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 Learning
- 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
- Advance Health Informatics
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 2026 graduating class of the Grand Challenges Scholars Program.
Christian Gabriel El Azar
Major: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Project: Analysis of different drug samples using Near Infrared Spectroscopy technology and the analysis of novel testing methods for fentanyl presence
Ethan Farley
Major: Computer Science and Engineering
Project: Utilizing AI to Create a Personalized Education Platform
Catherine Healy
Major: Computer Science and Engineering
Project: Engineering Better Medicines with Bioinformatics
Kristen Kelly
Major: Electrical Engineering
Project: Light-focused Imaging Technologies for Lactation Care
Allen Jeremy Uy
Major: Computer Science and Engineering
Project: LLM ChatBot for Statistical Analysis
Swindar Zhou
Major: Computer Science and Engineering
Project: Algorithm-Powered Analyzer for Continuous Electrochemistry: A Toolkit for Real-Time Electrochemical Data Analysis
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:
- Personal essay describing your motivation for participating in the Grand Challenges Scholars program and the specific Grand Challenge you plan to address.
- Identification of a faculty mentor who will oversee your research/project.
- A Grand Challenges Curricular Plan that outlines plans for each of the five competencies.
Contact
For more information, please contact one of the following faculty members:
- Christine Maziar, Director, Grand Challenges Scholars Program
- Maria Holland, Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
- David Leighton, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
- Alexandros Taflanidis, Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences
- Shreya Kumar, Computer Science and Engineering
- Jonathan Chisum, Electrical Engineering