MSGC 2026 Award Recipients
The tables below show all MSGC award recipients for 2026.
Undergraduate Research Grants
| Name | Affiliate | Project Title | Abstract |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beam, Ryan | Grand Valley State University | Modeling Multi-messenger White Dwarf Binaries Within The Milky Way | Multi-messenger astronomy is a new and promising area in astrophysics where the same phenomenon is seen using multiple methods. In this project, we examine binary systems of dense stellar core remnants known as white dwarfs, which may be seen both in the electromagnetic spectrum as light and in gravitation as gravitational waves. Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) is a future gravitational wave detector set to launch in 2034 that will use laser interferometry to measure low frequency gravitational waves. In preparation for LISA observation, one can simulate these binary systems numerically to accurately predict observational expectations. This project will use a software suite known as COSMIC to generate initial white dwarf populations, which will then be reduced to populations of only observable multi-messengers using custom-made Python scripts. Once properly reduced, the populations will be analyzed using various plots, graphs, and statistical analysis techniques to inform on important and unforeseen characteristics. |
| Benckhuysen, Syann | Calvin University | Wooded Dunes as Tick Habitats | Recent research shows high tick populations in wooded dunes on the coast of Lake Michigan, but there are questions about why some dune sites that are very close to each other have very different tick densities. This study investigates wooded dunes as tick habitats by collecting data on various dune characteristics at locations with known tick populations. By selecting sampling sites in 4-6 coastal parks in Ottawa and Allegan Counties, the study will expand on previous datasets. At each location, we will examine leaf litter, soil type, soil moisture content, relative humidity, vegetation, and forest type and age. Data will be analyzed with a specific focus on features that studies in other environments have shown to be correlated with tick populations. This research could help increase awareness of what kinds of areas ticks are currently located in, and where tick populations might move with the changing climate. |
| Brunton, Hannah | Eastern Michigan University | Deformational Sandbox Modeling | The deformational sandbox is a tool that can be used to model geologic processes that occur on the plate boundary scale, both on Earth and other planets. Such analog models enhance critical thinking, expand on the prior knowledge of geoscience students, and provide a hands-on approach to reinforcing concepts learned in class. My aim is to implement a deformational sandbox model and develop associated laboratory assignments for use in an introductory geology course and an upper-level structural geology course at Eastern Michigan University. Lab activities will be designed to develop students’ spatial thinking and their understanding of variables that impact plate tectonic boundaries. Geoscience is the future, with a comprehensive knowledge of the dynamic Earth systems we can inspire its future explorers. |
| Celeste, Jennifer | Michigan Technological University | Retrieval-Augmented Compact Language Model for Porous Acoustic Metamaterials | Since ChatGPT’s release in 2022, general-purpose large language models (LLMs) have been increasingly adopted as AI assistants, though their effectiveness in specialized scientific domains remains limited. While domain-specific LLMs, such as BloombergGPT for finance or Med-PaLM 2 for healthcare, address these limitations, their training costs and data requirements remain substantial. This project proposes developing a compact, domain-specific language model tailored to porous acoustic metamaterials. Our method involves continual pre-training using targeted acoustics textbooks and research papers, followed by supervised fine-tuning with domain-specific question-answer pairs. To ensure accuracy and relevance, the model will utilize retrieval-augmented generation, dynamically accessing an external knowledge base of recent technical resources. By reducing model size and training complexity, we aim to enable local deployment, enhancing privacy and allowing researchers to customize the model for specific subfields. This work demonstrates a practical approach to creating lightweight, domain-focused language assistants that support research and innovation in acoustic metamaterials. |
| Dragoi, Danielle | Oakland University | N-Heterocyclic Carbene Adducts as Emission Turn-On Chemical Sensors: Synthesis and Application | The hydrogen bond is one of the most well-understood interactions in physical and biological sciences, shaping the properties of water, the structure of DNA, and numerous biological functions. Among the strongest intermolecular forces, hydrogen bonds are a valuable means to stabilize reactive/unstable chemical species. N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) – a central component in organic, inorganic, and materials chemistry – represent a neutral carbon center known to react under ambient conditions with carbon dioxide and alcohol-containing species, including water. It can be difficult to incorporate these reactive species into synthetic methods or as components in sensing materials because of their instability. Stabilization of NHCs via non-traditional hydrogen bonding with secondary amines has been observed, allowing for storage of these active molecules. We propose that functionalizing carbazoles can tune the strength of these hydrogen bonds, and thus act as a turn-on luminescent sensor for carbene release in CO2 and ROH saturated atmosphere. |
| Groneck, Ryan | Michigan State University | Searching for the Youngest Hot Jupiters to Constrain their Formation Timescales | No Hot Jupiter (HJ) Exoplanets have yet been found orbiting young stars with ages less than 1 Gyr, leaving questions of how HJs form unanswered. To resolve this, I am developing a pipeline to detect new HJs orbiting young stars. Stellar Rotation Period measurements can be used to fit and remove stellar variability from light curves, while preserving potential transits. This summer, with the support of MSGC, I will create/train a new Neural Network to measure rotation periods from TESS photometry, increasing the speed and effectiveness of the pipeline and making it scalable to our sample of 70,000 young stars. My project aligns with NASA’s 2022 Strategic Plan’s Discovery goal in approaching the problem of constraining HJ formation timescales, answering broader questions of planetary system formation. In alignment with NASA’s commitment to Transparent, Inclusive, Accessible, and Reproducible science, my pipeline will be publicly available and fully documented on GitHub. |
| Hatfield, McKenzie | Eastern Michigan University | Pairing Schmidt Hammer and 10Be data: Validating a terrestrial analog for inferring geomorphology processes on Mars | A Schmidt hammer (SH) is a non-destructive device that measures the hardness of rock surfaces. This tool is field-tested for Martian Rovers and can withstand harsh environments, but interpreting geochronological meaning from SH data remains challenging. I address this challenge in this proposed work by requesting funds to acquire 10Be exposure age data from the inferred top and bottom of glacial erratics in Michigan that have been moved from their original locations to analyze in relation to SH data. This project establishes a terrestrial test case to link the hardness of glacial erratic rock surfaces with their known glacial history. This provides a framework to help better understand the geomorphology and geochronology of rocks on other planetary bodies, essential for NASA's ongoing and future missions. The methodology used here can be easily adapted and scaled for robotic spacecraft to efficiently characterize the geology of diverse planetary surfaces during exploration. |
| Haywood, Kiana | Central Michigan University | Examining Heat Acclimation as a Potential Strategy to Preserve Hemodynamics in Microgravity | Background: In microgravity, the upward shift alters hemodynamics by reducing plasma volume and heart morphology. Further strain is placed on the cardiovascular system from thermoregulatory demands of elevated space shuttle temperatures, often reaching 27°C. Heat acclimation increases plasma volume and improves thermal tolerance, suggesting it may serve as a countermeasure to mitigate spaceflight hemodynamics. Purpose: Using a repeated measures longitudinal study design, we will determine if short-term heat acclimation enhances cardiovascular stability during simulated weightlessness in a warm environment. Methods: Ten healthy males and females (20-46 years) will be recruited for this investigation. Participants will complete three identical tilt table tests (to mimic hemodynamic response to microgravity). Trials will all take place within a week of each other (a familiarization trial, baseline trial and a post 5-day heat acclimation trial). Hemodynamics (i.e., heart rate, blood pressures, ECG, oxygen saturation, plasma volume) will be assessed continuously throughout the tilt test. |
| Ibrahim, Sarah | Oakland University | Twinning with Carbene-Copper-Carbazolides: Bicarbazole-Centered Luminescent Materials | One of the central goals of novel technological development is to reduce production costs while maximizing performance. At the forefront of this area of research are organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), which are now a core display technology due to reduction in production costs and their efficient use of power by utilizing organometallic compounds. Among the most common luminescent organometallic species are the carbene–metal–amido (CMA) complexes, which utilize π-expanded ligands with Earth-abundant metals to achieve tunable emission. The resulting emission is typically attributed to ligand-to-ligand charge transfer (LLCT) upon excitation. Recently, our research group has identified that carbazole units with peripheral substituents can yield CMA complexes exhibiting blue emission. In this proposal, we aim to explore whether dimerizing the carbazole to form bicarbazole can shift the observed emission properties with the hope of application in high efficiency emitters such as optoelectronic applications. |
| Kopiwoda, Christopher | Michigan State University | Developing Optical Traveling Zone Methods for Controlled Growth ff Thermoelectric Single Crystals | Radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) provide reliable power for NASA missions operating in low solar environments, but current thermoelectric materials such as SiGe and PbTe-TAGS are limited by grain boundary scattering and reduced efficiency. This project investigates single crystal growth of Bi2Se3 and Bi2Te3 thermoelectric materials using an optical traveling zone (OTZ) method to improve structural and transport properties. By systematically varying ampule geometry, translation rate, and temperature gradient, the research aims to establish how growth conditions influence crystal quality. Crystals will be characterized using x-ray diffraction, laser flash analysis, and resonant ultrasound spectroscopy to correlate synthesis parameters with microstructure and physical properties. Results will provide insight into controlled single crystal growth and contribute to the development of higher efficiency thermoelectric materials for long duration NASA missions and sustainable space power systems. |
