Filed under: Aeronautics, Cool Science, Educator Kit, K-12, NASA, Research, STEM, Science, Student Opportunities
“Kids in Micro-g!” is a student experiment design challenge geared toward grades 5-8. Its purpose is to give students a hands-on opportunity to design an experiment or simple demonstration that could be performed both in the classroom and aboard the International Space Station.
The winning experiments will have observably different results when the experiments are performed in the “1-gravity” or “1-g” environment of the classroom, compared to when the experiments are performed by astronauts in the “Micro-g” (one-millionth of 1-g) environment of the space station. The apparatus for the demonstration must be constructed using materials from a materials tool kit provided to the astronauts on board the space station. The tool kit consists of materials commonly found in the classroom and used for science demonstrations.
The experiment demonstration must take no more than 30 minutes to set up, run and take down. Experiment challenge winners and runners-up will be selected regionally and nationally by the Education offices of the ten NASA centers. The ten regional winners, one national winner and one national runner-up winner will have their experiments conducted by the astronauts on board the space station in the April-May 2010 timeframe. The experiments will be recorded in HD video and the winners supplied with copies of their video before the end of their school year.
Experiment proposals may be submitted by educators on behalf of their student groups. Proposals may be submitted via e-mail or postal mail during the period from Jan. 4, 2010, through Feb. 19, 2010.
The winning experiment proposals will be announced on April 2, 2010.
For more information about the challenge, including a scoring rubric, proposal requirements and a list of materials available to the astronauts, visit http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/science/nlab/experimentchallenge.html
Filed under: Aeronautics, Higher Education, NASA, Research, STEM, Science, Student Opportunities
NASA is accepting applications from students at U.S. colleges and universities who want to send experiments to the edge of space on a high-flying scientific balloon.
The annual NASA project provides near space access for 12 undergraduate and graduate student experiments to be carried by a NASA high-altitude research balloon. The flights typically last 15 to 20 hours and reach an altitude of 23 miles. Experiments may include compact satellites or prototypes.
The experiments are flown aboard the High Altitude Student Platform, or HASP, a balloon-born instrument stack launched from the Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility’s remote site in Fort Sumner, N.M. The goals of the project are to provide a space test platform to encourage student research and stimulate the development of student satellite payloads and other space-engineering products.
HASP seeks to enhance the technical skills and research abilities of students in critical science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines. The project is a joint effort between NASA and the Louisiana Space Grant Consortium.
The deadline for applications is Dec. 18, 2009. NASA is targeting fall 2010 for the next flight opportunity. NASA expects to make selections in January 2010.
Application materials and technical details are available in the Call for Proposals document at http://laspace.lsu.edu/hasp
Information about NASA’s scientific balloon program is available at http://sites.wff.nasa.gov/code820
NASA’s Stardust-NExT mission is offering the public a chance to win a small cube of aerogel (the lightest and lowest-density solid) or a mission cookie cutter. NASA is asking the public to visit the Stardust-NExT mission Web site and complete an online survey about the site.
A total of 100 surveys submitted through Nov. 30, 2009, will be selected randomly to win a cookie cutter or aerogel sample.
For more information, visit http://stardustnext.jpl.nasa.gov/survey.html
Filed under: Higher Education, Internships, NASA, Research, STEM, Science, Student Opportunities
The 10-week program will take place in June – August 2010. Engineering and science undergraduate students (rising juniors and seniors) and graduate students are encouraged to apply. Underrepresented minority participation is encouraged.
• Applicants must be U.S. citizens
• Currently enrolled as a rising junior or senior at an Oregon Space Grant affiliated institution (see website for a list of institutions)
• Have a 3.0 or better cumulative GPA
• JPL engineers and scientists will review the resumes and make final selections.
Student intern housing is available on the Caltech campus in Pasadena California. Bus transportation from Caltech to JPL will be provided. In addition to technical tasks, students will take part in seminars, social events, and other enrichment opportunities offered by JPL and Caltech.
