First Latino Winner of NASA Scholarship
- I am thrilled to announce that Nelson Badillo who won a scholarship at Harvard BioRobotics Lab is returning this summer to the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory through the NASA NSTGRO Fellowship. He is the first Latino to win a scholarship at NASA and will be furthering his research on extraplanetary sampling with highly extendable soft robots and providing support on the sampling system and testbed validation for JPL’s Endurance Lunar Rover project.
He strives to find unique solutions to real-world problems by utilizing soft robotics and biologically inspired systems and improving human-robot interactions and autonomous space exploration. His goal is to improve the use of robots in areas such as health, construction, logistics, and disaster response problems such as hurricanes.
At IOScholarships we are excited to see what this summer brings to our IOScholars. If you have the same dream of working at NASA, Boeing or other exciting companies take the opportunity to apply for scholarships and internships that will further your career.
NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars (NCAS)
Students participating in the NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars (NCAS) activity can expect to advance their capabilities in STEM, helping to prepare them for better representation and service in STEM fields. NCAS has three missions designed to challenge and build student knowledge and skills by focusing on NASA’s mission goals, collaboration, and career pathways.
Mission 1: Discover
A 5-week, self-paced online course.
This orientation to NASA sets a baseline for all students wishing to pursue subsequent NCAS missions. Students will gain a broad knowledge of what NASA has in its current plan and how they can play a role. STEM based activities embedded in the online course include live and recorded subject matter expert lectures, interactive multimedia on NASA content, interactions with fellow aerospace scholars, knowledge assessments including a final project, and guidance and support from trained professional educators.
Mission 2: Explore
Allows students to participate in one of two educational simulation experiences.
Exploration simulation is a gamified mission to the Moon or Mars where students develop a design solution that integrates multiple systems. This simulation highlights the acts of prioritizing and making trade-offs to remain within constraints. Career simulation situates students to take on mock roles as NASA employees to gain exposure to workplace structure and culture. This simulation highlights the personal responsibilities and team dynamics needed to accomplish a huge goal such as a lunar surface exploration mission.
Prerequisite
Must have successfully completed the most recent NCAS Mission 1: Discover
Mission 3: Innovate
An Engineering Design Challenge.
Students will participate in a week-long robotics competition with an NCAS partner institution OR a 3-week hybrid (online/onsite) capstone project at a NASA Field Center. STEM based activities for all students will include an engineering design challenge as well as facility tours, live subject matter expert presentations, a resume workshop, a networking event, a job shadowing opportunity, and a 4-year college campus visit. Students affiliated with an NCAS partner institution will participate in a robotics competition. Robotics Competition: Students affiliated with an NCAS partner institution will participate in a robotics competition. During the 4-day engagement, students collaborate with team members as a fictitious aerospace company vying for a NASA rover contract. Working in assigned roles, students utilize STEM-industry mentors to guide the rover design. Capstone Project: Students unaffiliated with an NCAS partner institution will participate in a capstone problem based on current challenges faced by NASA mission directorates. Thus, this engagement begins with online activities two weeks prior to the actual onsite event to brief students on the emerging and relevant details of the problem. Leading up to and during the 4-day onsite event, students develop possible solutions to the capstone problem and report them to a panel of NASA guest
Prerequisite
Must have successfully completed the most recent NCAS Mission 1: Discover and NCAS Mission 2: Explore
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Eligibility
Mission 1: Discover
- U.S. Citizenship
- High school graduate or equivalent
- At least 18 years of age by beginning of Mission 1: Discover.
- Currently attend a U.S. community college
- Completion or concurrent enrollment of 9+ college credits of STEM coursework
- Able to commit to a 5-week online session
- Internet access
- Have not previously participated in NCAS
Mission 2: Explore – Successful completion of previous Mission 1: Discover
Mission 3: Innovate – Successful completion of previous Mission 1: Discover and Mission 2: Explore
NASA JET Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
The JPL Summer Internship Program offers 10-week, full-time, summer internship opportunities at JPL to undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering or mathematics.
As part of their internships, students are partnered with JPL scientists or engineers, who serve as the students’ mentors. Students complete designated projects outlined by their mentors, gaining educational experience in their fields of study while also contributing to NASA and JPL missions and science. Students will also have the opportunity to participate in a number of enrichment activities, including tours, lectures and career advisement, arranged by the JPL Education Office.
Requirements:
- Currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering or mathematics disciplines from accredited U.S. universities.
- Minimum cumulative 3.00 GPA. The cumulative GPA must originate from the institution where the student has a current active status.
- Open to U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (LPRs).
- Students must be available full time (40 hours per week) for at least 10-weeks in the summer.
Details:
- Summer internships begin in May and June, on the first business day of each week.
- Participants receive a monetary award, given in monthly disbursements, for the period of the internship. Award amounts vary and are subject to change.
- Housing and travel allowances are provided only to program participants residing outside the 50-mile radius of JPL.
The New Jersey Space Grant Consortium runs a series of exciting fellowship and internship programs for students enrolled in New Jersey universities who are U.S. citizens. Our goal is to promote STEM and space science research among our college students and to encourage these students to undertake graduate study in STEM or to join the STEM workforce.
NJSGC actively invites participation from all college students in STEM fields, but especially students from underserved groups (women and the disabled), as well as from underrepresented minorities (African American, Hispanic, Native American).
For more information about exciting NASA Scholarships and Internships visit www.ioscholarships.com
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