| Martin, Aiden | Oakland University | System-Level Modeling and Optimization of a Closed-Loop Oxygen Recovery Cycle for Space Life Support | This project will model and optimize a closed-loop oxygen recovery system for space habitats, building on the NASA-supported Sabatier and methane pyrolysis cycle. Using an open-source codebase, we will simulate how process conditions and reactor parameters affect overall oxygen recovery, hydrogen yield, and carbon product characteristics across integrated subsystems (water electrolysis, carbon dioxide reduction, methane pyrolysis). The modular approach will enable assessment of mass balance, scenario optimization, and flow visualization, all of which are crucial to next-generation Environmental Control and Life Support Systems (ECLSS). All work will be completed in Summer 2026, focusing on accessible visualization, scenario-based analysis, and clear communication of results for NASA’s future missions. Deliverables include sensitivity analyses and graphics suitable for dissemination to MSGC and NASA. The project aligns with NASA’s goals in sustainable long-duration human spaceflight and will provide valuable research training for the undergraduate fellow. |
| Niemiec, Aiden | Michigan State University | Study of Abnormal Grain Growth in Cu, Cu-Cr and Cu-Cr-Zr Systems | Anomalous grain growth (AGG), also known as Abnormal Grain Growth, is a phenomenon observed in crystalline materials during thermomechanical processing (TMP). It occurs when a small number of grains grow rapidly at the expense of surrounding finer grains, leading to a distinct disparity in grain sizes. Unlike normal grain growth where all grains coarsen uniformly and produce a unimodal grain size distribution, AGG results in a bimodal or multimodal distribution. The smaller grains in the matrix remain largely unchanged while the abnormally large grains continue to grow, significantly altering the microstructure and properties of the material. Often, AGG is considered undesirable as this behavior leads to microstructural instability and degrades strength, ductility, toughness, creep and fatigue life of components, all of which must be avoided in manufacturing for aerospace applications. Thus, understanding the mechanisms and mitigation strategies for AGG is essential for optimizing copper processing in aerospace manufacturing. |
| Nwobu, Christian | University of Michigan | Developing Visible Light Communication-Based Pose Detection for On-Site Coordination of Space Swarming Drones | This project aims to develop a visible light communication (VLC)-integrated onsite pose detection system tailored for space swarming drones [1], leveraging insights from a prior vision-based drone pose detection study focused on near-Earth scenarios. The prior work established foundational low-cost pose estimation feasibility, while this research will innovate by adapting and integrating VLC modules to counter space-specific electromagnetic interference, enabling real-time collaborative positioning and data transmission. Aligned with NASA’s “advancing space exploration technology” goal, the student will lead algorithm optimization and space environment simulation testing. Expected outcomes include a space-adapted technical prototype and performance validation report, laying critical groundwork for drone swarm deployment in deep-space missions. |
| Reynolds, Rigel | Calvin University | Contact Binary Star Spectroscopy on High Mass Ratio Targets | Contact binary stars are pairs of stars that orbit so closely they share a common atmosphere. The more massive star is the primary (M₁), with the other being the secondary (M₂); their mass ratio, q = M₂ / M₁, is key to describing the system's evolution. Molnar et al. proposed that thermally stable contact binaries rarely have q > 0.7, remaining in this state for less than 10⁸ years after contact. Light-curve analyses of ~700 systems by Kobulnicky (2022) generally support this model, though contamination from a third star can bias q upward. Spectroscopic observations can overcome this bias by directly measuring radial velocities, calculating q, and identifying third light. In fall 2025, Rigel assisted in obtaining spectra of 36 systems with collaborators at the University of Wyoming. During summer 2026, he will analyze these spectra to test Molnar’s model and search for new correlations among high-q contact binaries. |
| Russell, Charley | Michigan State University | Exploring the Potential to use Bio-Mining to Sustainably Extract Metals from Martian Regolith | Over the past few decades, humankind has carried out exploration of our solar system like never before. Critical metals are needed for technology and potential catalytic processes. When exposed to water, iron-rich ultramafic rocks undergo serpentinization, a hydrating and low-grade metamorphic process. This reaction creates minerals with high concentrations of Ni, Cr, and Co and holds potential for supporting microbial communities. Mars has evidence of serpentinization-associated minerals found in regions such as the Nili Fossae. The goal of the project is to understand microbe-metal interactions in serpentinites and the extraction of metals from serpentinites and Mars regolith simulant to examine the potential for in-situ resourcing. To address this goal, Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) will be used to identify the metals released, and high throughput culturing and biochemical assays will be used to understand the mechanisms used by microbes to metabolize metals necessary for future space exploration. |
| Sanchez Maldonado, Perla | Western Michigan University | Enhancing the Performance Efficiency of a Miniaturized Coaxial Ion Trap Mass Analyzer for Planetary Exploration Applications | The ability to provide NASA with compact, lightweight, and robust instruments capable of rapid in situ chemical measurements can have profound implications related to planetary exploration applications. Recently our lab designed, fabricated, and experimentally characterized the first miniature simplified coaxial ion trap (SCIT) mass spectrometer composed of a rectilinear ion guide (RIG), a high-capacity simplified toroidal ion trap (STorIT), and a cylindrical ion trap (CIT). While characterizing the prototype SCIT system it was discovered the STorIT component would slowly leak ions resulting in low ion storage efficiency. SIMION simulation studies have discovered the source and mechanisms responsible for these observed ion losses. Currently, simulation studies are examining alternative electrode designs in order to resolve this low ion storage efficiency issue. The work proposed here will design, fabricate, and experimentally characterize of the new electrode geometry determined from the simulation effort. A critical comparison between simulation and experiment will be conducted. |
| Slagter, Andrew | Calvin University | Multi-media Strategic Communications Summer Intern with Plaster Creek Stewards | Plaster Creek Stewards (PCS) is an initiative of Calvin University working to return health and beauty to Plaster Creek, known as the most contaminated waterway in West Michigan. PCS places strong emphasis on community outreach and education, typically conducted by staff through personal contact with residents, schools, and houses of worship. This project will enhance that outreach through multimedia storytelling by producing a video series highlighting the PCS summer Green Team program and providing a virtual overview of the watershed. By embedding within the program, I will familiarize myself with its participants, projects, and collective impact to create narrative-driven videos. In collaboration with PCS program manager Andrea Lubberts, I will also produce three to five short videos to strengthen education and engagement across the watershed. These materials will inform and inspire community participation in restoration efforts and serve as lasting resources for PCS’s ongoing outreach. |
| Snyder, Wyatt | Hope College | Exploring Stability of Basin Personalities in LLMs using Personality Trait-Specific Prompt Nudging | This project investigates the dynamics of personality traits in LLMs by modeling them as differential equations to quantify the stability of personalities and the perturbation required to shift them. The research will first replicate prior work measuring LLM personality traits across prompts using standard psychology instruments and model prompting. Using large-scale prompt-response datasets, the study will assess the reliability and sensitivity of trait measurements across varying contexts, validating them through internal, convergent, and external validity tests. The focus will then shift to modeling personality stability as a dynamical system, identifying key dimensions—whether individual traits or reduced embeddings—and estimating how starting personalities constrain persona shifts. Controlled prompt changes will reveal how personality traits evolve, generating time series data for dynamic modeling. The resulting framework will provide insight into the structure, stability, and dynamics of LLM personalities, contributing to a mechanistic understanding of model behavior and potential alignment strategies. |
| Tatari, Jakob | Wayne State University | Protein-Ligand Conjugates for Rare Earth Metal Capture | Rare-earth metals, such as lanthanides, are crucial components of modern-day technologies. However, even in the modern day, there are only inefficient, wasteful, and expensive extraction methods. For this reason, protein conjugation with chelating agents that have affinity for capturing lanthanides and rare-earth metals is being investigated as a solution to this age-old problem. The goal is to attach polyaminocarboxylate ligands to protein products from the food industry to extract metals such as europium from sources such as coal-fly ash. We aim to investigate protein-ligand conjugates binding and selectivity to explore the capture efficiencies of these systems. |
| TenHuisen, Susannah | Calvin University | Drivers of Dune Formation: Initiation by Beach Grass Versus Woody Debris | Shadow dunes and incipient foredunes are precursors to foredunes and larger dune types on Lake Michigan’s southeastern coast. Despite being the first step in dune formation, there has been little comparison of different obstacles that create shadow dunes. This project investigates Ammophila Breviligulata (American beach grass) versus woody debris as initiators of dune formation. The study, to be conducted in PJ Hoffmaster State Park, has three main objectives and respective research methods, which are listed as follows: (1) Compare shadow dunes initiated by Ammophila versus woody debris via measurement of surface characteristics at 24 sites, (2) Analyze the surface cover patterns of vegetation versus woody debris via mapping and geospatial analysis, and (3) Determine the impact of Ammophila versus woody debris on incipient foredune formation via measurement of surface characteristics and mapping. Project results will provide meaningful insights into how dunes form in response to lake level changes. |
| Valdes, Caroline | Hope College | Radiation-Tolerant Halide Perovskite Nanocrystals for Space Photonic Applications | Unlike the commonplace silicon-based semiconductors, lead halide perovskite semiconductors are resistant to radiation present in space due to self-healing properties and can be adhered to flexible surfaces. Bulk halide perovskite semiconductors are well researched, but halide perovskite nanocrystals and their radiation tolerance is largely unexplored. Research would consist of synthesizing cesium lead bromide nanocrystals of varying sizes. The optoelectrical properties of the crystals will be evaluated through spectroscopy and irradiated with either UV light or the in-house particle accelerator to mimic space-like radiation conditions. The optoelectrical properties will be reevaluated to see how they withstand radiation. This research serves the students goal of attending graduate school for materials science and a career in development of materials for space exploration. |
