This program is no longer active. Please see our new AT3 program for current opportunities

AT3

MNT-CURN Research Program

Micro Nano Technology Collaborative Undergraduate Research Network (MNT-CURN)

Gain hands-on research experience and build nanotechnology technical education skills through the MNT-CURN undergraduate research program.

MNT-CURN logo micro nano students education opportunities

MNT-CURN is a unique undergraduate research program for students in 2-year technical education programs that starts with academic-year online meetings and culminates with a summer capstone research experience. In this program, students from across the nation will have the opportunity to learn from and work with faculty at community colleges, faculty at research universities and representatives from industry partners. MNT-CURN research students receive a generous stipend for satisfactory participation in the program: $500 in the Fall, $500 in the Spring, and $2000 in the Summer.​

Program Highlights

During the Academic Year ​

  • Participate in weekly online meetings with students and faculty from across the country​
  • Learn about cutting-edge research being done in micro and nano technologies​
  • Learn about specific research opportunities available to MNT-CURN students​
  • Learn how to apply for research opportunities​
  • Get coaching on preparing your resume and getting letters of recommendation​
  • Build your academic and professional network​
  • Participate in skill-building workshops​
  • Build your MNT Folio e-portfolio demonstrating your skills and abilities​
  • $500 fall stipend and $500 spring stipend

During the Summer​

  • Participate in a research project  ​
    • In person at your community college​
    • In person at a near-by university​
    • In person at a distant university (involves travel)​
    • Virtual online research with 4-year universities are also available​
  • Learn new research skills​
  • Travel or stay local​
  • Opportunities range from 1 week to 11 weeks​
  • Optional: Prepare a research poster, presentation, or paper​
  • $2000 summer stipend is in addition to any stipend provided by the research opportunity.​

Apply to MNT-CURN

The MNT-CURN program is open to students currently enrolled in a technical education program or class at a community college in the U.S. or a U.S. Territory. Applicants must be either US citizens or hold Permanent Resident status and must have a US Social Security Number or TIN to receive a stipend.

MNT-CURN welcomes applications from traditionally underrepresented groups in STEM. We encourage women and members of the Black, Latine, and Native American communities to apply for this opportunity.

The MNT-CURN student application for the 2023-24 program is now available:

2023-24 MNT-CURN Program

(Applications now closed)

If you have questions about the program, please contact: janet@micronanoeducation.org


Click to download the sharable PDF.

MNT-CURN 2023-24 nanoHUB Group

MNT-CURN logo micro nano students education opportunities
MNT-CURN Students nanoHUB group links: ​

Meet the Students

Student Participants of MNT-CURN Cohort 3

Abdi Abdikarim

Abdikarim Abdi

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Name: Abdikarim Abdi

I love carbon and anything that has to do with graphene, creating composites would be my dream research, also I’m doing a personal passionate project that has to do with nano, tell me if you want to know more about it

Adam Rush

Adam Rush

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Hello, my name is Adam Rush. I am a nontraditional student attending Ivytech Community College in Lafayette Indiana and I am majoring in Mechanical Engineering Technology. My goal is to drive the future evolution of our Navy. Whether that is through improving ships stealth features for survivability or improving their utility use I want to have a hands-on part. Through MNT-CURN I am looking forward to improving my ability to approach and solve the complex problems that lay before us.

Andres Miranda

Andres Miranda

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I am Andres Miranda, an undergraduate student studying Mechanical Engineering Technologies at Ivy Tech Community College. I’m interested in automotive design and manufacturing. Growing up, I've been interested in the challenging puzzles engineers were faced with. By becoming involved with research regarding micro and nano technologies, it’ll provide an opportunity to experience my first internship.

Andrew Nguyen

Andrew Nguyen

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Andrew Nguyen is a third-year neuroscience major currently participating in the biotechnology program at Los Angeles Pierce College. With his experience in protein biomanufacturing and verification techniques, he hopes to leverage his biotechnology background to eventually transfer and work in a neurobiology lab studying the structural biology and physiology of neuronal protein interactions in neurodegenerative diseases.
Anisah Gibbs

Anisah Gibbs

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Hi, my name is Anisah Gibbs and I am a Biology major at CCP. My interest specifically include STEM cell research as well as neurology. I am also interested in starting a career in tech, and I am excited to be involved in a program that merges both of my interests. My hobbies include reading, as well as powerlifting, and hiking; overall maintaining an active lifestyle. My favorite thing to do when I am not working or in class is traveling with Thailand being next in December.

Anton McFadden

Anton McFadden

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Hello! My name is Anton McFadden. I am a recent graduate of the Community College of Philadelphia, obtaining an associate’s degree in cellular and molecular biology and am currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in cellular and molecular biology and liberal arts. I want to partake in the field of cancer biology, conducting research at a biotech after receiving my Ph.D.

Benjamin Suarez

Benjamin Suarez

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My name is Benny and I am a Digital Video Production major at Community College of Philadelphia. I am curious to learn what nanotech is all about as well as to expand my knowledge on anything I can use later in life. My goal in life is to use what I feel passionate about in order to create positive change in today's society. I want to be able to provide support to anyone struggling with mental health issues. With nanotech research, I believe I will be able to use these skills to achieve my goals.

Bryan Lu

Bryan Lu

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Hello everyone! My name is Bryan Lu. I am currently a second-year college student at De Anza College. I also attend classes at Foothill College. My major is Electrical Engineering, and I am taking a technical education class. Despite not knowing what I would like to do research on, I have an interest in technology and learning more in this field. I look forward to working with new people and learning more about this program

Bryan Pintado

Bryan Pintado

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I am currently enrolled in the Computer Science program at Mercer County Community College, where I am pursuing my passion for technology and programming. My career aspiration is to become a software engineer, a path I am diligently pursuing. Alongside my software development interests, I maintain a keen curiosity for the micro-nano technology field. I am eager to explore this specialized area within the technology industry to assess its impact on the world of technology.

