Complex Systems Summer School

Before You Apply

We ask all applicants to read this page carefully before applying or emailing us with questions. Thank you.

SFI’s CSS program is designed for curious, motivated people who desire an intensive, immersive experience of lectures, workshops, discussions, and group projects. We look for participants from a wide range of backgrounds and research interests. Strong applicants are people who are:

• Interested in exposure to a wide-range of methods and ideas for complex systems research
• Able to communicate and work well in teams
• Ready to think creatively about research questions
• Willing to share their expertise with group members and learn new skills

All participants must be able to arrive on the first day of the program and stay through the final day of programming.

Photos Credit : Doug Merriam

Eligibility

Applications are accepted from graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, faculty, and professionals in any discipline, including fields not traditionally represented in the sciences, provided the work connects to complex systems. We admit participants from many disciplines, and many arrive without extensive quantitative training.

CSSS is broad and does not expect mastery of every topic. While there will be lectures that use mathematics, the associated concepts will be accessible to anyone. If you would like to prepare for higher level mathematics, the following areas are likely to be most relevant: statistical analysis, linear algebra, differential equations, and nonlinear dynamics. Overviews of the latter three, among many other methods utilized in complex systems research, are available on ComplexityExplorer.org.

Application Requirements

While the application period is open, access the application system through the "Apply now!" button at the top right of your screen.

Applicants should submit: 

• Biographical information (filled out directly in the application portal)
• A current academic CV or résumé, including a list of publications, if any
• A statement that describes your scholarly interests in complex systems and your goals in attending CSSS (maximum two pages)
• Two letters of recommendation: one from a supervisor and one from a collaborator

Application Process & Timeline

Applications must be completed and submitted through the application portal by the posted deadline. Late or incomplete applications are not reviewed.

Complete applications submitted by the deadline will be evaluated by the CSSS review committee. All applicants — including those not selected as finalists — will receive an email update on their status in late March. The CSSS program maintains a waiting list and has historically, though not always, been able to offer some spots to those on the waiting list.

Because a missing recommendation letter can hold up an otherwise strong application, you should contact your recommender as soon as you begin your application. Materials submitted after the deadline cannot be added and will not be considered.

All inquiries about the application should be directed to education@santafe.edu.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Financial Assistance

Is there financial assistance available?

After being accepted, participants seek their own funding for the program through their home institutions, departments, and third-party funding sources. Past participants have asked their advisor, colleagues, and former CSSS attendees for funding-source suggestions.

Based on need, participants may apply for partial scholarships from SFI. To request a link to the application for financial assistance, accepted participants can email education@santafe.edu. Every application for financial assistance will need to demonstrate that the applicant has made substantial efforts to obtain funding elsewhere.

International Applicants

Will I need a visa to attend?

Many CSSS participants can enter the United States under the visa waiver program (https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/). Please check the list of eligible countries.

Otherwise, participants seeking a visa can apply for a B-1 visa. Accompanying paperwork should note that CSSS is a “seminar series” or “scientific conference”. Avoiding the term “school” may help avoid confusion with opportunities that require a student visa.

Delays vary greatly in requesting visa appointments (sometimes more than a year); we recommend that you contact your local consulate as soon as you decide to apply to ensure that you will be able to schedule an appointment by the end of April. 

SFI does not sponsor F- or J-series visas for CSSS participants.

I have been ACCEPTED and am applying for a visa waiver (i.e., ESTA). Who should I put as my point of contact?

In recent years, participants have provided the following information:

Suzanne Kern
Santa Fe Institute
1399 Hyde Park Rd
Santa Fe, NM 87501
(505) 984-8800

I have been ACCEPTED and am applying for a B-1 visa and have an appointment. Are there any additional documents I should bring?

Once you have accepted your CSSS invitation from SFI, we will reach out to you regarding next steps.

Do I need travel health insurance?

YES! Please be sure you are covered by health insurance, typically in the form of travel health insurance, for the entire duration of your stay in the United States. Medical costs in the United States can be many thousands of dollars without insurance.

Other Questions

What are the typical CSSS program dates?

The CSSS usually runs from early June through early July. Please check the CSSS program page in November for updates.

What is the difference between the CSSS and the Graduate Workshop in Computational Social Sciences? I am a social scientist.

The CSSS is a program designed to give participants a broad overview of complexity science and exposure to people in many different fields. Spanning four weeks, it is focused on lectures and transdisciplinary group projects. The CSSS has about 50 participants.

The Graduate Workshop is a focused two-week program. It accepts 10 Ph.D. students working in the social sciences. There are lectures, but the majority of the program provides students with the opportunity to learn to model complex systems in their current area of research.