The Barry Goldwater Scholarship
Pre-Application Deadline:
Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026
9 am EST
Prestigious, nationally competitive awards for undergraduate STEM researchers intending to pursue a PhD in the natural sciences, mathematics, or engineering. Nominees must be selected by Stony Brook’s faculty committee before competing at the national level.
Eligibility:
- Full time matriculated undergraduate Sophomore or Junior (as determined by anticipated graduate date)
- Intend to pursue a PhD in the natural sciences, math, or engineering. Students pursuing only an MD will not be selected; in certain cases, exceptionally research-focused prospective MD-PhD students will be considered
- Competitive applicants tend to have a 3.7 GPA or higher
- Must have a strong record of undergraduate research in STEM
- Must have three faculty members who can write strong recommendations about your academic and/or research work
- U.S. citizenship is required
Overview
To apply for the Barry Goldwater Scholarship, students must first submit a pre-application by 9 AM EST on Wednesday, October 14, 2026. If approved, candidates will be granted access to the full application and provided with details about the next steps, including an application strategy session to be held on Wednesday, October 14, 2026 from 1pm to 2pm via Zoom. The full application, including all reference letters, is due on the campus competition deadline Monday, November 30, 2026, by 12 PM (noon) EST. A campus nomination is required for this award and late applications will not be considered.
Key Dates:
- Information Session: Monday, September 14, 2025, 1 PM EST (registration coming soon!)
- Pre-application Deadline: Wednesday, October 14, 2026, 9 AM EST
- Application Strategy Session: Wednesday, October 14, 2026, 1 PM to 2 PM EST
- Campus Competition Deadline: Monday, November 30, 2026, 12 PM EST
- National Deadline (campus nominees only): Friday, January 26, 2026, 5 PM EST