2025 program
In 2025, our program remained highly competitive. The application consisted of demographic questions, extracurricular activities information, short answer responses, and a resume upload. We received 124 applications this year and, after thoughtful review, selected 23 students to participate in the program.
We were especially proud to host individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and communities, including self-identified first-generation Americans, immigrants, refugees, first-generation college students, and low-income students. As in past years, we welcomed students from a broad spectrum of engineering disciplines such as computer science, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, bioengineering, mechanical engineering, and interdisciplinary fields.
During the 2025 SERIS program, graduate students and faculty facilitated a series of engaging activities to promote DEI initiatives. We organized two student panels, one featuring 3 PhD students and the other with 3 Master’s students, representing departments such as Materials Science and Engineering, Computer Science, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Physics. These panels provided participants the opportunity to ask questions and gain valuable insights into graduate life, as well as the different pathways and opportunities offered by various advanced degrees.
Additionally, we hosted 3 lab tours in Computer Science, Chemical Engineering, and Electrical Engineering, all led by graduate students. During these visits, students showed strong interest in the wide range of equipment available and the impactful, hands-on research taking place across disciplines.
We hosted five faculty research presentations featuring Rogelio Hernández-López (Bioengineering and Genetics), Danielle Mai (Chemical Engineering), Khalid Osman (Civil and Environmental Engineering), Shuran Song (Electrical Engineering, courtesy of Computer Science), and Keith Winstein (Computer Science, courtesy of Electrical Engineering). These talks offered undergraduate participants valuable insight into the breadth of cutting-edge research conducted at Stanford and highlighted the diverse range of fields and opportunities available within graduate education. In addition to sharing their research, the faculty speakers also offered meaningful life advice and personal reflections, helping SERIS undergraduates better understand what to expect in graduate school and how to navigate their academic and professional journeys.
“I came in with questions, and I left with tools. I feel more prepared to look for research opportunities and even apply to grad school one day.” — SERIS 2025 Participant
“I appreciated how honest and helpful the grad student panels were. They helped me see that grad school isn’t just for a certain kind of student—it could be for me too.” — SERIS 2025 Participant
