Maya Jain Wins IISE UPS Scholarship for Minority Students
Maya Jain, a rising junior studying industrial engineering at the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering, is the recipient of the 2024 UPS Scholarship for Minority Students from the Institute of Industrial & Systems Engineers (IISE). This annual scholarship is awarded to two undergraduate members of IISE based on their academic achievements, leadership skills and high standard of dedication to the industrial engineering profession.
“I’m very humbled and honored to receive this scholarship,” Jain said. “I’m grateful for the dedicated and supportive Pitt Department of Industrial Engineering, especially the professors who advised me through the scholarship application process. None of this would be possible without the various Swanson School programs that allow me to grow and explore my interests in industrial engineering.”
In addition to the $4,000 award for the 2024-2025 school year, the scholarship covered registration and travel expenses for the 2024 IISE Annual Conference in Montreal, Canada. Due to the beginning of her co-op rotation conflicting with conference dates, Jain could not attend. However, she said that planning and attending the IISE 2024 Northeast Regional Conference held at Pitt on January 26-27, 2024, was a rewarding experience. She hopes to attend an IISE annual conference in the future.
“As someone who has formerly been on the selection committee for IISE scholarships, this is one of the most prestigious scholarships IISE offers,” said Karen Bursic, professor and undergraduate program director in Pitt’s Department of Industrial Engineering. “They look for students like Maya who have a strong potential to contribute to the industrial engineering profession.”
The UPS Scholarship for Minority Students is open to undergraduate minority students who reside within the United States and territories, Canada or Mexico.
The Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE), the world's largest professional society dedicated solely to the support of the profession, is an international, nonprofit association that provides leadership for the application, education, training, research, and development of industrial and systems engineering.
Industrial and systems engineers make things better in any industry – from automobile manufacturing and aerospace, to healthcare, forestry, finance, leisure, and education. Founded in 1948, IISE helps its members improve complex organizations around the world and across industries. Throughout their careers, members turn to IISE for tools and connections that provide an integrated and systemic perspective to business challenges. Solving complex problems is our common objective.