Stack of books in a libraryThe Oregon Space Grant Consortium 2025-2026 Graduate Fellowship Program is NOW OPEN! Applications are due Friday, May 2, 2025

The Oregon Space Grant Graduate Fellowship Program is directed towards STEM graduate students attending our member four-year universities who are working towards a space science or aerospace-related career. Students must be working with a faculty mentor on a research project that aligns with a current NASA Mission Directorate or the Agency's top research priorities. Fellowships are designed to enhance basic graduate research support, such as graduate research assistantships, graduate teaching assistantships, and non-federal scholarships and fellowships. The OSGC Fellowship Program goals are to advance the work of NASA Mission Directorates, encourage qualified individuals to continue in a space science or aerospace-related field, support research infrastructure at OSGC member institutions, retain U.S. graduates, and promote a capable and qualified future STEM workforce.

 

The Graduate Fellowship program is open to graduate students who meet the following criteria:

  • U.S. Citizen
  • Student maintains good academic standing
  • Currently enrolled as a full-time graduate student at an OSGC affiliate member institution for the duration of the award
  • Enrolled full time in an advanced degree program of study in a space science or aerospace-related STEM discipline, including STEM education
  • Currently working on a faculty-mentored research project that has NASA or space science/aerospace relevance and aligns with the Agency's top research priorities
 

Download the 2025-26 Graduate Fellowship Program Guide for complete details

 

Past Graduate Fellowship Recipients

2024-25

  • Abby Gillen | Geology, OSU | "Assessing the Sulfur Yield and Earth System Impact of Large Volcanic Eruptions" | Major Professor: Dr. Shanaka de Silva
  • Nikki Johnston | Applied Physics, PSU | "Development of a Robust adn Resilient Remote Life-Sensing Instrument" | Major Professor: Dr. Jay Nadeau
  • Lucas Kolanz | Physics, OSU | "Cosmic Dust Formation" | Dr. Davide Lazzati
  • Vincent Mugica | Geology, PSU | "Investigating the Micro-Deformation and High-Pressure Phases of Chondritic Shock Melts" | Dr. Alex Ruzicka
  • Kyle Weber | Mechanical Engineering, OSU | "Characterizing of the Physical Effects of Liquid Fuels on Rotating Detonation Engine Performance" | Dr. David Blunck

2023-24

  • Jeremy Baier | Physics, OSU | "North American Nanohertz Observatory for Gravitational waves (NANAGrav)" | Major Professor: Dr. Jeffrey Hazboun
  • Luke Franz | Mechanical Engineering, OSU | "Optimizing Beam Targets for Spacecraft Electric Propulsion" | Major Professor: Richard Wirz
  • Vincent Mugica | Geology, PSU | "Investigating teh Silicate Mineralogy of Shock Melts in Buck Mountain 005, Istifane 006, NWA 11230, and NWA 12935: A Chemical-Crystallographic Study" | Major Professor: Dr. Alex Ruzicka
  • Daniel Sheikh | Earth, Environment, and Society, PSU | "Physical and Chemical Modification of Lunar Materials from Impacts as Observed in Lunar Meteorites" | Major Professor: Dr. Alex Ruzicka
  • Carl Snyder | Physics, PSU | "Electrostimulation for Extant Life Detection" | Major Professor: Dr. Jay Nadeau

2022-23

  • Gino Carrillo | Physics, UO | "Understanding Gamma-Ray Bursts through Complete, Forward, adn Hierarchical Modeling of their Flares and Afterglows" | Major Professor: Dr. Ben Farr

  • Rudi Lien | Earth Sciences, UO | "Evolution of Rift Zone Magmatic Systems on Venus" | Major Professor: Dr. Josef Dufek

  • Daniel Sheikh | Earth, Environment, and Society, PSU | "Physical and Chemical Modification of Lunar Materials from Impacts as Observed in Lunar Meteorites" | Major Professor: Dr. Alex Ruzicka

2020-21

  • Jacqueline Acres | Applied Physics, PSU | "Quantifying changes in motility phenotypes and gene expressoin in Vibrio alginolyticus and Urophathogenic Escherichia coli after exposure to simulated microgravity using digital holographic microscopy and transcriptomic anaylsis" | Major Professor: Dr. Jay Nadeau

