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Fellowships  and  Traineeships

Overview

    The Hawai‘i Space Grant Consortium expands educational opportunities for University of Hawai‘i undergraduates by awarding fellowships and traineeships in fields that are relevant to NASA's goals. Two levels of support, fellowship or traineeship, are offered depending on the skill, knowledge level, and time commitment of the student. We support the national Space Grant agenda to help prepare the future generation of space scientists and engineers, and to increase the understanding and development of space. U.S. citizenship is required for consideration as a fellow or trainee.
    Fields relevant to NASA's goals are mainly those in science, technology, engineering, math, and education that are focused on studying the Earth from space, exploring our Solar System and the universe beyond, understanding the potential for life elsewhere, understanding how life responds to space, creating a more secure, efficient, and environmentally friendly air transportation system, inspiring students to pursue careers in science, technology, and mathematics, and engaging the public in shaping and sharing the experience of space exploration and discovery.
    Fellows and trainees work under the guidance of mentors who are normally faculty members. Women, underrepresented students such as Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, and physically challenged students are particularly encouraged to apply.

Undergraduate traineeships are awarded to students at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa and Hilo, at the Community Colleges, and at the University of Guam. The awards provide laboratory training and practical experience in any space-related field of science, engineering or math. Trainees work 5-10 hours per week and receive a stipend of $250 to $1,000 per semester and may be eligible for an additional $250 per semester for supplies.

NASA funding of fellows and trainees requires U.S. citizenship. Applicants must complete a formal application, submit transcripts and a letter of support from the prospective mentor.

Undergraduate application deadlines are: June 15 for fall semester and December 1 for spring semester.

Information and Applications
These pdf forms are fillable on your computer. Additional signatures are required prior to submission.
Application for Undergraduate Fellowship at Manoa and Hilo

Application for Undergraduate Traineeship at Manoa and Hilo

Application for Undergraduate Traineeship at a Community College

Applications are also available from Space Grant offices at Manoa (POST building room 501) or Hilo campuses or the Community Colleges. You may call the Manoa office for more information at (808) 956-3138 or email Dr. Ed Scott at escott@higp.hawaii.edu.

Additional Information
Current NASA Strategic Plan (48-page .pdf document)

Current NASA Goals and Outcomes (3-page .pdf document) from the current NASA Strategic Plan.

Listing of mentors at U.H. Manoa seeking Fellows or Trainees.

Listing of NASA and space-related resources

KCC campus map

Forms
Fellowship Final Report Instructions

Fellows and Trainees Tracking Form

Fall 2009 Undergraduate Fellowships
University of Hawai‘i at Manoa:

• Michael Andonian, a senior in Mathematics will bring his mathematical skills to bear on the issues of control theory developed for autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and how they can be applied to robots in space, specifically vehicles that will someday explore the oceans under the icy crust of Europa, Jupiter's moon. Michael will work on his project titled, "Guidance and Control of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles" with mentor Dr. Monique Chyba of the Department of Mathematics.
• Jason Axelson, a senior in Electrical Engineering will continue his work with mentor Dr. Wayne Shiroma of the Department of Electrical Engineering on hardware and software issues for small satellites. With his project titled "Design of a CubeSat Payload Interface" Jason's goal is to create a modular interface to support CubeSat payloads in an effort to systematize development efforts and meet budget constraints.
• Yu Ming Cai, a senior in Mechanical Engineering will expand on a project he began as a Space Grant Trainee (Spring, 2009) on thermal modeling and analyses relevant to all small satellite projects. Yu Ming is using advanced simulation tools during his project titled "Analysis and Design of the Thermal Control Sub-System of LEO-1." Serving as mentor is Dr. Marcelo Kobayashi of the Department of Mechanical Engineering.
• Samantha Jacob, a sophomore in Physics will work with mentor Dr. Norbert Schorghofer of the Institute for Astronomy on a project titled "Are Martian Slope Streaks Triggered by Dust Devils?" Samantha will work with orbital remote sensing images and learn digital imaging processing techniques specifically to identify dust devil tracks and slope steaks, to document the timing of their appearance, and try to determine cause/effect relationships.
• Windell Jones is a senior in Mechanical Engineering with Space Grant Fellowship (2007-2008) and NASA Ames Robotics Academy (Summer 2008) experience. Windell will be working on attitude correction and determination for small satellites in a project titled, "The Design of Simple Attitude Control for a Cube Satellite." Serving as mentor is Dr. Amit Sanyal of the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

• Christina King, a junior in Art, will continue working with mentor Dr. Norbert Schorghofer of the Institute for Astronomy researching the characteristics and timing of the formation of dark streaks on slopes on the Martian surface. In her project titled, "Seasonality of Slope Streak Formation," Christina is using advanced processing and analysis techniques on geological remote sensing data to further test hypotheses of formation mechanisms, seasonal dependence, and localized streak activity.
• Scott Lee, a junior in Electrical Engineering plans to design, fabricate, and test a thermoelectric generator circuit for improved efficiency in storing and dissipating electricity. Scott's project titled, "Renewable Energy Using Thermoelectric Devices" has important applications for space components. Serving as mentor is Dr. Aaron Ohta of the Department of Electrical Engineering, himself a former Hawai‘i Space Grant Fellow (2002) and Trainee (2001).
• Bao Jun Lei, a senior in Electrical Engineering will work with mentor Dr. Wayne Shiroma of the Department of Electrical Engineering on nanosatellite technology. With his project titled "Design of Electrical Power Subsystem using the CubeSat Stackable Interface" Bao will plan, create, and test a modular design that can be integrated within any type of CubeSat payload for optimum performance.

