Mechanical engineering student earns prestigious 2026 SMART Scholarship
Julian Clark ’28 always knew he would be an engineer. “I was born an engineer,” Clark said. “The instincts I had as a child were the size of a pilot light compared to what they’ve become.” When he was in middle school, a high school robotics coach spotted him at a LEGO robotics competition and invited him to join the high school team on the spot. That moment set everything in motion.
Now a mechanical engineering student focusing on aerospace and electrical engineering, Clark has been named a 2026 recipient of the Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship, one of the most competitive STEM awards offered by the Department of War (DoW). The scholarship covers full tuition, provides an annual stipend and a paid summer internship, and includes guaranteed DoW civilian employment upon graduation. Clark will join the Naval Surface Warfare Center – Port Hueneme Division in Port Hueneme, California.
The years between that robotics invitation and this scholarship have been anything but ordinary. Clark transferred to Santa Clara University after completing his associate degree at Monterey Peninsula College. What followed was an unusually full plate. While pursuing his degree, he worked at Naval Postgraduate School (NPS), starting as a volunteer before transitioning to a formal research role. There, he served as lead scientist on ocean research expeditions alongside Coast Guard and NPS maritime crews, testing sea mine systems he helped design from concept to deployment. Clark is currently contributing to three peer-reviewed publications on his work with the U.S. Navy. At Santa Clara, he works in the Design for Assistive Robotic Technologies (DART) Lab, building a system that uses virtual reality and physical sensors to detect and respond to stress in real time.
Clark is preparing to solder an electronic part that will be used for his research with the DART Lab
Recently, Clark has taken on a more personal project in his spare time. Motivated by his stepfather's limb loss, he has been designing a low-cost prosthetic arm.
“The most meaningful engineering I can do is the kind that serves people,” said Clark. “I want to build systems that work in the real world and can make a genuine difference in people’s lives.”
“I’m very proud of Julian. He has a strong research background, including work at the NPS,” said Maria Kyrarini, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering. “As I reviewed his personal statement for the SMART application, it was clear that he was born to be a mechatronics engineer. The SMART award, which is highly competitive, recognizes his work thus far and brings him closer to fulfilling his dream and, hopefully, making the world a better place.”
At Port Hueneme, Clark hopes to apply his background, curiosity, and drive to some of the most exciting challenges in modern engineering—from underwater vehicles that explore the ocean depths to unmanned platforms built to withstand demanding field conditions. It’s one step in a longer journey. Driven by a deep passion for discovery and pushing boundaries of human exploration, Clark’s ultimate goal is to become an astronaut.
Since its founding in 2006, the SMART program has awarded more than 6,000 scholarships to students in STEM fields critical to national security. Clark is the first recipient of the SMART Naval Award for Santa Clara University.
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