Scholar Newsletter
November 20th, 2023
Voice of Inspiration
STEM News
Highlights from the REU Workshop and Dinner
Dixie Shafer
Lara Crombie
On November 9th Augsburg University hosted the 8th Annual Applying for Paid Research Experiences in STEM Workshop and Dinner. The event drew over 75 students, staff, and faculty from Augsburg University, Century College, Hamline University, Inver Hills Community College, Metropolitan State University, Minneapolis College, Normandale Community College, Saint Paul College, and The University of Minnesota.
Dixie Shafer of URGO and Lara Crombie of the TRIO McNair Scholars program led the workshop on identifying and applying for Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs). They offered practical advice on finding, applying for, and selecting opportunities.
Check out their presentation here: Paid Research Experiences in STEM: Identifying Opportunities and Applying.
Post-workshop, Participants Split into Concurrent Panels.
Dr. Jennifer Brookins-King facilitated the student and alumni panel on research experiences and perspectives. The six panelists included current undergraduates at Augsburg and University of Minnesota, industry professionals, and a Ph.D. candidate. They shared their research journeys, discussed challenges, offered advice, and fielded audience questions.
Dr. Rebekah Dupont moderated the faculty and staff panel, Supporting Equitable Access and Participation in Research Experiences. The panelists, each representing centers which offer undergraduate research experiences, shared advice about preparing quality applications and what faculty might do to support their students in the process of securing a research opportunity.
The event concluded with dinner, discussion, and networking. Thank you to the panelists, facilitators, and guests for making the 8th Annual REU workshop a fun, informative, afternoon!
Dr. Jennifer Brookins-King and Student/Alumni Panel
Student/Alumni Panel
Dr. Rebekah Dupont and Faculty/Staff Panel
Faculty/Staff Panel
STEM-Related Fields Continue To Lead As Highest-Paying College Majors
CNBC (10/20, Dickler) reported that “when it comes to the highest-paying bachelor’s degrees, engineering and other STEM-related fields of study continue to dominate,” and “students are taking note, according to Eric Greenberg, president of Greenberg Educational Group, a New York-based consulting firm.” Payscale’s recent college salary report “found that petroleum engineering is currently the highest-paying major overall,” followed by “operations research and industrial engineering majors as the next highest paid.”
Eventually, “students who pursue a degree specifically in computer science, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering or economics – still mostly STEM disciplines – earn the most overall, according to another recent analysis of bachelor’s degrees and median earnings by the U.S. Census Bureau.” Greenberg said that people are now “looking closer at pre-professional programs from a financial point of view,” while “the acceleration of college tuition prices is making people look much more closely at the value.”
STEM Events
NASA STEM GATEWAY
NASA Student Opportunity: 2024 Human Research Program Investigator’s Workshop
Are you an underrepresented students pursuing biology who might like a peek into the world of the space medicine at NASA?
Please consider applying for a travel award to attend the 2024 Human Research Program Investigator’s Workshop! If awarded, you will join students attending together as a small cohort.
Eligibility:
- Undergraduate students 21 and older enrolled full-time in a STEM degree program at a Minority Serving Institution (MSI)
- Institution that does not already have a NASA Human Research Program grant/award
- Passion for Space Life Sciences
- Available to travel February 13-16, 2024 to Galveston, TX
Application link:
Engagement Opening: Human Research Program -Student Travel Award (nasa.gov)
For questions, please contact Alicia Baturoni Cortez at alicia.baturoni@nasa.gov
STEM Opportunities
YOU'RE INVITED: REGISTRATION NOW OPEN FOR STUDENTS!
We would like to invite your students to the Laboratory’s fourth annual Computing Across the Sciences - Mini-Semester for Underrepresented Groups in STEM on Tuesday, December 12, 2023 through Friday, December 15, 2023. This year’s Mini-Semester will be conducted virtually on Zoom.
The four half-day immersive experience will provide:
- Learning Blocks – Hands-on learning sessions to build computational skills desired by research mentors.
- Application 101 – Workshops to dissect each component of the SULI and CCI application.
- Computational Science Seminars – In-depth overviews of key research areas by leading researchers at Argonne.
- Networking Sessions – Panel discussions with Argonne research mentors and former internship students.
- DOE Exploration – Learn about the National Laboratory complex directly from the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science.
