UCR Program for Undergraduate Students at Santa Fe Institute in the United States | Fully Funded

Opportunities

The Santa Fe Institute offers an intensive research program for undergraduate students, lasting ten weeks, giving participants the opportunity to engage in interdisciplinary scientific research within the field of complex systems science. The program aims to train a new generation of researchers to understand behaviors and interactions in biological, social, economic, and environmental systems by combining theory, data, and modern modeling methods.
The program enables students to work with specialized researchers at the institute and to develop an independent research project that is identified and formulated during the first weeks in collaboration with supervisors and researchers.

Program Overview

The UCR Program is a residential ten-week research experience in complex systems science. During the program, students work on a research project that is chosen and developed based on their personal interests and in consultation with researchers at the institute. Students also participate in discussions and training workshops to enhance their professional and scientific skills and prepare them for future paths in research or academia.

Program Details

Program start: 31 May 2026
Program end: 8 August 2026

Application deadline: 14 January 2026, 23:59 MST (UTC–7)

The program requires full-time research commitment and full attendance throughout its duration, as participants must be physically present for the entire ten weeks.

Funding and Support

Participating students receive the following:

Total financial stipend: 7000 USD for the entire duration of the program.
Accommodation and meals: Housing and meals are provided at no cost to the student.
Travel support: Travel expenses to and from Santa Fe, New Mexico, are covered.
Additional support: The program is funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation NSF BIO REU (grant no. 2349052), in addition to support from donors such as the Darla Moore Foundation, the McKinnon Family Foundation, the Bengier Foundation, and Eugene & Jean Stark.

Housing

The program provides single-occupancy housing for each student, including:

A private room
A private bathroom
Students reside in institute housing at the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe, a location known for its beautiful desert landscapes, walking trails, artwork, and quiet spaces. The aim of the housing arrangement is to balance community living with personal privacy.

Transportation

The program provides daily group transportation between the housing and the Santa Fe Institute campus on working days.
The program does not provide personal transportation within the city.
Students arriving with their own cars may receive mileage reimbursement up to the permitted limit.
Fuel costs and personal travel expenses are not reimbursed.
The travel support does not include meals.

Extended Stay Options

Students may arrive earlier or depart later for vacation purposes; however, the program does not provide housing outside the official dates and does not allow guests.

Meals and Dietary Needs

Meals are provided at both IAIA and the Santa Fe Institute, with accommodations for different dietary needs. Participants may communicate their requirements to the administration in advance.

Program Objectives

The UCR Program aims to:

Provide students with the opportunity to explore new ideas through an independent, interdisciplinary research project supervised by an institute researcher.
Deepen their understanding of complex systems science through discussions and scientific seminars.
Integrate them into the network of researchers at the Santa Fe Institute and help them build important professional relationships.
Develop technical and professional skills including scientific communication, rigorous research methods, and collaborative work.
Introduce them to career opportunities in the field of complexity science.
Build a small and interconnected research community whose members continue to support each other even after the program ends.

The program also focuses on enabling students to acquire essential skills such as:

Building mathematical and computational models of complex systems.
Conducting computational experiments and analyzing them using modern statistical methods.
Choosing the appropriate level of abstraction when studying a particular system.
Connecting theory to reality by studying real systems such as cities, ecological swarms, economies, cells, and more.

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Target Group

The program invites undergraduate students from various scientific backgrounds, including:

Natural sciences
Physical sciences
Social sciences
Mathematics

Quantitative skills and prior programming experience are considered an advantage.
The program emphasizes providing an inclusive and supportive environment for all participants, grounded in respect for intellectual differences and the exchange of ideas as a foundation of scientific progress.

Before Applying

Applicants are encouraged to read all program information pages before submitting questions. The program seeks students who can:

Self-learn
Work within a team
Think logically and creatively

Students from universities with limited research opportunities are encouraged to apply.

All participants must attend from the beginning of the program; late arrival is not allowed. Special support may be provided for students who need to take an exam during the first days.

Eligibility Requirements

The program is open to students currently enrolled in undergraduate studies (full-time or part-time).
Students must remain enrolled for at least one academic term after the program ends.
Students from two-year and four-year colleges are eligible.
Transfer students are also eligible.

Not eligible:

Students graduating before August 2026
High school graduates who have not yet started university
Individuals who have already completed a bachelor’s degree

Students in combined bachelor’s/master’s programs are eligible if they are still in the undergraduate portion and will return to it afterward.

Students must be authorized to work in the United States.

International Applicants

The program accepts applicants of all nationalities.

International students studying at U.S. universities usually participate through CPT associated with their student visa.
Students studying outside the United States are also eligible and may receive limited visa support.

Application Requirements

Applications must be submitted through the official Link only.
A complete application includes:

Personal information in the portal
A CV or résumé
A research statement including three research proposals or ideas
One recommendation letter from a professor or supervisor
An unofficial transcript from each institution the applicant attended

Details of Required Documents

Transcript: An unofficial transcript is sufficient. If the transcript is not in English, only a cover-page translation is required. No updates are accepted after the deadline.

Fields of study: Applicants must enter the majors they are actually studying.

Mathematical background: Only mathematics courses actually taken at the university level should be listed.

Research statement / proposal:
It must include: