NMT Research Opportunities Cooperative Program
Thomas Wellems and Marilyn Powell are proud New Mexico Tech alums, and they remember exactly what drew them here: the on-campus co-op work-study program. It offered far more than financial support. Students worked directly with faculty mentors on research and real-world experiences beyond the classroom.
“That program was a decisive factor in our choice to attend NMT instead of other universities,” Wellems and Powell said. They remember how its emphasis on research, individual mentorship, and scientific passion set Tech apart and enriched their undergraduate years.
After Tech, Wellems went on to a successful career at NIH, while Powell built hers at IBM. Now they are giving back by endowing the Research Opportunities Cooperative Program; they hope to bring those opportunities back and expand them. Their goal is continuity: keeping students engaged in research projects through their undergraduate years, including junior and senior years, when many decide whether to pursue academic or research careers.
Thomas Wellems and Marilyn Powell“Our decision to endow the ROCP is rooted in our desire to give back to NMT,” they said, “and encourage continuing on-campus co-op work-study opportunities for current and future NMT students in research projects with NMT faculty.”
Selected students receive financial support and join the excitement of scientific research on projects with individual faculty mentors. The donors hope the experience will lead to honors project recognition, conference participation, and authorship on posters and publications. They also hope it will strengthen students’ preparation for graduate and professional school.
Eligibility
To take part in the ROCP, students must maintain at least a 3.20 GPA and remain in good academic standing.
Participants can work up to 10 hours per week during the school term, with additional hours possible depending on funding, university regulations, and faculty approval. Students may remain eligible for up to four years, with a possible fifth year by special approval.
Meet Jessica Hunter
When Jessica Hunter arrived at New Mexico Tech, undergraduate research wasn’t part of her original plan. Then a conversation with a professor opened the door to opportunities she hadn’t imagined.
With faculty mentorship and support from the NMT Research Opportunities Cooperative Program, Jessica received hands-on research experience that shaped her academic and career goals. In 2026, she was named a Goldwater Scholar, one of the nation’s most prestigious undergraduate research honors. She now plans to pursue a Ph.D. in computer science and a career in research and development.
Participating in research as an undergraduate has allowed me to learn beyond the classroom,” Jessica said. “I’ve learned how to explore new areas of research, develop projects, and conduct experiments. Most importantly, the experience helped shape my career goals and desire to pursue graduate studies, while giving me the skills and confidence to take that next step.”
Jessica Hunter
Her experience is what the donors hoped for: a student who found her passion through faculty mentorship and is now preparing for graduate study.
For Wellems and Powell, the gift is a way to thank the place that shaped them. As they put it, the program offered “more than just financial support,” and now Jessica and students like her have that too.
Undergraduate research opens doors for NMT students and lets them participate in cutting-edge work. Thanks to our alums and donors, unique co-op research opportunities are clearing the path for the next generation.
You can support this essential tradition by clicking Give Here or emailing advancement@nmt.edu to learn more about establishing a new program.
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