| Van Wyngarden, Zach | Calvin University | Harnessing the Explosion in Time-Domain Astronomy for Contact Binary Studies | Contact binary stars, two hydrogen-burning stars so close together that they share a common atmosphere, represent nearly one percent of all solar-type stars, making them common and long-lived. Despite their prevalence, no fully consistent theoretical framework yet explains their structure, evolution, and catastrophic endpoints. Our group is developing a comprehensive theory of contact binaries that accounts for both mass and energy transfer. To test and refine this theory, we propose an observational and computational study leveraging large-scale, time-domain data sets (ATLAS, ASAS-SN, Vera Rubin Observatory). We will apply advanced time-series analysis to identify, classify, and characterize contact binaries, correct for dust extinction, and determine orbital period derivatives. These data will enable population-level comparisons with theoretical predictions and help identify systems nearing tidal instability, likely precursors to luminous red novae. |
| Velez Lewis, Lily | Michigan State University | Effect of Spin Transition on the Elastic Properties of Bridgmanite | Among thousands of exoplanets, several of them are expected to be rocky bodies larger than Earth and determining their habitability and geological similarities to Earth depends on modeling the dynamics of their rocky mantles. Bridgmanite is the most abundant mineral in the Earth’s lower mantle and is expected to define a layer in rocky planetary bodies bigger than Mars. Measuring physical properties of this mineral is complicated by an electronic spin transition in iron driven by planetary interior pressures. This research will test whether change in bonding for low spin iron in bridgmanite can be observed underusing Raman spectroscopy. By understanding the elastic properties of bridgmanite at extreme pressures, scientists can model all rocky bodies in our universe that are large enough to have a lower mantle. |
| Webber, Ethan | Calvin University | Using MESA to unlock the interior structure of the secondary star in a contact binary system | Contact binary star systems consist of stars orbiting so closely they share a common envelope. Their life cycle is a long-standing problem. Molnar’s team found the structure of the primary (more massive) star drives the interaction between the stars (gradual transfer of mass from the secondary star). This yields the distribution of orbital periods and mass ratios. The mechanism of mass transfer lies in the secondary structure. The secondary is embedded in the outer layers of the primary, so the boundary condition is key. Our group is using the MESA code to study this. Its energy sharing option imposes one condition. A second boundary condition must be imposed, the temperature of the envelope. The goal of this project is to modify MESA to enable this interaction and to use the result to determine from first principles the thickness of the envelope, a prediction that can be tested against observations. |
| Welch, Allie | Saginaw Valley State University | Partial energy harvesting study utilizing adjustable solar cage | As one renewable energy source, solar energy has been widely used across the globe. As one safe and inexpensive source, it is expanding in more areas. However, solar plants are using up land or water areas. Many of the large solar plants are located in barren or desert areas whereas the others are in cultivable lands. To strike a balance between power and food production, co-farming, where both energy harvesting and farming coexist—agrovoltaics, is emerging as a new method of farming. The quantitative analysis of how one impacts the other is limited. To study in this emerging area, solar cages have been built. The primary focus of this study is to explore sustainable partial energy harvesting utilizing the cage and provide a quantitative result of the energy where the remaining energy inside the cage can potentially support a biological system. |
| Wurtsmith, Nolan | Central Michigan University | Advanced Modeling of X-ray Spectroscopy for Massive Stars | Massive stars are characterized by strong outflows, or winds, that can shed a significant portion of their mass over their lifetime, affecting their evolution, end stages, and remnants (neutron stars or black holes). One particularly useful diagnostic to measure the properties of these winds is X-ray spectroscopy, as strong distributed shocks occur within these winds, leading to the emission of X-rays. In particular, the ratio of components of Helium-like lines can provide information about where the shocks occur within the winds. However, current models don’t account for the contribution of dielectronic recombination lines, that overlap with Helium-like lines and modify the measured component ratios. Therefore, we aim to fit X-ray spectra of massive stars with revised models accounting for the effect of dielectronic recombination lines to test how the inferred properties of the winds differ when compared to results from previous models. |
Graduate Fellowships
| Name | Affiliate | Project Title | Abstract |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chen, Xingzhi | University of Michigan | Characterizing Arctic Aerosol Chemical Composition, Size, and Sources, and their Contributions to Cloud Formation | Loss of multi-year sea and glacial ice and decreasing first-year sea ice extent impact the Arctic radiative budget. The Arctic radiative budget remains uncertain, partially due to unconstrained aerosol-cloud interactions and limited knowledge of the aerosol sources. For example, both mineral dust and sea spray aerosols interact with solar and infrared radiation and can function as ice-nucleating particles or cloud condensation nuclei, thereby affecting cloud microphysics, precipitation, and lifetime. During the 2024 NASA Arctic Radiation-Cloud-Aerosol-Surface Interaction Experiment (ARCSIX) based out of Pituffik, Greenland, an aircraft-aerosol time-of-flight mass spectrometer (A-ATOFMS) measured individual aerosols both in clear air and as cloud droplet/ice residuals. The resulting single-particle mass spectra provide chemical composition and size of individual aerosol particles, enabling particle typing (for comparison to remote sensing products) and source identification. This single-particle research is improving our understanding of the contributions of varying aerosol sources to cloud formation and the Arctic radiation budget. |
| DuCheny, Gabrielle | Michigan Technological University | Freeze-Assisted Additive Manufacturing of Renewable Architected Materials for Aerospace Applications | Controllable Porous and Anisotropic Materials are important in many situations, from working with acoustics in addition to possible applications in thermal dissipation and directional airflow resistance. In order to study acoustic interactions in these materials, I will look at the 3D printing of cellulose inks using freeze 3D printing. These inks will be printed into highly porous and anisotropic samples and tuned by varying printing parameters. The finished samples can be characterized to determine how different print parameters affect the properties. The material behavior can also be characterized to help understand how anisotropy and microstructure in materials affect acoustic wave interactions. This Project directly builds on existing research, and all of the systems and materials needed will be provided by Dr. Sharma’s lab at Michigan Tech. |
| Elizondo, Emily | Michigan State University | From Rings to Planets: Modeling Debris Generation & Evolution in Terrestrial Planet Formation | Many Terrestrial planet formation models successfully reproduce planets of correct masses and orbits but differ in the number and intensity of giant impacts. Each impact generates debris, yet most models assume perfect merging and neglect debris production and evolution. This incomplete treatment of imperfect accretion leaves a gap in understanding how mass loss and material redistribution shape planetary growth. Recent studies suggest that starting from one or more narrow rings of planetesimals and embryos can reproduce key features of the solar system, but these models also omit debris evolution. I propose to model terrestrial planet formation staring from one or two rings using the N-body integrator SyMBA, incorporating imperfect accretion and an evolutionary model for impact debris. These simulations will track debris production, distribution, and mass loss, providing a more realistic view of how vaporization and re-accretion influenced the growth and final architecture of the inner solar system. |
| Hendrickson, Nicholas | Michigan Technological University | Analysis of WAAM in Reduced Gravity for In-Space Repair | In-space manufacturing and repair are critical towards the success and survival of the US space program. Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM), which involves metal 3D printing through welding layer-by-layer, has the potential to be used for in-space repair applications in the event of spacecraft mechanical malfunction or failure. While prior studies have examined individual welds in microgravity, the layer-by-layer stack-up mechanics of WAAM in microgravity has yet to be explored. This Graduate Fellowship proposal aims to systematically evaluate WAAM performance in simulated reduced gravity environments using our existing WAAM robotic and metrology cell. Specifically, the flow patterns and resulting geometry shapes of representative test artifacts will be compared between reduced gravity and standard gravity environments. This research will further my dissertation in hybrid additive-subtractive manufacturing for robotic in-space manufacturing and my career interests to pursue a research-active faculty role in academia. |
| Hogan, Carol | Michigan State University | Using the Deep Biosphere in Michigan as an Analog to Understand Extraterrestrial Environments | Earth’s subsurface is an extreme environment where pressure and temperature increase with depth, and nutrients and energy sources are limited. Microbial life has been detected in such environments, however, the limit to life has yet to be fully explored. Michigan has unique geology including >5 km of sedimentary rocks, Precambrian bedrock, brines, and the Mid-Continent Rift where deep energy sources may be percolating upwards. In this study, groundwater will be collected from deep wells (>1,000 m) and used to sequence microbial DNA. Additionally, rock cores will be studied for records of organic carbon or other biomarkers. This harsh environment can provide insights into subsurface habitable zones on other planets and moons. This topic is important for expanding the knowledge of the limits of life and adaptations in Michigan’s deep biosphere, and investigating how biomarkers may be preserved and transformed, gaining further understanding of the Earth system through time. |
| Jamal, Saima | University of Michigan | AERONAUT: Adaptive Expandable Robot Operations for Navigating Uncharted Terrains | AERONAUT, is an inflatable robotic platform for lunar and Martian exploration that overcomes reliance on tethered air sources and slow actuation speeds common in “soft”-robotic systems. AERONAUT integrates high-pressure fabric links that function as both structural members and onboard pneumatic reservoirs, or pneumatic capacitors, enabling lightweight, untethered mobility. By coupling pneumatic storage and actuation, AERONAUT establishes an energy-on-demand framework that provides higher actuation bandwidth: while the onboard pump supplies ~2.4 L/min at 45 psig to recharge the reservoirs, downstream microvalves provide up to 13 L/min at 45 psig directly from stored energy, enabling rapid, high-force actuation. The system is validated through three objectives: (1) refining modular fabrication of inflatable links and actuators, (2) characterizing gait performance in granular analog terrains, (3) modeling thermal/pneumatic behavior under lunar and Martian conditions. This work advances deployable pneumatic robotic systems toward closed-loop, energy-storage-based-autonomous platforms capable of long-duration planetary operation. |
