The student mentorship, education, and research fellowship (SMERF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing funded clinical research fellowships for students interested in a career in pediatric neurosurgery and related fields. Unlike traditional unpaid research opportunities, where only those individuals who can afford to work unpaid receive the best research opportunities, each SMERF scholar receives a financial stipend. We're committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the field of neurological surgery, and we believe that SMERF is an important step towards achieving that goal.