The Oregon NASA Space Grant Consortium will sponsor students from affiliate institutions to attend this program. undergraduate students will receive a $6K stipend plus $500 travel allowance. Graduate students will receive an $8K stipend plus a $500 travel allowance. JPL will supply full-time mentors for the activities and administrative costs for the program. Applicants must submit a resume and current official transcripts. Students are encouraged to include a career objective (preferably aerospace related) at the top of their resume. Cover letters and letters of recommendation are optional but STRONGLY encouraged. Recommendations may be submitted via email (spcegrant@oregonstate.edu), fax (541-737-9946) or regular mail (see adress below). Interested students should send cover letter, resume, and transcripts directly to the Oregon Space Grant office by email at spacegrant@oregonstate.edu or by mail at the following address:
Oregon Space Grant Consortium
JPL Internship Program
92 Kerr Administration Building
Corvallis, OR 97331-2103
DO NOT send resumes directly to JPL. Paperwork must be received in the Space Grant office no later than February 1, 2010. For questions regarding this program, contact us at (541) 737- 2414, or via email at spacegrant@oregonstate.edu
Filed under: Higher Education, Internships, Research, STEM, Science, Student Opportunities
The Pennsylvania State University Astrobiology Summer Program (ASP) will be held at Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA on June 6th – August 14th, 2010.
Program details: There will be independent research under the guidance of one or more astrobiologists, a field trip to NASA and astrobiology-related sites around Washington, D.C., weekly seminars, laboratory tours, stargazing opportunities, discussion group, and a research symposium.
Expenses: Travel and living expenses will be covered and participants will receive, in addition, a stipend of $4000 for the summer.
Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents between their sophomore and senior years at a college or university other than Penn State (exceptional applicants between their freshman and sophomore years will be considered). Women and minorities are encouraged to apply. Applicants should have a research interest in astrobiology and be contemplating a career in science. College graduates are not eligible. Application deadline: February 19th, 2010.
Please visit the ASP website for details: http://evo.bio.psu.edu/asp/
Filed under: Higher Education, Internships, NASA, Research, STEM, Science, Student Opportunities
The NASA History Division sponsors internships for undergraduate and graduate students year-round. Our internships are quite substantive and are opportunities for students to learn and contribute significantly.
The NASA History Division is part of the Office of External Relations at NASA Headquarters. We are a small (seven-person) but very active team. We maintain archival materials to answer research questions from NASA personnel, journalists, scholars, students at all levels, and other interested parties from around the world. Outside parties often come to our office to do research on-site. We also edit and publish several books and monographs each year. In addition, we post and maintain a large number of World Wide Web sites on NASA history.
In terms of the qualifications of the prospective intern, we primarily want an enthusiastic person who is a quick learner. Detailed prior knowledge of the aeronautics and space fields is not necessary, but a keen interest and some basic familiarity with these topics is needed. Since we deal with the historical aspects of science and technology policy, strong research, writing, and editing skills are key. Thus, social science majors who are interested in natural science might be best, although we would be glad to talk to any interested student. In addition, we would like to have someone who is facile with computers, especially html formatting.
We prefer to hire students who are U.S. citizens. Students physically report to work in the NASA Headquarters building in Washington, D.C., which is easily accessible by public transportation.
We are flexible in terms of setting up specific projects for the prospective intern. Some typical projects include handling a wide variety of information requests, editing historical manuscripts, doing research and writing biographical sketches, updating as well as creating a variety of Web pages, photo identification and captioning, and archival arrangement, description, and preservation tasks.
The application deadline for summer 2010 is February 1, 2010. Please visit the NASA History website for details: http://history.nasa.gov/interncall.htm
Filed under: Higher Education, Internships, NASA, Research, STEM, Science, Student Opportunities
The NASA Planetary Biology Internship Program (PBI) provides opportunities to explore scientific questions of global scale about planet Earth. Each year the PBI program sponsors nine or ten interns who undertake research at NASA Research Centers or NASA-sponsored laboratories and academic institutions. Students admitted to the Microbial Diversity course at the MBL may also be selected as interns.
The aim of the Planetary Biology Internship Program is to provide opportunites for graduate students to take part in planetary biology research at NASA centers and universities. The pursuit of such studies is expected to broaden the base of this new science by encouraging people in many different fields to take part. Students accepted in the PBI program will be expected to carry out research with a NASA-sponsored investigator for eight weeks usually during the summer months. Typical programs in which interns may become involved include: global ecology and remote sensing; microbial ecology and bio-mineralization; advanced life support; origin and early evolution of life.
Graduate students and senior undergraduates accepted to graduate school who are majoring in biology or other related sciences such as paleontology, atmospheric science, and geochemistry, with interests in planetary biology are eligible to apply for this program. Interns will receive a stipend of $3400 for the 8 weeks of their participation in the program, and reimbursement for transportation costs not to exceed $1100. The award is non-renewable.
