To apply for an Astronomer-in-Residence position, complete the ONLINE APPLICATION.
Program Overview
The OSGC Astronomer-in-Residence program is a public outreach engagement effort working with motivated astronomers across Oregon to communicate the science of astronomy and share the excitement of NASA's space exploration missions and latest discoveries with the citizens of Oregon. Astronomers-in-Residence should be experienced educators with an extensive background in public engagement and a deep understanding of planetary and space science. Appointed by OSGC, these individuals serve as valuable resources for Oregon’s K 12 schools, higher education institutions, and the general public.
Astronomers-in-Residence offer customized talks depending on the group and topic of interest and are points of contact for space science questions from citizens, media outlets, agencies, and educational institutions. Through their outreach efforts, OSGC Astronomers-in-Residence provide scientific service and inspiration to Oregon communities at large. Astronomers-in-Residence supply Oregon citizens with education and outreach materials, make classroom and public presentations on various astronomy and space exploration topics, and may be called upon to write articles for local newspapers or be interviewed by local television and radio stations. Seestar smart telescopes and Virtual Reality smartphone headsets with NASA-related content are available for Astronomers-in- Residence to use for classroom and outreach events.
The Oregon Space Grant Consortium selects a small cohort of Astronomers-in-Residence to represent the program through public engagement across Oregon. Individuals are appointed on a rolling basis, with a limited number of positions available. Astronomers-in-Residence are voluntary positions, offering astronomy and space exploration outreach programming free of charge. A nominal budget may be available for material and supplies upon request. Astronomers-in-Residence are expected to collect and log data on outreach activities, which will be submitted to OSGC for reporting in the NASA STEM Gateway system. Photos, brief bios, contact information, and areas of expertise of Astronomers-in-Residence will be featured on the OSGC website to enable community members to connect with them directly for outreach opportunities. OSGC may also facilitate introductions to encourage potential collaborations. While there is no fixed number of outreach activities required, Astronomers-in-Residence are expected to engage in a reasonable level of activity representing OSGC and will be reviewed annually to ensure continued participation.
Eligibility
Applications will be accepted from faculty, staff, and graduate students employed at, or attending, OSGC affiliate member institutions, as well as current and retired Oregon K-12 STEM educators with sufficient and appropriate astronomy- and space exploration-related experience. Applicants must be U.S. Citizens. Visit the OSGC Members page for a list of OSGC affiliate member institutions
Dates and Deadlines
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Selections Made: Individuals are notified within one month of an application being submitted. Selections are based on current program needs.
Application Requirements and Format Guidelines
The application will request:
- Name and Contact Information. Please note that contact information will be posted on the OSGC website. Include both email and phone number, and specify your preferred contact method for online listing. You may be contacted directly for talks or information. You may also be called upon to present at OSGC events.
- About You. Briefly describe your background, experience, skill set, and qualifications in context of this opportunity.
- Subject Mater Expertise. List areas of expertise or fields of specialization relevant to this position.
- Statement of Interest. Briefly describe how this opportunity relates to your current area of interest and how it would benefit you. Express your interest in and commitment to helping support OSGC’s mission to create a STEM-literate future workforce to support the space science/aerospace industry.
- Outreach Experience. Describe specific examples of outreach activities and events you have led, including details about the audiences you served.
Program Overview
The OSGC Astronomer-in-Residence program is a public outreach engagement effort working with motivated astronomers across Oregon to communicate the science of astronomy and share the excitement of NASA's space exploration missions and latest discoveries with the citizens of Oregon. Astronomers-in-Residence should be experienced educators with an extensive background
Meet our current OSGC Astronomers-in-Residence!
Our Astronomers-in-Residence are available to answer your astronomy questions, link you to online resources, or visit your classroom or group to give presentations on a variety of astronomy topics.
Dr. Randall L. Milstein is a Professor of Teaching in the Oregon State University Physics Department, and the OSU Honors College: he has taught at OSU since 1990. He is the recipient of the OSU College of Science Distinguished Service Award for his outreach engagements. In 2025, Dr. Milstein was named a Distinguished Faculty Member of the OSU Honors College, and in 2022 named the Sanders Eminent Professor of the OSU Honors College. From 2016-2022 he was Astronomer-in-Residence to the Oregon NASA Space Grant Consortium (OSGC) and currently represents OSU as its Affiliate Representative to the OSGC. Dr. Milstein is also a NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory Solar System Ambassador. Dr. Milstein's research interests include astrogeology, impact-cratering dynamics, and archaeo-astronomy. Before his career in astronomy and geophyisics, Dr. Milstein was educated and trained as a photographer.
Contact Randall Milstein via email at [email protected].
I am an "astrophile" - an astronomy enthusiast. Since age 9, I have been fascinated with astronomy and the incredible accomplishments of science and technology. For more than four decades I've had the privilege of being a teacher in Indiana and Oregon. During my wonderful teaching career, I shared exciting science discoveries with my students and traveled to other school districts throughout the Pacific Northwest, California, and Midwest for the purpose of conducting exciting and memorable astronomy school assemblies. In 2017, Oregon State University added me to their "Astronomer in Residence" program. In 2025, I started my 28th year as the "Oregon Solar System Ambassador" hosted by NASA/JPL. This amazing program is a public outreach and designed to work with motivated volunteers across the nation. My responsibility is to communicate the excitement of NASA's space exploration missions and information about recent discoveries to schools and public groups throughout Oregon. I am readily available to share my enthusiasm and knowledge of astronomy, space education, and other areas of science.
Contact John Cowens via email at [email protected]. He can also be reached on Facebook and online at https://sites.google.com/site/astronomyassemblies/.