| Jensen, Samuel | Michigan Technological University | Magnetometry and Meteorites: Developing Drone-Based Techniques with a Case Study from Lake Leelanau | Meteorite recovery provides valuable insights into planetary formation, impact processes, and the composition of solar system materials, yet locating buried or submerged meteorites remains challenging. This project aims to advance drone-based magnetometry as a high-resolution geophysical technique for detecting meteorites and similar small ferromagnetic targets. As a test case, we will apply these methods to the historic 1879 Leelanau bolide event in northern Michigan, where an impact feature was reported but no meteorite was recovered. The study will develop optimized survey design and magnetic data processing workflows to evaluate detection limits and field performance. The broader goal is to establish drone magnetometry as an effective tool for near-surface meteoritic research and planetary analog studies, with potential applications to in-situ resource exploration and subsurface investigations on Earth and other planetary bodies. |
| Klang, Grace | Western Michigan University | Investigation into Advanced Hall Effect Thruster Spark and Arc Event Mitigation and Prevention | This research investigates spark and arc event mitigation in Hall-effect thrusters (HETs), critical plasma instabilities that threaten the performance and reliability of high-power electric propulsion systems. These transient discharge events can extinguish plasma or induce damaging voltage surges, compromising mission safety for spacecraft operating in lunar and deep-space environments, as observed in NASA’s Advanced Electric Propulsion System (AEPS). To address this, a reconfigurable small HET will be designed, fabricated, and tested at Western Michigan University’s Aerospace Laboratory for Plasma Experiments (ALPE), replicating AEPS-like configurations to study the onset and behavior of spark and arc events under controlled conditions. This work will establish diagnostic systems for high-speed data acquisition, develop methods for inducing and characterizing discharge instabilities, and evaluate mitigation strategies to enhance thruster resilience. The outcomes will advance NASA’s 2022 Strategic Plan objectives by enabling more reliable and technologically advanced electric propulsion for sustained lunar and deep-space operations. |
| Leland, Mari | Michigan Technological University | Assessment of Lake Microbial Carbon Cycling through Legacy Effects of Color and Winter Severity | Freshwater lakes play a significant role in global carbon cycling and can be classified via the nutrient color paradigm (NCP), which integrates nutrient status and colored dissolved organic matter to predict open-water ecosystem behavior. However, the majority of freshwater lakes freeze seasonally, and the interaction between seasonal freezing and the NCP is uncharacterized, including the effects on microbial communities, which actively mediate carbon cycling in these systems. We expect to find predictable patterns in microbial expression of carbon processing genes across the NCP, modulated by winter severity. We will consider how winter’s influence on a lake’s abiotic conditions and DOM quality interacts with life history strategy trade-offs to shape the expression of microbial carbon cycling. As winter changes rapidly across the Northern hemisphere, this information will support NASA’s 2022 Strategic Plan goal of generating information necessary for predicting and modeling Earth system processes under current and changing environmental conditions. |
| Manrique, Dayana | Michigan Technological University | Wildfire Smoke Transport and Air Quality Impacts to the Great Lakes Region | North American wildfires are becoming more frequent and intense, potentially impacting various communities in the United States. Previous studies have examined the impacts of wildfires on air quality in the western United States; however, few studies have been done for the Great Lakes Region. This project will investigate the long-range atmospheric transport of wildfire emissions and their impacts on air quality in the Great Lakes region by utilizing the GEOS-Chem chemical transport model and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) air quality data. This work will serve as a foundation to further improve our understanding of the big-picture impacts of wildfire emissions on other realms of study such as public health, the economy, and ecological concerns. |
| Moilanen, Megan | Grand Valley State University | Effects of Temperature Regime Change on Native Burbot (Lota lota) Habitat Selection in the Muskegon River Watershed, MI | Burbot (Lota lota) are the only freshwater cod species in the world. Native to Michigan, the species is understudied worldwide and considered highly cryptic. Very little is known about riverine burbot populations despite documented anthropogenic impacts on these systems from decades of human-caused habitat degradation. The Muskegon River watershed represents an isolated lotic ecosystem where burbot have a historic established native population. With the impacts of climate change threatening these isolated systems, it is imperative that we establish a baseline of knowledge on this unique population of burbot to protect the future of the species within the Muskegon River. The purpose of this study will align with NASA’s strategic goals 1.1 & 1.3 and will focus on how burbot interact with thermal regimes in tributaries of the Muskegon. The outcome will be a thermal habitat selection model for burbot, a tool that will inform management in a rapidly changing world. |
| Parra Montenegro, Ruben | Oakland University | Zinc-Doped Copper Selenides for High-Rate Sodium Battery Electrodes | Sodium-ion batteries offer a sustainable alternative to lithium-ion systems due to sodium's abundance and low cost. However, transition metal selenide electrodes suffer from limited electronic conductivity, hindering rapid charge-discharge capabilities. This project develops zinc-doped copper selenide (CuZnSe) materials to enhance both electronic conductivity and structural properties for high-rate sodium-ion battery applications. Preliminary results demonstrate that CuZnSe achieves specific capacities of ~328 mAh/g with stable rate performance up to 8C (~280 mAh/g), confirming fast-charging capability. Through systematic synthesis of Zn-doped CuSe with varied compositions, comprehensive material characterization (SEM, TEM, XRD, XPS), and electrochemical testing, this research will identify optimal doping concentrations and establish structure-property-performance relationships. The findings will enable high-rate capability exceeding 5 A/g (~10C rate, 6-minute charging) for sustainable energy storage in aerospace applications. |
| Ramos, Rafael | Wayne State University | Assembly and Characterization of a Modular Liver-on-a-Chip System using small-diameter and hepatocyte-laden electrosprayed microcapsules. | NASA’s strategic objectives and recent NSF/CASIS solicitations emphasize developing biological systems that safeguard astronaut health and advance human exploration through tissue engineering. Building on the successful implementation of a ring-electrode electrospray system for producing small-diameter glycosaminoglycan-stabilized chitosan membranes, this project will now establish a modular, perfusable liver-on-chip platform. Primary hepatocytes will be encapsulated within extracellular matrix–supplemented capsules and coated with liver sinusoidal endothelial cells to create vascularized tissue modules. These modules will be assembled inside a low-cost, additively manufactured millifluidic device designed in-house for perfusion, visualization, and continuous maintenance for a period of four weeks. The system will provide a physiologically relevant environment to study hepatic self-assembly, vascular remodeling, and metabolic function under controlled flow. Use of this model to explore hepatic adaptation to microgravity, drug toxicity, and metabolic stress, will allow this project to directly support NASA’s mission to safeguard explorers while advancing translational tissue-engineering and in-space biomanufacturing capabilities. |
| Rosenberg, Lee | Oakland University | Modeling the Transport of Primary Oceanic Plankton Species in Polar Regions | A pressing threat to human survival is climate change. While weather shifts and sea level rise remain at the forefront of headlines, lesser-known but equally important threats exist, such as the collapse of polar ecosystems. Phytoplankton, microscopic marine algae, is foundational for critical global carbon recycling processes, producing ~50% of Earth’s oxygen and oxygenating the oceans. Notably, large-scale impacts of climate change (e.g. glacial melting) have recently been observed to cause a localized shift in plankton speciation places. This disrupts the marine food chain and puts the carbon recycling processes at risk. While models exist to track surface-level population shifts, they cannot predict depth-wise transport of plankton. In this work, we propose to leverage high fidelity computational fluid dynamics and satellite-based data to develop a model for depth-wise transport of key phytoplankton species and promote a better understand the impact of speciation shifts on a global scale. |
| Schulte, Jack | Michigan State University | Migration and Evolution of Giant Exoplanets | Thirty years after the discovery of the first hot Jupiters, their origins remain clouded in mystery. Three prominent hypotheses have been proposed to explain their existence: in situ formation, gas-disk migration, and high-eccentricity tidal migration. To discern which of these is the dominant mechanism, we have constructed a survey, entitled the Migration and Evolution of giant ExoPlanets (MEEP) survey, to discover all remaining hot Jupiters orbiting Sun-like stars brighter than a cutoff magnitude of 12.5 in the Gaia G bandpass. During the period of performance, we aim to confirm and characterize thirty of these remaining hot Jupiters. Once this is done, we will perform a statistical analysis and assess which mechanisms best explain the observables. Finally, we plan to monitor long-term radial velocity trends and transit timing variations to find the rare stellar and planetary companions within known hot Jupiter systems. |
| Severud, Theo | University of Michigan | Arctic Polar Night Aerosol Sources, Chemical Composition, and Cloud Interactions | The Arctic is warming roughly four times faster than anywhere on Earth, leading to declining sea ice and disrupted global weather patterns. This changes the distribution of aerosol sources in the Arctic and their participation in cloud formation. There are still large uncertainties about how aerosol physiochemical properties, which are largely controlled by aerosol sources, impact aerosol interactions with radiation and cloud formation. Identifying aerosol sources is important to validate and calibrate satellite measurements, especially during Arctic polar night when aerosol-cloud interactions facilitate energy transfer due to a lack of sunlight. To understand the role of aerosols during Arctic polar night, our group will conduct spatially-resolved single-particle chemical composition and size measurements during the first airborne Arctic polar night field campaign with the National Research Council of Canada in Jan. 2026. This MGSC Fellowship will facilitate my analysis to identify aerosol sources to investigate aerosol-cloud interactions during Arctic polar night. |
