live within a reasonable commuting distance to be able to regularly engage in in-person lab activity.
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Can international students apply?
To be eligible to apply, domestic and international students must have the appropriate permissions to seek employment in the country in which the lab is located and meet the eligibility criteria of the lab opportunities they select in their application, which may vary. The SURFiN Program cannot sponsor visas.
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Can I move to a city where a SURFiN lab is located?
The SURFiN Program was designed so that fellows could be placed in labs within commuting distance of where they typically live. As such, you should not apply to labs that would require you to relocate. All applicants should confirm that the lab opportunities they select are near where they plan to live from September 2023–May 2024. The program is not intended to provide relocation support to individuals. The SURFiN Program does not organize relocation or include relocation assistance.
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Does SURFiN sponsor visas?
The SURFiN Program does not organize or sponsor visas. The program is not intended to provide relocation support to individuals.
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Can I complete this program during a gap year in my education or a leave of absence from my undergraduate degree?
The SURFiN Program is open to students currently enrolled and actively pursuing coursework for their undergraduate degree. The program is not intended for individuals taking a gap year or leave of absence from their degree.
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If I graduate in early May 2024, am I still eligible?
Yes. Applicants must be currently enrolled at a degree-granting undergraduate institution and intend to remain enrolled through spring 2024. Spring 2024 may be defined differently by your undergraduate institution. Generally, individuals graduating anytime in May–June 2024 are eligible.
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Can I receive academic credit for the fellowship?
Academic credit is subject to the policies of the student’s undergraduate institution. All fellows should reach out to their institutions to inquire about their eligibility to receive academic credit for their lab work. The SURFiN program does not intend for students to forgo the stipend in order to get academic credit.
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I work in a lab already. Can my lab apply to be a SURFiN lab opportunity?
The SURFiN Program only matches undergraduate students to the labs currently listed as SURFiN lab opportunities here.
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If I am selected for an interview, will that interview be virtual or in person?
Interviews are arranged by the mentor and principal investigator. At the time they contact you for an interview, please confirm if the interview will be in person or can be conducted virtually.
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If I get accepted, what will my work schedule like?
SURFiN provides funds for students to work in the lab during the academic year at a rate equivalent to $25/hour for 10 hours a week over 30 weeks. We estimate that fellows will work approximately 10 hours per week between September–May. Generally, the 10 hours may be split up over more than one day of the week, and most fellows and mentors can negotiate the work schedule around school breaks and holidays. The fellow must coordinate their work schedule with their lab mentor and principal investigator.
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Is there a restriction on the number of fellows that will be assigned to a particular lab, project, or institution?
No. There is no limit on the number of fellows that can be paired with any particular lab, program or institution.
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How will the mentor and student pairings be decided? Do we have a choice in the lab we join?
Yes. Our selection process is designed to give undergraduate finalists and potential SURFiN mentors an opportunity to meet before the lab assignments are decided. The Simons Foundation publishes a list of available lab opportunities to allow for the undergraduate students to indicate their preferred lab placements. Students can select up to three (3) placements of interest within a reasonable commuting distance near where they currently reside. Undergraduate finalists will be selected by the review committee as potential matches for each lab opportunity. All undergraduate finalists will have the opportunity to interview with their potential mentors in June 2023. Final pairings will be based on mentor and finalist feedback from these interviews.
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If I get accepted, can I use the $2,000 resource stipend for transportation costs for commuting?
No, the resource stipend cannot be used for commuting costs, renewable reagents or animal costs for the fellow or lab.
The resource stipend should 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. 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.
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Who can I ask for a recommendation?
Letter writers should be able to speak to your potential to engage in and benefit from the SURFiN Program. This may include, but is not limited to, academic advisors, counselors, teachers, professors or instructors, teaching assistants or resident advisors.
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Will the potential mentor(s) and Principal Investigator (PI) see my application materials?
If you are selected for an interview, the potential mentor(s) and PI will receive a copy of all of your application materials in advance of the interview.
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Can I email or mail my application?
No. The Simons Foundation only accepts applications submitted online through SAM. The application will be submitted as a letter of intent (LOI).
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Do I need institutional sign-off to submit a LOI?
No. Institutional sign-off is not required.
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I get an error message citing a missing section when I try to submit the LOI.
The Check Application Progress button reviews your proposal for missing sections. The submission instructions list the required sections and attachments. You must complete the missing items listed in the error message. If you are still receiving error messages after completing and saving the indicated sections, please contact samsupport@simonsfoundation.org.
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Is there a confirmation email when I submit the LOI?
A confirmation email is sent upon submission. Make sure that spam filters allow emails from no-reply@simonsfoundation.org. Please contact neurogrants@simonsfoundation.org if you did not receive this email and it is not in your spam folder. Additionally, the proposal will be in the Submitted tab of the Applications in Progress table after submission. Once your application has been submitted, the Simons Foundation will be in touch if we require any additional information or revisions for your submission. Please monitor your inbox and make sure that spam filters allow emails from neurogrants@simonsfoundation.org and surfin@simonsfoundation.org.
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Are deadline times adjusted for time zones?
No. Please be advised that deadlines are in Eastern Time. We recommend registering early and submitting with ample time for corrections prior to the deadline hour. Site traffic can slow page-load times. You will not be able to submit after the deadline has passed.
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Can I make changes to the LOI once it has been submitted?
Before you can make changes to your submitted LOI, you must first contact the Simons Foundation. Please email neurogrants@simonsfoundation.org. LOIs can only be changed prior to the deadline.
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Does the Simons Foundation grant extensions for LOIs?
No. The deadline is May 4, 2023 at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Extensions will not be granted. If you have any difficulties, please email neurogrants@simonsfoundation.org.
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When will I be notified of my SURFiN fellow status?
In June 2023, undergraduate finalists will be invited to interview with potential mentors. If paired with a lab fellows will be notified of their lab placements by June 30, 2023. All students will have until July 14, 2023 to accept or decline the fellowship. For more details see the “Application Process” information on the request for applications.