Updated: September 2, 2026

TL;DR

The Simons Summer Research Program officially says prior research experience isn't required, and that's true, but it's not the whole picture. Most students who get in have shown some form of independent initiative before applying, even if it's not formal lab work, and this guide walks through exactly what that means, what Stony Brook actually requires, and what to do if you're starting from zero. If a nomination or a blank research resume feels like a dealbreaker, the Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a direct 1-1 research option that doesn't require either.

At the Simons Summer Research Program @Stony Brook, Simons Fellows spend about six weeks in a Stony Brook University lab, working under a faculty mentor, with no tuition fees and a stipend at the end. First established in 1984, it's one of the more selective research opportunities open to high school juniors, and Stony Brook doesn't publish an official acceptance rate, so be skeptical of any specific percentage you see quoted online, including on this page.

Who's eligible for the Simons Summer Research Program?

To apply, you must currently be in your junior year (11th grade) of high school, be a US citizen or permanent resident, and be at least 16 years old by the start of the program. That's the entire official eligibility bar. Stony Brook says it's looking for students who've shown independence, creativity, and an aptitude for hands-on work, not a specific research resume.

Do you need research experience to get into Simons?

Officially, no. Stony Brook's own application guidelines state directly that prior research experience is not a prerequisite for the program, and the eligibility criteria never mention it.

Practically, it's more nuanced. Because Simons is genuinely competitive, most accepted students have shown some form of independent STEM initiative before applying, whether that's a school science fair project, an independent study, a coding portfolio, a self-directed research question, or a relevant online course. It doesn't have to be formal lab research. An applicant with strong grades and zero demonstrated hands-on engagement with STEM is at a real disadvantage against one who's shown genuine initiative, even in something small 

So "no experience required" is true as a formal rule and slightly misleading as practical advice. Read it as: you don't need a lab credential, but you do need to show you've already been curious about something on your own.

What to do if you have no formal research background

If you're starting from zero, here's what actually moves the needle before you apply:

• Start something small and independent now, not a resume-padding project. A self-directed question you're genuinely curious about, even a modest one, demonstrates initiative in a way a generic activity list doesn't.

• Use what's already available to you. A relevant AP or advanced course, a free online course in your area of interest, or a science fair at your school all count as demonstrated engagement, even without a university lab.

• Get specific about your research interest before you apply. The application asks you to rank your top research areas of interest. Vague answers ("I like science") read very differently from specific ones ("I want to work on applied machine learning problems in biology").

• Ask for recommendation letters that speak to initiative, not just grades. A teacher who can describe a time you pursued something on your own is more useful here than one who can only speak to your GPA.

• Be honest in your essays about where you're starting from. Simons reviewers read thousands of applications. Overstating experience you don't have is easier to spot than you'd think, and being genuine about curiosity without experience is a normal, well-received answer.

What Simons actually requires from your application

You need a school nomination before you can apply at all. Each high school can nominate a maximum of two students, and schools that exceed that limit risk having all their nominees disqualified. Nomination processes vary by school (lottery, first-come/first-served, or a pre-application), so talk to a science or math teacher or your counselor early rather than assuming you'll be automatically considered.

Once nominated, you'll complete an online application that includes your transcript, short written responses about your interests and goals, and two letters of recommendation (math or science teachers preferred) [NEEDS VERIFICATION — I could only confirm the current cycle's exact essay question count and character limits from a source describing the 2022 cycle, so I've kept this general rather than citing outdated specifics]. If you already have four or more weeks of prior research experience, you can request an optional third letter from that research supervisor, but it's explicitly optional, not expected.

Test scores, resumes, and awards outside what's requested aren't accepted, so don't send them.

Simons Summer Research Program deadlines and timeline - 2027

Applications for the 2026 program are now closed, but you can assume a similar timeline for 2027.

What you actually get once you're accepted 

Once accepted, you're matched with a Stony Brook faculty mentor based on the research interests you ranked on your application, and you work as part of an active research group across fields like biology, chemistry, physics, computer science, applied math, and engineering. Beyond lab time, the program runs weekly faculty talks, workshops, and tours, and it ends with a poster symposium where fellows present a written research abstract, plus a stipend award.

