Santa Fe Institute Undergraduate Paid Research Program in USA

Applications are now open for the Santa Fe Institute Undergraduate Complexity Research (UCR) 2027, a fully funded 10 week summer research program in Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA. The program is for undergraduate students in the physical, natural, and social sciences and mathematics. Selected students receive a $7,000 stipend, free housing and meals, and travel support.

International students can apply if they are able to travel to the US, and prior research experience is not required. The application deadline is January 13, 2027 at 4pm MST. The official details do not mention any application fee. You can check out BS, MS, PhD and postdoc positions here.

Key Details:

• Organizer: Santa Fe Institute (SFI)
• Program Type: Summer research program
• Host Country: United States (Santa Fe, New Mexico)
• Funding Type: Fully funded
• Application Deadline: January 13, 2027 at 4pm MST
• Open to International Students: Yes, if your citizenship or residency allows travel to the US
• Application Fee: None

What This Scholarship Offers:

• A $7,000 stipend to focus on your research
• Free housing in a private room with a private bathroom
• Free group meals during your stay
• Travel support to and from Santa Fe
• Free van transport to the SFI campus on workdays
• Your own research project with guidance from an SFI mentor
• A deeper understanding of complex systems through seminars and discussions
• A place in the SFI research network
• Stronger skills in science communication, research methods, and teamwork
• Knowledge of career paths in complexity science
• A friendly UCR community that supports you even after the summer

Also Check: Youth Research & Learning Fellowship Program in the USA

Eligibility Criteria:

Who Can Apply

• You must be a current undergraduate student, studying part time or full time, in a program leading to an associate’s or bachelor’s degree.
• You must plan to continue your undergraduate studies for at least one more academic term after August 2027.
• Students from two year and four year institutions can apply.
• Transfer students can apply, including those between schools during the summer.
• You must be authorized to work in the US.
• You must be able to arrive on the first day, May 30, 2027, and stay for the full 10 weeks.
• Strong quantitative skills or programming experience are viewed favorably.
• Priority is usually given to students entering their junior or senior year.
• Prior research experience is not required.

Who Cannot Apply

• Students who will finish their undergraduate degree before the program ends
• Students who will not return to undergraduate studies after August
• High school graduates who have not started college level coursework
• People who have already completed their undergraduate degree

Students in combined programs, such as B.S./M.S., may be eligible if they are still in the undergraduate part and will return to it for at least one more term.

Information for International Students

• International students at US universities usually join under F1 status through CPT, arranged with their home university.
• International students studying outside the US can also apply.
• Admitted international students may get limited visa help. SFI may be able to sponsor a J1 visa.

Also Check: EPFL School of Life Sciences Summer Research Program 2027 in Switzerland

Programs Available:

The program welcomes students from these fields:

• Physical Sciences
• Natural Sciences
• Social Sciences
• Mathematics

Documents You Need:

• Biographical information, filled in directly in the application portal
• A current academic CV or résumé
• Research statements, which are written answers to two prompts, including a short project proposal
• An unofficial transcript from every college or university you have attended
• One recommendation letter from a professor, mentor, or advisor who knows your work

How to Write Your Research Statement

Your research statement is one page long. It shows SFI what interests you and how you think. You do not need deep technical knowledge. Include these three things:

• A clear question, such as “I want to understand how X influences Y”
• A realistic way to approach it, such as which things you would compare
• A reason why your approach fits your question

The ideas you write are not commitments. Your real project is shaped with a mentor in the first weeks of the program.

Also Check: MAXMINDS Max Planck Initiative for researchers at Risk

Selection Process and Important Dates:

• November 2026: Applications open
• January 13, 2027, 4pm MST: Application deadline
• After the first review: Selected finalists are invited to short Zoom interviews
• March 2027: All applicants receive an email about their status
• May 30, 2027: Program starts
• August 7, 2027: Program ends

Also Check: MIT Summer Research Program (MSRP) 2027 (Fully Funded)

How to Apply:

1. Open the official UCR program page on the Santa Fe Institute website.
2. Click the “Apply now!” button at the top right of the page. This opens the application portal.
3. Create an account on SurveyMonkey Apply. Applications are accepted only through this portal.
4. Fill in your biographical information directly in the portal.
5. Add your fields of study and math background.
6. Upload your current academic CV or résumé.
7. Write and submit your research statements, which are answers to two prompts, including a one page project proposal.
8. Upload an unofficial transcript from each college or university you have attended.
9. Ask a professor, mentor, or advisor to submit one recommendation letter for you.
10. Check everything carefully and submit before the deadline.

Also Check: Caltech Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF) 2027