Building a Pathway to the Ph.D.
Outcome/Accomplishment
The Pathway to a Ph.D. Program (PPP) is designed to help undergraduate or master's students gain the research skills, mentors, and network necessary for successful doctoral applications. The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded Internet of Things for Precision Agriculture (NSF IoT4Ag) Engineering Research Center (ERC), headquartered at the University of Pennsylvania, hosted its annual PPP on September 14, 2024.
Impact/Benefits
The popularity of the NSF IoT4Ag event has really taken off, with 99 undergraduate applicants, including 42 participants and 25 graduate mentors in 2024, the third year that the PPP has been offered (up from 15 and 10, respectively, in year one). The students are matched with mentors to review components of fellowship applications and graduate school materials. The mentees submitted graduate applications to a range of universities.
Explanation/Background
PPP was created to address the lack of awareness among underrepresented minority and first-generation low-income students about the graduate school admission process and funding opportunities. The PPP program also serves as an avenue to recruit diverse students to NSF IoT4Ag educational opportunities as well as the broader STEM community.
Location
Philadelphia, Pennsylvaniawebsite
Start Year
Microelectronics and IT
Quantum, Microelectronics, Sensing, and IT
Lead Institution
Core Partners
Fact Sheet
Outcome/Accomplishment
The Pathway to a Ph.D. Program (PPP) is designed to help undergraduate or master's students gain the research skills, mentors, and network necessary for successful doctoral applications. The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded Internet of Things for Precision Agriculture (NSF IoT4Ag) Engineering Research Center (ERC), headquartered at the University of Pennsylvania, hosted its annual PPP on September 14, 2024.
Location
Philadelphia, Pennsylvaniawebsite
Start Year
Microelectronics and IT
Quantum, Microelectronics, Sensing, and IT
Lead Institution
Core Partners
Fact Sheet
Impact/benefits
The popularity of the NSF IoT4Ag event has really taken off, with 99 undergraduate applicants, including 42 participants and 25 graduate mentors in 2024, the third year that the PPP has been offered (up from 15 and 10, respectively, in year one). The students are matched with mentors to review components of fellowship applications and graduate school materials. The mentees submitted graduate applications to a range of universities.
Explanation/Background
PPP was created to address the lack of awareness among underrepresented minority and first-generation low-income students about the graduate school admission process and funding opportunities. The PPP program also serves as an avenue to recruit diverse students to NSF IoT4Ag educational opportunities as well as the broader STEM community.