| Simmons, Carter | Western Michigan University | Microfluidic Prototyping to Improve Propellant Vaporization | Microfluidic prototyping has advanced with high-resolution 3D printing, enabling complex, compact fluid-handling systems well suited for reduced-gravity environments. This project applies these capabilities to improve the propellant vaporization hardware used in the Aerospace Laboratory for Plasma Experiments' gas-phase electric propulsion research. The current single-capillary injector is vulnerable to clogging from decomposition products and limits system responsiveness due to long chamber fill times. This work proposes an additively manufactured microfluidic feedthrough–manifold that splits propellant into multiple micron-scale channels to increase redundancy, enhance vaporization uniformity, and reduce fill time to under ten minutes. The device will be designed, fabricated, and validated through flow-uniformity testing, vacuum leak checks, and comparison with the existing system. The outcome will be a compact, reliable, and scalable vaporization architecture that supports future multimode propulsion concepts and NASA objectives in lightweight, adaptable in-space fluid-management technologies. |
| Stibel, Madison | Grand Valley State University | Using Dynamic Soil Properties to Assess Anthropogenic Impacts on Wetland Soil Health in West Michigan Floodplains | Freshwater inland wetlands in the Midwestern United States are essential in the role of soil carbon (C) storage. Although these systems store the majority of wetland soil C nationally, the responses of specific dynamic soil properties and their impacts on ecosystem functions are understudied. This research investigates West Michigan wet floodplains subjected to various forms of management and disturbance to identify which soil properties are most affected and should then be incorporated into a standardized wetland soil health assessment framework. By linking anthropogenic impacts to soil health indicators and C storage processes, this study will advance understanding of wetland services and resilience under climate change. This project supports NASA’s strategic objectives to examine interactions between human and natural factors and their influence on the C cycle and ecosystem dynamics. |
| Stull, Megan | Oakland University | Fate and Transport of Biosignature Compounds in Icy Ocean Worlds | Icy ocean worlds are of special interest for the search for life beyond Earth, as biosignatures are expected within the subsurface liquid oceans. Plumes from these planetary bodies can allow for easier sampling, but this leads to questions on how the transition from liquid to vacuum influences the detection and interpretation of biosignature distributions. Initial studies on amino and fatty acids suggest relative abundances are sufficiently conserved to determine whether the compounds are biological or abiotic in origin. However, the work is limited in scope, with concerns of overestimation of abundance changes for fatty acids and the lack of biological polymer substrates. This proposal seeks to expand the initial studies by systematically investigating the influence of structure on fatty acid fractionation and by exploring how extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) behave during the liquid-vacuum transition, which will help interpretations of biosignature distributions in future spacecraft missions. |
| Torres, Samantha | Michigan Technological University | Investigation of Large-Scale Foldable Structures Using Memory-Shape Alloys | Foldable structures have potential to advance space exploration through ease of transportation of vital infrastructure required for human colonization. However, current research has focused on small-scale and single-body foldable structures, which are not feasible for human-habitable infrastructure. Large foldable structures that fold based on the thermo-mechanical behavior of selectively placed shape-memory alloys have the potential to revolutionize human colonization. This research aims to model and optimize the location-dependent and transient behavior of shape-memory alloys in large-scale collapsible structures (1.414 meter diagonal cube). By extrapolating Finite Element models that model the transient unfolding behaviors of shape-memory alloys to the collapsible structure using fixed boundary conditions, the transient behavior of the system as a whole can be modeled and therefore optimized. This approach will be validated with real-world experiments. This fellowship will further my dissertation in technologies to further space exploration and my career interests in aerospace research in the public sector. |
| Vowell, Noah | Michigan State University | Brown Dwarf Formation and Migration with NASA's TESS Mission | Brown dwarf occupy the region in mass that lies between planets and stars. They also represent the region where the planet formation mechanism overlaps with the stellar formation mechanism making them the ideal objects to study in search of the transition point between planet and star formation. One promising parameter to make that distinction is the relative alignment of the companion's orbit to its host star's rotation (stellar obliquity). So far studies of brown dwarf obliquities have been limited to short orbital periods (P<10 days) where the effects of formation are erased by tidal realignment, highlighting a need for more long period measurements. Here we propose to address by increasing the known sample of bright (G<13), transiting brown dwarfs with orbital periods P>10 days by 60% through targeted discovery of new transiting brown dwarfs from NASA's TESS mission. |
Internships
| Name | Internship Type | Location | Affiliate | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Badel, Edward | Industry | Wolverine Radar | University of Michigan | |
| Biskner, Paul | Industry | Wolverine Radar | Michigan State University | |
| Celeste, Jennifer | NASA Center | NASA Langley Research Center | Michigan Technological University | |
| Cypress, Maddox | NASA Center | NASA Ames Research Center | University of Michigan | Rotorcraft Aeromechanics |
| Fleury, Dominik | Industry | Wolverine Radar | Michigan Technological University | |
| Guo, Christina | NASA Center | NASA Langley Research Center | University of Michigan | Runtime Verification & FPGAs |
| Krakowiank, Matthew | Industry | Wolverine Radar | University of Michigan | |
| Oosterhouse, James | NASA Center | NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory | University of Michigan | HRI Study with Mars Science Laboratory Mission |
| Schulman, Paul | NASA Center | NASA Ames Research Center | Michigan State University | |
| Serbin, Dennis | NASA Center | NASA Langley Research Center | University of Michigan | Aeroacoustic and LES simulation of fixed and rotary wings |
| Shalal, Samira | NASA Center | NASA Ames Research Center | University of Michigan | Human-Agent Collaboration for Anomaly Triage |
| Teddy, Rylan | Michigan Sea Grant | Charlevoix Fisheries Research Station | University of Michigan | Lake Michigan Yellow Perch Diet Study |
| Wang, Grant | Industry | Visto360.AI | University of Michigan |
HONES Awards
| Name | Affiliate | Project Title | Abstract |
|---|---|---|---|
| Behringer, Ernest | Eastern Michigan University | Introducing Remote Observation to Eastern Michigan University | We propose to set up two ZWO Seestar telescopes at the Starfront Observatories in Rockwood, Texas to enable remote observing in Bortle 1 skies for Eastern Michigan University astronomy students to use in at least two different astronomy courses and for in-depth observing projects. During times when courses are not running, we will open observing to verified, local teachers, thereby increasing the reach of this project. Two undergraduate students will be trained to support the remote observations. This project is consistent with NASA Strategic Plan 2022, addressing Strategic Goal 4, Objectives 4.1 and 4.3. We will develop a planetarium show for general audiences that describe how the methods of astronomical observation have changed through time up to the present, including the use of remote-controlled observatories. |
| Billman, Lauren | University of Michigan | GEMINI | We are CLAWS (Collaborative Lab For Advancing Work In Space), a student-run multidisciplinary organization focused on advancing space exploration through technology and innovation. Each year, CLAWS competes in the NASA SUITS Challenge, focused on developing augmented reality solutions for astronauts. Our eighty-five member team of varying majors, backgrounds, and identities is focused on building an inclusive and collaborative work environment. This year, our project is GEMINI, The Guided EVA Mission Infrastructure for Navigation Insight. Our augmented reality system enhances astronaut performance, safety, and autonomy during lunar surface missions through adaptive displays, AI-driven decision support, and multimodal interaction. By integrating astronauts, mission control, and pressurized rover systems via a Localized Mission Control Center, GEMINI creates a unified operational network that optimizes communication, navigation, and task management for human-centered lunar exploration. Collectively, these advances signify progress towards lunar exploration, aligning with the missions of GEMINI, CLAWS, and NASA’s Space technology initiatives. |
| Boncher, Isabel | University of Michigan | Michigan MARS Rover | |
| Lemmer, Kristina | Western Michigan University | Western Aerospace Launch Initiative | The Western Aerospace Launch Initiative at Western Michigan University is a student organization participating in the Cansat competition. Additionally, the students are active in the Small Satellite community designing and building payloads for CubeSats. The hands-on student group consists of both undergraduate and graduate students learning about satellite design, integration, and testing. Funds requested in this proposal will allow students to attend the 2026 Cansat competition, and the Small Satellite Conference in Salt Lake City, UT where they will be able to present their design, receive feedback from experts in small satellite design, and gain invaluable engineering experience. The funds will also help support students to devote time outside of the Cansat competition to the design of small satellite payloads and subsystems. |
| Manoharan, Sanjivan | Grand Valley State University | Telescopic Extendable Clamping Handle (TECH) | The goal of this project is to design and build an Adjustable Tool Cart Handle that enhances astronaut mobility and safety during lunar surface operations. The device must enable astronauts of varying statures to comfortably push and maneuver a lunar tool cart, addressing ergonomic challenges associated with diverse user heights and uneven terrain. The device features a simple, yet effective telescopic mechanism for robust and precise height adjustment and is easy to use by a fully suited astronaut. Developed by undergraduate students from Grand Valley State University, the project has advanced to phase two (build and test) of the NASA Micro-g NExT competition. The team comprises of 8 multidisciplinary engineering students, from freshmen to seniors, collaborating to create a device that could support future lunar missions. This project also aligns with NASA’s Strategic Objective 3.3, which aims to engage students and the public in space research while advancing STEM education. |
