Grand Challenges Fellowship Program pilot
The Grand Challenges program is pleased to announce the availability of three undergraduate student fellowships for Summer 2025.
Overview
The Grand Challenges fellowship pilot program seeks to engage graduate students in Grand Challenges team research.
The undergraduate fellowship will pay $17.50 an hour for up to 20 hours per week over up to 16 weeks. Each of the three teams will hire one undergraduate student.
The graduate fellowship [all positions filled] provides a research assistantship in Summer 2025 at 0.50 FTE/20 hours per week.
Student obligations
Students will be embedded within the teams and will work on a team-designated research project, meeting at least monthly with team members.
In addition to their roles within the teams, the three graduate students and three undergraduate students will also meet three times as a cohort. These in-person, hourlong meetings will teach the students about mentoring, team science, and presenting research. Successful candidates will need to be located in Albuquerque and able to attend meetings on campus.
Team Opportunities
Child Health
The Child Health Grand Challenge undergraduate student will contribute to community-engaged research to help reduce child maltreatment in New Mexico. As part of the Child Health Grand Challenge team, the student will assist the principal investigators (PIs) on two research projects. Job duties will include assisting with qualitative and quantitative data collection including preparation and distribution of recruitment materials and survey instruments; conducting data entry using standardized protocols; conducting descriptive data analysis and preparing data for dissemination under the direction of the PIs; participating in project meetings and activities; communicating with PIs, other research staff and community partners as necessary for the success of the project; and contributing to the development and/or presentation of results of the research as appropriate.
The successful candidate must be available to work at least 16 hours per week, and at least 10 of the maximum 16 weeks over the summer and intersessions.
Just Transition to Green Energy
The UNM Just Transition Grand Challenge team is looking for an undergraduate student to assist our graduate fellow in research activity. Our interdisciplinary team works on a variety of areas related to climate change and ensuring that a transition away from fossil fuels is done in a just and equitable way that does not leave any workers or communities behind.
We are seeking an undergraduate student to assist with data collection on coal plant closures in the U.S. this summer. This work is part of a research project examining the economic and environmental impacts of coal plant retirements, with a focus on how closures affect local communities, employment, and energy transition policies. The collected data will be used to analyze trends in coal plant closures and their broader implications. The primary task will be gathering, organizing, and verifying data from multiple sources, including government reports, energy databases, and news archives.
Responsibilities:
- Identify and compile data on coal plant closures, including locations, closure dates, and relevant job impacts and policy changes.
- Source and cross-check information from government agencies, academic studies, and industry reports.
- Organize data in spreadsheets for analysis, ensuring accuracy and completeness.
- Summarize key policy impacts related to coal plant closures.
Required Skills:
- Strong research and data collection skills, with attention to detail.
- Proficiency in Excel or Google Sheets for data organization.
- Ability to navigate and extract information from government and industry databases.
- Basic understanding of energy policy or willingness to learn.
- Strong written communication skills for documenting sources and findings.
Sustainable Space Research
The research project "Alkali-Activated Simulated Regolith for Space Construction" explores the potential for using alkali activation of simulated regolith with indigenous activators found in extraterrestrial environments. The goal is to advance sustainable habitat construction technologies for future space exploration. The successful candidate will contribute to both research and outreach efforts, supporting the Sustainable Space Grant Challenge team during the summer.
Responsibilities:
- Collect, analyze, and document research data over time with strong attention to detail.
- Conduct comprehensive literature reviews and contribute to drafting technical reports and research publications.
- Conduct research on alkali activation mechanisms and geopolymerization of simulated regolith.
- Apply knowledge in chemistry, material science, and resource utilization to develop and test construction materials relevant to space environments.
- Present findings at conferences, professional meetings, and outreach events.
- Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams and assist with outreach activities, including planning and organizing events under the Sustainable Space Grant Challenge.
- Maintain laboratory records, participate in regular research meetings, and support grant-related activities.
Required Skills:
- Strong foundation in chemistry and materials science, particularly construction materials and alkali-activated systems.
- Familiarity with regolith simulants and in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) concepts.
- Experience in research methodologies, experimental design, and data collection.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including scientific writing and presentation.
- Ability to conduct thorough literature reviews and synthesize information effectively.
- Experience with or interest in community outreach, science communication, and STEM engagement.
- Self-motivated, organized, and able to work independently or as part of a collaborative research team.
To apply
Please submit the following to grandchallenges@unm.edu by April 11 at 11:59 p.m. to be considered for a Summer 2025 research fellowship.
- Your CV (a resume is acceptable for undergraduate applicants)
- A copy of your transcripts (you can print an unofficial transcript in LoboWeb)
- A letter of interest of no more than one page that includes:
- Your name, email address, and Banner ID number
- A description of your research experience and interest in working with a specific team
- The name, phone number, and email address of an academic reference that can speak to your research experience or potential.
Students may apply to work with more than one team but should submit separate letters of interest for each one.
Please contact grandchallenges@unm.edu with any questions about the fellowship or application process.
Please fill out this form to be notified when new graduate and undergraduate opportunities are posted and accepting applications!
