Honors Student Listserv
Coming up in the Honors College
- 10/02: Applying to Ph.D. Programs in STEM Webinar
- 10/09: Lyceum Lecture Series
- 10/14: Film Screening: DUST
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ANNOUNCEMENTS & OPPORTUNITIES
Grand Challenges Forum
The Grand Challenges Forum encourages students to think critically, discuss openly, and learn unequivocally. The New Grand Challenges Forum offers students, faculty, staff, alumni, and members of the local community a time to hear a wide range of lectures dedicated to a compelling theme. Fridays from 1-2 p.m. in the Honors College Commons.
Look for the fall 2026 schedule here.
Lyceum Lecture Series
The Lyceum Initiative hosts a Lecture Series each academic year, focused on a theme of special interest to its mission. The theme for 2026 is "The Declaration at 250!" Each talk in the 2026 Lecture Series will focus upon one of the fundamental principles articulated in the Declaration of Independence, signed by delegates to the Continental Congress in July of 1776.
Look for the fall 2026 schedule here.
PAIR: Partnership for the Advancement & Immersion of Refugees
PAIR (Partnership for the Advancement and Immersion of Refugees) is a student organization at the University of Houston dedicated to empowering refugee youth and families in the Houston area through educational mentoring programs. These semester-long programs are held once a week (same time and day each week) depending on the availability of volunteers. Volunteers can choose between the Global Leaders Program and Global Learners Program, which are respectively held in high schools and middle schools. During these programs, volunteers get the opportunity to work with and tutor refugee students, guiding them in engaging lesson activities designed to help them read, speak, and write English.
The applications for the fall semester are currently available on PAIR's website.
If you have any questions about the organization, please reach out at pairuofh@gmail.com! More information is also available on PAIR's Instagram page (@pairuh).
Applying to Ph.D. Programs in STEM Webinar
Learn how to identify the right graduate program for you in the life sciences and STEM, alongside how to prepare your application with Dr. Richard Meisel, associate professor in the Department of Biology and Biochemistry. Registration is required!
Date: October 2, 2026 at 2 p.m.
Leap Innovation 2026
Hosted by the UH Innovation Council, LEAP Innovation brings together students, researchers, and entrepreneurs from across the University of Houston and the Houston community. Join us on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, from 5:30-8 p.m. in the UH Student Center South. You’ll have opportunities to meet members of the UH innovation community, learn about resources including RED Labs, Tech Bridge, and the Innov8 Hub, and connect with potential collaborators and mentors.
The featured panel includes Nicolaus Radford, CEO of Persona AI; Sassie Duggleby, CEO and co-founder of Venus Aerospace; and Dr. Sangtae Kim, UH professor, former pharmaceutical executive, and member of the National Academy of Engineering. They’ll share their perspectives on where their fields are headed and lessons from their own journeys. Food will be provided.
BuildEquity
The BuildEquity Student Consulting Program bridges University of Houston students and local entrepreneurs to solve business challenges and foster growth for underrepresented small businesses across the Houston region.
A collaborative effort among the BuildEquity Entrepreneurship Program, Impact Hub Houston, and UH’s Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship/RED Labs, the program offers students hands-on consulting experience while driving measurable impact for local ventures.
Session Schedule:
Oct. 9: 11 a.m.–2 p.m. | CBB, Room 524
Oct. 23: 11 a.m.–1 p.m. | CBB, Room 328
Nov. 6: 11 a.m.–1 p.m. | The Ion (off campus)
Film Screening: DUST
DUST is the award-winning debut feature film by University of Houston professor Dr. Christine LeVeaux-Haley. The runtime of the film is 110 minutes. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with Christine LeVeaux-Haley.
Synopsis: Set in a small Mississippi town in the 1990s, DUST tells the story of one young woman’s efforts to learn the truth about the circumstances surrounding the lynching of her grandfather and the unlikely partnership that is forged between her and a man who, as a child, was present at the lynching 50 years earlier.
Complete the RSVP form here to mark your attendance at the screening of DUST on October 14th, 2026 from 6-9 p.m. in the Student Center South Theatre.