| Russell, Kieran | Michigan State University | Additive Jet-printed Antenna eXperiment | The Michigan State University Rocketry Club proposes the Additive Jet-printed Antenna eXperiment (AJAX), a student-led research initiative focused on developing and flight-testing additively manufactured transmit and receive (T/R) telemetry modules for use in sounding rockets. Housed within a 3U CubeSat, the student-designed module, built under collaboration with the College of Engineering, aims to demonstrate lightweight, high-density communication systems optimized for spaceborne applications. Complementary to this work, the payload sub-team is designing an independent deployment and recovery mechanism to enable safe ejection and retrieval of CubeSats at rocket apogee. Funding from MSGC will support both the advancement of AJP manufacturing techniques for adaptable telemetry and the creation of deployment infrastructure for future missions. Through this project, undergraduate students gain direct experience in research, design, and flight operations, contributing to NASA’s strategic objectives in communication technology, additive manufacturing, and workforce development |
| van Susante, Paul | Michigan Technological University | Lunabotics 2026 participation - HONES | The Astro-Huskies at Michigan Technological University are an interdisciplinary and primarily student-led team, consisting of over 40 undergraduate and graduate students from a variety of backgrounds and majors, that implements the systems engineering process to design, build, and test a prototype off-world construction robot to compete in the annual NASA Lunabotics Challenge. Participation in this year’s challenge aligns with NASA’s strategic aim to expand human presence on the Moon as the Astro-Huskies will design a prototype lunar construction rover capable of building berms that could provide shielding from radiation and blast ejecta to future human habitats on the lunar surface. Securing this award would support the Astro-Huskies’ participation in the Lunabotics Challenge and attendance at the qualifying and final challenges to be held at the University of Central Florida and Kennedy Space Center in May 2026. |
Research Seed Grants
| Name | Affiliate | Project Title | Abstract |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bailey, Adriana | University of Michigan | A new predictive lens for forecasting drought and wildfire risk | The balance of precipitation and evaporation determines the risk of drought, which compounds other risks such as wildfire. While precipitation data are available from numerous in situ and remote-sensing platforms , estimating evapotranspiration—the combined loss of water from soils by evaporation and plants by transpiration (ET)—remains a considerable challenge. To address this challenge, this project will test whether using an atmospheric isotopic “fingerprint” of sustained land drying fluxes can help us predict the increased likelihood and severity of drought at subseasonal to seasonal lead times. Specifically, we will test a machine learning (ML) framework that incorporates mid-tropospheric and total column water vapor isotopic retrievals from satellites, along with standard temperature and humidity data, to predict cumulative drying of the land in four regions of the US. |
| Cepeda Alfaro, Francisco | Oakland University | Quantitative mapping of solid carbon formation under closed-loop life support and ISRU conditions | Solid carbon products formed during closed-loop catalytic methane decomposition are a mission-critical challenge and opportunity for future life support, In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU), and space manufacturing systems. In such environments, methane decomposition is used to recover hydrogen and maximize carbon dioxide recycling. Still, it always produces solid carbon byproducts whose structure, handleability, and value depend sensitively on process conditions. The process–structure relationships governing carbon properties under closed-loop, system-relevant conditions remain poorly mapped. This project will systematically investigate carbon formation under relevant conditions (700 to 1100 °C, near-atmospheric pressure, with variations in feed composition and in the presence or absence of transition-metal catalysts). Through quantitative characterization methods such as Raman spectroscopy, XRD, SEM, and TEM, we will create the first comprehensive map of solid carbon product evolution, supporting both reactor management and materials applications in long-duration spaceflight and surface operations. |
| Golcher-Benavides, Jimena | Hope College | Monitoring a threatened Lake Sturgeon population and spawning behavior using environmental nucleic acids to assist rehabilitation efforts in the Kalamazoo River Watershed | The Lake Sturgeon populations in southeastern tributaries to Lake Michigan are among the most vulnerable with remnant populations consisting of fewer than 100 individuals returning annually to spawn. This project aims to: (1) evaluate the year-to-year consistency of Lake Sturgeon occupancy in the free-flowing reach of the Kalamazoo River (KR); and (2) enhance the informative power of the technique through quantification of both eDNA/eRNA in water nucleic acids shed by three consecutive life stages of Lake Sturgeon (i.e., embryo, larva, and juvenile) within a KR streamside rearing facility. Between 2024 –2025, our team implemented a protocol to weekly monitor Lake Sturgeon using a qPCR assay through its spawning season across four KR sites. Since recruitment remains inconsistent, KR Lake Sturgeon population monitoring paired with deeper understanding of their life history through the lens of eDNA/eRNA, will potentially help us clarify factors contributing to high early-life mortality in this threatened population. |
| Hasan, Kamrul | Grand Valley State University | Mapping Urban Heat Islands and Environmental Inequity in West Michigan | Rapid urbanization has intensified the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect across West Michigan, particularly in Grand Rapids, Muskegon, and Holland. This pilot study integrates NASA Earth Observation data, including Landsat 8–9 (Thermal Infrared Sensor), ECOSTRESS, and Sentinel-2, together with socio-demographic datasets from the U.S. Census to map spatial inequities in heat exposure and vulnerability. The project will quantify surface temperature variability, assess relationships with vegetation and impervious surfaces, and identify heat-vulnerable neighborhoods. Serving as the first phase of a two-year research effort, the West Michigan pilot will establish a transferable framework for broader applications across the North Central region. By combining thermal remote sensing, spatiotemporal modeling, and demographic analysis using deep learning and Bayesian network approaches, the study will generate actionable insights to guide equitable urban planning and enhance community resilience. The outcomes advance NASA’s 2022 Strategic Plan Goal 1.1: understanding and protecting our home planet through Earth system science. |
| Higley, Melinda | Calvin University | Using Sedimentary Archives to Elucidate Land-lake Connectivity in the Lake Michigan Basin | Valued for ecological, recreational, and commercial purposes, the waters of the Great Lakes Basin (GLB) are composed of interconnected water bodies that include vast freshwater lakes, groundwater stores, lakes, streams, and wetlands within a complex and heterogenous geological setting. Climate change is causing significant impacts to water resources of the GLB and that coupled with the paucity of knowledge about inland hydrological interactions leaves many open questions about the past and how to prepare for the future in the GLB. To address this problem, we propose to study the paleohydrology of Flat Iron Lake, located in the Grand River watershed, Michigan. Existing and proposed data from sedimentary environmental proxies from a kettle lake will be used to establish a continuous record of paleohydrology from present back to deglaciation with a focus on X-ray Fluorescence and age-depth modelling to to detect continuous millennial scale palaeohydrological variability. |
| James, Kohl | Saginaw Valley State University | High-Performance Software Development for Computation of Solutions to Partial Differential Equations | Partial differential equations (PDEs) are used to model many phenomena of interest to NASA including plasmas, fluids, magnetohydrodynamics, turbulence, and the Earth’s climate. Many of these equations are difficult or impossible to solve by hand, thus requiring a numerical approximation. Implicit Runge-Kutta (IRK) methods are commonly used for this process in practice, due to their robustness. These methods are highly computationally expensive. Their cost arises from the numerous large systems of linear equations they produce. An effective way to mitigate this expense is to precondition these systems of linear equations. Highly effective preconditioning methods for the systems produced by IRK methods been developed in C++ using Sundance, a package for the Trilinos project. This code is very powerful but not intuitive to learn. This project proposes the development of a Python code to implement preconditioning methods for IRK schemes, as well as a wrapper for direct integration with Sundance. |
| Kang, Shinhyu | Hope College | Investigate the early-age performance of non-traditional coal ash in mortar to develop low-carbon construction materials | Concrete production accounts for nearly 8% of global CO2 emissions due to cement manufacturing. This project aims to investigate the non-traditional coal ash (NTCA) focusing on the reclaimed ash in MI as a sustainable supplementary cementitious material (SCM) for low-carbon mortar mixtures. In potential collaboration with Ashcor, which is reclaiming legacy ash using its Reclaimed Ash Management (RAM™) technology at Consumers Energy’s J.H. Campbell facility in Holland, MI, the study will evaluate NTCA’s early-age performance of mortar samples by 28 days curing. Using isothermal calorimetry, Vicat testing, and SEM-based particle analysis, mortar mixtures containing 0%, 20%, and 40% NTCA will be tested for hydration heat, setting time, and compressive strength. The results will link NTCA chemistry and particle properties to performance, providing diagnostic data for sustainable concrete applications. This hands-on undergraduate research supports NASA’s Strategic Plan by advancing sustainability, promoting open data, and preparing a diverse STEM workforce. |
| Maddipatla, Dinesh | Western Michigan University | Simulation-Driven Optimization of Fabric-Integrated PTC Heaters with Readout Electronics for Spacesuit Thermal Management in Extreme Environments | NASA’s Artemis program requires thermal management technologies for extreme lunar and Martian environments. This MSGC Research Seed Grant supports a junior faculty member at Western Michigan University establishing an independent research program in flexible hybrid electronics for space applications. The project acquires high-performance computing resources and hires a graduate student to conduct thermal-electrical simulations to optimize positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heater designs on thermoplastic polyurethane-based fabric substrates. Target performance includes raising temperature from -40°C to 30-35°C, addressing critical spacesuit thermal management needs. Simulations optimize heater geometry, busbar configurations, and power delivery for uniform heating with <10W per element. Preliminary simulations, readout designs, and fabricated prototypes generate data for competitive NASA (Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate) and NSF proposals. This seed funding advances technology to TRL 3/4, positioning the PI for sustained extramural support while training students in aerospace multiphysics modeling aligned with NASA workforce development goals. |
