2026 Physics/AP/SLAC�Summer Research�Program

physics-summer-research.stanford.edu

SURP 2026 Info Session

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Physics/AP/SLAC�Summer Research�Program

physics-summer-research.stanford.edu

2026 Research Schedule

• 10 weeks during the summer:
• June 22 – August 28
• Plan to be here the entire summer
• Research presentations
• Tentative: August 28
• If you end up being part of the program, please plan travel after 6 PM August 28

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Research Opportunities

• Plan for in-person research on campus; remote alternative research plan still required for unforeseen emergencies
• Some projects require minimal to no experience and are a great way to get experience
• Research outside Stanford linked here

What you’ll do

• Depending on Experience:
• Assist grad student: build/assemble hardware and/or electronic circuits
• Code: analyze data, simulations
• Do independent project

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Responsibilities

• ~40 hrs/wk as part of research group
• Attend mandatory weekly faculty talks, professional development sessions
• Short oral presentation and poster presentation to peers and faculty mentors at end of summer
• Social events (e.g. LN2 ice cream; board games, movie nights, etc.)

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Your Daily Contact

• Your daily contact might be the faculty member or a postdoc or grad student in the group

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Eligibility

• Sophomores and juniors must be declared Physics or Engineering Physics by application due date
• Frosh need not be a declared major but must have completed or be taking an introductory physics course by the winter quarter and be “on track” to be a major
• Those with prior funding must apply for a Major Grant – Start Now
• Co-terms must not have received B.S./entered Graduate Career

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Stipend

• 10 weeks only; dynamic stipend amount for room/board/travel/expenses
• $8500 core stipend
• Need-based adjustment up to $1500
• Live on campus or find your own place
• “Full time participants are not permitted to engage in another substantial internship, job, or volunteer opportunity (whether funded by Stanford or otherwise)”

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Funding Options

• Frosh, soph, or those who have never done research: Apply to summer research program
• Students who have received prior physics funding: Apply for a VPUE Major Grant
• Everybody: Ask your faculty mentor if they have funding to support you
• Biophysics research: Bio-X program

Deadline: January 21, 8 AM PST

Details: https://biox.stanford.edu/research/undergraduate-research

Contact: Gabriella M. Herman, gherman@stanford.edu

Strategy 1: Which years?

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• 1st year:
• Go home,
• Get a job,
• See high school friends
• 2nd year: Research in Physics

Strategy 2: Which years?

• 1^st yr: do research here, get some experience/skills
• 2^nd year: apply to non-Stanford programs, industry jobs
• 3^rd year: focus on research here -Senior Thesis/Major Grant

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What You Need To Do

• Check web page of open positions and areas, find faculty and/or areas of interest and for which you have the skills
• Follow instructions and complete the first part of the application form (by noon, January 16, 2026)

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Application (2nd part)

• Get signed form from Faculty Mentor (ask the person you are talking with if they are faculty or not)
• Submit online application with ½ page summary of what you will be working on
• Due February 20, 2026, but the sooner the better — don’t delay!
• Prior year participation considered

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General Support

Faculty Talks and Professional Development Sessions (weekly)

• Goal-setting for research over the quarter
• Time management
• Career paths/Alumni panel
• Graduate school
• Science communication
• Introduction to multiple physics subfields
• … and more!

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Website

https://physics.stanford.edu/undergraduate-research

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• FAQs
• Table of open positions
• These Slides

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SURP 2026 Info Session

Please remember to sign in for attendance!

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