Campus News
Apply now for the 2027 UCSC CIDER Drone Pilot Training Program
The CITRIS Initiative for Drone Education and Research (CIDER) is offering a Pilot Training Program for UCSC undergraduate students during the Winter and Spring quarters.
The CITRIS Initiative for Drone Education and Research (CIDER) is offering a Pilot Training Program for UCSC undergraduate students during the Winter and Spring quarters. The application period is now open and will close on November 2, 2026. This year, we have 15 spaces available for an agriculture-focused track and 20 spaces for our general track. Students will have the opportunity to get their FAA Part 107 remote pilot certification and learn essential skills for using drones in research.
Each quarter will include two hours of in-person training twice a week for a duration of eight weeks. Although this is a non-credit opportunity, students will receive a $1,200 award for participating in the program, and the program will also cover the $175 fee for the FAA Part 107 Commercial Drone Pilot test.
The application process includes filling out the application form with a current transcript and a cover letter. We also require an academic or professional letter of recommendation. The application is due by 11:59 pm PST Monday, November 2, 2026. A letter of recommendation is due by 11:59 pm on Thursday, November 5, 2026. For more information and to apply, visit the program website or email the program at cider@ucsc.edu. You can apply directly via the application form here.
In addition to running the Pilot Training Program, CIDER collaborates with CITRIS FLY at UC Merced, IGIS at UC ANR, and Orange Coast College through our Drones Uplifting the California Communities (DUCC) program to train high school and community college instructors and support curriculum development for their drone programs statewide. Additionally, CIDER works with industry and the community to develop a workforce that can meet current and near-future demand. For more information about CIDER’s work in drone education and research, visit the CIDER website.
CIDER is one of many initiatives under the Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society (CITRIS) and the Banatao Institute. Established in 2001, CITRIS is a multi-campus initiative focused on research and emerging technologies. CITRIS leverages the interdisciplinary research strengths of UC Santa Cruz, Berkeley, Davis, and Merced to advance the University of California’s mission. The institute aims to shorten the pipeline between world-class laboratory research and the development of impact applications, platforms, companies, and new industries, with a strong emphasis on creating solutions to significant societal challenges. For more information about our programs at UCSC, visit the CITRIS UCSC website.