Campus Life

STEM Week to spotlight scholarship, fellowship opportunities

Wide range of programming to be offered Oct. 17 to 21

Penn State's University Fellowships Office will host STEM week from Oct. 17-21 to highlight fellowship and scholarship opportunities in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields.   Credit: Photo: Jamie Craggs; Graphic overlay: Sam GleasonAll Rights Reserved.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — All undergraduate students interested in furthering their experience in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields can take advantage of a wide range of programming opportunities during STEM Week, Oct. 17 to 21, at University Park.

Sponsored by Penn State’s University Fellowships Office (UFO), STEM Week will highlight relevant scholarships and fellowships, as well as offer events promoting graduate school in conjunction with colleagues across the University.

“STEM week is a showcase for undergraduates of all years to learn about national and international fellowship opportunities that recognize their accomplishments and help launch their careers,” said Tanya Furman, interim director of the University Fellowships Office and associate vice president and associate dean for Undergraduate Education.

“Most STEM fellowships focus on research activities, so we work primarily with students considering graduate school, and their advisers, to develop competitive application packages.”

The week kicks off Oct. 17 with an information table situated in the HUB-Robeson Center from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. An information session on STEM fellowships will follow from 4 to 5 p.m. in 309 Boucke.

The fellowships spotlighted will include:

  • The NIST Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship that affords students the opportunity to work at the National Institute of Standards and Technology Laboratories either in Boulder, Colorado, or Gaithersburg, Maryland.
  • The Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship that is awarded to students with the potential to succeed in STEM fields.
  • The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation that grants $10,000 scholarships to students pursuing engineering, math, or natural or applied sciences degrees. Students will be nominated based on motivation, imagination and exceptional performance in their major.  
  • The Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship designated to sophomores and juniors studying the natural sciences, mathematics and engineering in an amount of up to $7,500 a year.
  • The Churchill Foundation’s Scholarship Program that provides funding for engineering, mathematics or science graduate students to study at the Churchill College of Cambridge University.
  • The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD RISE) designated for biology, chemistry, physics, earth sciences and engineering undergraduates to pursue research in Germany.

These STEM opportunities will be discussed at events for the duration of the week.

Tuesday, Oct. 18

  • An information session geared toward freshmen interested in the NIST Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship and SMART scholarships will be held from 4 to 5 p.m. in 321 Boucke.
  • STEM majors considering attending graduate school can attend an information session from 5 to 7 p.m. in 104 Thomas.

Wednesday, Oct. 19

  • Another information session pertaining to graduate school will be held from noon to 1 p.m. in 103 MBNA Career Services Center.
  • The Astronaut and Goldwater scholarships will be discussed in depth with sophomores and juniors from 4 to 5 p.m. in 312 Boucke.

Thursday, Oct. 20

  • The UFO will host drop-in hours for students who wish to further explore STEM scholarships and fellowships from noon to 2 p.m. in 321 Boucke.
  • An information session on STEM abroad, mainly the Churchill and DAAD RISE scholarships, will take place from 4 to 5 p.m. in 308 Boucke.

Friday, Oct. 21

  • Writing personal statements will be the focus of an information session held from noon to 1 p.m. in 103 MBNA Career Services Center.

The complete STEM Week schedule can be viewed here.

To learn more about STEM scholarships and fellowships opportunities, visit the University Fellowships Office website.

The University Fellowships Office is part of Penn State Undergraduate Education, the academic administrative unit that provides leadership and coordination for University-wide programs and initiatives in support of undergraduate teaching and learning at Penn State. Learn more about Undergraduate Education at undergrad.psu.edu.

Last Updated October 17, 2016