Nexus Scholars Program

The Nexus Scholars Program in the College of Arts & Sciences provides undergraduate students with summer opportunities to be mentored with faculty from all across the college (humanities, social sciences, and STEM) on their research projects. Along with the summer research experience, the program offers professional development workshops, career exploration events, and the chance to be part of a cohort from throughout the college who are passionate about learning.

Recipients may conduct research in any discipline in the College of Arts & Sciences and will be compensated an hourly wage for their participation during the course of the program on the Cornell campus in Ithaca this summer. Nexus Scholars are selected based on their interest in research, their ability to work collaboratively, and their potential to contribute to the field. Students who are early in their academic careers and from a variety of backgrounds are encouraged to apply. The Nexus Scholars Program is intended to be an entry point into undergraduate research and we prioritize applicants who do not have significant experience in this area.

General Information

For questions regarding the program please email [email protected].

The Nexus Scholars Program for Summer 2025 is available to Cornell A&S undergraduate first year, sophomore, or junior in the classes of 2028, 2027, and 2026. Students who are planning to graduate in the spring or summer of 2025 are not eligible to apply. December 2025 graduates may be eligible.

In order to qualify for the program, students must:  

• Be enrolled full-time at Cornell University as a student through the end of the Fall 2025 semester  

• Be an undergraduate student in the College of Arts and Sciences at the time of applying and at the start of the Nexus Scholars program in May 2025

• Be in good academic and judicial standing 

• Be available in person in Ithaca during the course of the summer program from Thursday, May 29- Wednesday, July 30, 2025

• Be able to work a full-time schedule (up to 40 hours a week) within traditional working hours  

• Not be enrolled in classes over summer 2025  

• Not be committed to work any other position at Cornell during the program dates

• Not be committed to work in any other position outside of Cornell that will conflict with work hours during the program dates

• Be 18 years old on or before May 29, 2025 

• Possess or have the ability to possess a Social Security Number or ITIN

Program Terms 

• Approximately 85-100 Nexus Scholars will be supported during summer 2025. 

• Students are expected to participate in research full-time (35 – 40 hours/week) with their mentor on the Cornell campus in Ithaca. There is no remote option for the program.  

• Along with their research, students will participate in weekly professional development workshops covering topics such as graduate school search, public speaking, and more. 

• Students will be compensated an hourly wage for their participation based on the student employment wages associated with the Classification Level of their project. In addition, up to $1,000 will be provided for travel to a research meeting after the program is over.  

• Students can only participate in the program once during their time as an undergraduate in the College of Arts & Sciences. 

• Students are responsible for making their own housing arrangements.

Tentative 2025 Program Timeline (dates are subject to change)

• November 2024: Applications open

• January 12, 2025: Applications close 

• February 2025: Interviews for selected candidates  

• Early March: Students will be notified of application decisions

• March 31, 2025: Accepted students must accept or decline offer 

• May 29, 2025: Program start date & Orientation  

• July 30, 2025: Program end date & capstone presentations 

Below is information about the 2024 application process.  More information regarding the 2025 application will follow later in the fall semester.

There are 2 parts of the application:

1. Apply via Cornell Experience site
2. Apply via Workday

Students, please read all the directions below before you apply in either system.  Failure to complete both applications will result in you not being considered.

Before you apply, download the application guide that will walk you through the process and what to expect and help you get all your application materials in order. To apply, you will need to be prepared to provide the following: 

• Your resume 
• Essay question responses 
• Up to two projects you’d like to work on and your reasoning - see the full list of projects and faculty mentors below.

Tip: Our career advisors can help you prep your application materials. Schedule an appointment today! 

The application process requires you to apply in two locations. You can read more about what is required for each portion of the application process below. 

Step 1: Cornell Experience Site Application

Cornell Experience Site

Application sections and requirements: 

• Academic and Personal Information 

• Essay Questions – you will need to answer the following questions in under 1,500 characters (between 210-380 words) for each response: 

  • Why are you interested in doing research next summer at Cornell and what do you hope to gain?   

  • What ideas do you have for your future career?  

  • Tell us about a time you overcame an obstacle and what you learned through the process?  

  • Think about a time when you worked on a group project that went well.  What do you think was most important in achieving that success?  Please explain. 

• Faculty/Project Selection & Explanation: Using the faculty project descriptions listed below, choose 1-2 projects that align with the research and experience you hope to gain this summer. You will need to explain why you selected that faculty member and their project.  
• Resume Upload  

Step 2: Workday Application

Workday

• You will need to apply to the Workday job posting that corresponds with the correct Student Research, Field, and Lab Assistant Job Classification Level classification level for the project(s) you wish to participate in.  

  • For example, if one project is classified as a Level 1 and the other as a Level 3, you should apply to the two positions separately. 

• Workday application links:

  • Nexus Scholars - Summer Student Research Assistant I - Level 1

  • Nexus Scholars - Summer Student Research Assistant II - Level 2

  • Nexus Scholars - Summer Student Research Assistant III - Level 3

  • Nexus Scholars - Summer Student Research Assistant IV - Level 4

Template and Resume Upload - you can upload both the documents below on the 'resume and cover letter' upload section of the Workday application. 

• Upload your completed application template as a PDF with your full name saved in the file name. 

  • Tip: If you have to apply to two Workday postings, you can delete the project description for the other level. If they are both the same level, please keep both responses on the template. 

• Upload the same resume you uploaded on the experience site. 

Mentors and projects for Summer 2025 are forthcoming and will be added here at a later date.

Making a gift to support the Nexus Scholars Program will help to ensure that research opportunities are available to all students, regardless of their financial situation.

If you would like to discuss other opportunities to support undergraduate students in the College, please contact the A&S Development Team.