NC Space Grant offered the following competitive NIFS Programs in this reporting cycle (Fall 2017, Spring 2018, Summer 2018): Graduate Research Fellowships, Undergraduate Research Scholarships, NASA/Industry Internships, STEM Teacher Education Scholarships, Undergraduate Scholarships, and Community College Scholarships. All of these programs engaged students in hands-on, aerospace-related research projects and activities, and facilitated the development of mentor relationships between students, faculty and the NASA community. A total of 89 students were engaged in these NCSG NIFS activities.
The Graduate and Undergraduate Research Fellows were engaged in mentor-based research at their university. The Graduate Research Fellows (12 students) and Undergraduate Research Scholars (10 students) were required to perform research under the guidance of a faculty mentor.
20 Internship awards were provided to support research at NASA or industry centers in Summer 2018 under supervision of a science mentor. 10 NASA Internships were awarded at the following NASA centers: Goddard, Marshall, Langley, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and Stennis. 4 students received NASA DEVELOP internships and conducted atmospheric and earth science research in Asheville, NC during Spring 2018 and Summer 2018 semesters. 4 cost-shared industry internships were supported at Collier Research Corporation in Hampton, VA, and RTI International in Durham, NC. An 2 additional internships were awarded for student research at the NASA Applied Physics Lab at Johns Hopkins University and the NC Museum of Natural Science Astrophysics Lab.
NC Space Grant partnered with the NC Sea Grant to offer a joint Graduate Research Fellowship Program to provide research support to graduate students across North Carolina colleges and universities. The objective of this research fellowship was to support research within North Carolina nearshore environs and coastal watersheds to address research needs and coastal issues in these areas. Research projects applied relevant measurement instruments and/or remote sensing data sources from NASA, NOAA, and other data sources. Two Fellowships (2) were awarded in the amount of $10,000 per award; the cost of the Fellowship was spilt between the Sea and Space Grant programs (NC Space Grant investment = $10,000 from higher education funds).
The STEM Pre-service Teacher Education Scholarship was a new program piloted during this reporting cycle. 7 students received an award to develop a NASA-themed product under the mentorship of a faculty member. Scholars visited NASA Langley Research Center in April 2018 to learn about educational products/services available to them.
The Undergraduate Scholarship Program facilitated interaction of freshman and sophomore students with faculty conducting NASA-related research on their campuses. Undergraduate Scholars (22 students) were engaged in a semester-long exploration of their university aerospace-related research efforts though participation in aerospace courses, tours of research laboratories, interaction with junior/senior undergraduates and graduate students working in those laboratories, and interviews with university faculty conducting cutting-edge research. The Scholarship recipients documented their experiences in a final report. This program is a bridge to the NCSG Undergraduate Research Scholarship.
The Community College Scholarship Program facilitated similar interaction for (16) second-year community college students to foster retention in STEM academic tracks through graduation or matriculation to a four-year institution. Scholars interviewed faculty and professionals in their desired professional fields.