NASA Graduate Education in Ocean Science

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CITATION Lindstrom, E., S. Hakkinen, and M.-Y. Wei. 2016. NASA graduate fellowship opportunities. Oceanography 29(1):82–85, http://dx.doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2016.19.

DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2016.19

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NASA Graduate Fellowship Opportunities

By Eric Lindstrom, Sirpa Hakkinen, and Ming-Ying Wei

ABSTRACT. The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has a operated by the National Oceanic and robust program in Earth observing and Earth science research, including oceanography. Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). For decades, the agency has supported graduate students through research grants and From these early efforts, the NASA phys- a dedicated graduate fellowship program. The core and the longest-active graduate ical oceanography and ocean biology/ student program is the NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship geared to students biogeochemistry programs have contin- in basic and applied research in Earth and space science. This article provides some ued to expand with new ocean explora- history and context for NASA’s investment in oceanography graduate students, along tion missions. Presently, NASA Earth with testimonials from some graduate fellowship recipients. Science has ~20 operating missions, with the Earth Observing System platforms INTRODUCTION demonstrated the feasibility of global sat- (Terra launched in December 1999 and One mission of the National Aeronautics ellite observations of oceanographic phe- Aqua in May 2002) carrying the largest and Space Administration (NASA) is nomena. With its first-of-a-kind satellite instrument loads. understanding and protecting our home instruments, Seasat collected data on sea planet. Roughly 10% of NASA’s budget surface winds (scatterometer) and tem- BUILDING A RESEARCH is allocated to its Earth Science Division peratures (scanning multichannel micro- WORKFORCE (ESD)—one part of NASA’s Science wave radiometer), wave heights (syn- Since the beginning of Earth observing Mission Directorate. ESD funds Earth thetic aperture radar [SAR], altimeter), satellites, a key to further technological observing satellites, Earth system sci- internal waves (SAR), atmospheric col- and scientific advances of ocean research ence research, technology development, umn water (microwave radiometer), sea has been sustaining workforce develop- and application of remote-sensing data ice features (SAR), and ocean surface ment. NASA has recognized the impor- for societal benefit. People endeavoring topography (altimeter). tance of workforce growth, particularly to make Earth science their life work— Prior to Seasat, there was the Electrically with respect to entraining and retain- graduate students—are at the core of Scanning Microwave Radiometer (ESMR; ing new researchers in all fields of Earth ESD’s support of modern research activ- operated 1972–1976) that measured sur- remote sensing. Since its launch in 1979, ities. This paper describes NASA’s gradu- face brightness temperatures to derive the NASA Graduate Student Researchers ate fellowship programs as they apply to sea ice concentrations. This technique Program (GSRP) has supported engi- Earth science and the field of oceanogra- evolved into the scanning multichannel neers and scientists in many sectors of phy in particular. microwave radiometer (SMMR; launched science and technology. They, in turn, on Nimbus-7 October 24, 1978) and then have made important contributions to SOME HISTORICAL a series of operational missions spon- NASA’s mission from bases that range BACKGROUND sored by the US Department of Defense. from universities and the federal govern- NASA physical and biological ocean- Another pioneering instrument used to ment to nonprofit and for-profit organi- ography programs were initiated effec- observe the living ocean was the Coastal zations. GSRP spawned the NASA grad- tively with the launch of the first satel- Zone Color Scanner (CZCS), which also uate research opportunities of today that lite dedicated to ocean research, Seasat, flew on Nimbus-7. The busy year of 1978 we describe below. Investment in work- on June 27, 1978. This satellite col- also brought a new era of satellite sea sur- force development by NASA has been lected data for a mere 3.5 months, to face temperature observations with the so successful that now more than 50% October 10, 1978, when it ceased oper- October 13 launch of the Advanced Very of NASA ocean research funding goes ating due to failure of its electric power High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) to non-NASA researchers at universities system. Despite its short lifespan, Seasat onboard TIROS-N, a NASA-built satellite and other research organizations.

