NextGen Fellows, hard-working and resilient undergraduate students in STEM fields, receive resources and support to successfully navigate challenges and opportunities. They benefit from personalized STEM mentorship, access to funds for professional development, and necessity grants for unexpected life challenges.
To participate in the NextGen Fellowship Program students must:
Fellowship awards are granted for one year with the possibility of renewal based on dedicated participation in the prior year.
NextGen recognizes a student's need for continuing support throughout the semesters. Fellows may request financial assistance as unexpected circumstances and critical needs arise. Fellows have access to the NextGen network of agencies and companies through participation in the Program. Learn about our mission and our community ETHOS.
The Academic Year Program is scheduled to begin in Fall 2025. We appreciate your patience as we finalize the unique support systems and resources that help students thrive in STEM.
For more information, please contact info@nextgenfellows.org
The NextGen Fellowship requires the following:
Applications are considered only from participating colleges and universities. These institutions have agreed to collaborate with NextGen to support a holistic approach to student success.
To participate in the academic year program, students must have college sophomore standing, provide evidence of good academic standing and maintain full-time enrollment in a STEM undergraduate major.
NextGen Fellows agree to participate in all community programs and to meet with the on-site mentor at least 4 times per semester. Fellows also commit to mentoring future NextGen participants.
Academic year services support students on their path to graduation.
NextGen recognizes a student's need for continuing support throughout the semesters. Fellows may request financial assistance as unexpected circumstances and critical needs arise.
Fellows have access to the NextGen network of agencies and companies through participation in the program.
Fellowship awards are granted for one year with the possibility of renewal based on dedicated participation in the prior year
Upon completion of the program, participants are encouraged to actively contribute to the NextGen Fellowship alumni network.
NextGen Fellows are resilient, talented, hard-working undergraduates who are committed to completing degrees in STEM fields. NextGen Internship Stipends and Necessity Grants support the opportunities and challenges that are part of the educational journey. Some of these opportunities and challenges are outlined below:
NextGen provides financial support for conference attendance, certifications, extra coursework, and other opportunities that enhance the Fellows' STEM curriculum and better position Fellows for professional careers.
Student lives are complicated. They juggle family responsibilities, financial commitments, rigorous coursework, and social demands. When tightly orchestrated plans are disrupted, academic studies can suffer. NextGen offers necessity grants, during both the academic year and the summer internship period, to support students through these challenges. Necessity funds can be used to pay for academic tutoring, child care, mental health counseling, unexpected medical bills, housing issues, etc.
Summer internships provide essential hands-on work experience. To help students take advantage of these opportunities, NextGen invites sophomores and juniors majoring in STEM fields to apply for our paid summer internships. Each summer, NextGen partners with corporate sponsors to provide curated internship experiences where students can earn $7,200 in summer salaries and request up to $4,800 in additional necessity grants for critical summer needs such as housing, meals, transportation, childcare and professional attire.
NextGen Programs are designed to create a living-learning community for our Fellows. NextGen provides opportunities each semester for Fellows to gather with STEM faculty and practitioners in low-stakes settings. During a series of shared meals, students explore advances in STEM research, create professional networks and find a shared community among colleagues with similar goals and challenges. NextGen welcomes new and returning Fellows with a reception each fall and celebrates the success of its graduating class with their families each spring.
NextGen provides on-site mentorship to help Fellows navigate the complexities of higher education. The NextGen mentor is a paid graduate student who is actively pursuing a degree in STEM or a current faculty member in a STEM field. These campus navigators offer weekly office hours to celebrate successes and address challenges that Fellows face on the road to graduation. They meet individually with students once a month to share insights and experiences, and they serve as direct liaisons to the NextGen Board of Directors.
For more information about our values, visit our NextGen ETHOS page.
Please reach us at info@nextgenfellows.org if you cannot find an answer to your question.
NextGen provides opportunities to underserved communities in STEM education. We warmly encourage participation from students in the following groups:
The Fellowship program is designed to support student persistence through graduation. It creates a sense of community and belonging that can help students overcome the obstacles that drive many out of STEM before graduation. The academic year program is expected to begin in Fall 2025. Once it is active, NextGen expects its Fellows to participate in the academic year program and also be available to mentor Fellows who follow in their footsteps.
In the summer, NextGen provides opportunities for paid internships and offers necessity funds to make them positive and motivating experiences, without causing hardship. For instance, NextGen may help with transportation costs, assist with rent, or provide funds for professional clothing, required equipment, or uniforms for the participants. During the academic year, necessity funds may take many forms, including resources for professional development, extra coursework, unexpected childcare or academic tutoring.
NextGen supports the educational journey by providing an onsite graduate student or faculty mentor (specializing in a STEM field). This dedicated individual plays a critical role in the NextGen experience:
NextGen also supports student success by providing access to necessity funds when students meet unexpected financial obstacles.
Fellows who receive positive summer evaluations from their employer and participate fully in NextGen academic year programs will have priority for NextGen internship placements the next summer.
NextGen works diligently to partner with businesses/corporations/agencies that share an ethos of caring, support, and commitment to its summer interns. If a student is dissatisfied with a placement, NextGen will bring all parties together to find a professional, equitable resolution.
Every two weeks, interns will sit with their supervisor for a one-on-one meeting to discuss challenges and accomplishments. Students evaluate the internship provider as much as supervisors evaluate student progress and contribution. At the end of the summer, interns submit a final written evaluation of the experience – providing both positive and negative feedback.
NextGen staff are available to answer your questions and clarify program details.
Send us a note and we will respond promptly.
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