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Coming up in the Honors College

• CARE Fair 2025
• Honors Ambassadors Application Now Open
• Community Health Promotion Lab Internship available
• REACH Program now open!

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ANNOUNCEMENTS & OPPORTUNITIES    

Grand Challenges Forum
The New 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.

Friday, September 5, 2025 
Joshua Ellis, M.D., MPH (’12) Attending Faculty Physician and Clerkship Director of
Emergency Medicine at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
"When Every Second Counts: Lessons from the ER and the Journey to Becoming a Healer"

Friday, September 19, 2025 
Paul Carrese, Ph.D. Founding Director, School of Economic and Civic Thought and Leadership
"Civic Education for Our Constitutional Order"

Friday, October 24, 2025 
Robert Proctor, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus, Connecticut College 
"Cicero’s Rhetoric, Political Violence, and the Collapse of the Roman Republic" 

Friday, November 7, 2025 
Robert Satcher, M.D., Ph.D. Former NASA Astronaut
Associate Professor, Department of Orthopaedical Oncology,
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
"Space Exploration, Space Tourism, and the Future of Space Travel"

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Houston Scholars Program
Houston Scholars is a competitive program for high-achieving freshmen to receive mentorship and a $500 scholarship per semester to pursue research, internships, and other unique opportunities. Throughout the 2026 academic year, Houston Scholars will hone academic and professional skills, engage in scholarly endeavors, develop relationships with faculty, and prepare for nationally competitive scholarships and graduate programs. High-achieving freshmen and sophomores are eligible to apply. Rising sophomores must have at least a 3.5 GPA to participate in Houston Scholars. Incoming freshmen should have demonstrated potential for academic and extracurricular achievement in their applications.
Learn more and APPLY HERE Submission Deadline is: August 29, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.

CARE Fair 2025
Are you a new or returning student looking to get involved, make friends, and create change? Join Honors at CARE Fair 2025, the official kickoff to COMMUNITY ADVOCACY & RESPONSIVE ENGAGEMENT (CARE) program! Discover opportunities for meaningful leadership, hands-on service, and community impact through Honors-supported projects.

Join us on Saturday, August 30  from 7 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. for a day of service, mentorship, and community building as we kick off the 2025–2026 academic year. Whether you're new to CARE or returning for another year, this event is for you. Join us to learn more about who we are, our mission, and our projects! 

We will volunteer as a group during a two-hour service shift at Houston Food Bank and head back to the Honors College for the rest of the day. This full-day event is the perfect way to explore hands-on projects that let you work on real issues in Houston - like college access, education equity, and food insecurity - while building community with like-minded students.

What to expect:
• Volunteer with friends at the Houston Food Bank
• Discover CARE projects through live project pitches
• Join mentorship groups and connect with peers and upperclassmen
• Learn leadership tools through interactive activities
• Enjoy a free lunch, professional headshot, and CARE T-shirt!

Whether you’re curious about what CARE is or ready to join a project, CARE Fair is a welcoming, fun, and inspiring way to kickstart your UH experience. RSVP by August 8th to confirm your attendance. Carpooling is provided. Follow us at @honors.care on Instagram for any updates.

RSVP here:  Questions? Email us at uh.honors.care@gmail.com

Honors Ambassadors Application
The application to join the 2025-2026 Honors Ambassadors cohort is Now Open. 

Honors Ambassadors promote the Honors College in a variety of ways, including organizing and assisting with events such as college fairs, college tours and Open Houses. They also represent the Honors College at Cougar Preview and help guide incoming students during the Scholars Invitational.

Learn more at: To apply, complete and submit all supplemental documents requested by 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept 7, 2025. Late and incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

Student Worker Opportunity: Learning Abroad Office
The Learning Abroad Office at the ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú invites applications for a Student Worker position for the upcoming academic year. We are seeking motivated, detail-oriented students with a strong interest in global education, student engagement, and professional growth. This position provides a meaningful opportunity to contribute to the advancement of global learning while developing skills in program management, student support, marketing, and intercultural communication.

