Summer 2021
Call for AU STEM Student Summer Research Proposals:
Supported jointly by:
CAS Mathias Research Fellowship and the NASA DC Space Grant Consortium
The College of Arts and Sciences and the NASA District of Columbia Space Grant Consortium are pleased to call for applications for STEM student research support for Summer 2021. These awards recognize outstanding student achievement in the STEM disciplines and provide student support funding of $4,500. Recipients also will be given access to resources to complete a STEM research project for 8 weeks during the summer and provided with faculty assistance for the student’s chosen research project. Additionally, the faculty mentor will receive a stipend of $500. The competition is open to all AU STEM majors in their first, second, or third year of study.
Proposals must include:
• Your name, email address, student ID, and US residency status (note: both US citizens and non-citizens are encouraged to apply and will be given full consideration)
• An unofficial transcript
• A one-page personal statement describing your motivation for pursuing a STEM major, your preparation for doing summer research, and your future career plans
• A plan to work remotely, if necessary, due to COVID-19
• A recommendation letter from the faculty member mentoring the summer research project confirming that the student will participate in summer research under their supervision and that they support the application. Faculty recommendation letters are encouraged to link the student research project to one of the NASA Mission Directorates (see https://www.nasa.gov/offices/olia/overview/index.html for descriptions of the four NASA Mission Directorates: HEOMD, SMD, ARMD, STMD).
Students will not be allowed to receive multiple summer awards and therefore students who receive another award such as the American University Scholars & Artists Fellowship will have to choose which award to accept. Students who accept an award will be expected to participate in SUGRE, the weekly professional development seminar for STEM students held during the summer, and to present their research at the NASA DC Space Grant Consortium Student Research Conference in February 2022, the Mathias Student Research Conference in March 2022, or similar research events. Some students who accept an award also may be requested to complete an additional form from the NASA DC Space Grant Consortium and respond to an annual survey that tracks their academic and career progress as a requirement of this funding.
Applications will be evaluated by a panel of experts through a competitive process, and up to ten awards will be made.
Both are due by 5pm on April 2, 2021. Please note that these funds may be taxable.
Questions: Contact Eric Day at (202) 885-2755 or eday@american.edu
Application and faculty letter of recommendation Links:
Student Application:
https://www.formdesk.com/DCSpaceGrant/AUSummer2021
Link to provide to your faculty mentor for letter of recommendation:
https://www.formdesk.com/DCSpaceGrant/Mathias_Faculty
* We must receive both your application and your faculty mentor's letter of recommendation by April 2, 2021.
