Shenoy Undergraduate Research Fellowship in Neuroscience (SURFiN)

SURFiN Program Summary

The goal of the Simons Foundation’s Shenoy Undergraduate Research Fellowship in Neuroscience (SURFiN) program is to spark and sustain interest in neuroscience among undergraduate students whose backgrounds and experiences are underrepresented in science. SURFiN provides funds for paid research assistantships for undergraduate students living near participating laboratories in the U.S., Canada, and Europe that are supported by the Simons Foundation’s Autism and Neuroscience division. SURFiN undergraduate fellows will gain hands-on in-person research experience during the 2024–2025 academic year with direct mentorship, typically from early-career scientists, such as graduate students and postdoctoral researchers.

Description of the SURFiN Undergraduate Research Opportunity

SURFiN is an initiative of 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). We are now accepting applications, referred to here as letters of intent (LOIs), from eligible undergraduate students interested in participating in the SURFiN program.

The goal of the SURFiN program is to spark and sustain interest in neuroscience among undergraduate students whose backgrounds and experiences are underrepresented in science. SURFiN provides funds for paid research assistantships for undergraduate students living near invited laboratories in the U.S., Canada and Europe that are supported by the Simons Foundation’s Autism and Neuroscience division. SURFiN undergraduate fellows gain hands-on in-person research experience during the 2024–2025 academic year with direct mentorship, typically from early career scientists, such as graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, known as “SURFiN mentors.”

We are invested in supporting the next generation of researchers and recognize 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.

This request for applications (RFA) is aimed at undergraduate students whose backgrounds and experiences are underrepresented in science who are interested in gaining in-person laboratory experience. The SURFiN Program was designed to place fellows in labs within commuting distance of where they typically live. SURFiN is a pathway through which undergraduate students who may have limited access to research opportunities and/or no prior laboratory experience can apply their talents and curiosity to neuroscience research. The SURFiN program recognizes individual diversity as encompassing a wide array of human identities and lived experiences. This program aims to support undergraduate students whose backgrounds and experiences are underrepresented in science, such as members of historically underrepresented racial or ethnic groups, individuals whose gender, gender identity, sexual orientation and/or disability status is underrepresented in science, or other individuals with disadvantaged social and/or economic backgrounds. We also recognize that diversity and underrepresentation can vary from setting to setting and across countries. Please see the eligibility criteria for more information.

Undergraduate students accepted into SURFiN are expected to:

• Complete the host institution onboarding and the employment and/or registration of the undergraduate research assistant appointment. Student participation in SURFiN is contingent upon the successful completion of the onboarding process at the host institution in time for the start of the program: September 2024.
• Complete an in-person, paid undergraduate research assistantship at one of this year’s participating SURFiN lab opportunities during the 2024–2025 academic year (September 2024 through May 2025). Applicants must live within a two (2)-hour commute of the SURFiN laboratory to regularly engage in in-person lab activity. Please see the eligibility criteria for more information. Each SURFiN lab is led by a Principal Investigator (PI) faculty member at the host institution.
• Conduct in-person research with guidance from a SURFiN mentor, typically an early career scientist, such as a graduate student and postdoctoral researcher in the SURFiN lab.
• Participate in both virtual and in-person professional development and community-building activities offered through the SURFiN program, including a computational sciences boot camp as it relates to lab placement or interest. All activities will be held in Standard American English.
• Connect with the SURFiN scientific community and Simons Foundation scientists and staff.
• Along with the SURFiN mentor, travel to and present at the Simons Foundation in New York City in spring 2025 during an undergraduate research symposium, with travel and lodging coordinated and financially covered by the Simons Foundation.

After the academic year program, PIs, mentors and undergraduate students may have the opportunity to request an extension of the SURFiN fellowship for an additional summer or second academic year. This is contingent upon availability and mutual agreement between the SURFiN undergraduate fellow, SURFiN mentor, host laboratory, and the Simons Foundation. Extensions are only possible for undergraduate students who continue to meet the eligibility requirements of the program, including maintaining undergraduate enrollment through the extension time period.

Informational Session

For an overview of the SURFiN Program, interested undergraduate students can view a recording of the informational session here.

Informational videos and answers to frequently asked questions on how to navigate the grants management system Simons Award Manager (SAM) can be found here.

List of Lab Opportunities

A list of available SURFiN laboratory opportunities for the 2024–2025 academic year can be found here. Applicants must choose at least one (1) and up to three (3) opportunities of interest in their application. Applicants must live or be enrolled at an institution that is within a two (2)-hour commuting distance one-way (by car or public transit) of the SURFiN laboratory in order to regularly engage in in-person lab activity. All participating students are responsible for coordinating their transportation and any associated costs. If we find that one of the lab opportunities you selected is not within a two (2)-hour commuting distance, you will not be considered for that lab opportunity, but can still be considered for the other labs on your list that meet the requirement.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the SURFiN Program, applicants must meet the eligibility requirements for both the Shenoy Undergraduate Research Fellowship in Neuroscience Program (outlined below) and the individual SURFiN lab opportunities selected in their application. We will rely on your signed self-attestation and cannot make a formal determination regarding your identity, disability status or social and/or economic background. We recognize that diversity varies across different settings and across countries. Please see the self-attestation form in SAM. For additional information, see our FAQ.

