The Aerospace Undergraduate STEM Research scholarship program was established to allow undergraduates to participate in a full-time study program in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.
The Undergraduate STEM Research Scholarship program provides awards of up to $8,500 to rising juniors and seniors who are enrolled full-time in a program of study in science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) and have a specific faculty-mentored research project that has NASA or aerospace relevance. Allied Health Sciences majors are not eligible for this program.
About the Stem Research Scholarship Program
The Aerospace Undergraduate STEM Research scholarship program is a competitive scholarship program that is funded by NASA and the Commonwealth of Virginia contributions, with the goals of:
- Increasing participation of underrepresented minorities, females, and students with disabilities in STEM-related careers.
- Promoting undergraduate STEM research while recognizing high academic achievement and promise.
- Implementing the goals of the Virginia Space Grant Consortium and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Awards
- Awards are one-year, non-renewable scholarships. Students may apply for the following:
- A $3,500 stipend during summer 2024 or 2025 (must be specified in the application)
- $1,000 research allocation for materials and travel to support research activities conducted during the academic year and/or $1,000 research allocation during the summer (if doing summer research).
- A $3,000 student stipend during the 2024-2025 academic year.
- The maximum award per year cannot exceed $8,500.
Eligibility criteria for Aerospace Undergraduate STEM Research scholarship program
- Must be enrolled as a full-time student (minimum 12 credit hours) at one of the five Virginia Space Grant Consortium member institutions: Virginia Tech, University of Virginia, Old Dominion University, William & Mary, or Hampton University.
- Must have a grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- Must be a U.S. citizen
- Must have completed at least two years of a STEM undergraduate program and be classified as a junior or senior during the 2024-2025 academic year (must have at least junior status by summer 2024 if choosing this option).
- Must not graduate before May 2025
- Must be in a program of study demonstrating an interest in STEM and supporting NASA’s mission.
Application requirements:
- Plan of study – an outline of intended coursework for the remainder of your undergraduate degree program (uploaded as an attachment).
- Resume’ – submit a summary of your career and qualifications, and list any relevant education information and significant accomplishments (uploaded as an attachment).
- Statement of academic goals – a brief statement written by the applicant relating to the reasons for his/her desire to enter a profession in a STEM field.
Research Proposal aligned with NASA’s mission – VSGC’s undergraduate STEM Research Scholarship Program encourages talented undergraduate majors to pursue aerospace-related fields and do research with a strong alignment with NASA’s five Mission Directorates which are;
- Exploration Systems Development
- Space Operations
- Aeronautics Research
- Exploration Systems Development
- Space Technology
Those applying should submit a research proposal that is 2-3 pages excluding references, and it should clearly describe the research objective and methodology. In consultation with the faculty advisor, the student should provide a written statement describing the key elements of the proposed research and plan of study.
All research projects must be mentored by a faculty member and this mentor will be required to submit a letter of reference for the project. Applicants will be asked to specifically identify how their research relates to a NASA Mission Directory.
Selection Process
The selection committee is made up of university faculty in a variety of disciplines. Applicants should present their proposed research in a form that will be understandable to a range of readers. Only one Undergraduate Scholarship application per student per year is allowed.
The following documents will be needed for the application processes;
- Transcript – An unofficial transcript with all grades through the fall semester of 2023 is required and can be submitted as a PDF in the online application (upload as an attachment). If the applicant is selected to receive an award then a transcript will be required at acceptance. If the applicant does not have a PDF conversion tool, links to free online PDF converters are provided in the application.
- Letters of Recommendation – provide the names and contact information for two references of which one must be the applicant’s current faculty advisor. We suggest that you inform both of your references that they will receive an email from the VSGC about your application. Your references will be provided with a link to submit their recommendations.
Awardee requirements:
- Provide a head-shot photo and biographical information upon selection
- Complete all research as proposed and must notify VSGC immediately of any significant changes in the research project or timeline.
- Awardees must inform the Consortium of any changes in contact information including email, phone, or address.
- Plan to respond to academic and employment follow-up surveys administered by VSGC as required by NASA.
- Participate in the VSGC’s Annual Student Research Conference to be held in late March or early April 2025. Participation includes attendance and active involvement throughout the entire conference, a poster presentation on current research progress, and submission of a research paper for inclusion in the conference proceedings.
- Share research experiences in public forums, classroom presentations, and professional meetings. Presentations that encourage interest in aerospace careers and research to high school students are of particular interest to the Consortium.
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