Skip Navigation
Search
Data+Computing = Discovery
HomeFAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

ELIGIBILITY

    • Can non-Stony Brook students apply?   
Absolutely! Students from outside Stony Brook are strongly encouraged to apply.      
  • I am a freshman student. Am I eligible?      
    Yes. First-year students are eligible to apply.
  • I am NOT a US citizen or permanent resident. Am I eligible to apply?

    No. DCD is funded by the US National Science Foundation, which restricts participation to US citizens and permanent residents.

APPLICATION:

  • When will the application be available?

    November 2022.
  • When are application materials due?

          January 30, 2023

  • When will applicants be notified of acceptance to DCD?

    Late March  2023.

DCD PROGRAM LOGISTICS

  • What is the time commitment for DCD? Are the hours flexible?

    DCD is an immersive, 9-week program that runs from June 5 to August 4, 2023. Participants must be present during the entirety of the 9-week period and the dates are not flexible. During the 9-week period, the time commitment for DCD will be similar to a full-time job (40 hours per week).
  • What is the stipend for DCD participants?

    $5400 for the 9-week period. Up to $335 will also be provided, upon request, for traveling to and from DCD.
  • Is the stipend taxable?

    Yes. The stipend is taxable and should be reported in tax filings. It is recommended that participants consult a tax professional and their institution’s scholarship/financial aid office for information on how this income may impact tax filings and related considerations.
  • Are meals and lodging available to the participants?

    Yes. DCD participants will be expected to live in a dormitory on campus for the 9-week period. A meal plan will be provided during this time. Expenses for meals and lodging are covered by the DCD program; that is, they are not part of the stipend.
  • Does DCD pay for participants to relocate to Long Island for the summer?

    Yes. Each participant may request reimbursement for up to $335 in relocation costs. DCD staff will work with participants to manage these funds and ensure they are appropriately documented (receipts, etc.).

DCD PROGRAM EXPECTATIONS

  • What is the typical workload for a DCD participant?

    It depends on the faculty mentor and the research project. Generally, participants should treat DCD like full-time employment; roughly 40 hours per week are expected. This includes research activities, research group meetings, seminars, and DCD professional development programs.
  • Are there extracurricular activities in DCD? Are they required?

    Various social networking events are planned for participants, including mixers, game nights, movie nights, a kayaking trip, and a bowling night. Building friendships and a professional network are also goals of DCD, meaning that participants are expected to attend these events.

 

APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCESS

  • What is the application process?

    An application will be made available in November 2022 and due in January-February 2023. During this process, applicants will declare preferences for research projects from a list posted to the DCD webpage (link). The DCD leadership team and the faculty mentors will then review the applications, with a goal of identifying the best matches between faculty and applicant interests. Selected applicants will be notified of their acceptance to DCD and given a few days to confirm participation in DCD.
  • What materials are needed to apply?

    Briefly, an application form, a personal statement of interest, an official copy of transcripts from all undergraduate institutions, and two letters of recommendation. More details can be found on the application page.
  • Have my application materials been received?

    Applicants should receive a confirmation email when the application form is received. Other materials will be emailed to DCD. Applicants should follow up with their recommenders to ensure that recommendation letters are submitted before the application deadline.
  • What are my chances of being selected to participate in DCD?

    DCD can support 9 students in summer 2023. We anticipate approximately 100 applications.
  • When will selected applicants be notified?

    We hope to notify selected students by late March or early April 2023. These students will be given a few days to confirm their participation in DCD.
  • Will applicants who are not selected to participate in DCD be notified?

    Yes. All applicants will receive a message with a decision about their application. We anticipate all such messages will be sent by the middle of April 2023.
  • Whom should an applicant ask for a recommendation letter?

    The most helpful recommendation letters speak to the applicant’s past experiences, ambitions, long-term goals, and tenacity, amongst other qualities. That is, the recommender should know the applicant well and provide more information than grades on a transcript. The recommender could be a course instructor, academic advisor/counselor, high school (or middle or elementary) school teacher, coach, boss, etc., so long as that person knows the applicant well. 
    If the applicant has previous research experience (which is not required), that research mentor’s letter would be very helpful. The previous research experience can be in any field.

We thank the ICER ACRES program at Michigan State University (https://icer-acres.msu.edu) for helping create this list of FAQs.