On January 14, 2026, the call for applications officially launched for the Pathfinder Fellowship program. This initiative opens doors for Polish students to undertake research residencies at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)—one of the most prestigious research centers in the world. The program is a collaborative effort between the Rafał Brzoska Foundation and the Polish Space Professionals Association (PSPA), with all scholarships fully funded by the Rafał Brzoska Foundation.
Through the Pathfinder Fellowship, three Polish citizens or permanent residents of Poland will be nominated for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory Visiting Student Research Program (JVSRP). Candidates who successfully pass the JPL selection process and receive a residency offer will be awarded a scholarship covering living expenses, transportation, and visa costs. The research residencies are scheduled for the summer of 2026 and will last between 10 and 12 weeks.
Eligibility and Requirements
The program is aimed at undergraduate and graduate students (1st and 2nd cycle) in STEM fields, with a minimum grade average of 3.5 (equivalent to a 3.0 GPA in the American system).
The Pathfinder Fellowship was initiated by Julia Stankiewicz—an engineer at the European Space Agency (ESA) and an alumna of the Rafał Brzoska Foundation—who herself completed a year-long research residency at NASA JPL.
How to Apply
Applications can be submitted until January 25, 2026 (11:59 PM). Detailed information and the program regulations are available on the official PSPA website.
