COMPASS-ADF: The Active Duty Fellowship Program
Supporting undergraduate active duty service members in advancing their education and careers through scientific discovery.
The COMPASS Active Duty Fellowship (ADF) is a unique opportunity for undergraduate service members currently on active duty as well as recently graduated officers seeking a graduate degree while still in service . The fellowship connects military students with world-class faculty at NC State University to engage in hands-on research that has both academic and field-deployable impact.
Hosted by the Center for Complex Particle Systems (COMPASS) and supported by the National Science Foundation, the program bridges military service and higher education by providing flexible research opportunities that align with active duty responsibilities.
Research Focus Areas
Fellows contribute to cutting-edge projects across multiple disciplines, including:
Complex particle flow and soft particles with complex shapes
Stress propagation through granular matter
Nanoparticle characterization
Advanced manufacturing and sustainable materials
Resource-efficient technologies with field deployment potential
Benefits for Fellows
The COMPASS-ADF program is designed with active duty commitments in mind.
- Flexible research involvement tailored to military schedules
- Direct collaboration with experts in physics, chemical engineering, and materials science & engineering
- Opportunities to apply academic research to real-world, mission-driven challenges
- Access to a supportive academic and veteran community
- This is a paid internship opportunity
Eligibility
The fellowship is open to:
- Active duty service members currently enrolled in an undergraduate program
- Students interested in contributing to high-impact scientific and engineering research
- Individuals seeking to integrate military service experience with academic growth