Thanks to a generous donation from Birla Carbon, the world's largest manufacturer
and supplier of Carbon Black, the College of Science and Mathematics (CSM) at Kennesaw
State University is excited to announce the Birla Carbon Scholars Program.
Selected scholars will work one-on-one with a faculty mentor on their proposed undergraduate
research project during the Birla Carbon Scholars Program.
Full-time student, pursuing a degree in the College of Science and Mathematics.
Undergraduate student who will not graduate until at least the Fall 2026 semester.
Minimum institutional GPA of 3.0.
Work supervised by a full-time tenured or tenure-track CSM faculty member.
Submission of a completed online application, sponsoring faculty recommendation letter,
and full abstract by deadline.
2026 Birla Carbon Symposium Participation in Fall 2026 semester.
Abstract Submission Guidelines
Students should work collaboratively with their sponsoring faculty member on writing
the abstract. Below are some general guidelines regarding the abstract format:
No more than 400 words; 12 pt. font; saved as PDF.
Abstracts should include:
Project Title
Introduction: The purpose of doing the research project - topic of research.
Problem Statement: Identify the problem you are trying to solve (what are the research question(s) and
the hypothesis you plan to investigate.
Procedures: The steps and methods to be used during the research (over summer program with faculty
mentor). Discussion of materials/supplies needed can be included.
Results: Expected results (since the research has not been completed).
Submissions will be accepted starting Monday, January 26, 2026.
Students will submit a completed application and full abstract via the online form.
Sponsoring faculty will submit a recommendation letter and 1 to 2 page research plan
to BirlaScholars@kennesaw.edu.
Final submission deadline is 11:59 pm on Friday, February 27, 2026.
Selected recipients will be notified via email by Friday, March 20, 2026.
Selected students will have 10 business days to accept the position.
Advantages of the Scholar Program
STIPEND: Twelve selected recipients will receive a total summer stipend of $4,500! This will be paid in two installments: $2,250 at the beginning of the project in the summer and the remaining at the project’s completion after the symposium in the fall. Faculty mentors will receive a stipend of $2,000 in June and $2,000 in July (total: $4,000).
MENTORSHIP: Recipients will work with their faculty mentor from Monday, May 18 through Friday,
July 31, 2026.
EXPOSURE: Recipients will present their final research project at the 2026 Birla Carbon Symposium.
Judges from Birla Carbon will select the top student presentation, who will receive
an additional $2,000 to use towards travel or registration expenses to present their
research at a national scientific conference during the following academic year.
About Birla Carbon
Birla Carbon is a flagship of the diversified $48.3 billion Aditya Birla Group. Suppliers
of high-quality carbon black, the company provides a leading presence in Tires, Rubbers,
Plastics, Inks, and Paints industries globally. Birla Carbon's R&D laboratories are
located in Marietta, GA and Taloja, India.
Birla Carbon has generously partnered with the College of Science and Mathematics
(CSM) at Kennesaw State University for more than ten years to present the Birla Carbon
Scholars Program and Symposium. Since the original program kicked off in 2014, the
Birla Carbon Scholars Program continues to give CSM students financial support to
expand their research skills in a summer research program.
Previous Scholar Recipients
2025 Birla Carbon Scholars
(Left) Photo collage of the 2025 Birla Carbon Scholars Program recipients.
Top row (L to R): Andrew Behrend, Adamina Bilbrey, Jonathan DeMont, Julia Franz; Right column (T to B): Evan Johnson, Ra’Nya Malone; Bottom row (L to R): Siam Sarower, Jayla Melvin, Megan McCabe, Emily Manqueros; Left column (T to B): Michael Williams, Tatiana Sidorova.
Congratulations to Matt Bonvissuto for winning the Top Prize!
(Left) Photo collage of the 2024 Birla Carbon Scholars Program recipients.
Top row (L to R): Andrew Behrend, Adamina Bilbrey, Jonathan DeMont, Julia Franz; Right column (T to B): Evan Johnson, Ra’Nya Malone; Bottom row (L to R): Siam Sarower, Jayla Melvin, Megan McCabe, Emily Manqueros; Left column (T to B): Michael Williams, Tatiana Sidorova
Congratulations to Emily Manqueros for winning the Top Poster Award!
