Department of Natural Sciences

What is NIST PREP?

The Professional Research Experience Program (PREP) is a national program by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) that gives students, recent graduates, postdocs, and faculty a chance to work in real research labs alongside top NIST scientists.

PREP helps build a strong U.S. workforce in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) by offering hands-on experience and financial support—including stipends, salaries, and sometimes tuition.

Learn more about NIST PREP on the official NIST website.

Hopkins-Morgan HBCU Consortium

The Hopkins-Morgan HBCU Consortium (HMHC) works with NIST to create research opportunities for students, graduates, postdocs, and faculty from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Participants work with NIST researchers at the Gaithersburg, Maryland campus, gaining valuable experience in cutting-edge research.

Participating universities include:

• Morgan State University
• Bowie State University
• Coppin State University
• North Carolina A&T State University
• Tuskegee University
• University of Maryland Eastern Shore

Graduate students may also qualify for tuition assistance in addition to paid research positions.

The Coppin-NIST Program

The Coppin-NIST program provides career workshops and mentorship to undergraduate and graduate students to prepare them for opportunities available at NIST.

What Does the Program Offer?

Through PREP, you can:

• Work directly with NIST researchers in real-world labs
• Get paid through a stipend or salary
• Receive tuition assistance (for eligible students)
• Join cutting-edge projects in:
  • Materials Science
  • Cybersecurity
  • Nanotechnology
  • Marine Science
  • Bio-economics
  • Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning
  • Quantum Science
  • Environmental & Sustainability Sciences
  • Biotechnology

Who Can Apply?

Undergraduate Students

• Must be full-time students at a U.S. college or university (2-year or 4-year program)
• Must be in good academic standing and have a faculty reference
• Can work up to 10 hours/week during the school year and full-time in the summer
• Eligible to participate for up to 5 years, with a possible 1-year extension in special cases

Graduate Students

• Must be full-time students seeking a master’s or Ph.D. at a U.S. college or university
• Must be in good academic standing and have a faculty reference
• Can work up to 20 hours/week during the school year and full-time in the summer
• Master’s students can participate for up to 3 years, and Ph.D. students for up to 6 years, with a possible 1-year extension in special cases

For more details, visit Morgan State University NIST PREP or reach out to your school’s program coordinator.

Contact Information

For more information about PREP opportunities through Coppin State University, contact:

Dr. Mintesinot Jiru
Professor & Chair, Department of Natural Sciences
mjiru@coppin.edu

Dr. Fred Nesbitt
Professor & Graduate Program Coordinator, Department of Natural Sciences
fnesbitt@coppin.edu