82 Oceanography | Vol.29, No.1 Colleen Mouw: NASA Fellow 2005–2007

The NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship (NESSF) gave me the flexibility to pursue research topics and aspects I was most passionate about as a graduate student. The fellowship gave me a confidence boost in recog- nizing that my ideas were well grounded and worth supporting, provided early exposure to proposal writing and NASA GRADUATE STUDENT panel feedback, and allowed me to develop full ownership of the work and outcomes OPPORTUNITIES of the fellowship effort. These experiences have been invaluable in transitioning to an NASA currently offers several gradu- independent PI. Little did I know at the time that the development work I was doing ate education programs that are open to during the fellowship would be so important in my ability to successfully fund inde- applicants from accredited US univer- pendent work post graduation. I am now advising a student who is currently sup- sities. Some of these programs are lim- ported by the NESSF. This has allowed me to broaden the depth of my mentoring and ited to applicants who are US citizens the reach of my own research through more fully being able to encourage his creative or permanent residents, and others are and independent thinking. open to foreign students fully enrolled Coleen Mouw is an assistant professor at Michigan Technological University and Great Lakes in US accredited universities. NASA Research Center, Department of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences, Houghton, Michigan. She held a NASA fellowship from 2005 to 2008 at the University of Rhode Island. also sponsors educational programs that are designed for students from under- represented populations to broaden their Galen McKinley: NASA Fellow 1999–2002 participation in the remote-sensing com- I had the honor of being a NASA fellow during my PhD munity and to increase the talent pool by studies at MIT. This support allowed me to pursue my developing a more inclusive science and own questions about global ocean carbon cycling from technology workforce. The selected stu- the very beginning. I experienced independence of inquiry dents are located either at their home and gained confidence in my ability to formulate solid institutions or at NASA centers, depend- hypotheses and the work plan that would test them. This ing on the program. Here, we review pro- confidence was critical to my success as a postdoc and to being able to write success- grams that are the most applicable to ful proposals early in my career on the tenure track—including for a NASA New Earth science and oceanography. Investigator Program award for 2008 to 2011. I continue to find joy in asking the The longest active graduate stu- right questions and in seeing research develop toward answers. NASA has the ability dent program is the NASA Earth and not only to launch satellites, but also to launch careers. Thank you, NASA! Space Science Fellowship (NESSF), geared to students in basic and applied Currently a professor of atmospheric and oceanic sciences at the University of Wisconsin– Madison, Galen McKinley held a NASA Earth System Science Fellowship from 1999 to 2002 at research in Earth and space science. The the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. NESSF originated in the NASA Global Change Fellowship Program launched in 1991 to promote interdisciplinary and remote-sensing research and address closely related to their PhD topics. The some increase in recent years (Figure 1), the workforce needed for the Earth NASA Science Mission Directorate con- and the award success rate decreasing Observing System initiated in 1990s. The ducts the review and selection whereby from earlier years (Figure 2). Earth sci- Global Change Fellowship Program was these graduate student proposals are rated ence fellowships are among the most subsequently renamed the Earth System (via mail reviews and a panel review) by competitive of all the NESSF applications. Science Fellowship (ESSF) in 1995, and both NASA and non-NASA researchers Another nationally competed fellow- it was expanded to include space sci- in their respective disciplines. The fellowship is the NASA Space Technology ences in 2007, when it became the NESSF. ship provides up to three years of sup- Research Fellowship (NSTRF), which is Prospective applicants conceive origi- port. The program has been highly com- available only to US citizens or permanent nal research proposals, which are usually petitive, with the applicant pool showing residents. All NASA centers also provide