• An applicant must currently be enrolled (in person, virtually, or in a hybrid format) as a part-time or full-time undergraduate student at a degree-granting institution and remain actively enrolled through at least April 15, 2025. For this program, undergraduate students are students enrolled in a bachelor’s, associate’s, or equivalent degree program at a degree-granting institution, including four-year universities and two-year community colleges. If an applicant is in a dual-degree program, the applicant must still be enrolled in at least 1 undergraduate-level course during the 2024–2025 academic year in order to be eligible to apply for this program.
• Students on a leave of absence or not actively completing coursework towards their degree during the 2024–2025 academic year are not eligible to apply.
• Applicants must be 18 years of age or older by July 31, 2024.
• Applicants must currently live or be enrolled at an institution within a two (2)-hour commute one way (by car or public transportation) of a SURFiN laboratory and will be expected to engage in regular in-person lab activity throughout the duration of the program if selected. For students enrolled in in-person or hybrid undergraduate degree programs, you must be enrolled at an institution within a two-hour commuting distance of a SURFiN lab opportunity. For students enrolled in exclusively virtual undergraduate degree programs, your place of residence must be within a two-hour commuting distance of a SURFiN lab opportunity. All participating students are responsible for coordinating their own transportation and any associated costs. Your application will not be considered for any lab opportunities that are outside of the two-hour commuting distance of your place of residence or institution.
• It is not necessary for applicants to have prior laboratory experience.
• The program is open to individuals whose backgrounds and experiences are underrepresented in science, such as members of historically underrepresented racial or ethnic groups, individuals whose gender, gender identity, sexual orientation and/or disability status is underrepresented in science, or other individuals with disadvantaged social and/or economic backgrounds. Please see the self-attestation form in SAM.
• U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status is not required. We cannot sponsor visas for students, nor can we delay the start of the SURFiN program due to delays in obtaining work authorization if required by the host institution.
• 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 SURFiN lab opportunities selected in their application.

All applicants with a change in their eligibility status based on the criteria listed above — for example, due to a change in enrollment status or transfer to a different undergraduate institution — must notify [email protected] without delay.

Please note that student participation in SURFiN is contingent upon the successful completion of the onboarding process at the host institution in time for the start of the program: September 2024.

Level and Duration of Funding

Fellowships will be for the 2024–2025 academic year. Fellowships will begin in the Fall 2024 academic semester and continue through the Spring 2025 academic semester. We will provide host laboratories with funds to support each fellow from September 1, 2024, through May 31, 2025.

The SURFiN program provides the following financial support to the SURFiN host laboratory’s institution during the academic year. All funds are administered by the SURFiN host laboratory. Host laboratories are responsible for guiding the fellows through their onboarding process and ensuring that all fellows understand how funds will be administered during the academic year prior to or at the start of the SURFiN program. After being paired with a mentor, fellows must contact their assigned host SURFiN laboratory to understand the process of accessing the below funds:

• $7,500 USD salary support/stipend: The institution department or host laboratory must access these funds to cover the total wages earned by the fellow during the academic year at a rate equivalent to $25/hour for 10 hours a week over 30 weeks and administer them to the fellow in a timely manner.
• $2,000 USD resource stipend: The institution department or host laboratory may administer these funds to be used to support the fellow’s work and professional development during the academic year. Allowable expenses include small equipment such as a laptop computer for coding projects or fees for training courses. The resource stipend may also be used to cover any travel costs or registration fees for the SURFiN fellow to attend conferences related to the research project. 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 are not allowed.
• $2,000 USD administrative fee: These funds may be used at the discretion of the institution department or laboratory towards institutional, administrative, indirect and/or overhead costs associated with administering the award, including but not limited to fringe benefit costs, human resources, payroll services, and other related grant and project management services. The administrative fee is intended for the use of the host institution, not the fellow.

Please refer to our grant policies for guidelines. Please note that in the event of budgetary or other considerations, the Simons Foundation, Inc., reserves the right to refer an application to the Simons Foundation International, Ltd. (SFI) for consideration and funding, in which case SFI’s grant policies would apply.

Instructions for Submission

The deadline for the letter of intent (LOI) application submission is 12:00 p.m. (noon) Eastern Time on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. All LOIs must be submitted via SAM. The How to Apply instructions provide a brief overview of what to do. Full step-by-step instructions for the LOI are provided within the application in SAM. Applicants must download and read the instructions provided within the LOI carefully.

Undergraduate students interested in applying to SURFiN should first review the list of available lab opportunities prior to submitting an LOI in SAM. Applicants may select and rank up to three (3) opportunities of interest. Applicants must be able to regularly commute to and engage in in-person lab activity, as per the eligibility criteria. Applicants will not be considered for any lab opportunities that are located outside of the maximum two-hour commuting distance (refer to the eligibility criteria for more details).

All application materials will be reviewed by Simons Foundation staff, external reviewers, and mentors/labs that you are invited to interview with if selected as a finalist for this program.

Overview of Review Process

Applications will be reviewed by our scientific staff and an external review committee. Reviewers will weigh criteria related to the applicant’s potential to engage in and benefit from experience 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 and PIs between June 14 and 28, 2024. Interviews may be conducted virtually. Applicants not initially selected as finalists may be placed on a waitlist during the interview period. In the event that an undergraduate finalist withdraws their application, we may be able to offer an interview slot to an applicant on the waitlist. Our staff will assign final mentor-fellow pairings based on mentor and finalist feedback from these interviews. If matched with a lab, fellows will be notified of a lab placement by July 12, 2024, and allowed until July 19, 2024 to accept or decline. Mentors will be notified of the final pairing by July 24, 2024.

All fellowships and awards will begin in September 2024.

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. We also fund programs directed at supporting scientists from disadvantaged backgrounds or underrepresented groups, often working closely with professional societies and other funding agencies.