Mentoring ● Cluster 2026

Student Mentoring Program

The Student Mentoring Program at IEEE Cluster 2026 is a program for graduate and undergraduate students to help them build their scientific careers as efficiently as possible. The program is available to students attending as participants and presenters. Scientific presentations and interactions with conference attendees help them develop their technical skills. The Student Mentoring Program complements and extends this development by fostering the integration of students into the Cluster scientific community, advising them as they plan professional careers in academia or industry, improving their scientific communication skills, and providing the right entry points for effective professional networking.

Applying to the Mentoring Program

The Student Mentoring Program is not just another publication venue. All interested students can apply through a simple process by providing a short description of why they want to participate in the conference, the ID(s) of any works submitted to the conference or associated workshops, the name of their advisor, and their CV. Students awarded a travel grant will be enrolled automatically. The application deadline for other student participants will be announced.

Apply to the Student Mentoring Program.

Student Travel Awards - for Students at U.S. Institutions

Thanks to the National Science Foundation, several travel awards will be available for students enrolled in U.S. institutions at the time of the conference and participating in the Student Program at the IEEE Cluster 2026 conference. Notice of travel awards will be made prior to the conference. The travel awards will be distributed post-conference as reimbursements against actual flight, registration, and lodging expenses submitted by the student. Both graduate and undergraduate students can apply.

To apply, a student must submit a two-page applicant statement, and the student's advisor must submit a statement of support. The application statement should include a short biographical sketch; current research interests; a plan for future research and career; objectives and motivation for participating in the Student Mentoring Program; an agreement to provide a testimonial on the benefits of the U.S. travel award after the conference; a statement agreeing to purchase flights on U.S.-flag carriers; and a brief description of any work presented at Cluster, including a peer-reviewed conference poster or paper or a workshop paper. The advisor statement must verify the applicant's full-time student status, confirm support for any remaining travel funds needed for the applicant's participation, and state the length of time the student has been mentored.

Recipients of NSF travel grants must purchase flights on U.S.-flag carriers to receive any portion of the award. Each award is valued at $1,300 per awardee and may reimburse eligible travel expenses and/or the registration fee.

Apply for a Student Travel Award.

Student Program Chair:

• Gerald F. "Jay" Lofstead II, Sandia National Laboratories, USA