EVENT DETAILS
Tuesday through Friday
December 12 - 15, 2023
9:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. CT
Location: Online/Zoom Meetings
Register By:
Tuesday, November 28, 11:45 PM CT
REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
Ideally, student registrants should:
- Be enrolled as a full-time student in a community college or four-year institution in a STEM discipline.
- Have a cumulative minimum GPA of 3.0.
- Be at least 18 years of age.
- Be a United States citizen or Legal Permanent Resident.
- Identify as an underrepresented group (URG) in STEM.
- Have started a SULI or CCI internship application for summer 2024.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
All are invited to register and attend! This includes students from freshman to 5th year seniors.
We are especially looking to support students who identify as a:
- Member of an underrepresented racial and/or ethnic group
- Woman
- Person with disabilities
- A member of the LGBTQ+ community
Each student will need to complete their own application. A student-focused flyer can be found here to download and share with interested students.
Please contact our University Programs and Partnerships team (students@anl.gov) if you have any questions or concerns. We look forward to seeing you at Computing Across the Sciences - Mini-Semester for Underrepresented Groups in STEM.
Join the S-STEM Scholars Network
S-STEM REC
The Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM) Resource & Evaluation Center (REC) aims to increase the number of talented low-income students who obtain degrees in STEM and enter the STEM workforce.
S-STEM Scholars and Alumni sign up to receive information and resources to support your success in STEM careers!
Eclipse Ambassadors
Are you an astronomy enthusiast or undergraduate student that loves eclipses? Do you have a passion for sharing the wow of space science with your community? NASA may have just the opportunity for you.
In 2023 and 2024, two eclipses will cross the United States and a new NASA-funded program, Eclipse Ambassadors Off the Path, is inviting undergraduate students and amateur astronomers to join them as “NASA Partner Eclipse Ambassadors”. This an opportunity to partner with NASA, provide solar viewing glasses, and share eclipse knowledge with underserved communities off the central paths.
Eclipse Ambassadors will train together virtually in one of several workshops to be offered over the next year. Eclipse Ambassador partnerships will grow together, learning new tools and techniques for explaining eclipses and engaging with the public. As NASA Partners, Eclipse Ambassadors will be recognized for their commitment to public engagement and supplied with educational materials and community connections.
Eclipse Ambassadors will:
- Partner with an undergraduate/amateur astronomer
- Take a 3-week online course (~12 hours coursework)
- Engage their communities with eclipse resources by reaching 200+ people, with at least half of those from underserved communities
NASA’s Eclipse Ambassadors Off the Path project is supported by NASA under cooperative agreement award number 80NSSC22M0007 and is part of NASA's Science Activation Portfolio. Learn more about how Science Activation connects NASA science experts, real content, and experiences with community leaders to do science in ways that activate minds and promote deeper understanding of our world and beyond: https://science.nasa.gov/learners
This is an open call to to become an Eclipse Ambassador.
NASA's Human Lander Challenge (HuLC)
Awards include $7,000 stipends per team, $18,000 in cash prizes, and a visit to NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center!
Through the 2024 HuLC competition, NASA seeks near-term, innovative solutions
for Human Landing System (HLS) challenge areas... specifically addressing
the mitigation of lunar Plume-Surface Interaction (PSI).
HuLC solicits proposals for innovative, systems-level solutions that can help NASA understand, mitigate, and manage the impacts of lunar PSI - with the ability to be implemented within 3-5 years. The potential solutions could include, but are not limited to, the following categories:
- Trade Studies on Landing Trajectories that Minimize PSI
- Reduction / Mitigation of Erosion (Cratering) and Ejecta during Descent, Landing, and Ascent
- Development of PSI Flight Instrumentation / Measurement Methods & Concepts
- Tracking Dust During Descent, Landing, and Ascent
- Instrumentation Performance Through the Dust Cloud During Landing
- HLS Asset Safety (ejecta damage, excessive lander heating, etc.)
- PSI Modeling and Validation
Proposals are due on March 4, 2024
HuLC is open to teams of undergraduate and graduate students at accredited colleges and universities in the United States. Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) are encouraged to apply. Based on a review of initial proposals received by March 2024, up to 12 teams will be selected to continue developing their proposed concepts. Each finalist team will receive a $7,000 stipend to facilitate full participation in a competitive design review at a Forum in Huntsville, Alabama in June 2024.
This is only a brief excerpt of the 2024 HuLC competition.
Please read the full, printable 2024 Challenge Guidelines by clicking the button below.
