Collaborative research: ceramic engineering readiness through access to mentorship, internships, and careers

The National Science Foundation Division of Undergraduate Education awarded Alfred University $948,900 on March 15, 2026, under the STEM Education program (CFDA 47.076) to support scholarships and mentoring for low-income undergraduates pursuing ceramic and glass engineering degrees.

The project will provide scholarships of up to $15,000 for up to five years to an estimated 45 scholars at Alfred University, Colorado School of Mines, and Missouri University of Science and Technology. Scholars will receive faculty, peer, and industry mentoring and participate in an intensive paid summer program, visits to industry partners, and student professional society chapters. Additional activities include undergraduate research opportunities, internships, and conference travel. An experienced evaluator will assess project progress through surveys, interviews, focus groups, and review of student artifacts.

Performance runs through February 28, 2031, with primary administrative location in Alfred, New York. The award is structured as a collaborative research project involving three institutions, though Alfred University is the named recipient.

Abstract

This project will contribute to the national need for well-educated scientists, mathematicians, engineers, and technicians by supporting the retention and graduation of high-achieving, low-income students with demonstrated financial need at alfred university, colorado school of mines, and missouri university of science and technology. An estimated 45 scholars pursuing undergraduate degrees in ceramic engineering and glass engineering will receive scholarships of up to $15,000 for up to five years. Scholars will receive faculty, peer, and industry mentoring and the project will build strong scholar cohorts through an intensive paid summer program, visits to industry partners, and participation in student professional society chapters. Additional activities for scholars include opportunities for undergraduate research, internships, and travel to conferences. The overall goal of this track 3 scholarships in stem project is to increase stem degree completion of academically talented, low-income undergraduates with demonstrated financial need. There is a significant national need to grow the stem workforce and nurture key talent that will ensure economic competitiveness and provide domestic leadership across critical sectors. There are a small number of accredited ceramic and glass engineering programs across the united states. However, professionals in these disciplines are important throughout the stem workforce, including in the semiconductor, energy, and space sectors, as well as other key areas of national need. The project will be assessed by an experienced evaluator that will examine the project?s progress through surveys, interviews, focus groups, and a review of student artifacts. The data generated will contribute to the knowledge base regarding effective strategies to support talented, low-income students in stem. This project is funded by NSF?s scholarships in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics program, which seeks to increase the number of academically talented, low-income students with demonstrated financial need who earn degrees in stem fields. IT also aims to improve the education of future stem workers, and to generate knowledge about academic success, retention, transfer, graduation, and academic/career pathways of low-income students. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are not planned for this award.