Hello CCE Grad Students!

The CCE Grad Office requesting applications for the Spring 2026 Independent Graduate Research Scholarships. Students often request opportunities to obtain research experience, even without a formal research assistantship.  This scholarship program is not intended to replace an assistantship (students should not be working on a project that is supported through a grant). Instead, the student is strongly encouraged to propose a small research project, that a faculty member is willing to supervise and guide.

This program is meant as another opportunity for professional and technical development for our graduate students and to encourage students who have not received an assistantship or thesis project, to venture into/engage in research. 

I have attached a document with more information about the process.   We anticipate having five positions to award, each providing a $3000 scholarship.

Eligibility requirements:

• Students must have satisfactorily completed at least one semester in the CCE grad program at the time of application: must have at least a 3.0 GPA
• Are not receiving/have not received assistantship funding
• Applications must be endorsed by a CCE faculty member who is willing to supervise/mentor the student as the student pursues a small research project
• At the completion of the semester during which students receive the funding, the students will submit a short (2-page max) summary of the topic they worked on, lessons learned, outcome, future research plans, etc.
• Have not received the CCE Graduate Student Independent Research Scholarship previously

If you would like to apply, please submit the following materials, as one pdf to Jenny Ricksy, jricksy@purdue.edu, by 8:00 am on February 9 ,2026:

• Transcripts
• Resume/CV
• Independent study topic proposal, including the expected benefits that the student anticipates gaining from the experience and a cost estimate for any software/hardware, travel, materials for the project (2 pages max)
• Letter of endorsement from faculty member

Regards,

Jenny

Jenny Ricksy

Burke Graduate Program Administrator

Lyles School of Civil and Construction Engineering

Ph: 765-494-2436    Fax: 765-494-0395

HAMP 1141G

Current Residential Students: https://engineering.purdue.edu/CE/Academics/Graduate/Current

Current Online Students: https://engineering.purdue.edu/CE/Academics/Graduate/Online/curriculum

Prospective Residential Students: https://engineering.purdue.edu/CE/Academics/Graduate/Degree-Requirements

Prospective Online Students: https://engineering.purdue.edu/CE/Academics/Graduate/Online