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

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
Apply by October 1, 2023.
If you have questions about the program, please contact: janet@micronanoeducation.org
Click to download the sharable PDF.
Meet the Students
Student Participants of MNT-CURN Cohort 2

Abdikarim Abdi

Andy Lam

Anton McFadden

Benjamin Bekey

Brandon Wong

Emily Elam

Emilio Mendoza

James Griffin

Jenna Miller

Jocelyn Zhu

Kasielynn Bussard

Kateryna Melnychuk

Kevin Ethridge

Kiryl Zdor

Mahan Pourfakhr

Narely Rivas

Nayely Rolon-Gomez

Rachael Orkin

Robert Valtierra

Rukia Adan

Rukia Yahya

Stephanie Escoto

Thet Paing Da Na (David Da Na)

Ulysses Contreras

Valentina Arce

Yucheng Zhao
Meet the Mentors of Cohort 2
As a research participant you will work alongside Faculty and Student mentors.
Student Mentors

Aagam Rajeev Shah

Sophia Barber

Isiah Ramos

Justice Robinson

Paula Kirya

Kat Nykiel
Faculty Mentors

Alejandro Strachan

Adarsh Radadia

Aron Kamajaya

Atilla Ozgur Cakmak

Cait Cramer

Dominic M. Salerno

James Hewlett

James Glazier

Elif Ertekin

Neda Habibi

Tanya Faltens

T.J. Sego

Yu Chung Chang
Previous Cohorts
Meet the participants of past MNT-CURN cohorts and see the final research projects.