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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. Inquires to our office may also be made for information about the Master's Apprenticeship program for graduate students at the University of Hawai‘i. 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, trainee, apprentice, or intern.
    Fields relevant to NASA's goals are mainly those in science, technology, and education that are focused on understanding the Earth, exploring the Solar System and the universe beyond, understanding the origin and evolution of life, 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 exploration and discovery.
    Fellows and trainees work under the guidance of mentors who are normally faculty members. Women, under-represented minorities (specifically Native Hawaiians, other Pacific Islanders, Native Americans, African Americans, and Hispanics), and physically challenged students who have interest in space-related fields are particularly encouraged to apply.

Traineeships
All full-time undergraduates enrolled at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa, University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, one of the University of Hawai‘i Community Colleges or University of Hawai‘i Maui College are eligible to apply for Traineeships. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and must be sponsored by a mentor who is willing to guide the student for the duration of the award. Trainees enrolled at the Manoa or Hilo campuses are expected to work between 5 to 10 hours a week, and receive a stipend of $1200 for a semester. Trainees enrolled at University of Hawai‘i Community Colleges or University of Hawai‘i Maui College receive a stipend between $250 and $1000 for working at least 5 hours per week during the semester.

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.
Fellowships
Application for Undergraduate Fellowship at Manoa and Hilo.

Application for Undergraduate Fellowship at Community Colleges and Maui College.

Traineeships
Application for Undergraduate Traineeship at Manoa and Hilo.

Application for Undergraduate Traineeship at Community Colleges and Maui College.

Applications are also available from Space Grant offices at Manoa (POST building room 501) or Hilo campuses, Community College campuses, and Maui College. 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 (44-page .pdf document released on February 14, 2011.)

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

Forms

•  Required:  Fellows and Trainees Tracking Form   (online fillable form)
•  Required:  Fellowship Final Report Instructions   (pdf)
• Supply Purchase Request Form   (fillable pdf)
• Travel Request Form   (fillable pdf)
• Evaluation Form   (fillable pdf)

Fall 2011 Undergraduate Fellowships
University of Hawai‘i at Manoa:

• Justin Bergonio, a junior in Geology and Geophysics, will use NASA orbital images of different resolutions spanning more than 30 years to study the surface of Mars; in particular, the rates of formation and fading of slope streaks. Justin's project titled, "The Lifetime and Abundance of Slope Streaks on Mars," follows a long line of fellowship projects on slope streaks with mentor Dr. Norbert Schorghofer of the Institute for Astronomy.
• Emily Chang, a senior in Global Environmental Science, is working under the direction of mentor Dr. Eric Gaidos of the Department of Geology and Geophysics on a project on extra-solar planets. Emily is working with data from the Wide Angle Search for Planets (WASP) program, the Faulkes telescope on Haleakala, and NASA's Kepler mission on her project titled, "Prediction of SuperWASP Stars with Detectable Transits using Kepler Data."
• Brian James, a junior in Geology and Geophysics, will develop new imagery sets from NASA data and interactive educational presentations for display on digital video globes. Working with mentor Dr. Sarah Sherman of the Hawai‘i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, Brian's project is titled, "Bringing Mercury and the Moon to You Live and in 3-D: An Innovative and Engaging Multimedia Spherical Projection Using Data from Current NASA Missions."
• Reina Ojiri, a junior in Mathematics, will work with mentor Dr. Monique Chyba of the Department of Mathematics on a project titled "Designing Space Craft Missions to NEOs." Reina's work will emphasize spatial-mechanics algorithms to create computer simulations of the optimal trajectories of Near-Earth Objects for encounter by spacecraft.

University of Hawai‘i at Hilo:

• Liliana DeSmither, a junior in Geology, will be working on an Earth analog study for silica-rich deposits and soils found on Mars by the Mars Exploration Rover, Spirit. Working with mentor, Dr. Ken Hon of the Geology Department, Liliana will study the occurrence, mineralogy, and modes of formation of selected samples collected on the island of Hawai‘i in her project titled, "Mineralogical Study of Volcanic Sublimates from Halema‘uma‘u Crater, Kilauea Volcano."

Fall 2011 Undergraduate Trainees

University of Hawai‘i at Manoa:

• Elyse Iseke, a sophomore in Food Science and Human Nutrition, will use Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter data from NASA's current Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter mission to study one of the most important planetary surface features: Impact craters. With mentor Dr. Jeffrey Gillis-Davis of the Hawai‘i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, Elyse will measure crater dimensions to distinguish fresh craters from degraded craters and floor-fractured craters that were modified by igneous activity.

Windward Community College:

• Todd Esposito, Patrick Lancaster, Jasmine Maru, and Kristi Ross, participated in the ARLISS competition under the guidance of mentors Dr. Joe Ciotti and Dr. Jake Hudson from WCC, and Helen Rapozo from Honolulu CC.

Fall 2011 Intern

• Kale Nakata, a senior in Electrical Engineering at U. H. Manoa, is a part-time Hawaii Space Grant Intern at NovaSol in Honolulu.

Summer 2011 Internships

• Robert Albarran, a senior in Astronomy and Physics and U. H. Hilo was a NASA Goddard--Hawai‘i Space Grant summer intern.
• Michael Andonian, a Master's student in Mathematics at U. H. Manoa was a Jet Propulsion Laboratory--Hawai‘i Space Grant summer intern.
• James Bishop, a junior in Geology and Geophysics at U. H. Manoa was a full-time summer Hawai‘i Space Grant Intern at NovaSol in Honolulu.
• Adria Fung, a freshman heading to Boston was a NASA Ames Robotics Academy-- Hawai‘i Space Grant summer intern.
• John Furumo, a senior in Mechanical Engineering at U. H. Manoa was a NASA Marshall Academy--Hawai‘i Space Grant summer intern.
• Amber Imai, a senior in Electrical Engineering at U. H. Manoa was a full-time summer Hawai‘i Space Grant Intern at NovaSol in Honolulu.
• Arlen Kam, a Master's student in Aeronautics and Astronautics at Stanford University was a NASA Ames Academy--Hawai‘i Space Grant summer intern.
• Carissa Nakao, an incoming freshman in Mechanical Engineering at U. H. Manoa was a NASA Ames Robotics Academy--Hawai‘i Space Grant summer intern.
• Kevin Shin, a sophomore in Mechanical Engineering at U. H. Manoa was a summer Hawai‘i Space Grant Intern at NovaSol in Honolulu.
• Four Kaua‘i Community College interns were funded for the 2011 Hawai‘i Space Grant Summer Internship Program. Kolby Javinar, Jacob Matutino, and Joshua Ponting worked at the Pacific Missile Range Facility. Crystal Whitehill worked at General Dynamics.

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•  Required:  Fellows and Trainees Tracking Form   (online fillable form)

Archive of Former Undergraduate Fellows and Trainees
| Spring 2011 | Fall 2010 | Spring 2010 | Fall 2009 | 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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