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National Student Funding/Research Opportunities

Wyoming Space Grant Fellowships and Scholarships

List of National Funding Opportunities:

NASA Student Opportunities Podcasts

NASA has a new education podcast series for high school and college students interested in participating in NASA learning opportunities. NASA Student Opportunities is a weekly audio podcast that features interviews with students who have received NASA internships, fellowships or scholarships. Students share their experiences and offer suggestions for students who are interested in pursuing NASA learning opportunities. The podcasts also provide information about upcoming learning opportunities and application deadlines.

Descriptions of Opportunities

NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship (NESSF)

Open to students at accredited U.S. Universities pursuing Master of Science (M.Sc.) or Doctoral (Ph.D.) degrees in Earth and Space Sciences, or related disciplines. The purpose of the NESSF is to ensure continued training of a highly qualified workforce in disciplines needed to achieve NASA's scientific goals.
Financial support for the NESSF Program comes from the Science Mission Directorate's four science divisions: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Planetary Science, and Astrophysics. Applications in any of these four areas submitted to the 2008 "HQ" portion of the Graduate Student Researchers Program sponsored by the Office of Education will be reviewed together with applications received under NESSF. For 2008/2009 academic year, approximately 50 new graduate fellowships in Earth Science, 3 in Heliophysics, 10 in Planetary Science, and 3 in Astrophysics are expected to be awarded. This program is open to all students enrolled full-time at accredited U.S. institutions; however, U.S. citizens and permanent residents will be given preference when two or more proposals are of equal scientific merit.
The maximum amount of award is $30,000 per annum beginning in the 2008/2009 academic year. The fellowship may be used to defray a student's stipend, living and educational expenses, travel expenses to scientific conferences, research supplies, tuition, fees, health insurance, and books.
Application deadline is February 1, 2008 (for new proposals), Renewal proposals (2nd & 3rd year) are due March 14, 2008.

NASA Graduate Student Research Program

The NASA Graduate Student Researchers Program (GSRP) is designed to help meet the continuing needs of the aeronautics and space effort by increasing the number of highly trained scientists and engineers in aerospace, space science, space applications and space technology.
The NASA GSRP awards fellowships for graduate study leading to research-based masters or doctoral degrees in the fields of science, mathematics, and engineering. Awards are $30,000/year (including $21,000 student stipend), renewable for up to three years. Application deadline is February 1st annually.
Also see the NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship (NESSF). Applications in the areas of Earth Science, Heliophysics, Planetary Science, and Astrophysics submitted to the "HQ" portion of the 2008 GSRP competition will be reviewed together with applications received under the 2008 NESSF competition.

NASA Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD) Fellowship

This Scholarship is for full-time graduate students who are United States citizens and are enrolled in, or have been accepted by and have indicated their intention to enroll in, accredited Masters Degree programs in aeronautical engineering or equivalent programs at institutions of higher education.
This graduate level fellowship program will be a partnership between the NASA Office of Education and the NASA Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD), and will be based on an existing NASA fellowship program—the Graduate Student Researchers Program (GSRP).
All individuals who apply for a GSRP fellowship in an aeronautical engineering or equivalent program will qualify for the Aeronautics Fellowship program. Three (3) individuals each year from this qualified group will be selected to receive the basic GSRP stipend. In addition, each of the three individuals will receive the option for a summer or 10-week internship at a NASA Center to conduct aeronautics research. The internship will include a stipend of $10,000 above the basic GSRP yearly stipend of $30,000. Each aeronautics fellowship will be provided for a maximum of two years, and will include a maximum of two years of GSRP fellowship stipend plus two summer internships with their $10,000 supplemental stipends. These stipends are to cover educational expenses such as room, board, tuition, and fees. At the conclusion of the Aeronautics Fellowship, the individual has the option to continue in the GSRP for the optional third and final year. Individuals selected for this third year after completing the Aeronautics Fellowship program must meet all GSRP program requirements for this third year.
Application deadline is February 1 annually (see also the GSRP program information).

NASA Reduced Gravity Student Flight Opportunities Program

An exciting opportunity to design and carry out an experiment in a unique microgravity (or lunar gravity) environment. Teams of undergraduate students can propose to carry out an experiment onboard the NASA C-9 flying reduced-gravity laboratory. Applications are due October annually (2008 Campaign deadline is October 31, 2007 -- application forms usually available in July).