(Left) Photo collage of the 2023 Birla Carbon Scholars Program recipients.
Top row (L to R): Faith Arends, Sarah Chang, Elizabeth Ehme, Mahdi Ghasemi; Right
column (T to B): Benjamin Gibbas, Darmon Kahvazadeh; Bottom row (L to R): Conner Muth,
Katie Moerschel, Abigail Moen, Ira Menich; Left column (T to B): Mark Sheehan, Benjamin
Nguyen
Congratulations to Katie Moerschel, for winning the Top Poster Award!
(Left) Photo collage of the 2021 Birla Carbon Scholars Program recipients.
Left to right, top to bottom: Julie Allsen, Chakayla Ashford, Christopher Boon, Andrea
Brenner, Datiel Dayani, Mia Jones, Jaiden Outten, Christian Perez, Rebecca Senft,
Gavin Treadaway, and Ethan Wagner.
Congratulations to Senior, Ethan Wagner, for winning the Top Poster Award!
(LEFT) Photo collage of the 2020 Birla Carbon Scholars Program recipients.
Left to right, top to bottom: Soobin An, Preston Eldridge, Oliver Erasmus, Ian Foster,
Gracyn Jewett, Ansa Malik, Pavan Mayinampati, Basirat Olorunlambe, Abeer Osman, Minh
(Megan) Vo, and Brittny Vosper.
Congratulations to Senior, Basirat Olorunlambe, for winning the Top Poster Award!
2019 Birla Carbon Scholars
(LEFT) Photo collage of the 2019 Birla Carbon Scholars Program recipients.
Left to right, top to bottom: Max Andrews, Braden Clinebell, Robbie Cronin, Tia Gordon,
Rebekah Henneborn, Emma Henry, Tessa Jordan, Naza Okafor, Destiny Paige, Emma Pearson,
and Hunter Spivey.
Congratulations to Junior, Destiny Paige, for winning the Top Poster Award!
(LEFT) Photo collage of the 2018 Birla Carbon Scholars Program recipients.
Top left (clockwise): Sarah Beauvais, Olivia Brooks, Hope Didier, Trae Dunn, Liana
Gerhardt, Daisy McGrath, Kimberly Meyberg, Michael Reynolds, Sagi Shaier and Alyssa
Venn.
Congratulations to Junior, Hope Didier, for winning the Top Poster Award!
Top left (clockwise): Beryl Khakina, Ian Duncan, Hayley Milner, Neil Dodd, Kaylee
Bronson, Kevin Patel, Kaveh Kiani, Reagan Hooper, Rahiq Rahman and Rebecca Webster.(LEFT) Photo collage of the 2017 Birla Carbon Scholars Program recipients.
Top left (clockwise): Beryl Khakina, Ian Duncan, Hayley Milner, Neil Dodd, Kaylee
Bronson, Kevin Patel, Kaveh Kiani, Reagan Hooper, Rahiq Rahman and Rebecca Webster.
Congratulations to Senior, Rebecca Webster, for winning the Top Poster Award!
(LEFT) Photo collage of 2016 Birla Carbon Scholars Program recipients.
Top right (counter-clockwise): Courtney Willett, Katerina Slavicinska, Johnathon Ard,
Elena Ninova, Graeme Bettler, Rebecca Hyche, Omar Ugarte Trejo, Danielle Varljen,
David Axford, and Soprinye Dappa-Fombo.
Congratulations to Sophomore, Katerina Slavicinska, for winning the Top Poster Award!
(LEFT) Photo collage of 2015 Birla Carbon Scholars Program recipients.
Top left (clockwise): Myles Robinson, Tara Allen, Cody Padgett, Abdelsalam Sharkaski,
Jacob Michelis, Kirt Ronig, Garrison Kohler, Aqsa Adnan, Eric Gabilondo and Sydney
Green.
Congratulations to Junior, Eric Gabilondo, for winning the Birla Carbon Top Poster Award!