Consider The TRIO McNair Scholars Program
Attention PRISM Scholars please consider this dynamic program aimed at supporting your educational goals in research and graduate school!
For PRISM Scholars at Century College, Minneapolis College, and Normandale Community College who are transferring in Fall 2023 or Spring 2024, we invite you to consider McNair at Augsburg as part of exploring transfer to Augsburg.
Although Augsburg’s TRIO McNair Scholars Program is recruiting students for Fall 2023 admission, applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until all participant slots are filled.
Eligible applicants will be at Junior status by the end of Spring 2024 and available to conduct full-time research Summer 2024. Students from all majors are welcome to apply, though preference is given to applicants that are interested in pursuing a doctoral (Ph.D.) degree.
The TRIO McNair Scholars Program works with students who are members of groups underrepresented in graduate education and who exhibit strong academic potential. The goal of the program is to prepare Scholars for graduate study through coursework, academic advising, workshops, and involvement in undergraduate research and other scholarly activities. The program also assists with securing admission to and financial assistance for enrollment in graduate programs. Students will acquire the research skills necessary to succeed in graduate school through a paid research internship ($6000) with an Augsburg faculty member during Summer of 2024.
The McNair Scholars Program is federally-funded by the U.S. Department of Education. Therefore, to be eligible, applicants must be first-generation (neither parent graduated from a four-year college or university) AND low-income AND/OR may be persons from groups underrepresented in graduate education. The Department of Education defines these groups as African-American, American Indian, Alaskan Native, and Hispanic/Latino. Additionally, applicants must be either U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents and maintain at least a 2.8 cumulative GPA (3.0+ preferred).
Unsure if you qualify? Please visit the link below for more information on eligibility requirements.
Determining McNair Eligibility “Cheat Sheet”
PRISM Scholars from our partner institutions are encouraged to apply. If you’re interested in learning more about McNair, please contact Lara Crombie, Program Coordinator, crombie@augsburg.edu. Lara is available to meet over Zoom.
Visit https://www.augsburg.edu/mcnair/ for more information.
Scholarships and Internships
Boren Scholarship for Language Study Abroad
The Boren Scholarship is an initiative by the US Federal Government to increase the study of languages by individuals committed to public service careers throughout the government. The Boren Scholarship can be used to cover a variety of study abroad experiences where language learning is the focus. URGO and Study Abroad provide joint advising on this program and can assist any applicant in selecting a program and writing/editing application essays.
Scholarship amounts:
Up to $25,000 for 25-52 weeks (preferred)
Up to $12,500 for 12-24 weeks
Up to $8,000 for 8-11 weeks (STEM majors only)
If you are interested:
- Check out the Boren website to learn about languages you can study and preferred countries.
- Let us know your intent to apply by November 27th by making an appointment with Emilie Lenz in Study Abroad or Dixie Shafer in URGO.
- Submit your application to shafer@augsburg.edu by Augsburg's internal application deadline of Friday, January 5th.
Learn more about Boren Scholarships
Metropolitan Council Internship Programs
The Met Council's internship programs educate and mentor interns through professional, on-the-job training and development.
The Met Council's Internship Program offers a wide variety of opportunities to qualifying interns. Our programs — traditional, Met Scholar, and Ability internships — are designed to educate and mentor interns by providing professional on-the-job training and development. Participants receive an hourly rate of $22.20! Most interns work full-time during the summer, and some opportunities continue part-time through the school year.
2024 Program Dates
There are two internship cohorts:- Winter internships start March 25, 2024
- Summer internships start May 28, 2024
Most internships end Aug. 23, 2024, with some extending into the school year.
Applications
The 2024 application period runs from Nov. 13, 2023, to Dec. 17, 2023.
Sample position available: 2024 Intern-Business Analyst Intern/$22.28hr/ Hybrid
Email alerts
Sign up for email reminders to apply.
Info session
Join us for a one-hour session on Dec. 5 to learn more about the Metropolitan Council's 2024 winter and summer internships. Register for the session.
Types of Summer Internships
The Met Council offers internships in these three tracks:
Traditional internship program
Our internship program offers a well-rounded experience for students seeking an opportunity to advance their learning with hands-on projects.
Internships give students a new perspective on public service while developing themselves professionally through exposure to their field and networking with others in the organization. Interns are a valuable asset to our teams because they use their knowledge and skills to help solve challenges that our region faces. Whether they are out on a construction site, in the lab, or in the office, their work at the Met Council matters.
