Faculty mentoring

Faculty are asked to submit an application outlining their research project. Although you are encouraged to request a specific undergraduate student to work on this project, it is not required. Efforts are made to match selected applicants with mentors whose projects/interests align. Mentors may also submit applications for multiple projects. One application per project is required but multiple students can be requested per project.

If a faculty member has research funding available, we respectfully ask that they provide 50% of the funding. This allows us to support many more deserving students than would be possible using NASA funds alone.

Student Eligibility Criteria

Applicants for the ASU/NASA Space Grant internship must meet the following criteria:

• Enrolled full-time at Arizona State University
• Sophomore or higher beginning fall semester
• U.S Citizen
• Physically taking classes at one of the four ASU Phoenix metro-area campuses during the entire academic-year internship period

If you are currently working with an undergraduate student who meets the eligibility criteria, you may apply for Space Grant support or propose a new project.

The NASA Space Grant Steering Committee reviews intern applications each summer to select exceptional students for the upcoming academic year. Both proposed projects and students are selected by the Steering Committee for appropriateness to the program with the objective to achieve overall program balance. Mentors are notified prior to the beginning of the semester whether or not an intern has been awarded to them.

Stipends are awarded for the entire academic year. If for any reason the intern and/or mentor feels that the mentor/mentee collaboration or research project will not successfully produce deliverables due to ASU/NASA Space Grant, either party may discontinue the internship. At the end of fall semester, mentors are asked to submit a short evaluation. This is necessary in order to continue the interns for spring. Feedback is also needed so that we may continue to improve our program.

If the mentor would like the intern to be considered for the following academic year, both must reapply.

Mentor and Intern Responsibilities

Intern Responsibilities

In addition to their research, interns are required to:

• Complete 20 hours of (unpaid) informal education activity: 15 hours fall semester and 5 hours spring semester. The Space Grant office will coordinate these activities with the interns.
• Attend the ASU/NASA Space Grant Alumni Night in January.
• Present initial research results at the annual ASU/NASA Space Grant Poster Session typically held in February.
• Present research results at the annual Arizona Space Grant Consortium Undergraduate Research Symposium in April.

Mentor Responsibilities

• Monitor the progress of the project
• Submit midterm evaluations at the end of Fall semester
• Review the content of the posters, abstracts and presentations prior to submission. It’s also suggested that each student rehearse his/her presentation with members of the mentor’s research group.
• Mentors are encouraged to attend the poster session and the research symposium to support the student.
• NASA Request: Complete a NASA Gateway profile (only once for the lifetime of serving as a mentor)
• NASA Request: Complete a brief Space Grant Program evaluation in the beginning, middle and end of the academic year.

Multiple Awards

Although students are encouraged to apply for various research internships, If awarded multiple internships, please note that Space Grant will not support a project financially supported by multiple sources. Questions or clarification on this policy can be addressed to Desiree D. Crawl at [email protected]