Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Bay Area

SURF Bay Area is an eight-week summer research program that will bring 14 motivated undergraduate students to Stanford Engineering for an immersive research and graduate school preparation experience.

Dedicated to broadening access to high-impact research experiences, SURF Bay Area is designed to demystify the graduate admissions process and give fellows a real feel for what it means to conduct research at the graduate level. SURF Fellows join a vibrant cohort representing a range of engineering disciplines for the opportunity to learn how to effectively navigate research and prepare for a holistic graduate experience. In addition to research, SURF Fellows also participate in a robust graduate school preparation program, community-building activities, mentorship partnerships, and a research symposium.

We invite all eligible students to apply, especially those who are first-generation and/or low-income, or those who come from campus environments with limited access to research opportunities and graduate school preparation.

2025 SURF Cohort

Objective

The program aims to build community and create a cohort of future graduate student engineers who can promote inclusive excellence within the engineering and science student body. Student engagement in research increases 1) the retention of students in scientific research, 2) student interest in graduate school, and 3) student interest in STEM careers. Since its inception, SURF has been a vehicle for undergraduate students to conduct scientific research and a foundation for them to pursue graduate studies in engineering.

We are committed to advancing a culture of respect, accessibility, inclusion, and empowerment at for all students at Stanford Engineering. We make intentional efforts to outreach and connect with competitive students with demonstrated potential, including those who come from environments with limited access to Research I university programs.

2026 SURF Program Update

The 2026 SURF Bay Area Program will host 14 local students who are matriculated at a college or university campus in the United States and who are able to commute daily to Stanford's campus. SURF Bay Area will take place in person at Stanford University.

Program Components

8-week summer research experience in a Stanford Engineering lab group
Graduate school preparation
Mentorship and networking
Community-building and cohort events on Stanford's campus
Research Symposium
Weekly cohort meals provided
Health insurance coverage, if needed
Stanford University summer registration costs covered
$6,000 stipend upon successful completion of the program
Housing, transportation, and meal costs will not be covered by the program

Application Window

December 15, 2025 - February 3, 2026 @ 11:59pm PT

Program Dates

June 22, 2026 - August 14, 2026

Application Information

Application Portal

Apply here by Feb 3, 2026

Application Dates

Application dates: Dec 15, 2025 - Feb 3, 2026
Emailed and/or incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
All applicants will be notified of a decision the second week of March.

Program Eligibility - Applicants must

Be at least 18 years old.
Be a currently-enrolled full-time non-Stanford undergraduate student at an accredited public or private college or university located in the United States.
- You must independently arrange your own housing, meals, transportation to the Bay Area, and daily transportation to campus.
- As of January 7, 2026, we have revised eligibility requirements so that domestic students who attend colleges or universities outside the Bay Area and meet all other eligibility criteria are eligible to apply.
Full-time community college students in their transfer year are eligible to apply.
- Admission for community college students is contingent upon receiving transfer admission offer(s) and demonstrated intention to matriculate at a four-year college or university in Fall 2026.
Be in good academic standing with a GPA of 3.0 or better. Applicants who describe exceptional circumstances in their statement of purpose and/or who demonstrate a marked progression of improving grades may be considered.
Demonstrate a committed interest in pursuing graduate study toward a PhD in an engineering field. If you plan on pursuing an MD, MD-PhD, JD, MBA, or other non-research-focused advanced degree, this is not the right program for you.
Be a rising junior or non-graduating senior who has completed sophomore year of undergraduate study (i.e. 4 semesters or 6 quarters) and has at least one full semester/quarter remaining of undergraduate study at the end of the summer program. Master's students and doctoral students are not eligible.
Be fully available and able to independently arrange housing, meals, and transportation to Stanford's campus for the entirety of the program, June 22-August 14.
SURF Bay Area Fellows may not be enrolled in summer courses, internships, or be employed while participating in the program.
International applicants are not eligible for 2026 SURF Bay Area.

Application Materials

Resume or CV: Typed, single-spaced, 1-2 pages in length.
Academic Transcript: Unofficial transcript will suffice; official transcript not necessary
Statement of Purpose: The statement of purpose should be an essay crafted to convey your academic preparation and goals, with an emphasis on your current research interests. In this essay, you should clearly explain your interest for pursuing doctoral level (PhD) training and the experiences that have prepared you to undertake rigorous research. An interview is not a standard part of the SURF application process. Consider the statement of purpose your opportunity to introduce yourself to a review committee and the chance to answer any information you might share during an interview. Statements should be typed, single-spaced, and 1-2 pages in length.
One Letter of Recommendation: We strongly recommend receiving a letter from a professor or academic/research supervisor who knows you well and who can specifically discuss your academic potential and research preparation for the program. Strong letters offer multiple, specific examples. Stellar letters communicate your soft skills: what is it like to work with you in lab? Are you collaborative, motivated, creative, resilient, etc.? Ask your letter writer to highlight both you research potential and the unique aspects of your personality that make you stand out.
Enhancing the Learning Community (Optional, Strongly Encouraged): For the optional ELC Statement, we invite you to share unique, personally important experiences, demonstrated values, perspectives, and/or activities that have shaped you as a student and researcher. Please discuss how they have influenced your academic path, inform your approach to engineering and research, and would help you make a distinctive contribution to the SURF Bay Area Program. Statements should be typed, single-spaced, and 500 words in length.

Application Resources - Exemplars

In an effort to support applicants in preparing competitive applications, we are providing a few exemplary application statements.
Application exemplars are not meant to be prescriptive. There are many ways to write successful statements, and we encourage you to reflect on your own interests and lived experiences to write competitive statements that are true to you.
We encourage you to have your statements reviewed by trusted mentors, as well as your college or university's writing center tutors.
Use of ChatGPT is discouraged in the strongest possible terms.

For Stanford Labs - Host a SURF Bay Area Fellow

Thank you for your interest in serving as a lab host for the SURF Bay Area program. PIs should complete our Lab Host Interest Form to confirm your interest and availability. SUNet ID Authentication is required to access the form.

2026 SURF Bay Area Lab Host Interest Form