  • Jenna Epifanio | Marine Geology, OSU | "Data comparison of the atmospheric CH4 burden, which aims to identify causal mechanisms for small-scale variations observed in ice cores" | Major Professor: Dr. Ed Brook

Prior to 2020

  • Thomas L'Estrange, Mechanical Engineering, OSU; "Heat Rejection through Phase-change Heat Transfer for Spacecraft Thermal Management" (Major Professor: Dr. Vinod Narayanan)
  • Michelle Neely, Geology, OSU; "The Argentine Puna as a terrestrial analog critical to understanding the formation and dynamics of Transverse Aeolian Ridges (TARs)" (Major Professor: Dr. Shan deSilva)
  • Cullen Andrews, Observational Astrophysics, UO; "[Galaxy Size Evolution Project]." (Major Professor: Dr. Greg Bothun)
  • Thomas Bauska, Geosciences, OSU; "Records Construction of Natural Variability of CO2 and Climate as Evidenced by Ice Cores." (Major Professor: Dr. Ed Brook)
  • Ellynne Kutschera, Physics, PSU; "Modeling Mediation Mechanisms of CH4 Transport in Greenhouse Gas Emissions." (Major professor: Dr. Aslam Khalil)
  • Brian Larson, Biochemistry, PSU; "Interpretation by the DSNL-0 Ribozyme and its Implications to Origins of Life." (Major Professor: Dr. Niles Lehman)
  • Logan Mitchell, Geosciences - Paleoclimatology, OSU; "Multidecadal Methane Variability in New Ice Core Records From Green land and Antarctica." (Major professor: Dr. Ed Brook)
  • Mohsen Nasroullahi, Electrical and Computer Engineering, OSU; “Ultra Low-Power, RF Wireless Transceivers." (Major Professors: Dr. Kartikaya Mayram and Dr. Terri Fiez)
  • Benjamin Vandagrift, Manufacturing Engineering Technology, OIT; "Design and Fabrication of a Four-Axis Computer Numerical Controlled Filament Winding Machine." (Dr. John Anderson)
  • Haley Kostrba, Education, WOU; “To the Edge of Space: Curriculum Design” (Major Professors: Dr. Adele Schepige and Dr. Mary Bucy)
  • Matthew Clothier, Computer Science, OSU; Graphical/scientific visualization; augmented reality; stereo imaging; transforming data sets into 3-D visual images. (Major professor: Mike Bailey)
  • Avery Cotton, Education, WOU; Development and testing of new standards-based curriculum materials and activities for global climage change instruction. (Major professor: William Schoenfeld)
  • James Sample, manufacturing Engineering, OIT; Research and Design of Smart Assembly Systems, flexible work cells, virtual simulations, and robot integration to develop a platform for applied research in "smart assembly." (Major professor: Timothy Brower)
  • Cullen Andrews, Physics, UO; Testing the capabilities of Bertin's SExtractor program using Hubble Space Telescope ACS data; analysis of mid-depth ACS fields. (Major professor: Greg Bothun)
  • Jeffrey Krause, Biological Oceanography, OSU; Method development to test biogenic silica dissolution in the Sargasso Sea; teaching assistant for Dr. Michael Lomas, Bermuda Biological Station For Research, Inc. in St. George, Bermuda. (Major professor: David Nelson)
  • David Kuhns, Psychology, OSU; Investigating changes in inhibition over a lifespan and the affects of switching between tasks; research assistant with former NASA Ames researcher Dr. Mei-Ching Lien. (Major projessor: Mei-Ching Lien)
  • Henry Maynard, Manufacturing Engineering, OIT; Designing and implementing a manufacturing conveyor belt system with multiple process stations using the OIT wind tunnel data acquisition system. (Major professor: Brian Moravec)
  • Gregory Mouchka, Mechanical Engineering, OSU; Design of a next generation ammonia-water desorber; assist heat actuated cooling by the US Army at Ft. Belvoir, VA. (Major professor: Deborah Pence)
  • Ronald Rinehart, Geosciences, OSU; Science education focus; conducting surveys of middle school students participating in the OSGC Balloon Program (LaunchOregon) (Major professor: Ron Doel)
  • Virginia Slater, Pharmacology, OSU; Pharmaceutical research in support of the space program; NASA Ames Academy alumni (Major professor: Bill Boyce)