The Simons Foundation’s mission is to advance the frontiers of research in mathematics and the basic sciences. The foundation’s support of science takes two forms: We support research by making grants to individual investigators and their projects through academic institutions, and, with the launch of the Flatiron Institute in 2016, we now conduct scientific research in-house, supporting teams of top computational scientists.
Summer internships are available within both divisions of the foundation.
Why Intern at the Simons Foundation?
Work on Exciting Projects
You’ll collaborate with your mentor on a project that aligns with your field of study and builds your portfolio.
Be Matched With a Mentor
You’ll be paired with an experienced scientist or supervisor who will guide your research or projects and help you to navigate the field.
Collaborate With Top Scientists
Interns working on research projects will work with and learn from interdisciplinary scientists in a collaborative environment. Some research may lead to lasting collaborations.
Attend Social Events
In addition to building your research and professional skills, you’ll have multiple opportunities to network with staff and peer interns through social events woven throughout your internship experience. Potential events include field trips to New York City museums, rooftop receptions and staff outings
Live and Work in New York City
All internships will be in person at our Manhattan offices. Interns may be provided with housing support near the Simons Foundation offices.
Join a Vibrant Scientific Community
The Simons Foundation offers a wide variety of lectures, seminars and workshops, including coding workshops, scientific seminars and poster session workshops. Led by subject matter experts from around the world, these events will immerse you in the latest developments in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Types of Internships
Flatiron Institute
Research Assistants and Research Associates
Research assistants are undergraduate students who come to the Flatiron Institute to work on a specifically designed project with a mentor within the center to which they are applying. Research associates are either graduate students or first or second-year pre-doctoral students who work on a specifically designed project with a mentor within the center to which they are applying. Research assistant and research associate positions are offered in the Center for Computational Biology (CCB), the Center for Computational Mathematics (CCM), the Center for Computational Neuroscience (CCN) and the Center for Computational Quantum Physics (CCQ). Internships with the Center for Computational Astrophysics (CCA) are offered through participation in the Simons-NSBP Scholars and AstroCom NYC programs.
These internships typically last 11 weeks. To be eligible, interns must be enrolled in a degree-seeking program (undergraduate or higher). Applications open on December 1, 2023. Please see each center’s posting on Interfolio for the application closing date.
Software and Scientific Computing Interns
The Scientific Computing Core (SCC) manages supercomputing resources and provides high-performance computing (HPC) expertise to all centers at the Flatiron Institute, developing tools broadly useful to the scientific community as a whole. Within SCC, software engineer interns will apply their development skills over the course of 11 weeks to original computational projects. Interns will have a chance to collaborate on an open-source project while learning about numerical algorithms, GPU computing, MPI and various other HPC topics. Software engineer interns will take on independent projects focused around infrastructure and code.
To be eligible for these positions, interns must be enrolled in a degree-seeking program (undergraduate or higher). Applications open on December 1, 2023. Please see the postings on Workday for the application closing date.
Collaboration is an important component at the Flatiron Institute, and the space is designed to optimize such opportunities. From dedicated common areas to blackboard walls and classrooms on each floor, the institute is primed to encourage ongoing discussions and an exchange of ideas amongst researchers within and across centers. The dining room’s coffee bar is a popular meeting spot as a central gathering place for members throughout the workday.
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CCN Summer Pre-Doctoral Scholar Program
The CCN Summer Pre-doctoral Scholar program provides an opportunity for advanced doctoral students (doctoral students with a dissertation advisor and topic) to pursue common areas of research with a CCN research group.
Applications are open from December 1, 2023 through January 2024.
AstroCom NYC
The Flatiron Institute partners with the CUNY Astro program to welcome some of the students engaged in this year-round scholars program to conduct summer research at CCA. Scholars must be students at the City University of New York (CUNY).
For more information about the AstroCom NYC program, please visit the program’s website.
Simons-NSBP Scholars Program (SNSP)
The Simons-NSBP Scholars Program (SNSP) is an exciting program that provides undergraduate members of the National Society of Black Physicists (NSBP) with unparalleled summer research opportunities. The program, which is a partnership between the Simons Foundation, Simons Observatory and the NSBP, gives scholars a holistic experience and provides invaluable training for becoming a professional physicist. Scholars will work on a wide range of research projects and participate in weekly programming designed to help them advance their career.
Visit the Simons-NSBP page to learn more and apply for this program.
Simons Foundation
Science, Society and Culture
The Science, Society and Culture (SSC) division seeks to provide opportunities for people to forge a connection to science — whether for the first time or a lifetime. Through their initiatives, SSC works to inspire a feeling of awe and wonder, foster connections between people and science, and support environments that provide a sense of belonging.
Quanta Magazine
Quanta Magazine is an editorially independent online publication launched by the Simons Foundation in 2012 to enhance public understanding of science. Quanta’s reporters and editors focus on developments in mathematics, theoretical physics, theoretical computer science and the basic life sciences, with an emphasis on delivering timely, accurate, in-depth and well-crafted articles for their broad, discerning audience. In addition to many other awards and accolades, Quanta won the Pulitzer Prize in explanatory reporting in 2022 and a National Magazine Award for general excellence in 2020.
The writing intern will develop their writing, research, fact checking and general editorial skills in the areas of physics, mathematics, biology and/or computer science. The writing intern will receive training and mentorship from the editorial team.
The internship is expected to start in May 2024 and will last 3-4 months. Applications are expected to open in early 2024 and will be considered on a rolling basis until positions are filled.
The Transmitter
The Transmitter, an editorially independent publication supported by the Simons Foundation, is the go-to destination for useful information, insights and tools to build bridges across neuroscience and advance research and a springboard for scientists and clinicians to forge collaborations that deepen our understanding of neuroscience.
The Transmitter is seeking a writing intern to report and write articles for The Transmitter site. The intern will learn how to report and write articles that educate, challenge and inspire our audience of scientists, and will leave with a collection of great clips. A background or strong interest in neuroscience, genetics, cognition and behavior is essential. This paid internship has a 24 hour-per-week minimum requirement.
The internship is expected to start in May 2024 and will last 3-4 months. Applications are expected to open in early 2024 and will be considered on a rolling basis until positions are filled.
Autism in the Workplace
The Autism in the Workplace program was started with the goal of increasing employment opportunities for people with autism. The program includes paid internship opportunities at the Simons Foundation where interns gain valuable work experience while building professional and interpersonal skills in an office environment.
This summer, qualified interns will work on projects and daily tasks within a department. They will gain on-the-job experience while receiving support and participating as a valued member of a professional team. Interns will also attend workshops throughout the course of the internship, focusing on skills like time management, communications and career development. Internships are typically three months in duration and will be posted on a rolling basis.
Read more about the program here.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
As part of the Simons Foundation mission to promote excellence in science, we are committed to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion across the foundation and the broader scientific community. You can learn more about the foundation’s DEI initiatives and programming here.