We are delighted to announce that one of the most critical stages of the Pathfinder Fellowship recruitment process has officially concluded. The final interviews are behind us—a time of intensive meetings, profound expertise, and inspiring visions of the future.

The Final Twelve and the Expert Jury

In this final stage, twelve outstanding candidates met with a panel of experts representing:

• PSPA (Polish Space Professionals Association).
• POLSA (Polish Space Agency).
• Rafał Brzoska Foundation.

From this elite group, the recipients of the nomination for a prestigious 10-week research residency at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (Caltech) will be selected. As one of the world’s most advanced research centers, a residency at JPL paves the way for Polish students to launch international careers in the space sector.

An Initiative Born of Experience

The Pathfinder Fellowship was born from the unique initiative of our alumna, Julia Stankiewicz, an engineer at the European Space Agency (ESA). Drawing from her own experiences, Julia decided to “pave the way” for the next generation of young talent. This initiative is a perfect example of a program built on the success of the scholarship community, giving back in the form of a tangible, global opportunity for development.

Support and Organization

While the Polish Space Professionals Association is responsible for the recruitment process, the scholarships are funded by Rafał Brzoska and the Rafał Brzoska Foundation.

For us, this is more than just a recruitment process. It is a breakthrough moment where great Polish careers in global science and space exploration begin to take shape before our eyes. We keep our fingers crossed for all the candidates!