Oceanography | March 2016 83 Julius Busecke: Current NASA Fellow graduate research fellowships (depending on funding), where students work closely It goes without saying that I am unbelievably proud with researchers in a specific center. and thankful to be a recipient of a NASA Earth and In addition, NASA supports gradu- Space Science Fellowship (NESSF). It has been the big- ate education through the National Space gest stepping-stone in my career, in particular by pro- Grant College and Fellowship Program. viding the freedom to investigate and fine-tune the The goal of this program is to promote topic of my dissertation free from the constraints typ- aerospace-related research, education, ically associated with scientific funding. This freedom has profoundly shaped my and public service to encourage a diverse abilities and character as an aspiring scientist. The eligibility of non-American cit- workforce. These fellowships support izens is one of the features setting the NESSF apart from other graduate fellowships both undergraduates and graduate stu- and, as a German citizen, receiving the NESSF has furthered my ambition to con- dents pursuing careers in science, math- tribute to the advancement and excellence of Earth sciences in the United States. ematics, engineering, and technology A current recipient of a NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship, Julius Busecke is work- (STEM) in universities belonging to the ing toward a graduate degree at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University Space Grant Consortium. in Palisades, New York. The Jenkins Pre-doctoral Fellowship Project (JPFP) seeks to increase the num- Rashmi Shah: NASA Fellow 2011–2014 ber of graduate degrees awarded to under- The NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship (NESSF) represented persons (women, minori- gave me an opportunity to grow as a scientist during a ties, and persons with disabilities) in the critical period of my education. The fellowship played a STEM disciplines. Another goal of this significant role in my decision to continue my research project is to increase the US talent pool on developing new remote sensing techniques for the by developing a more inclusive, multi ocean surface. As a fellow, I was able to focus on a topic cultural, and sustainable STEM work- of my own choosing and see it through over the course of my academic career. As force. The JPFP provides up to three years part of that research, I traveled to an offshore oil platform (the NASA prime cali- of support and includes orientation, men- bration site for the Jason series of reference altimeter missions), where I installed toring, a technical exchange symposium, an experiment that was part of a multi-year investigation to measure ocean sur- and the competitive mini research award face characteristics like wave height and sea surface height. The flexibility of the program. The latter project provides six fellowship enabled me to build a number of fruitful collaborations with a variety weeks of hands-on research experience of talented scientists and engineers. I accepted a permanent position at NASA JPL at NASA centers. Up to 20 fellows are that started immediately after graduation. selected annually. Rashmi Shah, a native of Kathmandu, Nepal, works at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory on Federal agencies involved in ocean the calibration/validation team for altimetry series satellites. While a graduate student at research, including NASA, sponsor a Purdue University, she was a summer intern at the Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, program called Mentoring Physical MD, and she held a NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship from 2011 to 2014. Oceanography Women to Increase Retention (MPOWIR). This program, Sidharth Misra: NASA Fellow 2008–2011 aimed at retaining women in this field, My fellowship allowed me the opportunity develop provides mentoring from late gradu- necessary technical, logistical, and social skills to ate school through early career stages. work with NASA missions. From the moment I sub- Limited funding is available through mitted the NESSF proposal until my thesis defense, MPOWIR mainly for travel to give sem- I went through most of the important stages in a sys- inars, to meet NASA scientists, and to tems life cycle—proposal, requirements, design, test, risk familiarize recipients with NASA research management, and implementation. I continue to use tools developed during my activities and work environments. fellowship at my work. NASA also supports education fellow- Sidharth Misra, who holds an undergraduate degree from Gujarat University in India and ships for foreign students in some cir- MS and PhD degrees from the University of Michigan, is a science team member on the Soil cumstances. As noted above, interna- Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) mission and is on the calibration team for the Aquarius and tional students can apply for the NESSF Juno radiometers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He held a NASA Earth Science and Space Fellowship from 2008 to 2011. fellowships if they are studying in US universities. Other limited opportunities are

84 Oceanography | Vol.29, No.1 ApplicationsApplications to NASA to NASA Earth Earth and and GraduateGraduate Fellowship Fellowship Application Application SpaceSpace Science Science Fellowship Fellowship Program Program SuccessSuccess Rate Rate 800 800 35% 35%

