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MEP 411
Scholarships, careers, and opportunities for MEP students. Links to more scholarship listings for continuing students, department scholarships, and external scholarships here: https://grainger.illinois.edu/admissions/costs/undergraduate.

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  • The Solastra Fellowship Applications

    My name is Tatiana Michel. I am a graduated student from the Aerospace Engineering and Hoeft Technology and Mangement class of 2024. I hope this email finds you well.

    This past year I have founded The Solastra Fellowship - which has the mission to empower Latino pioneers to soar, lead, and inspire the future of aerospace and aviation! 

     You and the programs at UIUC have all in part empowered me to found this fellowship, and I would love to see some fellow students from UIUC feel empowered to apply! I would be honored if you could help spread the word on our UIUC campus - whether email, socials, or another platform!  Applications opened September 1st and close October 17th. Students can be undergrad or grad and can be from any major - so long as they are interested in the aviation or aerospace industry!  I have attached below 2 flyers that we have been sharing with our company, school, and individual partners.

     Thank you in advance and let me know if I can answer any questions.

     Sincerely, 

    Tatiana


  • DOE EM STARS Scholarship Program for STEM Students – Summer 2026 Applications Open

    Announcing that the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Environmental Management (EM) Success Through Academic Research Scholarship (STARS) program is now accepting applications for its next cohort!

    This prestigious scholarship is designed for undergraduate students at Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) who are pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields that align with EM’s research and operational needs.

    Deadline: December 12, 2025 | 11:59 PM EST
    Application Link: EM STARS Application

    The EM STARS program provides undergraduate students at MSIs with opportunities to engage in research and operations in critical STEM areas, including:

    • Advanced Manufacturing
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Cybersecurity
    • Deactivation & Decommissioning
    • Machine Learning
    • Robotics
    • Soil & Groundwater
    • Tank Waste

    To be eligible, applicants must:

    • Be a U.S. citizen at the time of application.
    • Be 18 years of age by June 1, 2026.
    • Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
    • Be enrolled as an undergraduate student at an accredited MSI during the 2025–2026 academic year.
    • Have completed at least two years toward an undergraduate degree and be graduating no earlier than Spring 2027.
    • Be pursuing a STEM degree that supports EM research and operations.

    For detailed eligibility requirements, visit the opportunity announcement.

    How to Apply

    Complete application details and required materials can be found at the EM STARS Application .

  • Volunteer to Judge The NASA TechRise Student Challenge - Exciting Opportunity for schools/students in 6th-12th grade

    NASA TechRise Student Challenge- A Free NASA challenge that invites sixth through 12th-grade students to propose experiment ideas to fly on suborbital test flights for a chance to win $1500, technical mentorship, and a spot on a NASA-sponsored flight to test their experiment.  Our team would like to invite you and members of your community to volunteer to help judge student proposals. I have included information regarding the judging requirements, how to sign up, and the challenge summary below. 

    Similar to Morrill Engineering Program, we strive to ensure that youth have the opportunity to expand their horizons through hands-on learning and innovation.  We hope you consider volunteering (and sharing the volunteer opportunity with your community) to help judge the NASA TechRise Student Challenge to further that mission. 

    Thank you so much for your time and support! Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions.

    Sincerely,

    Bria, Taylor and the NASA TechRise team

    Volunteer to Judge The NASA TechRise Student Challenge

    Requirements and Volunteer Hours:

    NASA is inviting 18+ U.S. residents with expertise in engineering, space, and/or atmospheric research to volunteer to help judge the NASA TechRise Student Challenge. Volunteers willing to offer approximately five hours of time to review proposals for suborbital-spaceship and high-altitude balloon experiments between November 7 and November 14, 2025 can get involved by following the steps below.

    How To Volunteer:

    1. Register to Judge HERE

    2. Login to your Judge Dashboard HERE

    3. From your Judge Dashboard, go to the NASA TechRise Student Challenge card and click “Volunteer to Judge” -See help article for assistance.

    4. Return to your dashboard on November 7th (we’ll send you an email reminder) to begin getting your scoresheet and begin judging.  Scoresheets will be open Nov 7th-14th.

    About the NASA TechRise Student Challenge: 

    NASA is calling on middle and high school students to join the fifth NASA TechRise Student Challenge, which invites student teams to submit science and technology experiment ideas to fly on a commercial suborbital-spaceship or high-altitude balloon.  Students in sixth to 12th grades attending a U.S. public, private, or charter school – including those in U.S. territories – are challenged to team up with their schoolmates to design an experiment under the guidance of an educator. Administered by Future Engineers, the challenge offers participants hands-on insight into the payload design and suborbital flight test process, with the goal of developing critical skills in engineering, computing, electronics and more that will be required for America’s technical workforce. The challenge opens in September and teams should submit their experiment ideas by the challenge deadline on November 3, 2025.  

