Application Guidelines | Simons Summer Research Program

How to Apply

Dates of Program: June 30 - August 8, 2025

*Note: Application materials for Summer 2026 will be posted on our website in late November.

Guide to applying:

NOMINATION REQUIREMENTS: Interested eligible applicants should seek nomination from their high school. The designated school nominator/official (typically a science research coordinator/director, guidance counselor or other appropriate contact in the high school) may have additional guidelines/processes for selecting the student nominees from the school.

We strongly suggest and recommend that only one official at each school (for ex., one science teacher, or guidance counselor) be responsible for nominating students to ensure there are no more than 2 nominees per school (more than 2 nominees will result in the disqualification of all applicants).

If you are not certain of the school official/contact handling nominations for your high school (usually a School Research Coordinator, Science Teacher, Guidance Officer), please view our database of high school contacts below:

LINK: HIGH SCHOOL NOMINATION CONTACT LIST - SIMONS SRP

Should the listings on the above database need to be modified, please ask the newly designated HIGH SCHOOL OFFICIAL to contact us at simonssrp@stonybrook.edu with their information (full name, position, contact information & school name/address) so we may update our directory.

Schools not represented on this list have likely not previously nominated applicants for the Simons SSRP. If an individual school is not listed on our database and would like to nominate a student, the school official whom will be coordinating the nomination process should complete the nomination form. We can then add the school/representative to our directory as the main contact for future years.

*School nomination deadline: January 31.
Note to applicants: Once you have confirmed your nomination status with the designated school official at your school, you may go ahead and start the online application. Once your nomination has been submitted, you will also receive an invitation to apply (please allow up to 48 hours).
Applicants should be prepared to upload a transcript/grade report (PDF) (unofficial is acceptable) at the time of submission.

Application deadline:
FEBRUARY 7, 2025 (11:59 PM EST)

Troubleshooting: Be sure to complete the application form in one-sitting (4 hours or less) so that your application does not time-out!

You should receive an automated confirmation email once you submit your application. Please check to make sure you are able to receive messages/communications from us; it is recommended that you use a non-school email address, to ensure that our messages to you do not go to spam.

Brief Questions section. Word / character limit? We are looking for brief responses (300 words or less).
Applicants are responsible for obtaining recommendation letters from 2 teachers (math/science preferred) from their high school.

Letter of Recommendation deadline: FEBRUARY 14, 2025 (11:59 PM EST)

*Once an application has been submitted, an email will be automatically generated to the individuals who are submitting a letter of recommendation on behalf of an applicant. Teachers (and/or previous science mentors) are requested to submit/upload a letter of recommendation by FEBRUARY 14, 2025.

Note: Letters from any previous research supervisors (if applicable) are encouraged. On the application, you can indicate the name and contact information of your recommendation letter writers.
Applicants will be asked and required to select their top three (3) choices of preferred mentor/areas of research interest onthe online aplication. Unfortunately, we are unable to make any substitutions. To view the listing of faculty research mentors available for summer '25, please visit the link below:

Link: 2025 SIMONS SRP RESEARCH MENTORS LISTING
If the transcript submitted with your application does notcontain grades for fall 2024, please follow-up with an updated transcript as soon as available. Once you submit the application and receive a code, you will be able to use the "Edit Application" link to go back to your application and provide updates until Feb. 7, 2025. (After this date, please send a PDF file/transcript update to the Simons SRP email: simonssrp@stonybrook.edu.)

Additionally, should you receive any contingent offers to workin a particular research laboratory (if accepted into the program), please forward any faculty correspondence to simonssrp@stonybrook.edu.

Other than these specifics, please do not attempt to submit or send any other supplementary materials (resume, test scores, research publications) that are not requested.
The Simons Summer Research Program is a national, competitive summer research program for 11th grade students. Prior research experience is not a prerequisite for the program.

Applicants must indicate a preferred mentor/area of research interest. Additional admissions procedures (including interviews, by telephone or in person) may be required for placement within certain research groups/labs. Note that obtaining an interview is not an indication of acceptance into the Simons program, and the program receives far more applications from qualified students than can be accommodated.
January 31, 2025 - deadline for school nominations

February 7, 2025 - deadline for application submission

February 14, 2025 - deadline for teacher recommendations

update!: March 13 - All applicants were notified of their admissions status at 6pm on March 13, 2025

early April 2025 - notification of admissions decision to applicants (via email)
All participants in the Simons program should expect to commit a minimum of 4 hours per day working with their mentor/research group for the full duration of the program. Hours may vary and should be agreed upon by consultation with the assigned faculty mentor.

Students admitted will be required to provide proof of medical insurance, waivers regarding liability, permission for use of photographs, etc. from the applicant and/or their parent/guardian. Further details will be provided to accepted students at a later date.

Due to the large volume of applications received for this program, late submissions/materials are not considered/accepted.

Percentage of students admitted:
about 5%

Please note that admissions into the Simons program is highly selective and we receive far more applications from qualified students than we can accommodate.

So we can respond to all inquiries in a timely and efficient manner, please contact us via email
at simonssrp@stonybrook.eduif possible.