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
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
Major: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Project: Tapping Tributaries: Building Water Resilience in War Zones
Bianca Batista
Major: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Project: A Bench to Bedside Approach for Advancing Healthcare
Alexandria Bobbitt
Major: Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
Project: Improving Energy Consumption through High-Performance Transparent Radiative Cooler Windows
Matthew Eleazar
Major: Computer Science and Engineering
Project: Advancing Healthcare Informatics
Liam Emerick
Major: ACMS
Project: Improving the Modeling of Infectious Diseases
Madalyn Klefeker
Major: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Project: Sustainability in Better Medicines
Fionn Lay
Major: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Project: Advancing Healthcare
Ainee Martin
Major: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Project: Engineering Better Medicines Through Organic Synthesis and Evaluation
Sara Murray
Major: Chemistry and Biochemistry
Project: Improving the Efficiency of Energy Transfer in Quantum Dot Solar Cells
Natalie Norman
Major: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Project: Advancing Renewable Energy with Lithium Ion Batteries
Danielle Radford
Major: Computer Science and Engineering
Project: Quality and Equity in Computing
William Richards
Major: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Project: Engineering Better Medicines and Tackling Rare Diseases
Katherine Schinaman
Major: Computer Science and Engineering
Project: Reducing Incidences of Lead Poisoning Among Children in the South Bend Community
Jeffrey Secrist
Major: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Project: Sustainable and Renewable Energy
Alexander Steele
Major: Electrical Engineering
Project: Advancing Healthcare
Jack Terry
Major: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Project: Sustainability
Mateo Tristan
Major: Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Project: Engineering Better Medicines by In Vitro Cardiac Disease Modeling
Cole Zeh
Major: Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
Project: Engineering Baseball Equipment
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:
- 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.
Grand Challenges Scholars Program Information Session
Tuesday, January 21, 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.
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
- Troy Vogel, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
- Alexandros Taflanidis, Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences
- Shreya Kumar, Computer Science and Engineering
- Jonathan Chisum, Electrical Engineering