Carol Watkins

Carol Watkins

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Carol is a community college student currently studying Biotech in the ASPIRE program at Los Angeles Pierce College. Carol also has a side passion for marine biology, she hopes that one day, she can apply biotechnology to marine science. She also loves working in the lab, trying new things, and meeting new people.

Clivia Nguyen

Clivia Nguyen

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Clivia Nguyen is current a student at De Anza College in Cupertino, California studying computer science, mathematics, and psychology. Currently, she is involved in programs such as NASA L'SPACE NPWEE as principal investigator and SSG as a research mentee. In the future, she intends to continue her journey with research and proposal writing in areas such as nano technology, aerospace, and health technology.

Cody Lederman

Cody Lederman

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Hello, my name is Cody Lederman. I am a current student attending Mercer County Community College and pursuing my associates degree in Computer Science. My interests include creating illustrations, exploring nature, and learning new concepts; and I would like to use this in my future professional and personal endeavors

Daniel Emdin

Daniel Emdin

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Daniel Emdin is currently a member at Community College of Philadelphia. He likes playing the drums and piano during his free time, while also having the innate desire to explore the world and meet diverse amounts of people. He has no experience in the nanotechnological program and with a recommendation from a friend. Has the curiosity to explore and learn more about what MNT-CURN has to offer.

David Emdin

David Emdin

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My name is Dave. I am a freshman at Community College of Philadelphia.

MNT-EC

Isaiah King

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I am Isaiah King and I attend Community College of Philadelphia, studying Computer Information Systems while being in CME at school. My main interest in the program is to build my knowledge base in micro nanotechnology. I always had a fascination to understand how it works and the uses for it and joining this program I hope to gain more information about micro nanotechnology.

James Jones_Student Photo

James Jones

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My name is James Jones, and I am a CIS major attending the Community College of Philadelphia. I love tech and working with hardware…

Jose Sierra

Jose Sierra

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Hi, my name is Jose Sierra, and I am currently a student in the Mechanical Engineering Technology program at Ivy tech Community College. I plan to transfer to Purdue University and major in Mechanical Engineering Technology. I have not yet had any research experience, but I am especially interested in anything related to micro and nano technology, aerodynamics, artificial intelligence, and bioengineering.

Jun Han

Jun Han

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My name is Jun Han, an aerospace engineering student at Highline College. My passion is to become an aerospace engineering investigator, ideally with the National Transportation Safety Board(NTSB). I'm particularly interested in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and their role in creating efficient aerospace sensors

Karyssa Valencia

Karyssa Valencia

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Major: Biology

School: Community College of Philadelphia

Personal interests: ornithology, mycology, botany, marine biology (biology in general, can you tell?), reading (anything, essentially) Current Job: interpreter at clinic, outreach coordinator at nonprofit, remote assistant

Kateryna Melnychuk

Kateryna Melnychuk

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My name is Kateryna. I'm studying Health Care Studies and Nursing at the Community College of Philadelphia. I'm interested in bio, microbio, biotech, biomed research.

Kathryn Mach

Kathryn Mach

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I am a competent member in lab settings, interested in the microbiology aspect of the food safety sciences. I have taken a number of classes that relate to quality analytics, and love being able to collaborate with members of a team to find new approaches to ensuring the safety of a given item.

Kevin Ethridge_Student Photo

Kevin Ethridge

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Pleased to meet you all! I'm Kevin D. Ethridge. Besides my work, I'm a huge people person, above all else I'm loyal and determined to make sure all the people who come to me and who I love are taken care of. I'm mailable and love sharing interests with movies and videogames. I also cook and bake! my favorite thing to make is cookies.

Kevin Jijon

Kevin-Jijon

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Hello there, my name is Kevin Jijon. I'm a Mexican-American student at SMC who is currently enrolled as a computer science major. This would be my first ever experience with the micro nano technology field and I'm very excited.

Klever Suquilanda

Klever Suquilanda

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My name is Klever Suquilanda. I am currently majoring in Computer Science at Mercer County Community College. I have a keen interest in software development, a passion rooted in my early fascination with computers. I am enthusiastic about furthering my skills and knowledge in computer-related endeavors within this program, especially those that fuel my creativity and technical prowess in software development.

Logan Peer

Logan Peer

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My name is Logan Peer, I am enrolled at Finger Lakes Community College in their biotechnology program. I am interested in biological processes and more specifically molecular biology.

Mahan Pourfakhr

Mahan Pourfakhr

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I'm Mahan and majoring in bio(medical) engineering. I work with the biotech lab in Los Angeles Pierce College and I work on studying CGQ and how it is comparable to traditional OD measurements. In my free time, I love solving math problems for fun, especially integrals.

Megan Rivera

Megan Rivera

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Hello everyone! My name is Megan Rivera, and I'm a biochemistry major at Pasadena City College in California. I learned about micro nano technology during this past summer semester, and I was entranced by the idea of being able to manipulate matter at the micro/nano level for the benefit of our healthcare system. I'm incredibly excited to explore more of what this technology can mean to us moving forward.

Nathan Williams

Nathan Williams

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Nathan Williams, I am currently a first semester student at Community College of Philadelphia. I'm a computer science major and I love my time here so far. I'm currently enrolled in the MNT-CURN Research Program. I've always been interested in technology, mainly from superhero movies, so hearing about this program seemed almost fictional. I've always wondered things like things like the process of making tech objects and gi