STEM — The Corella & Bertram F. Bonner Foundation

about the field

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) is a dynamic and transformative field of practice that aims to address societal challenges through innovation, collaboration, and inclusivity. Professionals in this field are not only experts in their respective disciplines but also advocates for positive change, using their knowledge to benefit diverse communities and enhance the quality of life for all.

STEM professionals working on social change and community engagement are involved in designing and implementing solutions to issues such as climate change, public health, education inequality, technological access, and social justice. By leveraging cutting-edge research and technology, they contribute to sustainable development, equitable resource distribution, and the empowerment of marginalized groups.

In this multidisciplinary field, STEM practitioners work in close partnership with local communities, non-profit organizations, governments, and international bodies to create technologies and policies that respond to real-world needs. Their projects may involve everything from developing affordable healthcare technologies for underserved populations to designing sustainable energy solutions that reduce environmental impact.

Moreover, this intersection promotes diversity and inclusion within the STEM workforce by ensuring that diverse voices and experiences are integral to the innovation process. Engaging communities in the co-design of solutions fosters trust, relevance, and impact, while also providing opportunities for the next generation of STEM leaders, especially from underrepresented backgrounds, to thrive.

internships & Opportunties

national partners

The Bonner Foundation has partnerships with non-profit organizations and national agencies that provide opportunities such as internships, direct service, international experiences, summer placements, post-graduate fellowships, employment, and more to Bonner students, staff, and alumni in the Bonner Network. The following organizations have STEM opportunities:

GivePulse enables everyone to list, find, coordinate, and measure their impact in the community. Our mission is to enable everyone in the world to participate and engage in lifting their community to new heights. We do so by providing a platform to list, find, organize and measure the impact of service and volunteerism in the community. It starts with one volunteer to build an army that will help improve the world.

Collaboratory enables higher education institutions to track, analyze, share, and strengthen their community engagement and public service, and to integrate cross-institution, longitudinal data into strategy. Robust reports provide details of activities, collaborators, issue areas addressed, outcomes and outputs, while a public, searchable website informs community members about institutional efforts. Designed for higher education by higher education, Collaboratory supports institutions and the field in furthering their understanding of the practice and scholarship of community engagement.

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BONNER Graduate School PartnerS

The Bonner Foundation has partnerships with graduate schools and organizations that provide special benefits (e.g., partial- and full-tuition scholarships, application fee waivers) to Bonner students, staff, and alumni in the Bonner Network. The following graduate schools have offerings in STEM:

The PhD programs in epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine offer students a unique, interdisciplinary framework in which they will develop and hone their skills as independent investigators. Through rigorous coursework and immersive research, students are trained to develop, apply, and extend biostatistical and epidemiological methodologies to address questions in the biomedical sciences and graduate prepared to assume leadership roles in academia, industry, and the non-profit sector. The University of Pennsylvania will waive the application fee for applicants to the PhD programs in Biostatistics and Epidemiology who are Bonner Scholars and Bonner Leaders. Additional questions can be directed to bgs@pennmedicine.upenn.edu.

Vanderbilt University’s Biostatistics Graduate Program trains flexible thinkers to become leaders in academia, industry, and government. It features rigorous classroom training, real-world apprenticing, exceptional computational preparation, and one-to-one mentoring in the theory, methodology, and application of biostatistics in biomedical research. Vanderbilt Biostatistics is among the top 15 programs in the nation (per US News & World Report). MS students receive an 80% tuition remission. PhD students are guaranteed full funding, which includes a 12-month stipend, a full tuition waiver, and student health insurance. Bonner Scholars and Bonner Leaders are eligible for an application fee waiver; see our Application Process page for details.

The Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy is home to two internationally recognized graduate-level institutions at Carnegie Mellon University: the School of Information Systems and Management and the School of Public Policy and Management. This unique colocation combined with its expertise in analytics set Heinz College apart in the areas of cybersecurity, health care, the future of work, smart cities, and arts & entertainment. In 2016, INFORMS named Heinz College the #1 academic program for Analytics Education. Bonner Scholar/Leaders, alumni or staff interested in pursuing a master’s degree are encouraged to apply for admission to any of Heinz College’s master’s degree programs and will receive the following partnership benefits: Application fee waiver and a minimum scholarship of $30,000 (with further consideration for additional merit-based scholarship support).

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bonner alumni in the field

Since 1990, the Bonner Program has graduated over 18,000 alumni who are continuing to make a social impact around the world.

Our 20th Anniversary survey (2010) indicates that about 65% of our alumni choose a career in government and non-profit sectors, often tied to their undergraduate service experiences. Nearly 80% still volunteer on a regular basis; over 90% voted in the last election. As Bonners take their service experiences into the professional world, they are leading social change through the lends of a service based education.

Many Alumni remain engaged in the Bonner Network by working for organizations that partner with the Bonner Program. Other Bonner Alumni work for organizations that seek out current Bonner students as interns and future employees. Furthermore, Bonner Alumni remain active by attending Bonner national conferences and sharing their expertise and passion for service.