We provide the learning resources, trainings, and mentorship needed to help interns succeed in their assignments. Our interns receive an hourly salary, with most working full-time during the summer. Some positions have part-time work during the school year.
Met Scholars leadership and professional development program
The Met Scholars Program is a leadership and professional development internship program providing college students from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds with distinctive professional experience. The program is focused on essential leadership skills and creating resume-building career pathways, training the next generation of leaders.
Scholars spend four days a week working on meaningful projects and work assignments alongside organizational leaders. One day a week, Scholars come together as a cohort to learn and practice skills in leadership, professional development, small groups, and public speaking.
Students from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds are encouraged to apply to the program.
Ability Program
Our Ability Internship Program is a 12-week program designed to increase Met Council internship opportunities for people with disabilities.
The program helps students gain public sector experience and provides the opportunity to learn more about our work environment and our inclusive culture within the Met Council. This program helps create a connection with talent around our region and expands Met Council employment opportunities for people with disabilities who have skillsets that align with agency requirements.
Ability Program interns receive the same benefits and learning opportunities as traditional interns.
Eligibility
To participate in these programs:
- You must have completed at least one year of post-secondary education; and/or have been enrolled in a post-secondary educational program within the last 12 months.
- You must be a citizen or national of the United States; a lawful, permanent resident; or have authorization to work in the United States. (Documentation to verify employment eligibility will be required at the time of employment.)
Minnesota SciTech Internship Program
SciTech connects college STEM majors to paid internships at small Minnesota companies -- it's a one-stop shop for finding STEM internships statewide! Gain hands-on experience, network with pros, build your resume, and "earn while you learn."
In order to be eligible for SciTech internships, students must meet the following criteria:
- Minnesota resident OR living in and attending college in Minnesota
- At least 18 years of age
- In good academic standing (2.5+ GPA)
- College junior or senior (at least 60 credits completed) OR
- Technical or community college student (at least 24 credits completed) OR
- Enrolled in a STEM degree at an accredited U.S. college
- Legally eligible to work in the U.S. (international students may participate if they have CPT/OPT work authorization)
Deadline to apply: Varies
For more information on how to apply and to view a list of current internship opportunities, visit https://scitechmn.org/.
More Than An Internship
Wallin's UpTurnships program provides highly motivated, underrepresented college students with paid internships and projects. Our career experiences are for college sophomores, juniors, and seniors currently enrolled in a two-year or four-year college or university.
To help students succeed in their careers, we offer two incredible UpTurnships pathways: Flagship and Projects.
UpTurnships
Flagship
Our UpTurnships Flagship provides interns with paid full-time work experience across 12 weeks in summer, professional development training, and 1:1 support from a program coach.
UpTurnships
Projects
Our UpTurnships Projects is a 10-week pathway that provides interns with a 40 hour paid work experience, weekly 2-hour professional development trainings, and 1:1 support from a program coach.
Information Sessions: Register
Information sessions are an essential part of the UpTurnships application process. Here you will learn more about the UpTurnships program model, the application process, and be able to ask any questions you have. 30-minute information sessions are hosted on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Tuesdays at 10:00 AM CST
Thursdays at 4:00 PM CST
Visit our website for more information: https://www.wallinpartners.org/upturnships.html
Graduate School and Research
The NIH-sponsored Post-baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP) at the University of Wisconsin - Madison
Who Should Apply?
The UW-Madison PREP program is for students underrepresented in STEM who:
- are seeking doctoral graduate degrees in biomedical science
- have received their baccalaureate (4-year) degree in the past three years
- are not currently enrolled in graduate school
- want additional research experience and development
- want to conduct research at one of the 10 largest research institutions in the world
- would enjoy living somewhere with stunning lake views and a vibrant community
Benefits of UW-Madison PREP:
- Dedicated research faculty & staff support
- Research experience
- Professional development opportunities
- Individualized mentorship
- Connections to the scientific community
- Focus on your health, wellness, and belonging
- PREP Scholar annual salary
Get Paid to do Physics Research at the University of Maryland in Summer 2024!
Schedule a one-on-one meeting here
Application deadline: February 9, 2024
Applicants notified: Starting February 19, 2024
Program dates: June 3 to August 9, 2024
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What's TREND?
