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Grand Challenges Scholars

Saint Louis University’s Grand Challenges Scholars program gives undergraduate engineering and science students the opportunity to confront the biggest questions facing society today through hands-on research. 

A student in the Gorlewicz lab in the SSE performs research on a computer.
 

SLU is one of a select few engineering schools in the United States to offer the Grand Challenges Scholars program, which encourages students to apply their technical skills toward meaningful work in areas of sustainability, health, joy of living and security.  

Impactful Research

The prestigious National Academy of Engineering endorses the program as a pipeline to create engineers with the necessary skills, cross-disciplinary knowledge, entrepreneurial spirit, global perspective and sense of mission needed to serve and lead this country.

The academy has identified 14 grand challenges of the future, and students at the college have the unique opportunity to help solve these crucial issues. As a Grand Challenges Scholar, you will receive a certificate from the National Academy of Engineering and your name will also be included in the NAE roster. You will be recognized as a Grand Challenges Scholar with a medallion during the school's pre-commencement celebration.

Program Requirements

You must meet the following criteria to enter the Saint Louis University Grand Challenges Scholars Program:

  • Be an engineering or science major at the sophomore level who has completed at least 30 semester-hours in your program of study with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
  • Have a plan of study approved by one of the Grand Challenges Scholars Program directors, faculty mentor and GCSP steering committee.