sea-path

Students in the SEA-Path program receive substantial financial, academic, and professional support designed to help them succeed in their graduate studies and launch successful STEM careers.
As a SEA-Path scholar, you will become part of a supportive academic community, engage in cutting-edge research, and receive personalized mentorship from faculty, industry professional and peers. Through research experiences, career development workshops, and industry partnerships, SEA-Path prepares you for leadership roles in STEM fields and opens pathways to advanced career opportunities and doctoral studies.

Apply for SEA-Parth Scholarship now

Program Overview

The SEA-Path (Science Education & Advancement Pathways in Physical and Environmental Sciences) S-STEM program at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC) is designed to support academically talented low-income master's students pursuing careers in STEM fields critical to the Gulf Coast region.

SEA-Path provides financial aid, multi-tiered mentoring, and professional development to students in Chemistry, Environmental Science, and Coastal & Marine System Science. Our program aims to increase graduation rates, strengthen career readiness, and enhance research opportunities.

Participants benefit from research mentorship, professional development seminars, industry partnerships, and career placement assistance, helping them transition into STEM careers or doctoral programs. The program also prioritizes building a strong cohort experience and fostering a supportive academic environment.

STUDENT BENEFITS

• Scholarships covering tuition and fees
• Multi-tiered mentorship with faculty, research advisors, and peer mentors
• Cohort support and professional development seminars
• Research placements with industry and academic mentors
• Career preparation and job market training
• Conference travel funding for research presentations

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicants must:

• Be a U.S. citizen, or permanent resident
• Be enrolled full-time or part-time in a master’s program in Chemistry, Environmental Science, or Coastal & Marine System Science at TAMU-CC
• Demonstrate academic potential (GPA ≥ 3.0 preferred; GPA ≥ 2.8 considered with strong recommendations)
• Demonstrate financial need (as determined by FAFSA and Expected Family Contribution)
• Submit a 500-word statement of career goals
• Provide two faculty recommendation letters.

COHORT ACTIVITIES & MENTORING
SEA-PATH students receive structured mentoring from:
• Faculty mentors – Advisors for academic progress and career guidance
• Research mentors – Supervisors guiding students' thesis projects
• Peer mentors – Advanced students helping first-year SEA-PATH scholars
• Industry mentors – Professional guidance through internships and networking

Cohort Activities Include:
• Career development workshops
• Research presentations at conferences
• Regular cohort meetings with faculty & peer mentors
• Professional networking events with industry partners

CAREER PREPARATION & INDUSTRY CONNECTIONS

SEA-PATH is designed to help students transition into STEM careers or Ph.D. programs. The program offers:
• Job application & resume workshops
• One-on-one career mentoring
• Internships with regional STEM industries
• STEMinar speaker series featuring industry professionals
• Opportunities to present research at national conferences
The program prioritizes job placement in South Texas, ensuring graduates can contribute to the regional economy while advancing their STEM careers.

SEA-Path Management:

Dr. Fereshteh Billiot (PI), Professor of Chemistry in the PENS Department, coordinates disciplinary mentoring activities with all scholars and manages placing students, and monitoring interactions with their research mentors. NSF Program manager interaction, fostering collaborations with industry partners, Career Services, LSAMP and McNair programs, program articulation and scaling; monitoring student progress as well as monitoring the success and impact of different support programs. Dr. Billiot also leads the disciplinary mentoring activities with Physics scholars. Her involvement in the project aligns with her administrative efforts to increase the retention and graduation rates in the department.

	Dr. Eugene Billiot (co-PI), Professor of Chemistry in the PENS Department, coordinates disciplinary mentoring activities with all scholars and manages activities for the scholars, and mentoring students in Chemistry MS program.
	Dr. David Felix (co-PI), Professor of Chemistry, and Coastal and Marine System Science graduate (CMSS) coordinator in the PENS Department, coordinates disciplinary mentoring activities with all scholars and manages activities for the scholars, and mentoring students in CMSS graduate program.
	Dr. Jennifer Smith-Engle (co-PI), Professor of Environmental Sciences (ESCI) and coordinator of ESCI program in the PENS Department, coordinates disciplinary mentoring activities with all scholars and manages activities for the scholars, and mentoring students in Environmental Science MS program.
	Dr. Michael Preuss (External Evaluator) responsible for the overall evaluation efforts of the program. Dr. Preuss' effort will be supported by the leadership team to evaluate the effect of SEA-Path scholarship on student success. Email: exquiri.michael@gmail.com