campus to community connections
Research and sponsored programs
Bringing Research to You
Bridging with the community is a key part of Purdue Fort Wayne’s mission. We connect the general public to our expert faculty and dedicated students. In partnership with the Office of Engagement, we connect businesses, governments, and nonprofits to experienced researchers to solve a variety of problems.
Explore all our community engagement and outreach efforts, and find out how we bring science and research to you.
Youth Programs
Youth Programs
Looking for other opportunities on campus? With more than 100 programs available for area youth, Purdue Fort Wayne is a great place for campus experiences. To learn more about what Purdue Fort Wayne has to offer for K–12 students, visit our youth programs website.
Questions? Contact the Youth Programs Office at [email protected].
Portal to the public
Connecting Community and Science
The Portal to the Public program connects public audiences with current science in their communities. Locally, the program is run by Science Central in partnership with Purdue Fort Wayne.
The Science Central Portal to the Public program helps make the connection through direct interactions with local researchers and experts. It allows us to share with the community who we are as an institution, and broaden how the general public conceives of science. Each year, several Purdue Fort Wayne faculty and graduate students from a wide range of disciplines present their current work at Science Central, interacting with the public through questions and live demonstrations.
Science Central, a regional resource located in downtown Fort Wayne, initiated the multiyear program through numerous grants from the Portal to the Public Network, funded by the National Science Foundation.
High School Research Intern Program
Applications are now closed.
High school juniors and seniors (ages 16-17) who would like to gain hands-on research experience, work on research projects, and receive mentorship from Purdue Fort Wayne faculty are invited to apply for the High School Research Internship (HSRI) program. The HSRI program is suitable for motivated, creative, and mature students who are intellectually curious and serious about their academics. Students admitted to the program will be expected to work on active research under the guidance of their faculty mentor as unpaid interns, dedicating an average of 6–8 hours per week. Students must be able to commute to the Purdue Fort Wayne campus. Successful completion of the internship will earn students 1 college credit per semester.
High school juniors and seniors must meet all of the eligibility requirements below:
- Earned at least a 3.0 high school GPA
- Have earned all As and Bs in classes completed in high school
- Must be at least 16 years old by the first day of Purdue FW’s academic calendar (end of August)
- Demonstrated maturity, initiative, and responsibility in and out of their high school classrooms
- Demonstrated respect for teachers, mentors, and staff
- Preference will be given to students who have demonstrated college success in high school by completing Dual Credit or Collegiate Connection courses with a B or higher.
- Have access to reliable transportation to and from Purdue Fort Wayne
- Completed all the required application materials by the deadline (see application process below)
The cost to apply is approximately $320 for Indiana residents. The internship fee is payable only if you are selected for an internship. The cost is equivalent to a 1-credit course per semester, with the option to complete up to 4 semesters (a maximum of 4 college credits). See PFW's tuition and fees.
Follow the steps in order and complete your application package by August 1, 2025:
1) Check out the faculty and staff pages from each of the 6 colleges at PFW for potential faculty mentors.
- College of Science
- School of Education
- College of Visual & Performing Arts
- Doermer School of Business
- College of Engineering, Technology, and Computer Science
- College of Liberal Arts
- Check out the 14 Centers of Excellence on campus for more information on active research projects.
You are more likely to be selected as an intern if there is already a project team you can join. When you join a project team, you will work on the faculty mentor’s existing project, not propose your own project.
2) Apply as a non-degree student at Purdue Fort Wayne via the application portal.
3) In the same application portal, please upload a short essay (300 words maximum) that answers the following questions:
- Explain how you became interested in your research topic or your motivation for pursuing your intended research project. If you don’t have a particular project in mind, explain what you hope to research or how you see yourself fitting within a faculty mentor’s project team.
- What do you hope to gain from your participation in the PFW HSRI program?
4) To be submitted by your nominator: 1 nomination form from a high school teacher, principal, counselor, or Purdue Fort Wayne faculty
Selection Process
- After we have received your complete application, we will review it. Eligible applicants will be invited to come to campus to interview with the faculty.
- Incomplete applications will automatically be rejected.
- Please note that if you are not selected as an intern, it may be because no faculty mentor is available to work with you on your project.
- You will know our decision by August 30, 2025. If you submitted a complete application and are not selected as an intern, we will place you on a waiting list for the following semester.
Young Scholars Academy
Founded and sponsored by Richard D. Waterfield, the Young Scholars Academy (YSA) aims to improve educational options for northeast Indiana students in several ways:
- Making college more accessible
- Raising the standards of scholarship and the quality of education
- Nurturing a genuine community that serves others and gives back to the world
- Developing character in future leaders
YSA is now housed at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Fort Wayne.
If you have questions, please contact Nicholas Gray, VP of Strategic Partnerships and Workforce Development at [email protected].
Students receive academic support and experience a variety of educational opportunities, both inside and outside the classroom:
- Mentorship from seventh to twelfth grade
- Individualized advising with college counselors
- College trips and field studies
- Arts and cultural excursions
- Access to academic and career opportunities
While academic aptitude is important, YSA also looks for these characteristics in prospective students:
- Commitment to the academy and its mission
- Persistence in academic and career goals
- Desire to attend college after high school
- Openness to join a supportive, challenging, and stimulating learning community
- Vision to learn from and listen to people who come from diverse racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and religious backgrounds
- Passion for serving people and the community
The program includes student opportunities for both group activities and individual support throughout the year:
- Weekly or biweekly meetings during the school year with a faculty mentor
- Monthly meetings from September to April (held on the second Saturday)
- Two-to-three-week Summer Academy every June (unless the student is enrolled in a different academic summer camp)
Parents also play an important and active role through their service and engagement. They assist the students and the academy in a variety of ways:
- Attending meetings, seminars, or workshops
- Volunteering during at least one academy-related event in a school year
- Chaperoning at least one of the field studies or college trips
Office of Engagement
Engaging with Community Partners
Purdue Fort Wayne’s Office of Engagement helps local businesses, nonprofits, and governmental organizations connect with Purdue Fort Wayne and Indiana University Fort Wayne faculty and staff to solve complex problems in a variety of areas. Engagement can provide access to expert researchers, university-owned intellectual property, inquisitive student interns, and more. The office can also provide seminars, workshops, and trainings.