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Science, Mathematics, And Research for Transformation Defense Scholarship (SMART)

Award Amount
$152,000
Award Amount
Application deadline
April 30, 2025
Application deadline
Awarded By:

American Society for Engineering Education

Number of Awards & Eligibility: The number of awards varies annually based on the number of qualified applicants. Last year, 175 awards were given.
In order to qualify, students must meet the following criteria:
  1. This award is for U.S. students.
  2. Must be a U.S. citizen or national. Persons who hold permanent residence status are not eligible.
  3. Must be 18 years of age or older as of Aug. 1.
  4. Must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
  5. Must be a full-time student.
  6. Must be pursuing a degree in and have a strong desire to continue in a career in one of the following STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) fields: aeronautical and astronautical engineering; aerospace engineering; biosciences or physiology; chemical engineering; chemistry; civil engineering; cognitive, neural, and behavioral sciences; psychology; computer and computational sciences; electrical engineering; geosciences; materials science and engineering; mathematics and operations research; mechanical engineering; naval architecture and ocean engineering; oceanography; and physics or physical sciences. Students who are pursuing interdisciplinary studies that involve any of the above fields are also eligible to apply.
  7. Must be pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in a STEM field from a regionally accredited university or college. Please note: Undergraduate students must be currently enrolled; graduate students may be currently enrolled or awaiting notification of admission to an eligible program.

In order to qualify, students must meet the following criteria:

Description: This scholarship is for students ages 18 or older who are U.S. citizens with a B average or higher and planning a career in science, math, or engineering fields. Recipients of this award must agree to participate in summer internships for the Department of Defense and work for the Department of Defense after their schooling is completed.

Application requirements for the Science, Mathematics, And Research for Transformation Defense Scholarship (SMART) are:

  • Application form
  • Official Transcript
  • Personal statement
  • Recommendation letter
  • References
  • GRE scores
  • Personal Information
Additional Information: Students must be able to obtain a Department of Defense (DoD) security clearance to receive this award. Please see the program website for details about the security clearance process. Also, a student may not accept simultaneous remuneration from another major scholarship. The evaluation of applicants will be based on review of their academic records, personal statements, and recommendations. Each student will be evaluated by a panel of scientists and engineers approved by the DoD. The evaluation panel will make recommendations to the DoD for final selections. Upon selection, students must sign a DoD civilian service agreement. The employment obligation to the DoD civilian science and engineering workforce upon completion of the scholarship/fellowship will be a one-for-one commitment. Failure to complete the required period of service will require the reimbursement of funds expended by the government for the individual's education under this program. Graduating students with an STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) degree will enter federal service as a DoD civilian employee at a DoD laboratory or agency. Students must be geographically mobile (usually this means within any of the 50 states) for placement in the DoD within relevant SME career fields following graduation. Students are required to spend their summer as an intern with a DoD laboaratory or agency, or on other assignments that further their educational/training goals. Students are also required to give the DoD permission to follow their career progression for at least 10 years; the follow-up will be in the form of a simple survey to be completed each year.

Award Amount: Subject to the availability of funds and program authority, scholarships awarded will pay all required educational expenses, including full tuition, required fees, and a book allowance of up to $1,000 per year. Students will also receive a salary/stipend, including health benefits, in the range of $25,000 to $38,000 a year, depending on educational level. Students will be appointed as DoD temporary employees during the tenure of the scholarship/fellowship. An off-campus housing allowance will be based on the standard room and board rate obtained through university housing program. In the event that Congress does not approve payment of stipends or salaries, SMART will not offer such assistance. The tenure of a SMART Scholarship is up to the time typically required to complete degree studies. However, second and subsequent year awards are contingent upon determination by the SMART Executive Agent that the student is making satisfactory academic progress towards a SME degree.  The total dollars awarded for this scholarship is $152,000.

About American Society for Engineering Education:
Contact Information: Eric Hurwitt ,Senior Program Manager
Address: 1818 N St. N.W. Suite 600 Washington, District of Columbia 20036
Email: [email protected] , [email protected]
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