NASA has selected 23 minority-serving institutions to receive $1.2 million to enhance their research and technology capabilities, collaborate on research projects and contribute to the agency’s missions for the benefit of humanity.
Through NASA’s Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP) Annual Partnership Learning Announcement (MPLAN) award, selected institutions will receive up to $50,000 each over a six-month period to work directly on STEM projects with subject matter experts in NASA mission directorates.
“As NASA aims to inspire the next generation, the Artemis generation, we aim to increase access for all,” said Shahra Lambert, NASA’s senior advisor for engagement and equity. “It’s a bold task to return to the Moon and go to Mars, but NASA is known for making the impossible possible. By funding partnerships such as MPLAN and utilizing all STEM resource groups, including MSIs, we are ensuring that the future of our missions is in good hands.”
The awards will contribute to research opportunities in preparation for larger funding programmes, such as NASA’s annual Small Business Innovation/Small Business Technology Transfer Research, the Space Technology Research Grants Program within the agency’s Space Technology Mission Directorate, the University Leadership Initiative within the Aeronautical Research Directorate Mission and Human Research Program within NASA’s Space Operations Mission Directorate.
“These awards will help unlock the full potential of students traditionally underrepresented in science, technology, engineering and mathematics research and careers,” said Torry Johnson, associate deputy administrator for STEM Engagement Projects at NASA Headquarters. in Washington. “Through this award, universities receive support, resources and guidance directly from NASA experts who can be game-changers for the work they do to develop technological innovations that contribute to NASA’s missions and benefit all of humanity.”
The awardees are as follows:
Contactable Planetary Exploration Drones
- California State University-Dominguez Hills
Biologically inspired surface design for thermal extremes
- California State University-Fresno
Human-centric digital twins in NASA space missions
- California State University-Northridge
Reusing parts of the earth in geodetic assemblies
- California State University, Monterey Bay
Creating Biofuels through Molecular Insights
- CUNY New York City College of Technology
Polyethylene glycol diacrylates for seed growth: Microgreens in space
- Delgado Community College, New Orleans, Louisiana
Freshman Access to CubeSat Education
- Fayetteville State University, Fayetteville, North Carolina
New technology for tracking storms with machine learning
- Hampton University, Hampton, Virginia
Sustainable approach to lunar energy operation
- New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Information-Theoretic Multi-Robot Exploration
- Portland State University, Portland, Oregon
Design of robotic legs for lunar exploration
- Regents of New Mexico State University
Extreme aerodynamics on small air vehicles
- San Diego State University
Improved Aeroplane Components: Reinforcement Innovation
- San Francisco State University
Early non-invasive diagnosis of heart disease
- San Jose State University
Design of elastic battery system for space
- Southern University and A & M College, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
X-ray 3D printing of nanocomposites for AME
Antimicrobial of plants in space exploration using AI
- Spelman College, Atlanta, Georgia
Non-contact optical sensor for biomedicine
- CUNY Research Foundation on behalf of City College, New York
Tendril-inspired soft robot for space exploration
- University of Texas at San Antonio
Hydrodynamic stability of aircraft through neural networks
Low SWaP water electrolyser for on-site lunar/martian resource utilization
- University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Tunable NanoEnergetic microthruster cartridges
- University of California, Irvine
Flexible modular robots for extreme access
- University of Hawaii at Manoa
Ultrasound methods for monitoring carcinogenesis
Climatic and ultra-fast aluminum ion batteries
Awardee institutions and their partners are invited to meet with NASA researchers and MUREP representatives during the remainder of 2024. The meetings serve as training sessions to pursue future NASA opportunities. These trainings focus primarily on fostering collaboration, enhancing technical skills, and providing insight into NASA’s research priorities to better prepare participants for future opportunities.
To learn more about MPLAN, visit:
https://go.nasa.gov/49gsZ9X
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Gerelle Dodson
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1600
gerelle.q.dodson@nasa.gov
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Image Source : www.nasa.gov