NASA and Space Grant "Educational Opportunities"
for Higher Education
This page last updated on March 28, 2024

·  Space Exploration Fest: Feb. 9 at SDSM&T
·  2024 Project Innovation Grant (PIG) Application Guidelines (currently closed until 2025 PIG guidelines are posted here in May 2024)

        - List of 86 Project Innovation Grants from 2006-2024

·  SD Space Grant Consortium Student Fellowship/Scholarship Stipend Program.  Click here for generalized Fellowship Flyer

        - Study at the Frontiers of Space - Poster and Flyer
·  Sign up for "NASA Express": features updates from NASA and STEM associates about workshops, internships, and fellowships; applications for grants or collaborations; promotions for student and educator opportunities; online professional development; and other announcements.
·  Davis-Bahcall Scholars Program - A summer program supported in part by SD Space Grant where Davis-Bahcall Scholars spend one to two weeks digging deep into underground science and engineering at the Sanford Underground Research Facility in Lead, SD plus two to four weeks experiencing the world of modern scientific research at laboratories and universities in the U.S. and abroad (funds permitting).  This summer 2022 program is for students who, in the fall of 2022, will be a freshman or sophomore at a university in South Dakota or have a home address in South Dakota and who are at least 18 years of age.  It will be three weeks in length with no foreign travel due to COVID restrictions.

·  NASA L'SPACE Academy - The NASA Lucy Student Pathway Accelerator and Competency Enabler (L'SPACE) Program is a free, online, interactive program for students interested in pursuing a career with NASA or other space organizations. L'SPACE consists of two academies: the Mission Concept Academy and the NASA Proposal Writing and Evaluation Experience Academy. Students may participate in one academy per semester. Each 12-week academy is designed to provide unique, hands-on learning and insight into the dynamic world of the space industry. Students can expect to learn NASA mission procedures and protocols from industry professionals as they collaborate with fellow team members to complete mission-related team projects.

·  2024 Moon to Mars eXploration Systems and Habitation Academic Innovation Challenge - In collaboration with the National Space Grant Foundation, NASA is challenging university teams to develop innovative design ideas related to space habitats and deep space exploration missions. Challenge teams take part in real-world, hands-on design, research and development opportunities. Select teams will receive $20,000 to $50,000 awards to design and produce studies or functional products that bridge strategic knowledge gaps, increase capabilities, and lower technology risks related to NASA’s Moon to Mars space exploration missions. Awardees will follow a tailored systems-engineering process with projects to be completed in the May 2024 time frame.

·  SDSM&T Rocket Team competes in 2017 Spaceport America Cup
   
    2-minute GoPro video footage of launch (0:53) and parachute deployment (1:40). "Team 110" rocket is SDSM&T's rocket.

·  August 2017 Total Solar Eclipse: South Dakota Student Balloon Team
             
    SD Eclipse Balloon Team Facebook Page          Video of Moon's shadow from ~70,000 feet
·  August 2017 Total Solar Eclipse: South Dakota Student Balloon Team
·  SDSGC will support a 2023 and 2024 Solar Eclipse Ballooning Project

            NASA Center Internships and Fellowship opportunities:

·  NASA “One Stop Shopping Initiative : Student On-Line Application for Recruiting Interns, Fellows, and Scholars” (OSSI:SOLAR)
·  NASA Ames Aeromechanics Internship Program: For summer internship information click on "Student Opportunities"

·  NASA / Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) application - Summer Internships

·  NASA Space Technology Research Fellowships - (Takes a moment to download.) The NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate seeks to sponsor graduate research students pursuing or planning to pursue master’s and doctoral degrees relevant to space technology disciplines. 2017 funding up to $74,000 per year.

·  NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship (NESSF) program - This call for fellowship proposals solicits applications from accredited U.S. universities on behalf of individuals pursuing M.S. or Ph.D. degrees in Earth and space sciences, or related disciplines.

·  Lewis’ Educational and Research Collaborative Internship Program (LERCIP)

 

Aerospace Industry Internships:

 

·  L-3 Communications Internships, Co-ops, and Career Opportunities

 

Other NASA and space-related higher education opportunities:

·  Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS)  Click here for SDSM&T Chapter of SEDS
·  NASA DEVELOP National Program - DEVELOP, part of NASA’s Applied Sciences Program, addresses environmental and public policy issues by conducting interdisciplinary feasibility projects that apply the lens of NASA Earth observations to community concerns around the globe. Bridging the gap between NASA Earth Science and society, DEVELOP builds capacity in both participants and partner organizations to better prepare them to address the challenges that face our society and future generations. With the competitive nature and growing societal role of science and technology in today’s global workplace, DEVELOP is fostering an adept corps of tomorrow’s scientists and leaders.

·  Einstein Postdoctoral Fellowship Program

·  NASA Education Program

·  Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS)
·  Tribal College Journal - Provides information for everyone interested in American Indian higher education.

·  Universities Space Research Association (USRA)

·  Institute for STEM Education Enhancement at SDSU

·  FAA Design Competition for Universities - This student competition address challenges in four broad areas: Airport Operations and Maintenance, Runway Safety/Runway Incursions/Runway Excursions, Environmental Interactions of Airports, and Airport Management and Planning.
·  NASA DEVELOP -- A NASA Science Mission Directorate Applied Sciences training and development program. Students work on Earth science research projects, mentored by science advisors from NASA and partner agencies and extend research results to local communities. The projects demonstrate to community leaders how NASA science measurements and predictions can be utilized to address local policy issues.

·  NASA Science - NASA's Science Mission Directorate has launched this new Web site that provides enhanced and engaging information about NASA's vast scope of scientific endeavors and achievements.

·  "Earth Photo" Websites: 1) Earth Observatory, 2) Visible Earth, and 3) Earth Science 'Picture of the Day'

·  Hubble Space Telescope website
·  NASA funded two 2016-2018 SD "Undergraduate Student Instrumentation Project" (USIP) Projects