Find your AEOP Pathway

Camp Invention®

A confidence-boosting STEM summer camp where kids build creative inventions and lasting friendships.

  • Summer program
  • Rising grades K-6
  • FREE with AEOP scholarships
  • Locations across the country

Junior Solar Sprint (JSS)

A competition where students design, build and race solar-powered cars using hands-on engineering skills and principles of science and math.

  • School year competition
  • Grades 5-8
  • FREE of cost
  • Locations across the country

Gains in the Education of Mathematics and Science (GEMS)

A summer STEM enrichment program where students experience real-world, hands-on STEM activities at select U.S. Army Research Labs. GEMS also recruits Teachers and Near-Peer Mentors (college students) who receive a stipend for their assistance.

  • Summer program
  • Rising grades 5-12
  • FREE of cost
  • Locations across the country

eCYBERMISSION

A virtual STEM competition where students, in teams of 2-4, choose 
a problem in their community to investigate with science or solve with engineering, competing for Savings Bond prizes.

  • School year competition
  • Grades 6-9
  • FREE of cost
  • Virtual program; open to all 50 states, U.S. territories and DoDEA schools worldwide

Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS)

A DoD-sponsored STEM competition where students submit original research to their regional symposium and compete individually to win scholarships and a chance to advance and compete at the National JSHS.

  • School year competition
  • Grades 9-12
  • FREE of cost
  • All 50 states, U.S. territories 
and DoDEA schools in Europe
and the Pacific

Unite

A summer STEM enrichment program held on university campuses where students will learn about STEM careers, collaborate and solve problems as a team, and participate in STEM-related, hands-on and project-based activities.

  • Summer program
  • Rising grades 9-12
  • FREE of cost
  • Locations across the country

AEOP Internships

A paid, hands-on research opportunity with real-world STEM experiences alongside renowned scientists and engineers in labs throughout the country.

  • Summer and year-round opportunities
  • High school and undergraduate students
  • Stipended opportunity
  • Locations across the country

AEOP Fellowships

A paid, professional research opportunity at U.S. Army Research Labs and Centers.

  • Year-round opportunities
  • Graduate students, PhD candidates, recent master’s graduate, or postdoctoral students
  • Locations across the country

Explore Program Types

STEM Enrichment Activities

STEM Enrichment Activities

STEM Enrichment activities spark student interest in STEM from the earliest grades through high school. They also provide experiential learning opportunities for educators. Our programs are great for students and teachers from all backgrounds and interests, and are designed to complement classroom learning and teaching by providing exciting, engaging, hands-on experiences. EXPLORE

Competitions

STEM Competitions are designed to expose students to scientific research methods and engineering principles in an interactive, hands-on way, and enables them to compete for recognition, scholarships and awards. EXPLORE

Competitions
Internships & Fellowships

Internships & Fellowships

AEOP Internships and Fellowships help you gain the skills and experience you need today to prepare for the STEM careers of tomorrow. As an intern or fellow, you will conduct cutting-edge research in a state-of-the-art facility alongside a professional STEM mentor. EXPLORE

Scholarships & Grants

The Department of Defense provides a variety of opportunities that enable students to pursue STEM education through fellowships, grants and tuition-for-service programs. EXPLORE

Scholarships & Grants

23,483
Youth participants in 2020

5,066
Adult participants in 2020

90%
Of participants agreed that AEOP contributed to their STEM confidence and interest

 

Meet Our Students

AEOP alumni are doing amazing things. Hear what our alumni learned and what they’re up to now.

 
 

Latest Blog Posts

March 22, 2024

Exploring Ethan Zhou’s AEOP Journey and his Groundbreaking Research

In a recent interview, we had the opportunity to sit down with Ethan Zhou, a junior at the Massachusetts Academy of Math and Sciences, to dive deeper into his STEM journey with AEOP.

March 18, 2024

Tobius Nance’s Journey from STEM Mentor to Community Advocate

Meet Tobius Nance, a senior at the University of Maryland studying information sciences who was a GEMS Near Peer Mentor (NPM) and is now a Student Ambassador at the ARL-Adelphi site in Maryland.

March 18, 2024

The Future Isn’t Far, And It’s Drivers Out Of Cars!

By: AEOP Membership Council Member Karthik Kumar Since my early childhood, automobiles have never ceased to fascinate me. From sports cars to trucks, I once had a collection of hundreds of toy cars that I found great pride in.

March 18, 2024

Recycle, Reuse, Rethink: Confronting the E-Waste Challenge

By: AEOP Membership Council Member Ethan Zhou Do you have an old phone, tablet, or another unused device collecting dust in your home? I definitely fall into this category. When electronics become unusable and need disposal, they become a form of electronic waste (e-waste).

March 18, 2024

Stem Cells

By: AEOP Membership Council Member Spoorthy Reddy In recent years, stem cell therapy has become a “buzzword” and a subject of advanced scientific research. However, this particular term is still shrouded in mystery to the general public.

March 18, 2024

Stretching Your Limits: The Importance of Stretching

By: AEOP Membership Council Member Cora Moore Whether it’s lacrosse, basketball, or soccer, I always keep my body moving. There is nothing I love more than lacing up my cleats to get a few shots on the goal keeper or tying up my sneakers to get a few miles under my legs.