CanSat Fellows:

Space Grant Community College campuses are sponsoring engineering programs for students to design, build, and test CanSats. A CanSat is a scientific experiment package, the size of a soda can and commonly launched by weather balloon or small rocket, designed to retrieve photographic, temperature, pressure, and altitude data for near-Earth, low-atmosphere experiments. The CanSat students from the different campuses work together and participate in ARLISS Competitions (A Rocket Launch for International Student Satellites) in Nevada. Community college students have benefited from the mentorship of professors at Honolulu CC and Windward CC, and engineers from HECO and industry affiliates.

Kapiolani Community College:

Windward Community College:

Fall 2009 Undergraduate Traineeships
Maui Community College:

• Lauren Elder, Kevin Roy, and Norman Tong, are working on different aspects of a wide-scope project, "Astrometry and Photometry of Asteroids and Variable Stars - Planning, Scheduling, and Collecting Data Using Remotely Operated Telescopes in New Mexico and Australia." Serving as mentor is Dr. John Pye, professor of Astronomy and Oceanography, and Space Grant Associate Director at Maui Community College.

Summer 2009 Undergraduate Programs

Hawai‘i Space Grant supported two undergraduates, Daniel Hong and Jordan Olive, to attend the NASA Ames Robotics Academy at NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California from June 8 to August 14, 2009. Hawai‘i Space Grant supported Sophie Milam to attend the NASA Ames Academy for Space Exploration.

Hawai‘i Space Grant supported 11 summer interns from the Kaua‘i Community College at local high-tech companies. Mark Guirao and Brycen Nakashima worked at Manu Kai Optics, LLC at the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF). Angel Hernandez and Ryan Parangao worked at Trex Hawaii, LLC at PMRF. Crystal Whitehill worked at ITT Corp. at PMRF, continuing her internship from Summer 2008. Eric Fune, Keelan Sakuda, Keonimana Shigematsu and Geoffrey Tran worked for the U.S. Navy Communications Dept. at PMRF. Harold Shimono worked at Oceanit Labs, Inc. Thad Fuji worked at Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative.

Six undergraduates, Kelan Adachi, Taylor Alfiler, John Crescenzi, Kolby Javinar, Victor Rundbaken, and John Vento, completed Summer Fellowships at Kaua‘i Community College with mentor Dr. Matthew Cochran.

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Archive of Former Undergraduate Fellows and Trainees
| Spring 2009 | Fall 2008 | Spring 2008 | Fall 2007 | Spring 2007 | Fall 2006 | Spring 2006 | Fall 2005 | Spring 2005 | Fall 2004 | Spring 2004 | Fall 2003 | Spring 2003 | Fall 2002 | Spring 2002 | Fall 2001 | Spring 2001 | Fall 2000 | Spring 2000 | Fall 1999 | Spring 1999 | Fall 1998 | Spring 1998 | Fall 1997 | Spring 1997 | Fall 1996 | Spring 1996 | Fall 1995 | Spring 1995 | Fall 1994 | Spring 1994 | Fall 1993 | Spring 1993 | Fall 1992 | Spring 1992 | Fall 1991 | Spring 1991 | Fall 1990 |

General Guidelines
    Serving as a mentor for an undergraduate Space Grant fellow is one of the most effective educational activities a researcher or faculty member can do. Mentoring a student in his or her research project can provide that extra spark that makes a dramatic difference in the life of a young person and in their approach to learning. The research experience also enhances a student's education and shows how science and engineering are really done, much more than class and laboratory assignments can ever do.

    To help prospective and existing mentors with this important job, the Hawai‘i Space Grant Consortium offers these guidelines.

Research Ohana. If you have a large research group, feel free to share mentoring responsibilities with graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. Much science is done by groups, so this adds to the research experience, as long as the undergraduate fellow has his or her own, identifiable project. It is also acceptable for a postdoc, research associate, or specialist to be a mentor. If a mentor has two or more fellows, be sure that each has an identifiable project, even if the projects are related. For example, one student could develop hardware, the other software on an engineering design project.

Space Connection. Space Grant is a NASA-funded project, and everything it does must have a clear connection to space science or aerospace engineering. Thus, mentors must be sure that their students remember to discuss the link with space science or aerospace engineering, especially when writing proposals and requests for renewals, giving talks at our undergraduate fellowship symposium, and preparing their final reports.

Student's time commitment. Please remember that our fellows are undergraduates, not graduate students. They are full-time students, usually taking five courses. Consequently, they should not be expected to work more than about 15 hours per week. Sometimes a key challenge for a mentor is to be sure their fellow does not neglect his or her other school work as they become engrossed in their research project!

Laboratory duties. Our fellows are doing research projects. They are not student employees hired to clean the lab, run the copy machine, or do clerical work. Of course, everyone working in a laboratory is expected to do his or her share of laboratory maintenance, but we want to be sure that space grant fellows are treated as researchers, not non-technical employees.

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