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NeURO Fellowship Application and Eligibility

The 2023 NeURO Fellowship application is CLOSED.

Prospective applicants must review the eligibility and application information below.

Have questions about our program or application that aren't answered on the webpage below? Check out our FAQ.

 
Key dates for the 2023 NeURO Fellowship application
Application deadline Feb. 12, 2023 at 5pm
Notification of award By early March, 2023
Program start date Spring quarter, 2023
Funding period 10-week summer research session, with possibilities for spring funding depending on financial need
To apply Apply now

Eligibility

Student applicants

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.
 
Students must apply in collaboration with a faculty member who welcomes the applicant to join their lab; prospective applicants who have not yet found a lab are encouraged to explore our directory of undergraduate neuroscience research opportunities, and to contact labs of interest to them.
 

NeURO fellows must agree to participate in all program elements, including:

  • Workshops and community building in the spring and summer quarter. 
  • Part-time mentorship and research in the student's host research lab, 8-10 hours/week (in spring quarter)
  • 10 weeks of full-time (35-40 hrs/week) summer research in the student's host lab 
  • Poster session at end of the conclusion of the program

Applicants must be currently enrolled (not on Leave of Absence). Students will be eligible for full-time project support only during summer quarter. "Full-time" means that the student's only major time commitment is the project; students are expected to spend 35+ hours per week over the entire 10-week quarter on the project.

Faculty mentors

The Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute highly values strong and considered mentorship for our NeURO fellows. Prospective faculty mentors are required to submit a Training and Mentorship Plan as a part of the student's application. Students are encouraged (but not required) to discuss their training and mentorship plan with their faculty or other research mentors in their host lab.

Funding

NeURO fellows will receive a stipend for 10 weeks of full-time research during summer quarter. The stipend amount will be determined in accordance with guidelines released by the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education. The baseline stipend is $7,500. We are very aware that many students experience financial need that could impact their ability to engage in research, so NeURO fellows determined by the Financial Aid Office to have financial need will be eligible for additional funding during spring and/or summer quarter.  

Application 

Application components

In addition to basic information about the project team (student applicant, their faculty research mentor and the graduate student/postdoc/staff lab mentor they will work with on a daily basis, if applicable), the application consists of six further short questions:
 
  1. List of biology or neuroscience courses taken, in progress or planned: Please list the biology or neuroscience-related courses you have already completed, are currently taking, or plan to take during the 2022-23 academic year. For each, include the course number, name and status. For example: PSYC 54N - Genes, Memes and Behavior (planned for Spring 2023). A partial list of neuroscience-related courses is available on the Stanford Undergraduate Neuroscience Society website.
  2. Previous research experience: Previous research experience is NOT required for NeURO applicants, and students who do not have previous laboratory experience are particularly encouraged to apply. If you do have previous research experience, please briefly describe it (e.g., when you did the research and for how long, at which institution and with whom, what type of research). Keep your answer brief, no more than 100 - 200 words max. Responses longer than 200 words will not be considered.
  3. Diversity statement: We wish to bring together a cohort of NeURO fellows who represent a diversity of backgrounds, characteristics and life experiences. Share something about yourself or your experiences that you find allows you to bring a unique perspective to a group. Students from historically marginalized backgrounds are particularly encouraged to apply. Word length: 100 - 200 words. Responses longer than 200 words will not be considered.
  4. Interest statement: Please describe why are you interested in becoming a NeURO fellow, and/or what you hope to gain from the program. Word length: 100 - 200 words. Responses longer than 200 words will not be considered.
  5. Project description: Describe the big question or goal that your planned research relates to, and how your work will contribute to addressing that question or achieving that goal. Please describe your project as if you were writing to a classmate or roommate with your academic background (i.e., write in a way that is not overly technical, and that you understand). You are encouraged to talk with your research mentors about this section of your application. Word length: 100 - 200 words. Responses longer than 200 words will not be considered.
  6. Your role in the project: Please described your planned role in the project. For example: What methods will you be learning and applying, what data will you be trying to collect, or what analyses will you conduct? You are encouraged to talk with your research mentors about this section of your application. Word length: 100 - 200 words. Responses longer than 200 words will not be considered.

In addition, the student applicant must use the application form to request a "recommendation" from their faculty research mentor. The faculty member will then receive an automated email asking them to complete a Training and Mentorship Plan for the applicant (note that this is NOT a letter of recommendation). Students are encouraged (but not required) to discuss their training and mentorship plan with their faculty or other research mentors in their host lab.

Questions?

Send questions to neuroscience@stanford.edu, with the words"NeURO Fellowship" somewhere in the subject line.