Two University of Texas at Dallas students are taking their engineering ambitions to the next level thanks to highly competitive scholarships from the U.S. Department of Defense.
Frisco resident and computer engineering doctoral student Victoria Gammenthaler and mechanical engineering senior Kevin Dinh have both been awarded Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) scholarships, a significant honor for students in STEM fields. Both are part of the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science.
What the SMART Scholarship Offers
According to UTD, the SMART Scholarship-for-Service Program provides recipients with up to five years of full tuition coverage, mentorship, paid summer internships, a living stipend and guaranteed employment with the Department of Defense after graduation.
For Gammenthaler, that journey includes an internship at the Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Atlantic in Hanahan, South Carolina, scheduled for summer 2026.
“The scholarship provides an amazing opportunity to work with mentors and advance research specific to my field,” Gammenthaler said.
From Middle School Robotics to Circuit Design
Gammenthaler’s fascination with programming began in middle school when she enrolled in a robotics class. After earning her bachelor’s degree in computer engineering from UTD, she stayed on to pursue doctoral research in the Design Automation and Reconfigurable Computing Laboratory (DARClab).
There, under the guidance of Dr. Benjamin Carrion Schaefer, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering and assistant dean for graduate student success, Gammenthaler is researching how large language models, such as ChatGPT, can aid in integrated circuit design.
From RoboSub to Naval Research
For mechanical engineering senior Dinh, the path to the SMART scholarship was paved by hands-on experience with RoboSub UTD, a student organization that designs, builds and programs remote-operated vehicles.
“RoboSub looked like a pretty fun club, and getting involved with the organization has changed a lot for me and created new doors in both my life and career,” Dinh said.
Through RoboSub, Dinh is developing a gear system to enable a vessel’s robotic arm to rotate and twist — practical skills he’ll bring to his post-graduation role at NIWC Pacific in Philadelphia.
“It feels amazing to have this opportunity,” Dinh said. “Now that I have a job after graduation, I don’t have to worry as much. I can focus on school and help out with my club.”
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