NeURO and NeURO-CC Fellowships

Image
Summer 2021 NeURO-CC fellow Moremi Mabogunje and faculty mentor Lauren O’ Connell handle a Dyeing Poison Frog (Dendrobates tinctorius) in the Laboratory of Organismal Biology. Photo by Andrew Broadhead.
Summer 2021 NeURO-CC fellow Moremi Mabogunje and faculty mentor Lauren O’ Connell handle a Dyeing Poison Frog (Dendrobates tinctorius) in the Laboratory of Organismal Biology. Photo by Andrew Broadhead.

College students step into the world of neuroscience research through our Neuroscience Undergraduate Research Opportunity (NeURO) fellowship programs for Stanford undergraduates and students from the local community colleges of DeAnza, Foothill, and Mission College. 

Scientific laboratories can feel like a foreign world, with their own language of specialized vocabulary and cutting-edge techniques – but they are exciting opportunities for discovery for anybody with dedication, curiosity and creativity. 

The NeURO and NeURO-Community College (NeURO-CC) fellowship programs support undergrads who wish to join a research lab and provide an introduction to the fundamentals of scientific research. As part of these programs, students will help advance our understanding of how the brain works (and why it sometimes doesn't).

Read about our 2023 cohorts of Stanford NeURO and NeURO-CC fellows 

Closed

NeURO Fellowship applications are closed.

We welcome students of all personal and academic backgrounds to join us to learn, collaborate, and advance our understanding of the brain. Students who do not have previous laboratory experience and students from groups underrepresented in STEM fields are particularly encouraged to apply

No experience is necessary, just a spirit of exploration and a desire to work hard.

Eligibility and application details

Image
Neuroscience Undergraduate Research Opportunity (NeURO) fellowship

Welcome to our 2023 NeURO and NeURO-CC fellows!

Get to know our 2023 fellows

Announcing the launch of the NeURO Community College (NeURO-CC) Program in 2023

We are excited to announce that after several years of piloting this program, we are hosting a full cohort of students from local community colleges in our 2023 NeURO-CC program. 

READ ABOUT SOME OF OUR 2022 NEURO-CC FELLOWS IN STANFORD REPORT

 

Fellowship Program Elements

We currently host two programs: one for current Stanford undergraduates, and one for students from local community colleges. (We currently partner with Foothill, De Anza, and Mission community colleges).

In spring quarter, NeURO fellows begin receiving part-time mentorship in their selected host research labs. In summer quarter, they are joined by the NeURO-CC fellows for a full-time 10-week experiential learning program in their research labs.

All fellows participate in workshops about the scientific process, including research, mentoring, scientific communication, and more! In addition, they join a wonderful community of students interested in exploring neuroscience. Fellows also have opportunities to present their research to fellow scientists

Read about our 2023 NeURO and NeURO-CC poster session here. 

Image
Summer 2021 NeURO fellow Temiloluwa "Temi" Babalola studies the genetics of Parkinson's disease with graduate student mentor Cindy Lin in the lab of Monther Abu-Remaileh. Photo by Andrew Broadhead.
Summer 2021 NeURO fellow Temiloluwa "Temi" Babalola studies the genetics of Parkinson's disease with graduate student mentor Cindy Lin in the lab of Monther Abu-Remaileh. Photo by Andrew Broadhead.

NeURO Applications

Current Stanford students must apply in collaboration with a faculty member who welcomes the applicant to join their lab. Stanford freshman, sophomore and junior undergraduate students are welcome to apply, and students who do not have previous laboratory experience and or are from groups underrepresented in STEM fields are particularly encouraged to do so. Learn More: NeURO Application and Eligibility.

Prospective applicants who have not yet found a lab are encouraged to explore our list of Wu Tsai Neuro Faculty and to contact labs of interest to them. Need help reaching out to labs? Check out our Resources page.

NeURO-CC Applications

NeURO-CC students get selected through a process of nomination involving counselors of the learning communities of DeAnza, Foothill, and Mission community colleges. The Wu Tsai Neuro staff helps pair the selected students with labs for their full-time neuroscience summer research experience.

 

Learn More

Have questions about the programs or application process that aren't answered here? Check out our FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) below.

NeURO FAQNeURO-CC FAQ (coming soon)

NeURO program contact

Stanford undergraduates can reach out to Valerie Vargas-Zapata, at vvargasz@stanford.edu

NeURO-CC program contacts

For questions regarding programatic components and administration of NeURO-CC, students can reach out to Zulema Garibo Gonzalez, Training and Fellowships Program Coordinator, at zgaribo@stanford.edu.

For questions regarding eligibility and nomination, students should contact their respective representatives of the MESA, Puente, or Umoja programs at their college:
Foothill College - Maritza Jackson Sandoval at jacksonsandovalmaritza@fhda.edu 
Mission College - Edrina Rashidi at edrina.rashidi@missioncollege.edu  
DeAnza College - Yvette Alba-Campbell at campbellyvette@fhda.edu 

 

Image
2022 NeURO Fellows got to know each other at the Stanford Neurosciences Building in April 2022. Photo by Jill Wentzell.
2022 NeURO Fellows got to know each other at the Stanford Neurosciences Building in April 2022. Photo by Jill Wentzell.

I am very grateful for the amazing opportunity to be a NeURO fellow. During the school year, I connected with inspiring peers and mentors and gained a deeper understanding of the neuroscience field and new research advancements. I also learned about research methods which I used during the summer in the lab. I was lucky to work on both neural device fabrication and design as well as neurocomputation. I discovered my interest in neurocomputation and plan to do more neurocomputation research in the future. Thank you so much for this opportunity.
— Anonymous NeURO Fellow, Summer 2021

Image

Being a NeURO fellow has been a truly unique learning experience because it offered me the tools to meaningfully engage in the field of neuroimaging research... to study symptom presentation of children with Autism.... In addition, the introductory courses and presentation opportunities from the NeURO program throughout this year enabled me to join a community of invaluable peers and gain access to practical knowledge of the research process. I feel that I have now gained a solid footing as a new researcher after being familiarized with these relevant techniques and vernacular; empowering me to contribute to this field for years to come despite what occupation I may pursue.
— Anonymous NeURO Fellow, Summer 2021

Image

As a NeURO Fellow, I was able to join my first-ever wet lab, learn the fundamentals of scientific research, practice scientific communication, and build community in my cohort. NeURO has been an incredibly rewarding experience; as a Black and queer student, being a part of a cohort of students who are similarly underrepresented in science contributed to a learning experience that was inclusive and enriching. Prior to my summer research intensive, the NeURO program equipped me with the necessary skills to meaningfully engage in research through Faculty Journal Clubs, a ‘research proposal’ assignment, and student-led presentations on specific topics in neuroscience. All of this is to say that I’ve continually felt supported, valued, and challenged throughout my time in the NeURO program. My long-term goal has long been to study medicine and become a physician, but I am now strongly considering following the pathway of a physician-scientist who devotes time to both the clinic and lab. Thank you for your support of my and my cohort’s learning –– the NeURO program is an incredibly crucial initiative that centers equity and access and has left an indelible mark on me.
— Anonymous NeURO Fellow, Summer 2021