    A total of 60 winning teams will be selected to build their proposed experiment. Each winning 

  • JUMP START YOUR FUTURE WITH DHS!!!

    The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate Office of University … sponsors the Professional Opportunities for Student Workforce to Experience Research (HS-POWER) Program for undergraduate and graduate students. HS-POWER is open to students majoring in a broad spectrum of homeland security related science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines as well as DHS mission-relevant research areas which includes social sciences. As a participant in the HS-POWER Program, you will participate in quality research experiences with federal research facilities and other DHS-STEM focused entities nationwide. You will establish connections with DHS professionals that facilitate long-term relationships between yourself, researchers, DHS personnel and research facilities, giving you a competitive edge as you move forward toward your career.

    Benefits

    •    Stipend: Undergraduate students receive $750 per week and graduate students will receive $950 per week.

    •    Travel: A total of $1,000 travel reimbursement for inbound and outbound expenses for participants who live more than fifty miles, one-way, from the assigned hosting site, and who are paying for housing onsite is available.

    •    Housing Allowance: A housing allowance of $400/week is provided to participants whose home of record is more than fifty miles, one-way, from their assigned hosting facility, move onsite for the duration of their appointment, and are paying for housing while onsite.

    Application Deadline: 1/5/2026 11:59:59 PM Eastern Time Zone

     Program Website: U.S. Department of Homeland Security Education Programs

  • DOE EM Success Through Academic Research Scholarship (STARS)

    Hey college students at Minority Serving Institutions! Are you looking for a program that supports your education, gives you hands-on experience, and sets you up for an amazing career? Check out the EM STARS program!

     This isn't just any scholarship; it's a launchpad! EM STARS provides up to two years of financial support while you work toward your undergraduate degree - and if you decide to pursue a master’s degree, we’ll support you for up to two more years. While you're studying, you'll get hands-on experience through awesome internships with our Environmental Management (EM) team at one of our sites. You'll get to see how we tackle big challenges, learn what we do, and gain real-world skills that connect directly to your studies.

     Why should I apply?

    You will receive:

    •    Financial support for the pursuit of an undergraduate degree for up to two years and two additional years for students choosing to pursue a master’s degree

    •    Paid summer internships under the guidance of an accomplished mentor at EM headquarter offices, field offices, and DOE national laboratories

    •    Opportunities to engage with the EM community (e.g., EM field sites, contractors, stakeholders) and other STARS Scholars

    •    Academic and career guidance

    •    Continued engagement with EM after graduation through employment opportunities or postgraduate appointments 

    Financial Support

    •    Tuition: $36,000/academic year (Amount is based on expected average cost. The tuition allowance may be higher based on student’s actual tuition costs.)

    •    Stipend: $32,000/academic year

    •    Education Allowance: $5,000/scholarship year

    •    Summer Internship: 10-week internship

    o    Stipend: $750/week

    o    Housing Allowance: up to $700/week based on assigned location (If relocating more than 50 miles from assigned location)

    o    Local Transportation: $50/week   

    o    Inbound/Outbound: $1,000 to be paid as a lump-sum with the first stipend payment (If relocating more than 50 miles from assigned location.

    Application Deadline

    12/12/2025 11:59:00 PM Eastern Time Zone

    Information Session:

    •    Friday, November 7 from 12-1pm ET (register here)

    Application Workshops:

    •    Thursday, November 13 from 2-3pm ET (register here)

    •    Friday, December 5 from 2-3pm ET (register here)

     Questions

    Please email the EM STARS team at EM_STARS@orise.orau.gov or visit our website at: https://orise.orau.gov/em-stars/


  • Applications to the 2026 DOE Fusion Energy Sciences Postdoctoral Research Program Now Open! DOE Fusion Energy Sciences Postdoctoral Research Program

    About the Office of Fusion Energy Sciences: The Office of Fusion Energy Sciences (FES) has four strategic goals: (1) Advance the fundamental science of magnetically confined plasmas to develop the predictive capability needed for a sustainable fusion energy source (2) Support the development of the scientific understanding required to design and deploy the materials and fusion engineering and technology needed to support a burning plasma environment (3) Pursue scientific opportunities and grand challenges in high energy density plasma science to better understand our universe, and to enhance national security and economic competitiveness (4) Increase the fundamental understanding of basic plasma science, including both burning plasma and low temperature plasma science and engineering, to enhance economic competitiveness and to create opportunities for a broader range of science-based applications 

    https://orise.orau.gov/doe-fes-postdoc/index.html

    Provisions: You will receive an annual stipend of $90,000 plus a supplement to offset the cost of health insurance. The program will also provide a one-time $3,000 relocation allowance (if eligible). You will also receive a $4,000 travel allowance per year. Travel allowance can be used to support travel to FES-related conferences (domestic or foreign)

    Qualifications: You must:

    •    Be a U.S. Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident.

