Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Science Foundation's Division of Biological Infrastructure awarded a $417,420 Project Grant to Princeton University on June 1, 2026, to establish and operate the REU (Research Experiences for Undergraduates) SITE: Princeton Neuroscience Institute Synapse Internship Program through May 31, 2029. This award supports an intensive nine-week summer training program that will enroll 10 undergraduate students annually, recruiting primarily from two- and four-year institutions with limited research opportunities. The program delivers comprehensive research training through placement of interns with faculty mentors at the Princeton Neuroscience Institute for independent research projects spanning molecular to systems-level neuroscience. Complementing research activities, participants receive professional development and science communication workshops designed to prepare them for graduate program competition and STEM careers.

The award falls under the Biological Sciences program (CFDA 47.074), which supports fundamental research and workforce development in the biological sciences. Beyond laboratory research, deliverables include participant presentations at an internal summer research conference and attendance at the three-day Leadership Alliance National Symposium. Assessment mechanisms include pre- and post-program surveys and longitudinal tracking of student career pathways. The program training aligns with National Science Foundation priorities in artificial intelligence and biotechnology, with the explicit goal of strengthening the future neuroscience workforce by attracting promising scholars with minimal prior research experience to graduate programs and STEM careers in neuroscience and related fields.