Shenoy Undergraduate Research Fellowship in Neuroscience (SURFiN)
The Shenoy Undergraduate Research Fellowship in Neuroscience (SURFiN) aims to spark and sustain interest in neuroscience among undergraduate students whose backgrounds and experiences are underrepresented in science.
SURFiN is designed to support students who may have little or no previous research experience in neuroscience. The program provides funds for paid research assistantships for undergraduate students living near Simons Foundation-supported laboratories in the U.S., Canada and Europe.
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Fellows are mentored by graduate students or postdoctoral scholars and participate in career development activities, including a virtual coding boot camp and a scientific symposium in New York City.
SURFiN is supported by the Simons Foundation’s Autism and Neuroscience division, which includes the Simons Collaboration on the Global Brain (SCGB), the Simons Collaboration on Plasticity and the Aging Brain (SCPAB) and the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative (SFARI). SURFiN undergraduate fellows gain hands-on, in-person research experience during the academic year with direct mentorship, typically from early-career scientists.
The Autism and Neuroscience division is invested in supporting the next generation of researchers and recognizes that diversity improves scientific innovation and collaboration. Through programs like SURFiN, we aim 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.
The SURFiN Program is named in honor of neuroscientist Krishna Shenoy. Shenoy was an SCGB investigator and seminal figure in developing the dynamical systems approach now widely used to understand and model the nervous system and its functions. He nurtured a collaborative environment in his lab, launched the careers of dozens of neuroscientists and engineers and inspired them to be dedicated mentors for their team.
The 2024 request for applications (RFA), including eligibility criteria, is available here.