| Salazar Dantonio, Diego | Oakland University | Cooperative Blimp Swarms for Space-Debris Capture Emulation | Autonomous soft-swarm blimps offer a safe, low-cost platform to emulate space-debris collection in controlled indoor environments. As future on-orbit missions require reliable, gentle capture of uncooperative objects, we advance swarm methods robust to limited sensing, latency, and intermittent communications. Building on MochiSwarm [1], we target cooperative, uncertainty-aware behaviors for localizing, tracking, and capturing targets that mimic debris dynamics—free-floating, low-texture, specular, and variably tumbling bodies. (A1) Perception under Uncertainty: Vision-based detection and 6-DoF pose estimation with calibrated uncertainty for dynamic, tumbling targets. (A2) Cooperative Capture Strategies: Net-based corralling and non-contact “shepherding” that preserve standoff and reduce target kinetic energy prior to capture. (A3) Human–Swarm Teaming & Evaluation: A delay-tolerant, minimalist operator interface with quantitative metrics (success rate, time-to-capture, residual target energy, operator workload). Outcomes include an indoor debris operations emulator with open-source firmware, FAIR-compliant datasets, and reproducible benchmarking protocols—enabling rapid iteration and community comparison of capture strategies. |
| Turnley, Jonathan | Michigan State University | Space-Tolerant Semiconductors: Exploring the Radiation Stability of Chalcogenide Perovskites | Electronic devices are critical for all space missions, but the harshness of the space environment can be extremely damaging to the semiconductor materials at the core of these technologies. Therefore, developing highly stable semiconductors is important to the growing space industry. This work seeks to investigate an emerging class of semiconductors that has shown remarkable stability toward extreme temperatures and atmospheric oxygen/moisture, the chalcogenide perovskites. For the first time, we will test the prototypical chalcogenide perovskite, BaZrS3, under exposure to heavy ion beams that mimics the radiation environment of space. We will then characterize the bulk, surface, and optoelectronic stability of the BaZrS3 to learn more about degradation pathways in this material. This seed funding will support the Turnley group’s effort to shift into the space-tolerant semiconductors research area where we can utilize the extensive space electronics facilities at Michigan State University, including the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams. |
| VanOrman, Zachary | Hope College | Lead-Free Halide Perovskite Nanocrystals for Sustainable Space Optoelectronics | Advancing sustainable materials for space technologies is essential to achieving NASA's goal of developing transformational aerospace systems. This project will establish a new synthetic toolbox for lead-free halide perovskite nanocrystals, combining the excellent properties of halide perovskites, but adding non-toxic ions in place of lead to impart further stability and lower the toxicity. The proposed research will design and synthesize size-tunable and environmentally benign double and vacancy-ordered perovskite nanocrystals composed of abundant, non-toxic elements such as bismuth, silver, and cesium. The materials will be characterized using optical spectroscopy, providing feedback on the design and engineering of these materials for lightweight, flexible optoelectronic devices relevant to space exploration, including sensors, solar energy harvesters, and communication devices. The project will provide hands-on training to undergraduate student researchers and generate foundational data for future proposals, directly supporting innovations in aerospace-relevant materials and optoelectronic technologies. |
| Wilkins, Shane | Michigan State University | Radioactive Molecules: A New Messenger of Stellar Nucleosynthesis | Where do the chemical elements originate? We know they are forged in stars, but locating the specific sites of creation is a major challenge. Radioactive isotopes are powerful tracers, but detecting them via their gamma-ray emissions often provides blurry, low-resolution maps. This project explores a transformative new method: finding these isotopes by identifying the unique rotational fingerprints of the molecules that contain them. This molecular approach, compatible with powerful telescopes like ALMA, offers unparalleled resolution and sensitivity. However, it requires precise molecular data from difficult laboratory experiments. This seed project will develop an in-depth software tool to predict the rotational spectra of key radioactive molecules, guiding experiments at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams. This computational foundation is the critical first step to unlocking a new window into nucleosynthesis, directly supporting NASA's strategic goals and building a foundation for future extramural funding. |
| Zhang, Linxi | Central Michigan University | Adaptive and Efficient Intrusion Detection Framework for Cyber-Resilient Edge AI Systems | The Controller Area Network (CAN) bus and related embedded networks are widely used in vehicles, robotics, and autonomous systems, including NASA-relevant platforms. Their lack of built-in security leaves them vulnerable to spoofing, replay, and flooding attacks . The PI’s prior work developed a lightweight multi-scale intrusion detection system (IDS) for real-time detection on embedded hardware. This seed project advances that framework by (1) introducing adaptive feature reweighting to handle changing traffic patterns, (2) enabling cross-domain generalization across vehicles without retraining, and (3) applying latency-aware optimization for real-time edge deployment on Raspberry Pi 5 and NVIDIA Jetson. The resulting adaptive prototype, cross-vehicle evaluation, and educational materials will support NASA’s Strategic Goals 2.3 and 3.1 by advancing secure, intelligent, and efficient technologies for autonomous and mission-support systems. |
| Zhao, Kaiqi | Oakland University | Efficient and Cooperative Onboard AI for Accurate, Robust, and Adaptive Perception in Resource-Constrained Spaceborne Exploration Systems | Next-generation deep-space exploration missions increasingly rely on autonomous spacecraft, rovers, and aerial vehicles capable of performing accurate and reliable perception under severe resource, communication, and environmental constraints. However, state-of-the-art perception models exceed the limits of spaceborne edge devices, while lightweight models often sacrifice accuracy and are vulnerable to out-of-distribution shifts caused by lighting, dust, and terrain variability. This project will develop an efficient and cooperative onboard AI framework to enable accurate, robust, and adaptive perception for resource-constrained space exploration systems. We aim to develop 1) an efficient and robustness-aware model compression framework for fast, accurate, and reliable onboard AI perception on spaceborne edge platforms, and 2) a collaborative self-supervised learning framework that supports continuous improvement and cross-agent knowledge sharing among autonomous space vehicles. This project will form a foundation for future high-impact proposals and integration into flight-ready autonomy systems, advancing NASA’s vision for safe, efficient, intelligent space exploration. |
Educational Programs
| Name | Program Category | Affiliate/Organization | Project Title | Abstract |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albaugh, Brittany | Pre-College, Public Outreach | Eastern Michigan University | High School Summer Science Research Program at Eastern Michigan University | The High School Summer Science Program at Eastern Michigan University (EMU) aims to enhance high school students' understanding of scientific research and communication while fostering interest in STEM careers. Over three weeks, participants engage in hands-on research, guided by faculty and undergraduate/graduate mentors, where they learn to formulate research questions, design experiments, analyze data, and present findings through a poster session. The program includes training in lab safety, ethics, and scientific communication, while also providing mentorship and career exploration opportunities. Aligned with NASA's strategic goals and Michigan's K-12 science standards, the program is designed to develop research skill and job readiness for our future scientists. Funding is sought to support research experiences for students at no cost to increase accessibility. |
| Ambrose, Bradley | Public Outreach | Grand Valley State University | Roger That! | Roger That! is a celebration of space exploration honoring Grand Rapids astronaut Roger B. Chaffee. The two-day public symposium, organized by Grand Valley State University (GVSU) faculty and Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) staff, aligns exceedingly well with NASA’s 2022 Strategic Plan, particularly Strategic Objective 4.3, “Build the next generation of explorers: Engage students to build a diverse future STEM workforce.” The 2017 inaugural event commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 1 fire that claimed Chaffee’s life, and MSGC funding has been granted ever since. Each year has had an engaging multi-disciplinary focus. GVSU hosts a design challenge, workshops, and presentations on aspects of space exploration, while GRPM hosts field trips, planetarium shows, and family-friendly activities. along with special initiative funding for expanded outreach to K12 students. This proposal is a continuation grant that would secure support for the 2027 symposium, marking the 10th anniversary of this unique collaboration. |
| Gochis, Emily | Pre-College, Public Outreach, Teacher Training | University of Michigan | Sustainability and Earth Systems in the Bay: Advancing STEAM Literacy & Workforce Pathways through Place-Based Education | The Sustainability Teacher Fellowship (STF) program empowers K-12 educators and students in Michigan’s Saginaw Bay Watershed to advance Earth system science literacy and STEAM career awareness through place-based, NASA-aligned learning. Building on seven years of regional success, STF will offer comprehensive professional development, classroom place-based sustainability investigations and action projects, and public outreach activities that integrate NASA assets, including data, citizen science tools, and sustainability career pathways. The program will target diverse and underserved communities, engaging 15 teachers and 900 students in hands-on investigations and collaborative projects addressing local climate and watershed challenges. Activities include a summer institute, virtual and in-person sharing celebrations, and ongoing mentorship. A comprehensive evaluation plan will measure gains in STEAM knowledge, the incorporation of STEAM into place-based education, and community impact. STF directly supports NASA’s strategic goals for Earth science education, workforce development, and broadening participation in STEAM fields. |
| Heraud, Cynthia | Pre-College, Public Outreach, Teacher Training | Ann Arbor Public School, Forsythe Middle School | Flight Crew: Building the NASA Workforce Pipeline through Drone Soccer | This proposal seeks funding to launch Flight Crew: Building the NASA Workforce Pipeline through Drone Soccer, a multi-phase initiative designed to engage middle school students and educators in aerospace STEM education. The program includes a one-week Drone Soccer Summer Camp, two Saturday pop-up workshops, and a two-day teacher professional development focused on drone piloting, coding, and flight physics. Aligned with NASA’s Workforce Development Pipeline, this project aims to increase access to drone technology and prepare a more diverse future STEM workforce. Hands-on learning will be facilitated through the Crew Concept Drone Lab and supported by Ann Arbor Public Schools. Matching funds will be provided by AAPS and potential community partners, such as KLA. Teaching tools developed during this program will be available through a dedicated Flight & Space TLN on Schoology, where teachers can share and expand resources. This initiative creates a replicable model to enhance inclusive, real-world STEM learning. |