Harriet G. Jenkins Pre-Doctoral Fellowship Program (JPFP)

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the United Negro College Fund Special Programs Corporation (UNCFSP) jointly administer Harriett G. Jenkins Pre-doctoral Fellowship Program (JPFP). JPFP annually offers a three-year fellowship (or mini research grants for 4-10 weeks) and provides outstanding opportunities for research, mentoring and networking. The goal of the program is to increase diversity and employs the best practices for advancing the number of women, minorities and disabled persons who receive graduate degrees in the NASA-related science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines and workforce. (Applicants that are accepted for the Mini Research Award Program travel to a NASA center in order to receive hands-on training in an area that is closely aligned with their research interests.)

Applicants must be U.S. citizens, and members of an underrepresented group that includes women, ethnic minorities, and disabled persons. Applicants must be applying to graduate school or within the first three years of a full-time graduate program within science, technology, engineering, or math discipline (and not currently receiving federal funding). The application deadline is in early February annually, and the start date is flexible.

NASA Ames Education Associates Program

NASA's Education Associates program offers college and university students and faculty the opportunity to experience science and technology in the unique environment of NASA. It will be a hands-on experience at a NASA center working with NASA scientists, engineers and program managers on a NASA project. The projects will run the gambit of NASA's missions -- from the space shuttle to exploring the solar system, from exploring extreme environments on earth to research aircraft. In every case, it will be an opportunity to apply classroom theory to real-world problems -- making science relevant, exciting and fun. The program also affords students with the opportunity to explore themselves and consider their futures. At the same time, NASA project leaders capture the benefits of curious minds and eager hands of these students. Perhaps the biggest benefit is that the nation will reap the benefit of a larger and better trained cadre of scientists and engineers for the future. The program is a joint effort of the NASA Ames Center and California Space Grant. Some 600 Education Associates have participated in the program working with over 250 sponsors and untold numbers of other NASA personnel. The EAs come from 119 different colleges and universities from across the nation. Nearly 10% of the participants have taken jobs with NASA or NASA contractors as a direct result of their experience. To be eligible you must be a US national or permanent alien and may be an enrolled student or a faculty member at any accredited US college or university, a postdoctoral fellow, or an active K-12 teacher. Education Associate Appointment for a minimum of 2 months and a maximum of 12 months. The program operates year round and appointments can start and stop at any time during the year. To apply – add your application to the pool of applicants online today.

Sigma Xi Grants-in-Aid of Research Program (GIAR)

The Sigma Xi Grants-in-Aid of Research program has been providing undergraduate and graduate students with valuable educational experiences for more than 80 years. The program awards grants of up to $1,000 to students from all areas of the sciences and engineering. Designated funds from the National Academy of Sciences allow for grants of up to $5,000 for astronomy research and $2,500 for vision related research. Students use the funding to pay for travel expenses to and from a research site, or for purchase of non-standard laboratory equipment necessary to complete a specific research project. While membership in Sigma Xi is not a requirement for applying for funding from the Grants-in-Aid of Research program, approximately 75% of funds are restricted for use by dues paying student members of Sigma Xi or students whose project advisor is a dues paying member of Sigma Xi. Students from any country are eligible to receive funding. Please see guidelines on Sigma Xi website for application and further information. Application Deadlines: March 15 and October 15 annually.

Gerald A. Soffen Memorial Fund Travel Grants

In the spirit of dedication to the growth of young scientists and engineers embodied by Gerald Soffen throughout his life, the Dr. Gerald A. Soffen Memorial Fund for the Advancement of Space Science Education offers Student Travel Grants. The Travel Grants are awarded to students pursuing undergraduate or graduate degrees in aerospace-related sciences or engineering fields (astrobiology, astronomy, earth and space science, engineering, etc.) to attend a meeting at which they will present their research.
You can apply by filling out the online application at the website linked above. The deadline for the first application opportunity is April 1, 2008. Notification of the award will be made approximately one month after the application deadline. Therefore, at the April deadline, the Travel Grant can only support travel to meetings with dates falling after May 1, 2008. Applications to attend meetings falling after November 1, 2008 should be submitted to the second 2008 application opportunity as we anticipate having another selection cycle with an application deadline of October 1, 2008 which can support travel to meetings with dates falling after November 1, 2008. If your meeting date falls near this November cutoff date, application submission to the April deadline is recommended.

NASA Motivating Undergraduates in Science and Technology (MUST) Scholarship

MUST awards scholarships and internships to undergraduates pursuing degrees in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. The MUST Program is open to all students and is particularly focused on engaging students from underserved and underrepresented groups in STEM fields (Women, African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans and persons with disabilities). The 2007 Application deadline was in June. (AHETEMS MUST Website.)




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