Summer@Rensselaer

Prerequisites: Students looking to explore a career in engineering, science, technology, and especially their crosscutting disciplines, are encouraged to apply for this program. This program is designed for rising 10th-12th grade students, graduating seniors may also apply.

Program Cost for 2025 Day Program: $1,250 (including lunches, snacks, trips, and materials for projects). 

Application link: https://forms.gle/qBRgCJs4FgKaaTbt9 (sign into google first)

Registration: Accepted students will be invited to register. The decision will be made by May 1, 2025. Once payment is received, students will receive more updates about the program. Please make sure you check emails. 

Questions?: If you have any questions on how to submit your application, please contact Summer@Rensselaer staff at (518) 276-6809 or via email. Please also feel free to contact School of Engineering Pre-College Education and Outreach Program Manager Michelle Skomsky skomsm@rpi.edu, and program director Professor Lucy Zhang, zhanglucy@rpi.edu.

Students must furnish their own transportation to and from campus. Check in takes place from 9-9:30am, with class beginning promptly at 9:30am on Monday, and ending at 4pm daily (unless otherwise specified-field trips). The final Friday will conclude with a presentation, students are free to leave at the conclusion of the studio presentation.

Accepted students will receive information regarding full program details before program starts. Please make sure you check emails (the email addresses you put in registration forms) frequently. If additional email addresses are needed for contact, please let Professor Zhang and her team know through email. 

What to bring: 

• Comfort clothing and shoes ready for walking and hands-on activities. For certain days that involve machine shops, we will let students know ahead of time to wear pants and close-toe shoes (not the first day).
• Laptop or Chromebook is required. Students will need to learn certain engineering tools through the program. If you need help for laptop rental, please reach out the office ahead of the time.
• Backpack, pens/pencils, notebook (for sketches, calculations, and notes taking), water bottle (for hydration throughout the day), and cell phone (only for contact).
• The summer program will provide other materials and buffet lunch. 

Nearby Hotel locations if needed:
Hilton Garden Inn Troy
Courtyard by Marriott Albany Troy/Waterfront
Best Western Plus Franklin Square Inn Troy/Albany

Program Director: Dr. Lucy Zhang is Associate Dean for Research Innovations, Partnerships, and Workforce Development and she is also a Professor of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Nuclear Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. 

Professor Zhang's research is on computational mechanics, where they use modeling and simulations combining mathematics, engineering, and coding skills to solve real world problems such as biomedical, mechanical, and materials engineering. She has been a Professor at RPI for 18 years. She also had several industrial experiences (co-op, intern, and contractor) with GE Global Research. 

Project Director: Dr. Asish Ghosh is Professor of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Nuclear Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. 

Professor Ghosh has more than 25 years of experience in industry (e.g. GE Healthcare, GE Global Research, Philips etc.), before coming to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He teaches Inventor’s Studio courses, and mentors undergraduate and graduate students to innovate and design, write provisional patents, and research journal papers etc. In the last 6 to 7 years, on an average every year, about 9 to 10 undergraduate Inventor’s Studio students write provisional patents, and about 3 to 4 undergraduate Inventor’s Studio students launch startups. Professor Ghosh is a Co-Director of the following certificate programs at RPI, such as “Lean Design for Six Sigma – Innovation, and Product Design and Development”, “Lean Manufacturing”, and “Engineering Innovation for Society” etc.

RPI Inventor Studio students have gone on to start many companies. And RPI graduates have founded major companies from Vicarious Visions to NVIDIA, and from Glydeways to Rivian.

Project Director: Dr. Casey Hoffman is a Senior Lecturer of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Nuclear Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. 

Professor Hoffman brings a creative “always questioning” mindset to this program along with his experience as an entrepreneur; having translated his own engineering research into commercialized products at Vistex Composites. 

After completing his PhD at RPI and 12 years of industry experience, Casey has returned to his Alma Mater to teach courses within the School of Engineering (Introduction to Engineering Design) and the Mechanical Engineering Department (Inventor’s Studio 1, and Multidisciplinary Capstone Design).

Program Administration: Summer@Rensselaer, SOAPS@rpi.edu; Michelle Skomsky, skomsm@rpi.edu