![\"Image](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/meatball.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>NASA has awarded $6 million to 20 teams from emerging research institutions across the United States supporting projects that offer career development opportunities for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) students.<\/p>\n
This is the third round of seed funding awarded through the agency\u2019s MOSAICS<\/a> (Mentoring and Opportunities in\u202fSTEM with Academic Institutions for Community Success) program, formerly the Science Mission Directorate Bridge Program. The program seeks to expand access to NASA research opportunities in the science and engineering disciplines, as well as to NASA\u2019s workforce.<\/p>\n \u201cThe STEM workforce continues to grow, and today\u2019s students, studying at a variety of higher-education institutions \u2014 community colleges, primarily undergraduate institutions, and minority-serving institutions \u2014 are the STEM workforce of tomorrow, who will work to solve some of our biggest challenges at home while answering some of our biggest questions about our universe,\u201d said Padi Boyd, director of MOSAICS at NASA Headquarters in Washington. \u201cExposing today\u2019s students to the incredibly inspiring and cutting-edge discoveries made through NASA\u2019s space science people and resources ensures that these students get the training they need to persist in STEM careers, while fostering enduring collaborations between NASA researchers and faculty at a wide range of institutions.\u201d<\/p>\n NASA\u2019s Science Mission Directorate MOSAICS program funds research projects building relationships between college faculty and researchers at the agency while providing mentorship and training for students in STEM disciplines. The projects support teams at academic institutions that historically have not been part of the agency\u2019s research enterprise \u2014 including Hispanic-serving institutions, historically Black colleges and universities, Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions, and primarily undergraduate institutions.<\/p>\n The program previously awarded seed funding to 11 teams<\/a> in February and 13 teams<\/a> in April. This third cohort brings the total number of projects funded to 44 teams at 36 academic institutions in 21 U.S. states and territories, including Washington and Puerto Rico, in collaboration with seven NASA centers. A new opportunity<\/a> to apply for seed funding is now open until March 28, 2025.<\/p>\n The following projects were selected as the third cohort to receive seed funding:<\/p>\n \u201cBridging Fundamental Ice Chemistry Studies and Ocean World Explorations\u201d<\/strong> \u201cPlanetary Analog Field Science Experiences for Undergraduates: Advancing Fundamental Research and Testing Field Instrument Operations\u201d<\/strong> \u201cBuilding an FSU-JPL Partnership to Advance Science Productivity Through Applications of Deep Learning\u201d<\/strong> \u201cCSTAT: Establishing Center for Safe and Trustworthy Autonomous Technologies\u201d<\/strong> \u201cDevelopment of Biomechanics Simulation Tool for Muscle Mechanics in Reduced Gravity to Enhance Astronaut Mission Readiness\u201d<\/strong> \u201cNASA Next Level\u201d<\/strong> \u201cControlled Assembly of Amphiphilic Janus Particles in Polymer Matrix for Novel 3D Printing Applications in Space<\/strong>\u201d \u201cDevelopment of a Non-Invasive Sweat Biosensor for Traumatic Brain Injury Compatible With In-Space Manufacturing to Monitor the Health of Astronauts\u201d<\/strong> \u201cExamining Climate Impacts of Cirrus Clouds Through Past, Present, and Future NASA Airborne Campaigns\u201d<\/strong> \u201cCSUN-JPL Collaboration to Study Ocean Fronts Using Big Data and Open Science Structures in Coastal North America\u201d<\/strong> \u201cAccelerating Electric Propulsion Development for Planetary Science Missions With Optical Plasma Diagnostics\u201d<\/strong> \u201cAdvancing Students Through Research Opportunities in Los Angeles (ASTRO-LA)\u201d<\/strong> \u201cBridging Toward a More Inclusive Learning Environment Through Gamma-ray Burst Studies With Machine Learning and Citizen Science\u201d<\/strong> \u201cHampton University STEM Experience With NASA Langley Research Center: Polarimetry for Aerosol Characterization\u201d<\/strong> \u201cAerocapture Analysis and Development for Uranus and Neptune Planetary Missions\u201d<\/strong> \u201cPathways from Undergraduate Research to the Habitable Worlds Observatory\u201d \u201cPoint-Diffraction Interferometer for Digital Holography\u201d<\/strong> \u201cFrom Sunbeams to Career Dreams: Illuminating Pathways for NMSU Students in Solar-Terrestrial Physics in Partnership With NASA GSFC\u201d<\/strong> \u201cCONNECT-SBG: Collaborative Nexus for Networking, Education, and Career Training in Surface Biology and Geology\u201d<\/strong> \u201cMultiplexed Phytohormone and Nitrate Sensors for Real-Time Analysis of Plant Responses to Pathogenic Stress in Spaceflight-Like Conditions\u201d<\/strong> Learn more about the MOSAICS program at:<\/p>\n https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/researchers\/smd-bridge-program<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n -end-<\/p>\n Alise Fisher
Principal investigator: Chris Arumainayagam, Wellesley College, Massachusetts
NASA center: NASA\u2019s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Southern California<\/p>\n
Principal investigator: Alice Baldridge, Saint Mary\u2019s College of California
NASA center: NASA\u2019s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland<\/p>\n
Principal investigator: Sambit Bhattacharya, Fayetteville State University, North Carolina
NASA center: NASA JPL<\/p>\n
Principal investigator: Moitrayee Chatterjee, New Jersey City University
NASA center: NASA Goddard<\/p>\n
Principal investigator: Ji Chen, University of the District of Columbia
NASA center: NASA\u2019s Johnson Space Center, Houston<\/p>\n
Principal investigator: Teresa Ciardi, Santa Clarita Community College District, California
NASA center: NASA JPL<\/p>\n
Principal investigator: Ubaldo Cordova-Figueroa, Recinto Universitario Mayaguez
NASA center: NASA\u2019s Glenn Research Center, Cleveland<\/p>\n
Principal investigator: Lisandro Cunci, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Pedras
NASA center: NASA\u2019s Ames Research Center, Silicon Valley, California<\/p>\n
Principal investigator: Minghui Diao, San Jose State University Research Foundation, California
NASA center: NASA Ames<\/p>\n
Principal investigator: Mario Giraldo, California State University, Northridge
NASA center: NASA JPL<\/p>\n
Principal investigator: Nathaniel Hicks, University of Alaska, Anchorage
NASA center: NASA JPL<\/p>\n
Principal investigator: Margaret Lazzarini, California State University, Los Angeles
NASA center: NASA JPL<\/p>\n
Principal investigator: Amy Lien, University of Tampa, Florida
NASA center: NASA Goddard<\/p>\n
Principal investigator: Robert Loughman, Hampton University, Virginia
NASA center: NASA\u2019s Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia<\/p>\n
Principal investigator: Ping Lu, San Diego State University
NASA center: NASA Langley<\/p>\n
<\/strong>Principal investigator: Ben Ovryn, New York Institute of Technology
NASA center: NASA Goddard<\/p>\n
Principal investigator: James Scire, New York Institute of Technology
NASA center: NASA Goddard<\/p>\n
Principal investigator: Juie Shetye, New Mexico State University
NASA center: NASA Goddard<\/p>\n
Principal investigator: Gabriela Shirkey, Chapman University, California
NASA center: NASA JPL<\/p>\n
Principal investigator: Shawana Tabassum, University of Texas, Tyler
NASA center: NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center, Florida<\/p>\n
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-2546
alise.m.fisher@nasa.gov<\/a><\/p>\nShare<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n