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 2024 graduating class of the Grand Challenges Scholars Program.
Elle Ackerman
Major: Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences
Project: Using Remote Sensing to Analyze Marine Flows
Chloe Behringer
Major: Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
Project: Sustainable and Renewable Energy
Jack McHenry
Major: Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
Project: Integrity of infrastructure and how it affects public policy
Richard McManus
Major: Electrical Engineering
Project: Low-energy computing with Adiabatic Microprocessors
Matthew Stracensky
Major: Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering
Project: Restoring and Improving Urban Infrastructure
Chiara Thrum
Major: Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences
Project: Sustainability in Water Engineering
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:
- Kerry Meyers, 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