Space Grant Opportunities

Whether you're in kindergarten, graduate school, or simply a lover of science, Space Grant and NASA have opportunities for you.

NHSGC Logo

Undergraduate and Graduate

NHSGC Affiliate Programs

UNH Space Grant Fellowships

2023 Summer/ Fall award deadline:
March 15, 2023

The New Hampshire Space Grant Consortium typically awards two fellowships per semester for research-based graduate study in NASA-related disciplines at the University of New Hampshire. NASA-related disciplines cover a broad spectrum of fields, including (but not exclusively): physics, space physics, astrophysics, science education, computer science, engineering, Earth science, and life sciences which utilize space technology and/or adopt a “planetary” view of the global environment.

Application  info


Previous award winners

MSDC Internships

Each year the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center seeks undergraduate students majoring in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM fields) to work as interns on STEM-based curricula and to serve as lead teachers in summer day camps. Applicants must be currently enrolled as undergraduate or graduate students majoring in a STEM field; at least three months’ experience in teaching and/or working with children is preferred. The ideal candidates will be self-starters with strong leadership and social skills, who enjoy working with children and who can positively challenge and encourage children to learn and explore. Due to federal funding for this program, applicants must be U.S. citizens.

MSDC website

Dartmouth Women in Science Program Research Internship Program

The WISP Research Internship Program matches undergraduate women with faculty mentors in paid, part-time research internships in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. WISP internships provide early hands-on research experience and the opportunity for mentoring from a research scientist or faculty member.

Internships last two terms (winter and spring) and interns present their work at the Karen E. Wetterhahn Science Symposium in May.

Important to note: You cannot participate in another Dartmouth research program in the same year as a WISP internship (e.g. Sophomore Research Scholars, First-Year Research Experiences in Engineering).

WISP website

CCSNH Scholarships

The NASA Space Grant Scholarship is available to part- or full-time students enrolled in a STEM certificate or degree program at any CCSNH college. Eligible students must be US Citizens and have a minimum 2.5 GPA. NASA values diversity and strongly encourages underrepresented and nontraditional students to apply. The fall award cycle opens on March 20, 2023.

Application

NASA Programs

NASA Internships

NASA STEM four-part logo

NASA STEM Engagement is a NASA-wide system for recruitment, application, selection and career development of undergraduate and graduate students primarily in science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines. Opportunities for students in other disciplines are available.

NASA Interns

University Student Research Challenge

Proposals due: Feb 23, 2023

The University Student Research Challenge (USRC) (solicitation NNH21ZEA001N-USRC2) seeks to challenge students to propose new ideas/concepts that are relevant to NASA Aeronautics. USRC will provide students, from accredited U.S. colleges or universities, with grants of up to $80,000 for their projects and with the challenge of raising cost share funds through a crowdfunding campaign. The process of creating and implementing a crowdfunding campaign acts as a teaching accelerator - requiring students to act like entrepreneurs and raise awareness about their research among the public. The solicitation goal can be accomplished through project ideas such as advancing the design, developing technology or capabilities in support of aviation, by demonstrating a novel concept, or enabling advancement of aeronautics-related technologies. Notices of Intent (NOIs) are not required for this solicitation. 

Three-page proposals for the next USRC cycle are due February 23, 2023. Proposals can also be submitted later and evaluated in the second and third cycles.

USRC Portal

JANUS GT-AE

Applications due: Feb 15, 2023

Develop the next generation of experimental thruster characterization protocols and space simulation facilities needed to develop future high-power electric propulsion technologies to propel NASA exploration missions by joining the Georgia Tech High-power Electric Propulsion Laboratory. The summer experience will include experimental testing of electric propulsion technologies, the operation of plasma diagnostics, and the operation and optimization of ground-based space simulation facilities. The research activities will focus on the ultimate goal of extrapolating ground-based measurements of high-power Hall thrusters performance, plume, and lifetime to the environment of space as part of the Joint Advanced Propulsion Institute, a NASA Space Technology Research Institute. Be a part of defining what’s next in electric propulsion!

GTI UROP

RockOn! 

Registration begins: January 23, 2023    

RockOn! is a hands-on workshop teaching participants how to create a sounding rocket experiment from scratch over a 5-day period and then launching it into space on the 6th day of the workshop. This is a team experience and takes place at Wallops. 

The workshop is designed for college students and faculty. There are no prerequisites for participants. Anything needed to be successful at the workshop will be taught at the workshop. The workshop is expected to take place from June 16th – 22nd, 2023, with launch expected on June 22, 2023. 

Team size is 3 to 4 people. Each team builds one RockOn experiment. All experiments will fly on the rocket and into space. You must sign up as a community college or university team; no individual registrations will be accepted. Please note that this year, RockOn will be limited to 20 teams. Teams will be able to apply up to the deadline, followed by a down select.

Program Site

Gateways to Blue Skies:
Clean Aviation Energy Competition

Proposals due February 28, 2023

As aircraft design and fuels change to become more environment friendly, airports, operations and overall infrastructure must also change. The Gateways to Blue Skies: Clean Aviation Energy Competition challenges teams of university-level student teams to conceptualize the source-to-flight lifecycle of a potential future clean aviation energy source, in terms of feasibility, viability, and environmental impact. By evaluating potential new energy sources and analyzing the entirety of the supply chain, teams may help determine the “clean aviation energy” source of the 2050s.

Competition Details

NASA Student Airborne Research Program (SARP):
Summer Internship for Advanced Undergraduate STEM Majors

Application deadline: January 30, 2023

The NASA Airborne Science Program announces opportunities for current undergraduate juniors to participate in a paid 8-week summer 2023 internship program (June through August) in Earth system science using a research aircraft to collect data. Participants will acquire hands-on research experience in all aspects of a scientific campaign, including flying onboard a research aircraft and engage with ground observations and satellite data.

Program Details

For many more opportunities, please visit NASA's STEM Engagement page

NASA Logo

Forms

UNH Space Grant-funded student demographic/tracking data form

To be filled out by UNH students who have received funding from NH Space Grant for fellowships, internships, and student work. Does not include funding for travel.

UNH Space Grant-funded student data form for travel funding only

To be filled out by UNH students who have received funding from NH Space Grant for travel reimbursement. For all other funding, use the previous form .

Faculty

UNH NHSGC Travel Funding Request Form

Requests for funding for student travel should be submitted by a UNH-Durham faculty advisor/mentor. A separate application is required for each student. The funds can be utilized only for reasonable and necessary travel expenses: lodging and per diem (as per GSA limits), and travel conveyance (airplane, bus, train, etc). Funding may not, however, be used for vehicle rentals. Only students who are US citizens are eligible for travel reimbursement through the NHSGC travel grant.

NASA NSPIRES

Supporting research in science and technology is an important part of NASA's overall mission. NASA solicits this research through the release of various research announcements in a wide range of science and technology disciplines. NASA uses a peer review process to evaluate and select research proposals submitted in response to these research announcements. Researchers can help NASA achieve national research objectives by submitting research proposals and conducting awarded research.

K-12/Outreach

NASA Educator Resources for NH

The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center serves as New Hampshire's NASA Educator Resource.

NASA STEM Education  

Explore opportunities, media, lesson plans, citizen science opportunities, and much more! 

CCSNH E-Start

NH High School juniors and seniors can take online courses for high school and college credit through the Community College System of NH's eStart program.

CCSNH Running Start

The Running Start program enables high school students to take community college courses for dual high school AND college credit. Courses offered through the Running Start program are college courses taught at high schools by teachers who have college-level teaching credentials and use a college syllabus and course materials. These courses are taken as part of the daily class schedule.

Mount Washington Observatory: Teacher Development Programs

Mount Washington Observatory is excited to continue our popular Arctic Wednesdays professional development program this winter, introducing teachers and students to the arctic landscape of Mount Washington, often dubbed the “Home of the World’s Worst Weather.” On select Wednesdays between January and March, teachers can apply to join our weather observers on their snowy commute to the Mount Washington Observatory.

Mount Washington Observatory: Virtual Classroom

Connect live via Zoom to the highest peak in the Northeastern US, Mount Washington, New Hampshire, as Weather Observers and Education Specialists at the non-profit Mount Washington Observatory present a virtual program called “Home of the World’s Worst Weather Live.” Geared towards students in grades 6-8.

Mount Washington Observatory: Distance Learning

AN EDUCATIONAL EXPEDITION TO THE HOME OF THE WORLD'S WORST WEATHER
Distance learning utilizes live, interactive video conferencing technology, allowing us to bring the science and excitement of Mount Washington anywhere in the world.

Governor's STEM/CTE Scholarship

High school students can take up to two dual credit courses per year for FREE in STEM / Career and Technical Education fields. , through a scholarship program through the State of NH. It’s easy to register and have the $150 cost per course waived.

New Hampshire Astronomical Society

New Hampshire's Solar System Ambassadors, the NH Astronomical Society, offers sky watches in partnership with several of our NHSGC affiliates.

STEM Enhancement in Earth Science (SEES) 

A nationally competitive STEM program for high school students, the program provides selected students with exposure to Earth and space research. Interns will learn how to interpret NASA satellite data while working with scientists and engineers in their chosen area of work.

Application deadline: February 20, 2023 

NASA Current Opportunities for Educators 

Updated frequently, with hundreds of links to primary, secondary, and post-secondary educational content.

Computational Astronomy: A Universe of Calculations

 Offered by South Dakota Mines, an online workshop for middle and high school science and math teachers. During the workshop, the math and science teacher participants will learn about the mathematical applications used in astronomy and space exploration, with the goal of being able to use that knowledge in their classrooms. Through carefully selected materials, the workshop will emphasize the connections between mathematics and space science. Lesson plans for the middle and high school classroom will be developed for courses such as math, physical science, and biology. Course is worth one graduate credit. 

NASA Resources and Links

Citizen Science Opportunities

For a full list, please visit https://science.nasa.gov/citizenscience

NASA Globe Cloud Gaze

Would you like to help NASA scientists advance their understanding of Earth’s atmosphere and climate from the comfort of your own home? Become an armchair cloud expert and help NASA scientists along the way.

Cloud Gaze

Be a Backyard Meteorologist

You can make a real contribution to science -- all you have to do is join the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow Network—CoCoRaHS. You will join thousands of volunteers across the country who take daily measurements of precipitation (rain, hail, or snow) from their location. 

Backyard Meteorology

GLOBE Observer

GLOBE Observer is an international network of citizen scientists and scientists working together to learn more about our shared environment and changing climate. GLOBE Observer currently accepts observations of Clouds, Mosquito Habitats, Land Cover and Trees with planned expansion to other types of data in the future.

Globe Observer

Selected media

NASA Image of the Day

A daily dose of awe-inspiring space, science, technology, and human-interest imagery, with deeper links to help you understand exactly what you're seeing.

Gallery

NASA Live

Tune in and you may see: ISS station views and spacewalks; satellite and mission launches; in-flight-education; historical features; lectures; and space news. There's always something fascinating on!

NASA Live

NASA Podcasts

From longform interviews with astronauts and engineers to narrative shows that take you on a tour of the galaxy, NASA’s diverse podcast portfolio lets you experience the thrill of space exploration without ever leaving Earth.

Podcasts

NASA Centers and Field Facilities