There are no tuition fees. If you live on campus, Stony Brook's own housing office estimated 2026 residential costs (a double dorm room, a starter meal plan, and the student health services fee) at around $2,450, explicitly labeled as an estimate. Commuters skip housing costs but still cover their own transportation and meals. Housing is described as available for the full program on Stony Brook's site, though their own materials are inconsistent about whether that's six or seven weeks based on the actual 2026 calendar.

Simons research also frequently becomes the basis for submissions to the Regeneron Science Talent Search, still one of the most prestigious research competitions open to high schoolers. 

What kind of research do Simons Fellows actually work on?

Your actual project depends entirely on which faculty mentor you're matched with. Based on the subject areas Stony Brook lists for its faculty mentors, expect projects across biology and biochemistry, chemistry, physics, applied mathematics and computational science, computer science, and engineering. For real, current examples rather than generic categories, the official mentor listing is the most accurate source, since it's updated each cycle with that summer's actual faculty and lab focus areas. It's also worth reviewing before you apply, since your ranked interests should reflect mentors who are actually available that cycle.

What if you get rejected from Simons?

Don’t fret! There are plenty of other ways to gain research experience.

Simons is nomination-gated and highly competitive, so it's worth having a backup that isn't. The Lumiere Research Scholar Program matches students directly with a PhD mentor for a 1-1 independent research project, no school nomination and no prior research experience required. Last cycle, Lumiere had over 4,000 applicants for 500 spots [NEEDS VERIFICATION — confirm this figure is still current before publishing]. You can find the application form here.

If you're specifically interested in medicine or biology-focused research, our review of SIMR at Stanford is a useful comparison point. If you'd rather stay on Long Island but want a different Stony Brook program, we also cover Stony Brook's Garcia Summer Program. And if you're weighing options more broadly around Stony Brook, our list of summer research programs in New York covers several Simons alternatives in the same state.

Frequently asked questions about getting into the Simons Summer Research Program

Do you need research experience to get into the Simons Summer Research Program? Not officially. Stony Brook states directly that prior research experience isn't a prerequisite. In practice, most accepted students show some form of independent STEM initiative, whether that's a science fair project, a self-directed study, or a relevant online course, even if it isn't formal lab work.

How hard is it to get into the Simons Summer Research Program? It's genuinely competitive, but Stony Brook doesn't publish an exact acceptance rate. Third-party estimates range from roughly 2.5% to 12%, so treat any single number you see, including on this page, as an estimate rather than a confirmed figure.

How do you get into the Simons Summer Research Program? You need a school nomination first (maximum two students per school), then you submit an online application with your transcript, short written responses, and two teacher recommendation letters before the deadline.

Is the Simons Summer Research Program prestigious? Yes. It's a nationally competitive program that requires a school nomination just to apply, and it's widely regarded as one of the more selective STEM research opportunities open to high school juniors.

What is the Simons Summer Research Program? It's a free, roughly six-week summer research fellowship at Stony Brook University for high school juniors, where accepted students (Simons Fellows) are matched with a faculty mentor and work on a real STEM research project.

How much does the Simons Summer Research Program cost? There's no tuition. If you live on campus, Stony Brook estimated 2026 residential costs (housing, a starter meal plan, and the health services fee) at around $2,450. Commuters avoid housing costs but still cover their own transportation and meals.

Who is eligible for the Simons Summer Research Program? You need to be a current high school junior (11th grade), a US citizen or permanent resident, and at least 16 years old by the program's start date. Prior research experience isn't required.

Is there an alternative if I'm not nominated or not accepted? Yes. The Lumiere Research Scholar Program doesn't require a school nomination and matches students directly with a PhD mentor for a 1-1 independent research project.

Stephen Turban is the co-founder of Lumiere Education and a graduate of Harvard College, where he earned an A.B. in Statistics before beginning a PhD at Harvard Business School. A former McKinsey & Company consultant and former researcher, his research has been covered by the Harvard Business Review, The Economist, BBC News, Freakonomics Radio, and the Washington Post. In his articles for Forbes, he writes on what students and professionals can learn from high school research, high school passion projects, critical thinking, and mentorship. At Lumiere, he leads a selective research program where students work one-on-one with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper. Connect with him on LinkedIn.