Key Responsibilities:

• Advise and support students throughout the study abroad process
• Mentor and collaborate with our student leadership team, the Global Guides
• Design and develop marketing materials to promote global programs
  Assist with planning and implementing events, outreach initiatives, and pre-departure programming
• Strengthen skills in cross-cultural communication, public speaking, and leadership

We welcome applicants from all academic backgrounds, especially those with experience or interest in international education, student affairs, higher education, or communications. This position is ideal for students seeking to enhance their professional portfolio while contributing to an inclusive, globally engaged campus community.
For question and to apply  submit your resume to Andie Beer at ambeer@uh.edu 

Volunteer for Project Sunshine!
Project Sunshine is a national nonprofit organization aiming to deliver the healing power of play to children with medical needs. At the ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú, our chapter proudly partners with local hospitals in the Texas Medical Center, such as Texas Children's and Ronald McDonald House, to facilitate passionate, dedicated, and capable volunteers and provide meaningful volunteer experiences.

Volunteers will have various opportunities, including Here to Play, a program where volunteers will be given the opportunity to gain in-hospital volunteer experience with the children. The UH chapter will also participate in various different activities such as Kits for Play, where volunteers come together and assemble fun, hands-on activity kits that are later distributed to children in hospitals. More opportunities to come!

Please visit our website at for more information, and contact us at: uhprojectsunshine@gmail.com

Fall 2025 LAUNCH Services
The Learning Advancements for Undergraduate Cougars of Houston (LAUNCH) office is offering several back-to-school services during the fall 2025 semester. Located on the second floor of the Student Service Center 1 building, LAUNCH will offer peer tutoring beginning the first week of classes, along with peer-assisted study sessions for select STEM and business courses. LAUNCH also offers academic coaching on subjects such as time management and test anxiety reduction, with appointments available through the UH Navigate app. Additionally, LAUNCH is hosting a Math Mania workshop series and a success series this fall. Visit the LAUNCH website to learn more, and email with any questions.

Foundations in Digital Humanities - Undergraduate Micro-credential
This micro-credential in the Digital Humanities program introduces students to the concepts and competencies that are core to digital humanities work, preparing students to plan and implement their own project or participate in an ongoing digital humanities research project. This program is available to active ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú undergraduate students interested in research or with an idea that incorporates an element of digital scholarship. Students who complete the Micro-credential in the Digital Humanities badges gain access to the full range of services and infrastructure offered by the Digital Humanities Core facility and become part of growing cohorts supported by the HPE DSI and UH Libraries, aimed at nurturing new research and scholarship. For more information, contact dhcf@central.uh.edu.

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TRAVEL & SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Fulbright U.S. Student Program

Interested in teaching English or conducting a research project abroad for a year? Consider applying to the Fulbright US Student Program! to schedule an appointment to discuss more.

Fulbright Fridays - Must register to attend virtual meeting

• Fulbright Friday: The Campus Interview Process - August 15, 12 - 1 p.m.
  
• Fulbright Friday: Getting and Implementing Effective Feedback -  August 22, 12- 1 p.m.

2026 Schwarzman Scholars

Schwarzman Scholars is a fully-funded, one-year master's degree and leadership program at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China. The curriculum is focused on three multidisciplinary pillars: Leadership, China, and Global Affairs. Once completed, all Scholars receive a Master's Degree in Global Affairs. Schwarzman Scholars receive a world-class education through interactions with foreign ministers, political leaders, cultural luminaries, and entrepreneurs. Eligible applicants must possess an undergraduate degree in any field by August 2026, be 18-28 years of age, and possess English proficiency. Submission Deadline is September 10, 2025 at 2 p.m. CST. Program dates are August 2026 - 2027

2026-2027 Luce Scholars Program

The Luce Scholars Program is a yearlong opportunity for emerging leaders to deepen their ties and understanding of Asia's countries, cultures, and people. The 13-month-long program provides stipends, language training, and individualized professional placement in Northeast, Southeast, or South Asia. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and graduating seniors, recent graduates, or young professionals. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and have earned a bachelor's degree or its equivalent by the start of the Luce Scholars orientation in late June. Submission Deadline: September 15, 2025. Program dates: June 2026 - July 2027

2026 Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans
The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans provides merit-based funding for New Americans, immigrants and children of immigrants, who are poised to make significant contributions to US culture, society, and academia. The fellowship offers recipients up to $90,000 towards their graduate education over the course of one to two years, including tuition and a stipend to the Fellow, and entry into the lifelong alumni community. To apply, applicants must be 30 years old or younger, planning to start or continue an eligible graduate or professional degree program in the U.S. in the 2026-2027 academic year, and be a New American. about what qualifies for the New American status. Deadline to apply is October 30, 2025 at 1 p.m. CST

