Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Flatiron Institute?

The Flatiron Institute, founded in 2016, is the research division of the Simons Foundation, located in New York City. It is like a set of university departments but funded entirely by the Simons Foundation in a philanthropic, not-for-profit model. The output of the Flatiron Institute is scientific research (e.g. publications) and open-source software.

The overarching theme of the Flatiron Institute is advancing scientific research through computational methods. The institute hosts five centers spanning astrophysics, biology, mathematics, neuroscience, and quantum physics, and provides a collaborative environment with world-class computing resources.

What opportunities are available for students?

The Flatiron Institute does not grant degrees, but there are several ways for students to get involved:

• Summer Internships (Summer Research Assistant): The Flatiron Institute CCQ offers summer research assitant positions for undergraduate and beginning graduate students (master's or pre-thesis 1st and 2nd year graduates). The projects usually do not result in publications and are more exploratory and pedagogical in nature. Applications are accepted from December 1st until mid-January for the upcoming summer. When the ad is posted, you can find it at this link: Center for Computational Quantum Physics Job Openings
• Pre-Doctoral Researcher: The Flatiron Institute CCQ offers "pre-doctoral" research fellow positions for graduate students engaged in their thesis research (typically in the final one to three years of their Ph.D.). Pre-docs are hosted in two cohorts: a winter/spring cohort and a fall cohort, each lasting about four months. The work often results in a publication. Applications are due by March 30, 2026 for the fall 2026 cohort. When the ad is posted, you can find it at this link: Center for Computational Quantum Physics Job Openings
• Joint Graduate Student Positions: Graduate students who apply to affiliated graduate programs, including NYU, Columbia, CUNY, and SISSA, may have the chance to be selected to do all or a portion of their thesis research at the Flatiron Institute. To be considered, apply to one or more of these programs and express interest in being selected in your application, such as in your cover letter.

Applying for Internship / Pre-Doctoral Positions

• If I am not selected, can and should I apply again? Yes. We strongly recommend applying multiple times to the appropriate program for your level, as many times as you like. This can only increase your chances and we do not see it in a negative light.
• If I write about X topic in my application, will I be selected? Generally we can't comment on this, as it is what our application process is for. We encourage you to study the topics we are working on, such as in the list above and by looking at recent publications from our Center, and then to align your application with these topics.
• Do I need to pre-plan a project with a CCQ advisor? You are not expected to contact a researcher at CCQ in advance. However, you can reach out just to express your interest and notify us that you are applying, or if you have logistical questions not answered in this FAQ or in the job posting.