Third Annual Draper Research Symposium Showcases Research Results from Draper Scholars
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The third annual Draper Research Symposium was held October 27 at Draper’s corporate campus in Cambridge. This year’s event featured 53 graduate student presentations by Draper Scholars summarizing their thesis research on some of the most challenging engineering, technological, and scientific problems.
The Symposium celebrates Draper’s commitment to advancing research and education by fostering collaboration between Draper staff, select graduate students, and university partners. Through the exchange of ideas and diverse perspectives, the Draper Scholars program aims to inspire the next generation of scientific breakthroughs.
"The Symposium is a showcase of everything the Draper Scholars program represents," said Chris Yu, Draper Scholars Program Director. "The presentations encapsulate the on-going collaborative work between the student, their university faculty advisor, and a Draper advisor and the results are truly impressive. What we see each year confirms that the next generation of scientists and engineers will continue to advance the boundaries of human knowledge."
The symposium began with a keynote speech by Dr. Arun Seraphin, Executive Director, National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) Emerging Technologies Institute (ETI), who discussed "STEM Workforce and National Security Innovation." The poster session included lively interaction among Draper Scholars, Draper technical staff, and faculty from local universities.
The Draper Scholars Program provides master’s and Ph.D. students with the opportunity to engage and work with experienced engineers and scientists while conducting graduate-level research in technical fields of mutual interest. Since its creation in 1973, the program has supported more than 1,300 graduate students pursuing advanced degrees in engineering and the sciences. Over the past three years, the Draper Scholars program has grown from 55 to 115 participants. To learn more about the program, visit the Draper Scholars Program webpage.
About Draper
Draper is a non-profit research, development, and manufacturing company that solves some of the nation’s most important challenges. With more than 2,500 employees working in collaboration across 12 locations, Draper delivers transformative, mission-driven solutions that successfully meet our customers’ requirements. These efforts focus on four critical mission areas: Strategic Systems, Space Systems, Electronic Systems, and Biotechnology Systems. To extend our legacy into the future, the Draper Scholars program engages with the next generation of innovators while DraperSPARX™ seeks to partner with startups and small businesses that can further our mission. To learn more about Draper, visit www.draper.com.
Released October 30, 2025
