The College of Engineering’s Graduate Engineering Research Scholars (GERS) was established to recognized excellence in research and/or scholarship and to enhance the experiences and opportunities of graduate students in the College of Engineering.
GERS is a program that empowers students by facilitating community gatherings for peer support, providing professional development opportunities, and connecting fellows with resources on an off campus for their advancement as scholars.
The GERS Community is one among several Graduate Research Scholar communities organized by various schools and colleges within UW-Madison. As this program is designed to enhance the community of graduate research scholars on campus, GERS scholars are expected to participate in gatherings, sponsored workshops, and special events. The time commitment is not meant to be a burden, as ultimately each student will need to develop an independent body of research, scholarly work, and/or professional portfolio.
Alastair Big Luna (PhDME'25) - From finance to fission: Nontraditional student makes bold move for PhD
As a father of three who moved across the country during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic to pursue a PhD in a new field—at the same time his wife reinvented her career—he’s navigated his fair share of uncertainty and stress. Alastair successfully defended his dissertation on advanced sensing technology for nuclear energy systems in January 2025.
GERS Updates
GERS Events
- February
- February 13
- February 26
Program Overview
What do we expect from our Scholars?
- Make adequate progress toward successful Ph.D. degree completion.
- Engage and participate in GERS events including attending monthly meetings and providing feedback on successes, needs and challenges.
- Contribute to building a community of scholars by suggesting meeting topics, facilitating cohort conversations, and participating in GERS mentorship opportunities.
- Take advantage of resources to enhance your graduate experience, including professional development workshops, mentorship, health and wellness resources.
- Engage in your department community and start building your professional network. This could include joining a committee, forming a study group, attending special events, etc.
- Participate in GERS outreach and recruitment efforts to share your experiences as a graduate student.
- Meet with the GERS program manager to monitor progress toward a graduate degree.
- Support each other!
What can our Scholars expect from us?
- Access to and support in locating and receiving a myriad of campus resources.
- Programming and development opportunities to help each cohort and individual develop a community of peers.
- Mentorship and networking opportunities with other GERS fellows and GERS alumni.
- Faculty and staff advocacy and support.
- Financial support for eligible PhD students.
Nomination Process
After students have been admitted to one of our engineering graduate programs, the department will submit a nomination on the student’s behalf. The nominee will be requested to complete the nominee form.
All nominations are reviewed by the GERS Faculty Committee.
