2025 University of Washington Neuroscience Summer Scholars Program (NSSSP)

All applications MUST be submitted via the NSSSP program website application at:  https://neurosurgery.uw.edu/education/summer-student-programs/nsssp-how-to-apply

Note: Do NOT click ‘APPLY EXTERNALLY' as this will not take you to the NSSSP application web page (correct URL above)

The UW Medicine Neuroscience NIH Summer Scholars Program provides “Bench to Bedside” exposure to students seeking summer lab placements to explore basic and clinical neurosciences. Our hope is that students will be so excited by their work that they will desire to pursue an academic career in research and/or medicine. Our mission is to recruit and educate a wide spectrum of students from diverse backgrounds, including those under-represented in STEM field. We aim to broaden their knowledge base in the field of biomedical research, including translational, clinical, and basic research. The program seeks to inspire students to pursue a career in research, medicine, or allied fields, especially in the neurosciences.

Participation includes:

• $3200 stipend for students
• Eight-week lab placement in one of our neuroscience research labs
• Weekly Neurological Surgery Grand Rounds lectures
• Weekly Neurological Surgery Resident Education Hour discussions
• Weekly Neurology clinical conferences
• Weekly neuroscience faculty lectures, specifically developed for the students
• Neurological surgery OR observations (up to 2)
• Neurology/Neurological Surgery clinical observations (up to 2)
• Brain Anatomy Lab session
• Student capstone presentation
 

To date, 197 rising freshmen and college undergraduate students aged 18 and older from 104 different schools from across the U.S. have participated in the program.

Students:

• Joined 21 different laboratories and engaged with more than 24 faculty
• Attended over 164 unique Neurological Surgery Grand Rounds presentations
• Observed over 500 surgical procedures and clinical shadowing opportunities
• Followed 23 different attending neurological surgeons, 2 neurologists, 2 different neuro-hospitalists and 1 rehabilitation physician at three different UW affiliated hospitals 
• Participated in 118 weekly student group presentations by 34 different faculty members
 

Over 35 students from our earlier classes have now been accepted into medical school and other clinical training programs. Many students just entering college have gone on to neuroscience or pre-med studies.

2025 Important Dates and eligibility information

Applications expected to open: 11/1/2024

Applications deadline: 1/1/2025, 11:59pm PST

Admissions notification: 3/1/2025 – 3/15/2025

Program-sponsored housing check-in: 6/22/2025

Program start date: 6/23/2025

Program end date: 8/15/2025

Program-sponsored housing check-out: 8/1/62025

We strongly encourage applications from underrepresented minorities (URM) as defined by the NIH

• You must be at least 18 years of age or older by the first day of the program (due to minimum age requirements in facilities)
• You must be either a US citizen or have permanent residency status. Visa holders are not eligible.
• University undergraduate students may apply if they are at least 18 years of age and older by the first day of the program and are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Graduate students are not eligible
• High school students may apply if they will be at least 18 years of age or older by the first day of the program and are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
• You must have immunizations and TB test results which are current through the program end date.
• Out of area students will have program sponsored housing provided (as long as they indicate on their application that they require program sponsored housing) but are responsible for their own meals, transportation to/from Seattle, and local transportation.
• Participants must be available to work at least 40 hours every week for the duration of the entire 8-week program