Princeton in Asia Fellowship
Princeton in Asia fosters mutual appreciation and cross-cultural understanding between the United States and Asia through immersive work fellowships in host organizations and communities. As of now, 60 fellowships in 16 countries and regions are anticipated for the 2026 cycle. College seniors, recent graduates, and candidates with master's degrees are encouraged to apply for a 2026 PiA fellowship starting August 27, 2025. Virtual information session details can be found on the Submission Deadline is November 1, 2025

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RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES

Community Health Promotion Lab Internship
The Community Health Promotion Lab conducts several research projects aimed at promoting health, well-being, and health equity, with a focus on diverse communities. As an intern, you will have the opportunity to work closely with Dr. Craig Johnston (Associate Professor), Dr. Tracey Ledoux (Associate Professor), and Dr. Aliye Cepni (Research Assistant Professor). Duties include attending weekly research meetings, maintaining regular communication with study participants, and assisting with data collection and entry. Exceptional interns may have the opportunity to contribute to peer-reviewed journal manuscripts and scientific conference abstracts.

To be eligible, you must have a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 and ability to commit 6-8 hours per week during 2025 fall semester.

Complete application form at: Application closes September 5. 2025

The REACH Program is now open!
The Office of Undergraduate Research and Major Awards (OURMA) invites sophomore, junior, senior, and transfer students in humanities disciplines to apply for the Research for Aspiring ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú in the Humanities (REACH) program. REACH is a year-long, introductory research program that connects undergraduate students with existing humanities research projects at the ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú. From October 2025 to May 2026, students will participate in a minimum of 6-7 hours of research activity per week, as well as attend OURMA webinars and bi-monthly check-ins. Participants receive a $1,500 scholarship split between the fall and spring semesters and three points towards the Honors in Co-Curricular Engagement transcript designation. The 2025-2026 REACH application deadline is September 5, 2025. For more information and to apply, please visit: /honors/undergraduate-research/our-programs/reach-program/

2025 IFoRE Virtual Conference - Call for Submissions
The 2025 International Forum on Research Excellence (IFoRE) is accepting submissions for the virtual conference's student research competition. Students are encouraged, but not required, to connect their research to the conference theme, "Science and Society: Crafting a Vision for a Sustainable Tomorrow." Students must submit a short video, a slideshow, and an abstract, along with participating in a Zoom meeting with judges before the conference. Accepted submitters are required to register for the conference to confirm their participation. Submission Deadline is September 5, 2025. The conference will run from October 30 - November 1, 2025. Learn more and

Undergraduate Researcher - UH Biomedical Engineering Lab Position
KumarLab is a dynamic lab investigating peptide-hydrogel (biomaterial/drug) therapeutics from design (computational) to in vitro and in vivo studies. The lab is seeking dedicated and reliable undergraduate research students, including freshmen, sophomores, and juniors, who are interested in translational research, particularly computational AI/ML and in silico tools for drug design and pre-clinical animal studies. The students will be required to learn computational and molecular design software packages, assist with a range of chemical synthesis and molecular binding to cell culture studies, or be trained and assist with specific animal surgeries and care of the animals. The expected workload is 9-12 hrs/wk. Contact Dr. Vivek Kumar (vkumar24@cougarnet.uh.edu) with any questions and to apply.

Cancer Metabolism/Chemical Proteomics Research Assistant
Dr. Thomas Hanigan is looking for undergraduate students to conduct research at the intersection of cancer biology, metabolism, and drug discovery. The research focuses on investigating enzymes involved in inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) and their role in cancer, to develop selective, first-in-class inhibitors. Students will gain experience in chemical proteomics, medicinal chemistry, molecular biology, and/or biochemistry techniques. Students should dedicate at least two afternoons per week (preferably consecutive), amounting to at least 10 hours per week in the fall and spring semesters. Additionally, students are expected to continue research during the summer (8 weeks) and are encouraged to apply for PURS/SURF funding. To apply, send a single PDF file containing a cover letter, CV, and reference information from a lab/course instructor to (thanigan@central.uh.edu).