700 700 30% 30%

600 600 25% 25% 500 500 20% 20% 400 400

Success Rate 15%Success Rate 15% 300 300 10% 10%

Number of Applications 200Number of Applications 200 EarthEarth Science Science Division Division EarthEarth Science Science Division Division 100 100 5% 5% All ScienceAll Science Divisions Divisions All ScienceAll Science Divisions Divisions 0 0 0% 0% 200620062008200820102010201220122014201420162016 200620062008200820102010201220122014201420162016 YearYear YearYear

FIGURE 1. Applications to NASA Earth FIGURE 2. NASA graduate fellowship appli- and space science fellowship programs, cation success rate, 2006–2016. 2006–2016.

available through the NASA International • Sweden: Swedish National Space RESOURCES 2 • NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship Internship (NASA I ) Program, where Board (SNSB) (NESSF) Solicitation Information non-US students participate either as • Trinidad & Tobago: National Institute http://solicitation.nasaprs.com/open • NASA Space Technology Research Fellowship interns (undergraduates) or fellows of Higher Education, Research, (NSTRF) Solicitation Information (graduate students). This program pro- Science & Technology (NIHERST) http://solicitation.nasaprs.com/open • NASA Interns, Fellows, and Scholars vides opportunities for interaction with Opportunities NASA scientists both in the laboratory SUMMARY https://intern.nasa.gov/ossi/web/public/main • National Space Grant College and and in more informal settings. Three Since the beginning of NASA’s Fellowship Program internship sessions are arranged during remote-sensing programs for Earth http://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/ summary.do?method=init&solId={8193CA0B-2B1E- the calendar year (spring, summer, fall). observations, its graduate student fellow- FF66-8103-DC63E0423162}&path=open Non-US interns or fellows must partici- ship programs have been at the forefront • Jenkins Pre-doctoral Fellowship Project http://intern.nasa.gov pate during the same session as their US of expanding knowledge and expertise • Mentoring Physical Oceanography Women to counterparts in order to foster a truly col- in the community at large and develop- Increase Retention (MPOWIR) http://mpowir.org laborative and integrated environment. ing the new research workforce. It has • NASA International Internship (NASA I2) Program Currently, this program accepts applica- also been important for NASA to spon- https://intern.nasa.gov/non-us-opportunities tions from the following countries: sor fellowship programs geared toward AUTHORS • Australia: Victorian Space Science minorities to create a more inclu- Eric Lindstrom ([email protected]) manages Education Center (VSSEC) sive research community and work- the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA’s) Physical Oceanography Research Program, • Brazil: Agância Espacial Brazileira force. As noted earlier, the success of NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC, USA, and (AEB) NASA’s graduate education endeav- is currently serving as co-chair of the Steering Committee for the Global Ocean Observing • France: Centre national d’Études ors can be seen in the growth of NASA System. He received his PhD in physical oceanog- Spatiales (CNES) research funding awarded to universi- raphy in 1983 from the University of Washington. Sirpa Hakkinen is a physical oceanography • Ireland: Irish Research Council (IRC) ties where NASA’s programs have built a researcher at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center • Jordan: The Office of the Crown vibrant ocean workforce. NASA is com- in Greenbelt, MD, USA. She received her PhD in geo- physical fluid dynamics in 1984 from Florida State Prince of Jordan mitted to continue supporting educa- University. Ming-Ying Wei manages NASA’s Earth sci- • Lithuania: Agency for Science, tion at the graduate level. The strong uni- ence education programs. She received her PhD in meteorology in 1979 from University of Oklahoma. Innovation and Technology (MITA) versity research program that supports • Mexico: Agencia Espacial Mexicana NASA oceanography is partly the result ARTICLE CITATION (AEM) of this ongoing commitment. Lindstrom, E., S. Hakkinen, and M.-Y. Wei. 2016. NASA graduate fellowship opportunities. • South Korea: Korea Aerospace Oceanography 29(1):82–85, http://dx.doi.org/10.5670/ Research Institute (KARI) oceanog.2016.19.

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