Rachel Mak, Staff Photographer

Over the past several weeks, the National Science Foundation, or NSF, has experienced severe budget restrictions. As reported by Nature, a projected reduction of half of the NSF workforce in 2026 may occur due to funding cuts. The effects have already ricocheted through Yale’s research community, derailing undergraduates in their summer research plans.

NSF programming includes Research Experiences for Undergraduates, or REUs, intense research for students supported on a stipend. These experiences are competitive opportunities  designed to support students from diverse backgrounds, provide professional development and networking opportunities and prepare students for graduate education. 

Tally Vaneman ’27, an astrophysics major at Yale, applied to 10 external summer experiences, including six NSF-funded REU programs and three NASA-funded ones. On Monday, Feb. 17, Vaneman and other Cornell Astronomy REU applicants were notified by Co-Coordinator Zoe Learner Ponterio that the experience was cancelled due to “consideration of uncertain surrounding federal grant guidelines.”

In the days that followed, cancellations or delayed decision dates have been administered by other REU programs, including the University of Hawaii, Vanderbilt University, University of Texas at Austin and Harvard University. Career and internship opportunities at NASA are also subject to the current hiring freeze. NASA contributes to over 85 percent of federally supported astronomical research. 

Vaneman reached out to the Yale Physics and Astronomy Faculty and Yale’s Chapter of the Society of Physics Students, or SPS. According to Vaneman, the society was very receptive to physics and astronomy undergraduates affected by funding freezes and REU cancellations. 

The SPS Executive Board Nikita Mazotov ’26, Diya Naik ’27 and Max Watzky ’27, worked with the Yale Physics faculty to send an “REU Cancellation Affected Student” form to their members and present the testimonials to the Yale College Dean’s Office. Several members illuminated the uncertainties on securing a summer research experience despite previous efforts. By the time students had heard their external applications were rejected, several Yale research application deadlines had already passed.

“We’re glad we were able to contribute in bringing the issue to the attention of the dean’s office,” said Watzky. 

After close communication with the office, SPS announced via email on Wednesday, “If you were accepted to a research program that has since been canceled, you may be eligible to apply through this new, emergency fellowship.” 

According to the statement released by YCDO, students who provide documentation of a previously accepted plan that was subsequently cancelled or whose programs were cancelled before they received an acceptance will be considered for additional funding in conducting research with Yale faculty. 

“The notification by the Society of Physics Students was very helpful in making us aware of the growing problem of cancelled research programs,” Alexia Belperron, the associate dean of science and quantitative reasoning education in Yale College, wrote to the News. “We believe doing summer research can be an important educational opportunity, in particular for STEM students. Thus, we worked to design an alternative summer research funding fellowship for students who have lost their original research opportunities.” 

Eligible students may complete a fellowship application following the same guidelines as the Dean’s Fellowship to which alternative funding will be evaluated with the same criteria. The funding is competitive with awards ranging from $4,000 to $5,000. Students can provide the necessary documentation by submission of this form by Monday, March 31.

Belperron further indicated this alternative funding initiative will allow Yale faculty facing uncertainty in grant funding to host undergraduate researchers. 

Several members of SPS told the News their appreciation of YCDO’s new funding initiative. Vaneman will be applying for “Alternative Summer STEM Research Funding.” 

“[SPS] reassured me that those in my situation would still be eligible, so I’m very grateful to have this opportunity amid the ever-changing landscape that is the REU circuit this year,” Vaneman said.

First years, sophomores and juniors at Yale may also receive funding through the non-competitive Summer Experience Award by the final deadline of Thursday, May 1. 

The Yale College Dean’s Office is located at 1 Prospect St.