S-stem: fostering convergent leaders in human-centered intelligent robotics, smart infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing

The National Science Foundation Division of Undergraduate Education awarded Worcester Polytechnic Institute two million dollars on September 1, 2026, under the STEM Education program (CFDA 47.076) to provide scholarships and support services to 70 high-achieving, low-income students pursuing bachelor's and master's degrees in robotics engineering, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, and interactive media and game development. Scholars will receive scholarships up to fifteen thousand dollars annually for undergraduate students and up to twenty thousand dollars annually for graduate students for up to six years. In addition to financial support, scholars will receive mentoring, participate in team-based learning experiences designed to emulate professional work environments, and access internship opportunities in technology companies. An external evaluator will assess the effectiveness of mentoring and team experiences, with findings contributing to the knowledge base on strategies supporting low-income STEM students. The project runs through August 31, 2032, and is performed in Worcester, Massachusetts.

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 worcester polytechnic institute. A total of 70 scholars pursuing bachelor?s and master's degrees in robotics engineering, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, and interactive media and game development will receive scholarships up to $15,000 (for undergraduate students) and $20,000 (for graduate students) for up to six years. Scholars will receive mentoring and opportunities to work in teams that emulate work environments. Additional activities for scholars include internship opportunities in technology companies. The overall goal of this track 2 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. This project directly speaks to this need by supporting stem student success, which will strengthen the workforce in human-centered robotics, smart infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing. The project will be assessed by an experienced evaluator that will assess the effectiveness of mentoring and team experiences, and 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.