Senior Military College student collaborating with Army scientist

In the SCIP program, students work alongside DEVCOM ARL scientists and engineers performing cutting-edge Army research within state-of-the-art laboratory facilities with expertise and experience in the following technology areas:

  • Electromagnetic Spectrum Sciences (ESS)
  • Energy Sciences (ES)
  • Humans in Complex Systems (HCxS)
  • Military Information Sciences (MIS)
  • Network, Cyber, and Computational Sciences (NCCS)
  • Photonics, Electronics, and Quantum Sciences (PEQS)
  • Sciences of Extreme Materials (SES)
  • Terminal Effects (TE)
  • Weapons Sciences (WS)

* Not all competency areas are available every year.

2025 Program Details

  • Start Date: July 6, 2026
  • End Date: August 14, 2026
Appointments are continuous from July 6, 2026, to August 14, 2026, excluding federal holidays and weekends. Participants must conduct their research onsite at the designated facility or affiliated research center. Selected student researchers are required to participate for the full appointment period.

Working Hours: Student researchers are expected to work 40 hours per week.

Leave Policy: Any leave requests must be pre-approved by both the mentor and the SCIP Program Team.
SCIP student researchers will receive a stipend of $1200 per week, disbursed bi-weekly.

Stipend payments from other federal sources (e.g., research grants or contracts) cannot be accepted during the program.
Participants will receive a one-time dislocation payment of $250 to cover relocation expenses, including baggage fees, taxi or ride-share services, meals, tolls, and transportation. This payment is issued before the program starts and is intended to cover both arrival and departure costs.
Travel Coordination: The program will handle travel arrangements to and from the research location at the beginning and end of the program. Selected student researchers should NOT book their travel independently.

Personal Automobile Reimbursement: For participants opting to drive, mileage reimbursement is limited to the cost of the equivalent airfare. No other expenses will be reimbursed.

Travel Modifications: Any changes made to program-arranged travel will be at the participant's expense.
Housing is provided and arranged by the program. Student researchers should NOT book housing independently.
All participants are required to attend the Army Research Technical Exchange (ARTE) in the Fall of 2026. Travel and accommodations for the symposium will be arranged by the program. Student researchers should NOT book travel or hotel rooms independently.
To successfully complete SCIP, student researchers are required to submit the following items at the conclusion of the program:

Poster Presentation: A professionally designed research poster showcasing the student researcher’s project, including key findings and methodologies, to be presented at the ARL Cadet Showcase and ARTE Symposium.

Program Evaluation: Feedback and evaluation of the SCIP experience.

Use this application to apply for the SMC Senior Capstone Immersion Program (SCIP).

Application Details and Instructions

To complete your application, in addition to your personal and academic information, you will need:

  • Most recent transcript – formal or informal, in PDF format, that includes your name, the name of your college or university, your field of study, and your GPA.
  • Letter of Recommendation – filled out by your senior capstone or honors thesis advisor, or if you have not selected one yet, your academic advisor. Download the blank letter of recommendation here.
  • List of all STEM classes you feel are relevant to the opportunities that you are applying to.
  • A thoughtful answer to this essay question:
    How will a summer research experience with DEVCOM ARL align with your educational goals and research interests?
When you have collected these items, use the APPLY TODAY! button to proceed to the application.

All applications must be submitted by January 18, 2026, 11:59 PM (Eastern).

Any applications received after this date will not be eligible for consideration.

APPLY TODAY!

Available Opportunities

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Causal Inference in Simulation Scenarios

Military Information Sciences (MIS)
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Eligibility Requirements

  • U.S. Citizen
  • GPA of 2.8 or higher on a 4.0 scale
  • Full-time rising junior or senior in good standing at a senior military college
  • Majoring or minoring in a STEM academic discipline or a business discipline
  • Letter of Recommendation
  • Official Transcript

Selection Process

The SCIP selection process has four Stages. Stage 1 verifies the applicant’s eligibility, Stage 2 is application review and selection of student researchers by mentors, Stage 3 is final SCIP letter of intent, and Stage 4 is the completion of a background investigation. Applicants must pass all four Stages to be accepted to the program.

1Stage 1: Applicant Eligibility
During Stage 1, the application pool is reviewed and verified to comply with eligibility requirements. This review confirms citizenship, academic discipline, GPA, and the applicant’s enrollment status in an eligible institution. All eligibility requirements must be met to move to Stage 2.
2Stage 2: Mentor Selections
During Stage 2, ARL mentors will review the eligible applicants and conduct interviews with potential candidates. Please note that not every applicant will receive an interview. The mentors recommend program selection and will have the candidate sign a Mentor Student Agreement Form.
3Stage 3: SCIP Letter of Intent
During Stage 3, a letter of intent is sent to the candidate for signature. Selected candidates must sign and return the letter of intent within two business days.
4Stage 4: Successful Background Investigation
During Stage 4, the candidate is required to complete forms for a background investigation. If the applicant does not receive a favorable interim background investigation, they cannot move forward with the program. Please note on average, background investigations take 4 - 8 weeks. Upon completion of their successful background investigation the candidate will receive a program acceptance letter.

Innovate your future, apply to SCIP today!

APPLY NOW!