How To Apply

Applicants must be:

• high school juniors (11th grade) at the time of application
• U.S. citizens or permanent residents
• At least 16 years old by the start of the program

Applicants must be nominated by their high school. Each school may nominate up to three students. Schools may establish their own nomination and selection processes.

Find your school’s nomination contact: Check the High School Contact List. If the contact information needs updating, the newly designated school official should email simonssrp@stonybrook.edu with their full name, title, contact information, and school name and address.

Schools not listed in the directory: Schools may not appear if they have not nominated students in previous years. To participate, the designated school official should complete the nomination form to establish the school’s contact information.

Once your school official confirms your nomination, you may begin the online application. You will receive an invitation within 48 hours of your school submitting your nomination.

Please prepare the following before starting your application:

• Transcript: Have a transcript or grade report ready to upload as a PDF. Unofficial copies are accepted.
• Teacher recommendations: Gather the email addresses of your two teacher recommenders before beginning the application.
• Brief responses: Keep each response to 300 words or fewer.
• Application fee: A nonrefundable $75 application fee is due at the time of submission. (Application fee waivers are available for students experiencing financial hardship.)
• AI policy: AI tools may not be used to generate or rewrite application responses. Grammar and spelling checks are permitted.
• Application timeout: Complete the application in one sitting. The form may time out after four hours.

The online application link will be published on November 15.

Deadline: February 5, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. EST

Applicants must arrange two letters of recommendation from high school teachers, preferably in math or science. Applicants may also include recommendations from previous research supervisors, if applicable.

Enter each recommender’s name and contact information in the application. Once you submit your application, your recommenders will automatically receive an email with instructions for submitting their letters.

Recommendation deadline: February 12, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. EST

If a recommender cannot find the upload link, they may email their letter as a PDF attachment to simonssrp@stonybrook.edu.

In the online application, applicants must select and rank their top three preferred mentors or research areas. Please choose carefully, as we cannot accommodate substitutions.

View Mentor List

The Simons Summer Research Program is a competitive, national summer research program for students entering their senior year of high school. Prior research experience is not required.

Applicants must indicate their preferred mentors or areas of research interest in the online application. Some research groups or labs may require additional admissions steps, including a phone or in-person interview.

An interview does not guarantee admission. The program receives far more applications from qualified students than it can accommodate.

• January 29, 2027: School nomination deadline
• February 5, 2027: Application submission deadline
• February 12, 2027: Teacher recommendation deadline
• Early April 2027: Applicants will be notified of admissions decisions via email.

 

Time Commitment: Participants should expect to spend at least four hours per day working with their assigned faculty mentor or research group throughout the program. Schedules may vary and should be arranged with the faculty mentor.

Required Documentation: Admitted students must provide proof of medical insurance and complete required forms, including liability waivers and photo permissions. Additional details will be provided upon acceptance.

Application Policy: Due to the high volume of applications, late applications and supporting materials will not be accepted.

Admissions Selectivity: The Simons Summer Research Program is highly selective, with fewer than 5% of applicants admitted. Many qualified students apply, but the program cannot accommodate everyone.

Contact Us: To help us respond to inquiries efficiently, please email simonssrp@stonybrook.edu whenever possible.