NDSGC Newsletter: 4-15-25

NDSGC Announcements & Updates

New and Closing Opportunities in this Newsletter:

• • • NEW: NASA Aeronautics 101 Webinar:
      • Webinar on Wednesday, April 23rd.
    • NEW: Space Welders: Virtual Career Connection CTE Series:
      • Event is at 1:00 PM, May 1st, 2025. Registration is due by Wednesday, April 24th. 
    • NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System:
      • Application due by Wednesday, April 30th. 
    • NDSGC Opportunities
      • Faculty Summer Fellowships: May 1st for Summer 2025
      • Student Fellowships and Faculty/Educator/Student Mini-Grants are due on May 1st for Fall 2025
    • Space Innovation Challenge:
      • Applications due by May 2nd, 2025.
    • NEW: NDSGC STEM Ambassador Position:
      • Applications are due on May 15th for Fall 2025 start

  • Updates:

    • Congratulations to the 146 scholarship winners for the 24-25 school year!
    • Thank you to all the attendees of the 2025 NDSGC Affiliate’s Meeting!
      • The meeting had 60+ participants from across the state. Students presented research posters showcasing fellowships and NASA internships, educators and college students participated in panels on Mini Grants, internship experiences, and other research projects, and all attendees participated in professional development and hands-on workshops. ND Job Service presented sessions to assist students with resumes and interviewing. Senator Hoeven also attended and spoke on NDSGC student accomplishments and program successes. Congratulations to all presenters and thank you to all attendees, organizers, and our hosts!

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    NDSGC Opportunities

    Opportunities facilitated by the NDSGC

    NDSGC Summer Faculty Fellowship:

    • Summer faculty fellowships are designed to assist faculty in creating or revising a college-level course in a Science, Technology, Education, or Mathematics (STEM) field with NASA relevance. The overall goal of this program is to increase exposure to NASA and NASA research. Please visit the link below to learn more. Applications due May 1st, 2025.
      • Link: Faculty Fellowships
  • NDSGC STEM Ambassador Program:
    • STEM Ambassadorships are open to students who are self-motivated, enjoy interacting with K-12 students, educators, and the general public, and have strong communication skills. Students are paid hourly to conduct STEM and NASA engagement activities (hands-on activities, demonstrations, presentations, and recruitment) throughout the year. Students who apply must be enrolled students for Fall 25 and Spring 26. The pay is $18.00 an hour for up to 20 hours of work a week. Please visit the link below to learn more. Applications open April 15th and are due May 15th, 2025.
      • Link: STEM Ambassador Program

    NDSGC Fall Mini-Grants for Students:

    • Mini-grants up to $2,500 are available for undergraduate and graduate students who are completing STEM- or NASA-relevant research that directly affects their thesis, dissertation, or a similar culminating project that enables them to graduate. These grants cannot be used for travel. Please visit the link below to learn more. Applications open April 1st and are due May 1st, 2025.
      • Link: Student Mini-Grants

    NDSGC Fall Fellowship for Students:

    • NDSGC provides funding for North Dakota students to complete research fellowships at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Research fellowships are available to students completing STEM- or NASA-relevant research under the guidance of a faculty mentor. Students are expected to spend around 15 hours per week on their research projects. Please visit the link below to learn more. Applications open April 1st and are due May 1st, 2025.
      • Link: Student Fellowships

    NDSGC Fall Mini-Grants for Affiliates:

    • Affiliate mini-grants up to $2,500 are available to NDSGC affiliate representatives who are hosting, or participating in research or education events related to STEM and/or NASA. Please visit the link below to learn more. Applications open April 1st and are due May 1st, 2025.
      • Link: Affiliate Mini-Grants

    NDSGC Fall Mini-Grants for Educators:

    • Educator Mini-grants are open to North Dakota formal and informal educators who are teaching, hosting, or participating in research or education initiatives related to STEM and/or NASA. Each proposal must involve students. Please visit the link below to learn more. Applications open April 1st and are due May 1st, 2025.
      • Link: Educator Mini-Grants

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    Opportunities Outside the NDSGC

    Opportunities NOT facilitated by the NDSGC but relevant to the NDSGC audience

  • NEW: NASA Aeronautics 101 Webinar:

    • • Join NASA to get the latest on NASA Aeronautics missions, explore career pathways to NASA, and discover student aero opportunities. This is intended for higher education students, but all are welcome to attend. It will begin with a presentation and follow up with a Q&A session. This webinar will occur over Teams on Wednesday, April 23rd at 6pm ET. 
    • • • Link: Online Meeting
        • Meeting ID: 252 856 825 018. Password: Hc3md7wh