| Herrington, Deborah | Public Outreach | Grand Valley State University | Advanced Manufacturing Camp | The GVSU Regional Math and Science Center (RMSC) seeks support to expand its Advanced Manufacturing Camp (AMC), which engages middle school students in advanced manufacturing activities through engineering, coding, and 3D printing. AMC integrates design thinking throughout the camp, fostering foundational skills by challenging campers to think critically, communicate, collaborate, and prototype solutions, preparing students to become the next generation of innovators and explorers. AMC partners with local Career Tech Centers, GVSU Engineering students, and industry partners, highlighting industry field trips, mechatronics and cybersecurity activities, engineering student project presentations, and a career fair, inspiring campers to imagine a STEM pathway, from K-12 to higher education to the workforce. Aerospace and other sectors depend on advanced manufacturing technologies, innovations, and a skilled, flexible, tech-savvy workforce. AMC addresses these needs by nurturing local talent early to build a stronger Michigan STEM pipeline, ensuring a diverse, future-ready workforce. |
| Kim, Sooin | Pre-College | Wayne State University | STEM Pathways through Applied Research and Knowledge (SPARK) Summer Camp in Detroit | The STEM Pathways through Applied Research and Knowledge (SPARK) Summer Camp is a two-week intensive program that immerses Detroit high school students in NASA-inspired engineering applications across mechanical, electrical, construction, computer, and robotics disciplines. The strategic goal of the SPARK camp is to build a sustainable STEM pipeline by equipping pre-college students with engineering knowledge, interest, self-efficacy, and identity to pursue their future STEM education and careers. Hosted at Wayne State University, the camp engages students in hands-on activities, prototype development, and field trips to New Lab Detroit and the Michigan Science Center. Daily reflection and journaling exercises enable students to synthesize learning, articulate challenges, and connect experiences to STEM pathways. A mixed-methods evaluation will collect quantitative data through surveys, assessments, and attendance logs, and qualitative insights from focus groups, interviews, journals, and project artifacts. Findings will guide continuous improvement, inform future iterations, and provide evidence to support program scaling. |
| Kling, Gina | Public Outreach, Teacher Training | Hope College | The Fact Fluency Institute: Building Best Practices through Sustained Professional Learning | The learning of basic facts has always been a high priority for elementary mathematics. Despite this, fluency continues to elude many students, and in response, teachers often revert to instruction that relies heavily on rote memorization and timed assessments, even though research has clearly established that focusing on meaningful strategy development is more effective for promoting fact fluency. More sustained support is needed for teachers to implement lasting change. This project will develop and study the impacts of a “Fact Fluency Institute” that provides sustained professional learning to teachers at no cost to themselves or their districts. The institute consists of three tiers: (1) a four-day workshop and integrated learning lab to launch the program; (2) two follow-up visits to participants’ classrooms for intensive, personalized collaborative learning; (3) weekly newsletters. Analysis of data will attempt to ascertain the impact of these tiers of professional development on teacher practice. |
| Kobus, Krzystof (Chris) | Pre-College, Public Outreach, Teacher Training | Oakland University | Earth System Science STEM Camps, Outreach and Teacher Training (K-12 Students and Teachers, and the Community) | A continuing comprehensive, hands-on, student-centered, activity-based outreach and education program is proposed to bring substantive Space and Earth system sciences training to three separate populations. These populations include K-12 students through school-year STEM field trips, K-12 summer programming focusing on underrepresented minorities and low-socioeconomic students, and STEM teachers to provide best practices in teaching STEM, Next Generation Science Standards, and the broader community. The shorter workshops, STEM field trips, and more extended STEM camps in the summer are to be continuing activities that were initiated with MSGC funding that we hope will continue as matching is continuing at higher funding levels and the funds are leveraged to obtain more support. These efforts are STEM-based, hands-on experiences where attendees learn fundamental knowledge and apply this to active learning exercises. Promoting STEM to this generation and those younger is necessary to enhance knowledge, education, and eventually economic growth with a sustainable mindset. |
| Ross, Patrick | Public Outreach | Flint Institute of Science and History (Sloan/Longway) | Science in the Streets | The Longway Planetarium respectfully requests $5,000 in funding to enhance and expand its free educational outreach programs serving the greater Flint area. The primary objectives include both hosting dedicated outreach events in partnership with local institutions such as the University of Michigan-Flint (UM-Flint) and Genesee County Parks (GCP) and participating in existing community outreach events such as the GCP's BioBlitz and UM-Flint's Inclusive Halloween. The proposed outreaches will increase access to high-quality educational programming, strengthen partnerships with local institutions, and provide mission coverage to underserved communities by offering no-cost events at locations outside of the Flint Cultural Center. The primary funding request is for additional part-time staffing hours to enable the Planetarium Manager to be available on evenings and weekends to run the proposed events. Longway Planetarium will provide the majority of staff time and supplies. |
| St. Onge, Kevin | Pre-College, Public Outreach | EUPISD | Space in Michigan is Looking U.P. with Go For Launch! | Students in the Eastern Upper Peninsula (EUP) face challenges in accessing high quality STEM experiences. EUP students in predominantly rural communities are spread across nearly 4,000 square miles and 35% students in the EUP are of Native American heritage. Go For Launch! is a unique opportunity to connect EUP students to a high-quality STEM experience, while making connections to regional initiatives in the space industry that include industry and educational opportunities in space mission operations. Students will learn directly from experts in the space industry, including an astronaut and flight control operations specialists, while developing an experiment designed to be conducted in space. Go For Launch! uses Space Exploration as a platform to launch student involvement in STEM, STEAM, teamwork, communication, and leadership. In culmination, student teams will design and propose a space experiment to compete for the opportunity to be launched and conducted in space. |
| Thompkins, Gerald | Pre-College | The Engineering Society of Detroit | Boys in Engineering Academy | ABSTRACT The Boys in Engineering Academy (BEA) was created by The Engineering Society of Detroit in 2024 to be a hands-on, project-based STEM/ pre-engineering program for underrepresented minority middle school boys from Detroit. BEA is a year-long STEM educational program, coupled with a four-week Summer program and with an Academic Year component (16 weeks), that provides students with an in-depth view at various STEM and engineering disciplines and models. The program structure allows students to have the added benefit of small group interaction with male undergraduate and graduate engineering and STEM students, as instructors, and male engineers from industry who serve as role models and mentors. The goal is to increase student access within the context of engineering and STEM education and to academically prepare students for high school. And the overarching goal is to ameliorate the equity and achievement gaps that currently exists in STEM and engineering education. |
| Thompkins, Gerald | Pre-College | The Engineering Society of Detroit | Girls in Engineering Academy | ABSTRACT The Girls in Engineering Academy (GEA) was created by The Engineering Society of Detroit in 2017 to be a hands-on, project-based STEM/pre-engineering program for underrepresented minority middle school girls from Detroit. The GEA is a year-long STEM educational program, coupled with a four-week Summer program and with an Academic Year component (16 weeks), that provides students with an in-depth view at various STEM and engineering disciplines and models. The program structure allows students to have the added benefit of small group interaction with female undergraduate and graduate engineering and STEM majors as instructors, and female engineers from industry who serve as role models. The goal is to increase student access within the context of engineering and STEM education and to academically prepare students for high school. And the overarching goal is to ameliorate the gender gap and achievement gaps that currently exists in STEM and engineering education. |
| van Dijk, Deanna | Public Outreach | Calvin University | Drawing Students into Science with Earth Science Research on Lake Michigan Dunes | The First-Year Research in Earth Sciences (FYRES) project encourages STEM literacy and interest by targeting students at two strategic intervals in their education pathways: the first months of undergraduate education and later in undergraduate education when students are exploring their commitment to a STEM discipline. Student participants engage in authentic Earth system science research as they investigate questions focused on Lake Michigan coastal dunes. The process of learning about science by doing science includes communicating research results with scientists, dune managers, and the general public. Some FYRES participants go on to become scientifically literate citizens who pursue vocations in business, humanities, education, etc., whereas other participants discover or confirm deeper interests in Earth sciences and other STEM disciplines. Participant, research, and outreach outcomes represent NASA and MSGC strategic interests well. |
| Narayanan, Krish | Pre-College, Public Outreach | Eastern Michigan University | Bits & Bytes Summer Computing Camp for Middle School Girls | Bits and Bytes is an all-day, week-long, summer computing camp for middle school girls at Eastern Michigan University. It introduces computing and technology from theoretical concepts to applied projects. Coding is introduced through educational software and robots with the support of student mentors. The camp concludes with a hackathon and a career discovery event. It is staffed by the Women in Computer Science (WiCS) club members at Eastern Michigan University (EMU) and led by a faculty member. The camp was offered for the ninth time this year and served a group of thirty participants. The camps have been sponsored by MSGC, the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT), and Eastern Michigan University’s Women in Philanthropy grants. |
The Michigan Space Grant Consortium is primarily funded through a NASA Training Grant.
Copyright 2019 Michigan Space Grant Consortium. All rights reserved.
Privacy Policy | Sitemap