A mentored, paid summer REU (research experience for undergraduates) in nonlinear dynamics at UMD College Park. We welcome physics, mathematics, computer science, and engineering students from institutions across the country to collaborate with scientists conducting research in an wide range of topics.
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What will I get?
- 10 weeks of mentored research experience in some of the best nonlinear dynamics labs
- Travel funds to UMD and back home
- Housing at UMD for the summer (with ~9 other TREND students)
- $5,400 stipend + $600 food allowance
- $500 for travel after the summer to present your research at a conference
- Community-building with ~9 other undergrad researchers
- Practice and mentoring with oral, visual, written and multimedia communication skills
- Outreach opportunities
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What kind of research can I do?
Projects topics include:
- 2D materials
- Biodynamics/Cell movement
- Chaos
- Lasers
- Neural networks
- Photonics/Optoelectronics
- Plasma dynamics
- Quantum nanodevices
- Turbulence
- Underwater robot dynamics
- Weather prediction
... and more. Details here under each mentor group.
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How do I apply?
Submit (by February 9, 2024):
- Our application form
- At least one letter of recommendation (ask each recommender to send to trend-reu@umd.edu)
- Unofficial transcript (send it to trend-reu@umd.edu)
Details here.
Connect with STEM at Stillman School of Business
By 2028, it is estimated that there will be more than a million jobs in the STEM field. In preparation, the Stillman School of Business at Seton Hall University offers STEM-designated programs that will equip you to use technology, data and business analytics to make effective business decisions and solve complex problems. Learn more click below:
Biomedical Research Programs
GPiBS
The application for our 2024 GPiBS (Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences) class opened on August 1st, 2023 with a priority deadline of December 1st. If you know of any students interested in pursuing a PhD in the Biomedical Sciences, please encourage them to apply/inquire about our programs. OUHSC is a comprehensive medical campus home to cutting edge research facilities and top-tier scientists. Our 2.5:1 PhD student-to-post-doc ratio equates to students being the major drivers of our research enterprise, as evidenced by our publication numbers (5.3 manuscripts per PhD graduate!).
Interested students can utilize the GPiBS website or reach out to us directly at GPIBS@ouhsc.edu for additional information or questions.
GPiBS highlights:
- Stipend - $30,000
- Full tuition/fees waiver
- Health Insurance provided
- >95 mentors seeking graduate students
PREP
The Post-baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP) is an NIGMS-funded program designed to prepare trainees for gaining admission and succeeding in biomedical PhD programs. Whether participants were lacking in research training, had subpar grades, or simply don’t feel ready to for graduate school, PREP is a great stepping-stone towards a PhD or MD/PhD program. We welcomed our first cohort of participants in June of this year and look forward to recruiting the next group. The application for our 2024 cohort will open September 1, 2023.
More information can be found at the PREP website or by contacting us at PREP@ouhsc.edu.
PREP highlights:
- Stipend - $30,000
- Full tuition/fees waiver
- Health Insurance provided
- $3,000 travel allowance to present research
SURP
The Summer Undergraduate Research Programs (SURP) have expanded and we look forward to continuing 5 programs next summer. The SURP applications will open in October with a deadline of January 31st, 2024. More information about our summer programs can be found at the SURP website or by contacting us at SURP@ouhsc.edu.
PREP highlights:
- $5,000 summer salary
- Full-time research at OUHSC
- Weekly enrichment sessions
- Final Symposium and luncheon
STEM Blog
Interested in learning more about advocacy, research and how it relates to the human experience? NSF Gallery Images? Click below:
Diversity in Action November/December Issue
Dr. Suzanne Kite explores AI from a Native American perspective in Diversity in Action's November/December cover story. We also feature a VA program helping veterans share their stories, diverse aviators and the world's whitest paint that could fight climate change. Read it here:
Diversity in Action November/December Issue
- NSF-supported research impacts nearly every field of science and engineering. NSF's influence reaches from the ends of the Earth to the depths of the oceans and to space and beyond. Our Multimedia Gallery has some of the most stunning images from NSF’s research legacy. We have pulled some of the most beautiful gallery images for you to use as a virtual background.
Do you have suggestions for opportunities to include in the upcoming newsletter? Feel free to forward them to stem@augsburg.edu.
Augsburg STEM Programs
Email: stem@augsburg.edu
Website: https://www.augsburg.edu/stem/
Location: 2211 Riverside Avenue, Minneapolis, MN, USA
Phone: (612) 330-1042