    •    Have received a doctoral degree in an appropriate science or engineering discipline within four years of the desired start date or expect to complete degree requirements prior to the desired start date.

    •    Be available to conduct research at the hosting facility for up to two years.

    Preferred academic fields include:

    •    Chemical Engineering

    •    Computational Plasma Physics

    •    Computer Science

    •    Experimental Plasma Physics

    •    Material Science

    •    Mathematics

    •    Mechanical Engineering

    •    Nuclear Engineering

    •    Physics

    •    Plasma-Material Interfacial Science

    •    Theoretical Plasma Physics

    Program Website: https://orise.orau.gov/doe-fes-postdoc/index.html

    Questions? Email fusion@orau.org. Please list the reference code [DOE-FES-2026] for this opportunity in the subject line of your email.

    https://www.zintellect.com/Opportunity/Details/DOE-FES-2026?utm_source=opportunity_digest&utm_m…

     Application/Recommendation(s) Deadline: January 15, 2026 @5PM Eastern Time

  • GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL ADMISSIONS

    Are you interested in grad school and research?

    Ohio State's Summer Research Opportunities Program — virtual info sessions are coming up!

    Ohio State's Summer Research Opportunity Program (SROP) helps undergraduates explore the graduate school experience and conduct research with an Ohio State faculty mentor. 

     Students can learn more about eligibility and benefits on the SROP website, but here are a few details to share with them:

    The 2026 program is scheduled from May 26 to July 24 on Ohio State's Columbus campus

    Benefits include a $5,000 stipend, housing and meals

    The deadline to apply is February 10

    Session 1:

    Tuesday, December 2
     6 to 7 p.m. ET

    REGISTER

    Session 2:

    Tuesday, January 13
     6 to 7 p.m. ET

    REGISTER

    Session 3:

    Thursday, January 22
     6 to 7 p.m. ET

    REGISTER

    Let us customize an info session for your group

    Counselors, if you have a group interested in learning more, we can do a virtual info session and application workshop at a time that works for you — reach out to gradrecruit@osu.edu to schedule.

  • Scholarship Opportunity for Students - InFLOW Program for Water Industry

    The InFLOW (Introducing Future Leaders to Opportunities in Water) program is aimed at students from underrepresented minority groups interested in water industry careers. It covers hotel accommodations, registration, and networking at the annual Illinois Wastewater Professionals Conference (IWPC) from March 30-April 2, 2026, in East Peoria IL. Applicants must be full-time students from a minority group and fully engage in the conference. Application forms are due by December 5, 2025.

    More details and the application can be found here: InFLOW Scholarships - Illinois Wastewater Professionals Conference

  • Mayo Clinic SURF Program

    Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)

    Illinois undergraduates from all majors are invited to an info session to learn about the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program, Health Equity Research Experience (HERE), and Clinical Research Internship Study Program (CRISP). Each 10-week program offers students an opportunity to join the culture of a major medical center, work with world-class Mayo Clinic faculty mentors, and test their inclinations towards careers in research. Participation in the live info session is recommended. However, if you are unable to attend, please register to receive a link to the recording. 

     Please click the link as shown above for Program Highlights, Important Dates, Eligibility and Financial Support, and the Application Process: Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program, Health Equity Research Experience (HERE), and Clinical Research Internship Study Program (CRISP).  

     

  • Undergraduate Students: Apply for the 2026 LeaderShape® Institute™

    LeaderShape Institute Application Information


    For Undergraduate Students: Apply for the 2026 LeaderShape® Institute™

     The LeaderShape® Institute™ is a nationally recognized four-day, three-night leadership retreat for Illinois undergraduate students of all majors. This immersive experience will take place January 12-15, 2026, at Allerton Park & Retreat Center in Monticello, IL. Students selected to participate will attend for free thanks to the generous financial support of campus sponsors.

     The Institute™ offers participants the opportunity to identify and explore their personal values as they work towards creating a more caring, just, and equitable society. Students will engage in activities of self-discovery, reflection, and feedback in a community of peers, with a focus on leading with integrity.