    NEW: Space Welders – Virtual Career Connection CTE Series

    • • Learn about space welding and how NASA and its partners are using high energy density welding — not just for space but in space. Hear about the physical processes of welding on the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Learn how NASA, universities, and industry are working together to investigate laser beam welding in reduced gravity, in vacuum, and at extreme temperatures similar to that found in space. How does space change welding? Students will have an opportunity to talk with subject matter experts and ask questions following their presentation. This virtual event be held at 1:00 PM, May 1st, 2025. Registration is due by April 24th, 2025.
        • Link: Registration and Information

  • 2025 STEM Symposium

    • • The National Space Grant Foundation would like to invite you to participate in the 2025 STEM Symposium being held at Kennedy Space Center on August 5-7, 2025. They are excited to bring together approximately 400 stakeholders and team members from institutions of higher education, government agencies, aerospace industry and STEM ecosystem leaders whose collective work advances America’s goals for our future STEM workforce. This symposium offers a platform for key stakeholders to cultivate strategic partnerships, and exchange best practices and groundbreaking ideas. The event will provide structured sessions where participants can meet and engage with a diverse range of stakeholders. These interactive sessions will focus on joint problem-solving and brainstorming, allowing participants to collaborate on specific challenges and explore potential partnerships. Cost for registration is only $150, which includes all meals and potential tours.
        • Link: STEM Symposium Information
        • Questions? Reach out to: hq-stemsymposium@mail.nasa.gov.

  • University Leadership Initiative Solicitation

    • University Leadership Initiative (ULI) provides the opportunity for university teams to exercise technical and organizational leadership in proposing unique technical challenges in aeronautics, defining multi-disciplinary solutions, establishing peer review mechanisms, and applying innovative teaming strategies to strengthen the research impact. This NRA will utilize a two-step proposal submission and evaluation process. The initial step is a short mandatory Step-A proposal due June 26, 2025. Those offerors submitting the most highly rated Step-A proposals will be invited to submit a Step-B proposal. An Applicant’s Workshop will be held on Wednesday, April 30th, 2025; 1:00-3:00 p.m. ET.
    • Research proposals are sought in six ULI topic areas in Appendix D.4.
      • • Topic 1: Safe, Efficient Growth in Global Operations (Strategic Thrust 1)
        • Topic 2: Innovation in Commercial High-Speed Aircraft (Strategic Thrust 2)
        • Topic 3: Ultra-Efficient Subsonic Transports (Strategic Thrust 3)
        • Topic 4: Safe, Quiet, and Affordable Vertical Lift Air Vehicles (Strategic Thrust 4)
        • Topic 5: In-Time System-Wide Safety Assurance (Strategic Thrust 5)
        • Topic 6: Assured Autonomy for Aviation Transformation (Strategic Thrust 6)
      • Link: NSPIRES Deadlines for Proposals
      • Link: Workshop Presentation
      • Link: ULI Partners List

  • Space Innovation Challenge

    • Join the Space Innovation Challenge where leading innovators will present breakthrough solutions in in-space manufacturing, satellite systems, propulsion, and space operations to an expert panel of industry, government, and investment leaders. The top innovators will compete for the $100K prize pool, sponsored by Advanced Technology International (ATI) and in collaboration with leading aerospace organizations and space funding agencies. Applications are due by May 2nd, 2025.
      • Link: More Information

    2025 Summer Field Technician

    • This unique job will give students the opportunity to survey insects and plant communities across North Dakota. This position is active from end of May to the end of August, with pay at $15.50 an hour for 40 hours a week. Traveling is required for the position, with housing during travel provided. This position is open to all undergraduate or graduate students based out of the Grand Forks Area. Please look at attached link for more information on this opportunity and how to apply.
      • Link: Plant Pollinators

    NASA Space Biology and Physical Sciences Research Studies:

    • The Space Biology and Physical Sciences programs within NASA’s Biological and Physical Sciences (BPS) Division hosted a webinar to discuss the E.9 Space Biology: Research Studies and E.12 Physical Sciences Research Studies program elements recently released under Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) 2024. For E.9 and E.12, Step-2 proposals are due on May 6th, 2025.
      • Site: Biological and Physical Sciences Pre-Proposer’s Townhall E.9 Space Biology Research Studies and E.12 Physical Sciences Research Studies