Applications are due no later than February 15, 2010. Please visit the program website for details: http://www.mbl.edu/education/courses/other_programs/pbi.html
Filed under: Higher Education, Internships, NASA, Research, STEM, Science, Student Opportunities
The GIS Internship Program is open to community college, undergraduate, and graduate students majoring in the fields of geography, technology, and civil engineering with experience in geospatial technology or an interest in developing their skills in spatial data technology in support of NASA’s mission. A student majoring in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), history, archaeology or any other major and demonstrating an interest in working in historical documentation and geospatial technology (GIS) will also be considered.
Exceptional and highly motivated high school students with at least a 3.3 GPA and a demonstrated interest in entering a field such as geography, urban planning, civil engineering, or related area will also be considered.
Primary duties for GIS Internship position include:
- Support development, maintenance and data input in GIS for the Center.
- Perform updates to building floor plans and space utilization, environmental data, and center infrastructure.Assist with modifications of center spatial data and web interface while adhering to agency standards and procedures.
- Use marked-up drawings, as-builts, sketches, field surveys or tabular data.
Additional preferences and desired skills include experience with GIS data development and conversion and basic knowledge of principles of data collection, including GPS, digital cartography, GPS, AutoCAD, relational databases, planning, surveying, engineering (utility distribution), and remote sensing/aerial photography.
Primary duties for Historical Preservation Internship position include:
- Assist with identifying and organizing historic documentation for historic sites and structures of architectural and technological significance.
- Research will include using primary and secondary sources such as reports, photographs, and videos.
- Previous work with databases and geographic information systems (GIS) preferred.
- Preferred majors include archaeology or history with a preference for training as historian or archivist
NASA GIS Internship Eligibility (at time of internship placement):
- U.S. Citizen and age 16 or older.
- Community college, undergraduate, and graduate students with a minimum of 12 credit hours completed and a minimum GPA of 3.0/4.0 required.
- Internship is also open to motivated high school students who are performing exceptionally in science and technology courses.
- Enrolled full-time or part-time with preferred major in Geography, Technology, Civil Engineering, History or Archaeology; other majors considered.
- Recent graduates must be officially accepted into an official academic program at the next level with plans to enroll the semester immediately following the internship.
- Internship placement is contingent upon verification of all eligibility criteria.
- This program is a student internship program and is not intended for recent graduates seeking entry-level or part-time employment.
Prior GIS experience or coursework is not required although a preference will be given to candidates who have experience and coursework in ESRI software (ArcGIS) or comparable GIS and are familiar with symbols, terminology, and accepted standards and procedures in GIS and mapping.
All interns at NASA are required to undergo a background security screening. This screening will take place after selection and before placement in the internship program. Students from outside the Hampton area are responsible for their own lodging, if needed.
Application Deadline: January 31, 2010. Please visit the official website for details, including online application forms. http://vsgc.odu.edu/GISIntern/
Filed under: Higher Education, Internships, NASA, Research, STEM, Science, Student Opportunities
The Langley Aerospace Research Summer Scholars (LARSS) Program is managed for NASA by the Virginia Space Grant Consortium (VSGC) under the auspices of the National Institute of Aerospace (NIA). The LARSS Program provides paid internship opportunities year round for eligible students during spring, summer, or fall sessions. Participants gain exciting hands-on research experience while working side-by-side with NASA’s finest scientists and engineers who serve as mentors at NASA Langley Research Center.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
- U.S. Citizenship
- Full-time student status at an accredited U.S. college or university (Community College students are invited to apply; selection is contingent upon matriculation into an accredited 4-year institution.)
- Classification as a rising undergraduate junior or senior, or graduate student (master’s or doctoral level) by the start of the program
- Cumulative 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale
The 2010 summer session is scheduled for 10 weeks: Monday, June 7 – Aug 13, 2010
The deadline to apply for the summer session is February 1, 2010. Please visit the official website for details: http://www.nianet.org/larss/index.html
Filed under: Higher Education, Internships, Research, STEM, Science, Student Opportunities | Tags: Physics
The Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab offers science and engineering internships each summer. The program provides practical work experience and an introduction to APL. Students spend the summer working with APL scientists and engineers, conducting research, developing leadership skills, and growing professionally.
Eligibility:
- Engineering and science majors (predominantly EE and CS). APL typically (but not exclusively) hires rising juniors and seniors.
- US citizenship and a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (at the date of application)
- Interns my not work in the same department as a relative employee at APL
- For most positions, applicants selected will be subject to a Government security investigation and must meet the eligibility requirements for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements include US citizenship.
Applications must be received by March 31, 2010. Please visit the APL website for details: http://www.jhuapl.edu/employment/summer/
