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Posted: 3/03/22

TAMIU’s USTEM Program Teaches Students STEM Research Skills, Provides $2,000 Stipend


 

Leonela Preciado
Leonela Preciado  

Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) incoming freshmen have a distinctive opportunity to learn college-level, Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) research skills through an innovative, U.S. National Science Foundation-funded (NSF-1953679) research and development project designed to prepare them for a lifetime of academic and professional success.

TAMIU’s USTEM Program, funded by the NSF, will once again provide selected students with a $2,000 stipend award this year to engage in a two-semester, two-summer STEM enrichment program.

Incoming freshmen majoring in undergraduate Biology, Chemistry, Engineering and Mathematics are encouraged to apply for the Program, which is focused on improving and increasing undergraduate STEM graduation and retention rates.

Leonela Preciado, USTEM Program manager, said that during the summer, USTEM students will learn about science and scientific life, watch and analyze STEM-related movies, and participate in fun activities that build teamwork and sense of belonging. Randomly selected USTEM students will be part of a group that will create video projects pertaining to STEM.

During Fall and Spring semesters, they will get a head start with STEM courses through lectures and lab exercises that hone students’ research and analytical skills. During the fourth semester, they will engage in a summer research project and a field trip, out of town, to a scientific research facility or place of science.

“The encouraging aspect about the program is that participants will get paid to learn,” said Preciado, “They will receive monthly payments, totaling up to $2,000. What’s even better is that this money can be used for non-tuition expenses.”

The USTEM program will be offered in a face-to-face setting. Selected students will receive six credit hours that will count towards their degree plan, she explained.

There is no minimum GPA for program acceptance. Applicants must be newly admitted TAMIU freshmen, be enrolled full-time at TAMIU for the duration of the Program and be U.S. Citizens, National or Permanent Residents.

They must apply to be part of a random selection process and, if selected, will be eligible for compensation. The Program application takes less than 10 minutes and the deadline to apply is March 31. The application form can be found here.

For additional information, please contact Preciado at 956.326.2464, email leonela.preciado@tamiu.edu or visit the Academic Innovation Center, room 313.

University office hours are 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.