Grand Challenges Scholars Program

Notre Dame’s Grand Challenges Scholars Program is for students who are inspired to understand and contribute to solutions for some of the greatest challenges facing humanity.

The program grows out of the aspirational vision of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE): “Continuation of life on the planet, making our world more sustainable, secure, healthy and joyful.”

Looking up at the Golden Dome

Students in Notre Dame’s Grand Challenge Scholars Program design and pursue a plan of transformational learning and research to address one of the world’s 14 greatest challenges, as identified by the National Academy of Engineering.

Advancing Personalized Medicine
Making Solar Energy Economical
Enhancing Virtual Reality
Reverse-Engineering the Brain
Engineering Better Medicines
Restoring/Improving Urban Infrastructure
Securing Cyberspace

Providing Access to Clean Water
Providing Energy from Fusion
Preventing Nuclear Terror
Managing the Nitrogen Cycle
Developing Carbon Sequestration Methods
Engineering the Tools of Scientific Discovery

Grand Challenge Scholars Program student standing at podium with a projector screen behind them presenting their project.
Grand Challenge Scholars Program student standing at podium presenting their project.
Grand Challenge Scholars Program student standing at podium with a projector screen behind them presenting their project.

While focusing on one of these challenges, and with the support of a faculty mentor, students develop their own path in the program that involves 1) Research Experience; 2) Interdisciplinary Coursework; 3) Business/Entrepreneurship; 4) Multicultural/Global Experience; and 5) Social Consciousness – Community Engagement.

Meet the Spring 2025 graduating class of the Grand Challenges Scholars Program.

Abdulrahman Atassi

Abdulrahman Atassi

Major: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Project: Tapping Tributaries: Building Water Resilience in War Zones

Bianca Batista

Bianca Batista

Major: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Project: A Bench to Bedside Approach for Advancing Healthcare

Alexandria Bobbitt

Alexandria Bobbitt

Major: Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
Project: Improving Energy Consumption through High-Performance Transparent Radiative Cooler Windows

Matthew Eleazar

Matthew Eleazar

Major: Computer Science and Engineering
Project: Advancing Healthcare Informatics

Liam Emerick

Liam Emerick

Major: ACMS
Project: Improving the Modeling of Infectious Diseases

Madelyn Klefeker

Madalyn Klefeker

Major: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Project: Sustainability in Better Medicines

Fionn Lay

Fionn Lay

Major: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Project: Advancing Healthcare

Ainee Martin

Ainee Martin

Major: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Project: Engineering Better Medicines Through Organic Synthesis and Evaluation

Sara Murray

Sara Murray

Major: Chemistry and Biochemistry
Project: Improving the Efficiency of Energy Transfer in Quantum Dot Solar Cells

Natalie Norman

Natalie Norman

Major: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Project: Advancing Renewable Energy with Lithium Ion Batteries

Main Building framed by Notre Dame Avenue trees. Photo by Matt Cashore/University of Notre Dame.

Danielle Radford

Major: Computer Science and Engineering
Project: Quality and Equity in Computing

Will Richards

William Richards

Major: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Project: Engineering Better Medicines and Tackling Rare Diseases

Kate Schinaman

Katherine Schinaman

Major: Computer Science and Engineering
Project: Reducing Incidences of Lead Poisoning Among Children in the South Bend Community

Jeffrey Secrist

Jeffrey Secrist

Major: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Project: Sustainable and Renewable Energy

Alexander Steele

Alexander Steele

Major: Electrical Engineering
Project: Advancing Healthcare

Jack Terry

Jack Terry

Major: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Project: Sustainability

Mateo Tristan

Mateo Tristan

Major: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Project: Engineering Better Medicines by In Vitro Cardiac Disease Modeling

Cole Zeh

Cole Zeh

Major: Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
Project: Engineering Baseball Equipment

Katherine Zinkan

Katherine Zinkan

Major: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Project: Energy Sustainability

Meet the Spring 2025 graduating class of the Grand Challenges Scholars Program.

Abdulrahman Atassi

Abdulrahman Atassi

Major: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Project: Tapping Tributaries: Building Water Resilience in War Zones

Bianca Batista

Bianca Batista

Major: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Project: A Bench to Bedside Approach for Advancing Healthcare

Alexandria Bobbitt

Alexandria Bobbitt

Major: Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
Project: Improving Energy Consumption through High-Performance Transparent Radiative Cooler Windows

Matthew Eleazar

Matthew Eleazar

Major: Computer Science and Engineering
Project: Advancing Healthcare Informatics

Liam Emerick

Liam Emerick

Major: ACMS
Project: Improving the Modeling of Infectious Diseases

Madelyn Klefeker

Madalyn Klefeker

Major: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Project: Sustainability in Better Medicines

Fionn Lay

Fionn Lay

Major: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Project: Advancing Healthcare

Ainee Martin

Ainee Martin

Major: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Project: Engineering Better Medicines Through Organic Synthesis and Evaluation

Sara Murray

Sara Murray

Major: Chemistry and Biochemistry
Project: Improving the Efficiency of Energy Transfer in Quantum Dot Solar Cells

Natalie Norman

Natalie Norman

Major: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Project: Advancing Renewable Energy with Lithium Ion Batteries

Main Building framed by Notre Dame Avenue trees. Photo by Matt Cashore/University of Notre Dame.

Danielle Radford

Major: Computer Science and Engineering
Project: Quality and Equity in Computing

Will Richards

William Richards

Major: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Project: Engineering Better Medicines and Tackling Rare Diseases

Kate Schinaman

Katherine Schinaman

Major: Computer Science and Engineering
Project: Reducing Incidences of Lead Poisoning Among Children in the South Bend Community

Jeffrey Secrist

Jeffrey Secrist

Major: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Project: Sustainable and Renewable Energy

Alexander Steele

Alexander Steele

Major: Electrical Engineering
Project: Advancing Healthcare

Jack Terry

Jack Terry

Major: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Project: Sustainability

Mateo Tristan

Mateo Tristan

Major: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Project: Engineering Better Medicines by In Vitro Cardiac Disease Modeling

Cole Zeh

Cole Zeh

Major: Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
Project: Engineering Baseball Equipment

Katherine Zinkan

Katherine Zinkan

Major: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Project: Energy Sustainability

Become a Notre Dame Grand Challenges Scholar

If you are a first-year student or sophomore who is highly motivated to use engineering to make the world a better place for all, we encourage you to apply to the program.

Your application should include:

  1. Personal essay describing your motivation for participating in the Grand Challenges Scholars program and the specific Grand Challenge you plan to address.
  2. Identification of a faculty mentor who will oversee your research/project.
  3. A Grand Challenges Curricular Plan that outlines plans for each of the five competencies.

Grand Challenges Scholars Program Information Session

Wednesday, November 13, 5-5:30 p.m.
108 Stinson-Remick Hall of Engineering

First-Year and Sophomore engineering students join us to learn about what’s involved to participate in the program and how to apply.

GCSP Seniors
2024 Grand Challenges Scholars Program graduates

Contact

For more information, please contact one of the following faculty members: