Research & Course Content

What the Program Offers

• 8-week program at 6 Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) and 2 NASA centers
• Receive a competitive stipend, travel and housing expenses covered
• Gain hands-on research experience with the guidance of faculty and NASA research mentors
• Fly onboard NASA research aircraft
• Gain practical training in scientific research, data collection, and experimentation
• Opportunity to present at national Geoscience conferences
• Access to ongoing professional development activities, workshops, mentoring, and the SaSa community network

The MSU SASA program led by Richard Damoah (PI) and Antony Kinyua based at the physics department will draw on NASA SMD's (Science Mission Directorate's) unique assets (aircraft, aircraft sensors and experts) and MSU instruments (air quality drone, weather station, radiosonde, ceilometer), to create an effective learning environment, where students will take part in a paid summer internship for eight weeks (years 2-5). They will receive experiential learning experience delivered by NASA subject matter experts and guest lecturers, covering different topics such as basic remote sensing principles, basic atmospheric thermodynamics, atmospheric stability, and data analysis. Students will also receive professional development training including scientific abstract writing, comprehensive literature review, networking and professional presentations (oral and poster). More importantly, students will be connected to bridge programs (e.g., NASA internships, NASA Pathways, and NASA Student Airborne Research Program (SARP), and receive guidance and science counseling to keep them motivated and engaged in the Earth Science field through graduation, and ready to take the next step, including proceeding to a graduate school or taking up a STEM career.