Seating is limited. RSVP is required to attend.
See the film trailer here! For more information, visit: DUST Film Website.
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TRAVEL & SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Learn In Spain
The University of Houston Department of Psychology is offering a study abroad course, "Learn in Spain," led by professor Elena L. Grigorenko in May 2027. Students enrolled in the program can earn three course credits through study in Houston and up to 10 days immersed in Spanish culture. The program offers hands-on learning through exploration of historic sites, local traditions, and daily life. Program fees will be announced at a later date. To qualify, applicants must be UH students in good academic standing.
Interested students can complete an interest form here!
PowerHouse Texas Energy Policy Fellowship
Applications are now open for the PowerHouse Texas Energy Policy Fellowship (spring 2027), a paid, full-time opportunity at the Texas State Capitol. Fellows work in bipartisan Texas House or Senate offices, researching energy legislation while engaging with scientists, industry leaders, and policymakers. Open to STEM and environmental science undergraduates (2 plus years completed), graduate students, and recent graduates. Fellows receive $4,100/month, a $700 relocation stipend, and health benefits. Rolling application deadlines: August 30, October 15, and November 30, 2026. LEARN MORE AND APPLY HERE!
The Honors College Pitch Party
The Honors College will host an information session on its 2026–2027 study and travel opportunities from 4-5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20, in the Honors College Commons.
Questions? Contact Ben Rayder at btrayder@central.uh.edu
Provost's Undergraduate Research Scholarship (PURS) Program: Spring 2027
The Provost's Undergraduate Research Scholarship (PURS) program provides undergraduate students with the opportunity to participate in a semester-long research project under the direction of a UH faculty mentor. Recipients will receive a $1,000 scholarship to conduct part-time research (six to seven hours/week) with their faculty mentor. Sophomores, juniors, and seniors from all majors with a minimum 3.0 GPA are eligible to apply.
Submission Deadline: November 2, 2026
Energy Scholars Program 2027
The UH Energy Scholars Program provides a $6,000 scholarship to students for conducting an energy-related faculty-mentored research project in the spring, summer, and fall of 2026. Participants will conduct their research part-time (six to seven hours/week) during the spring and fall semesters and full-time during the summer. This program is open to students of all disciplines who are interested in working on a research project related to energy or sustainability. Scholarships will be awarded to continuing sophomores and above with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Students graduating in the spring or summer of the program year are not eligible.
Date: Spring-Fall, 2027
Submission Deadline: November 2, 2026
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RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES
Digital Phenotyping Research Study
The Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Houston is seeking female students aged 18 and older to participate in a three month Digital Phenotyping Research Study examining how smartphones and wearables track stress, cognitive status, and mental well-being in real time. To learn more, click here. To be eligible, you must be a female student at the University of Houston and must not be pregnant, on daily prescribed medications, or recently hospitalized. Contact smarri@cougarnet.uh.edu for more information. To sign up, click here!
Coogs for Energy Hackathon
Registration is now open for the Coogs for Energy Hackathon.
Students are invited to form teams and participate in this 1.5-day hackathon focused on tackling real-world challenges in the energy transition. Teams will develop innovative solutions with an emphasis on sustainability, clean energy and the future of energy.
The hackathon provides UH students with an opportunity to work on challenges presented by leading energy companies, community organizations and local governments, turning ideas into practical solutions to address today’s energy challenges.
Deadline for registration is October 3, 2026. REGISTER HERE.
The Coogs for Energy Hackathon event will take place October 23-24, 2026, at the University of Houston. For any questions, contact uheti@central.uh.edu.
Valuing Social Time - Research Survey
Participate in a 10-minute, anonymous University of Houston research survey exploring how college students spend and value their social time across in-person interactions, online connections, and AI chatbots. Eligible participants must be UH students aged 18 or older, and completing the voluntary survey offers an optional entry into a raffle to win one of four $25 Amazon gift cards. Contact Alexander Matthews at agmatthe@cougarnet.uh.edu with any questions. Visit the survey link here to participate. Survey ends December 30, 2026.