Draper Lab Fellow Program

The Draper Laboratory Fellow (DLF) Program typically sponsors 50–60 graduate students each year through a Research Assistant position with his/her school and department. The DLF appointment provides full tuition coverage and a monthly stipend for the duration of the student’s degree program. In return, the student carries out his/her thesis research in collaboration with a Draper staff member on a project that is of mutual interest to the student, the university faculty advisor, and to Draper Laboratory.

Process for Pursuing a DLF Position:

Step 1: ensure you meet all of the eligibility requirements:

• DLFs must be U.S. citizens or Permanent Residents (holder of a “green card”)
• DLFs are typically enrolled in an engineering, science, or mathematics Master’s or Ph.D. program
• DLFs must carry out their thesis research on-site at one of the Draper Laboratory offices. This requirement limits the schools from which we can select DLFs. Schools we have worked with include:
• Boston area:
  • MIT, Northeastern University, Boston University, Tufts University, Harvard University
• Tampa area:
  • University of South Florida
• Houston area:
  • Rice University
• Huntsville area:
  • University of Alabama at Huntsville

Step 2: contact Draper Laboratory:
There are three ways to initiate a DLF application:

1. 1. Contact your graduate department – We have continuing relationships with many of the relevant departments within the schools listed above. If you are enrolled at one of these schools, please contact your department administrator and tell him/her you’re interested in the DLF program and would like information on how they match students up with Draper projects and staff members.
2. 2. Contact a Draper staff member directly – Draper is involved in a broad range of cutting-edge research and many of our staff are well-known in their relevant area of expertise. If you have a specific staff member you are interested in working with, please feel free to contact him/her directly and inquire about the possibility of working with him/her through the DLF program.
3. 3. Email the education office (education@draper.com) – Every year the education office helps to match up qualified and interested students with appropriate staff members who can serve as their Draper supervisor. Please send us: your name and contact info, the school and department you have been admitted to, and the statement of objectives from your graduate school application.

Other questions? Please contact the education office: education@draper.com

 

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