MassRobotics encourages high school girls interested in STEM to apply for Jumpstart Fellowship

Four girls working on projects as part of the jumpstart fellowship program.

The Jumpstart Program is intended to prepare girls for careers in robotics. | Source: MassRobotics

This week, MassRobotics announced that Cohort 6 applications are open for its Jumpstart Fellowship. The organization also gave an update on the program’s progress in its five-year report.

Jumpstart programming will on Saturdays from January through May 2026. It will include a full week of sessions and field trips to robotics companies during the public school vacation week of Feb. 16 to 20. After that, students can gain real-world experience through paid internships at a robotics or technology company.

All female high school juniors and seniors with a passion for robotics and technology are encouraged to apply, with Boston students given priority. They can apply online for the Jumpstart Fellowship.

Interested candidates can meet Jumpstart alumnae and mentors onsite at MassRobotics’ annual Robot Block Party on Saturday, Sept. 27. Students will be able to ask questions and learn more directly from them and the Jumpstart Program Manager.

“Entering the professional world is not easy, but this program has worked with us to make this path a lot easier,” said Tairine, a 2022 graduate of the program.

Five years of the Jumpstart Fellowship

MassRobotics created the Jumpstart Fellowship Program in 2021 to provide opportunities for diverse Massachusetts high school girls to learn about careers in robotics and prepare for future pathways in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).

The program provides students a solid foundation in technical skills, said MassRobotics. The Jumpstart program also offers a professional network and mentors who give support and foster confidence, as well as direct engagement with industry professionals.

A key part of the Jumpstart program is making sure these young women feel confident and empowered to enter STEM fields, the organization said. Students can learn various career paths and how to leverage their studies into careers in robotics through lab and company visits.

In the past five years, MassRobotics’ Jumpstart Fellowship has empowered 98 high school girls across Massachusetts to explore opportunities in STEM fields. So far, 88% of graduates are pursuing STEM careers, with many already contributing to the state’s innovation economy through internships and university research.

The majority of Jumpstart alumnae are focusing on engineering disciplines or computer science, reflecting the program’s emphasis on problem-solving, innovation, and technical skills, according to MassRobotics.

“The program not only helped me envision myself as an engineer for the first time, but [it] also helped me find my spark — pun intended — in electrical engineering,” said Catherine, a 2024 graduate. “I would not be the student and person I am today without the support of the MassRobotics Jumpstart program.”

MassRobotics will also celebrate Women in Robotics and the achievements of female researchers at its annual black-tie gala on Oct. 25 at the MIT Samberg Center. This event will honor Robotics Medal recipient Maja Mataric, a UCLA professor, for her pioneering work in the field of socially assistive robots and for making significant advancements to the field of distributed robots and learning in human-robot systems.

The gala will also recognize Rising Star medal recipient Tania Morimoto, a UC San Diego professor, for her contributions to novel soft and flexible medical robots and human-machine interfaces designed to improve access to high-quality care.

Jumpstart graduates will be guests at the event, and one will share her experience participating in the program.

Editor’s note: See our ongoing coverage of STEM education, including our recent piece on how it and robot competitions can benefit tomorrow’s workforce.

Connect with MassRobotics at RoboBusiness

MassRobotics will be taking part in RoboBusiness 2025, which will be on Oct. 15 and 16 at the Santa Clara Convention Center. The organization will be running its Startup Boot Camp, a two-part session that will cover many of the challenges of growing and scaling a robotics startup.

RoboBusiness is the premier event for developers and suppliers of commercial robots. It will also feature more than 60 speakers and the annual Pitchfire competition. In addition, there will be numerous networking opportunities and over 100 exhibitors on the show floor.

Registration is now open for RoboBusiness.