PI: Dr. Arun Saha
The objective of this project will be to provide several undergraduate pre-engineering students with cutting edge research opportunity through engaging them in a project involving design, simulation and testing of a Frequency Selective Surface (FSS) composed of metallic 2D Open Ring Resonators (ORRs) periodically printed on a dielectric substrate to offer very high impedance or non-transmission behavior to a pre-selected frequency. A metallic open ring can be considered as an inductor-capacitor series resonator, whose resonance frequency will determine the pre-selected frequency at which the composite structure would offer very high impedance or non-transmission property. In this project, the operational frequency of the FSS will be controlled by varying the diameter of the ring and by the gap between two ends of the ring. Starting from design work to test sample fabrication, there will be numerous electromagnetic simulations to be performed by the students. Some parts of the project activities will be showcased to the local middle and high school students. The intellectual merit or uniqueness of this project lies in its potential to fabricate a custom-designed Frequency Selective Surface to protect electronic devices and human beings from harmful electromagnetic radiation in space and to create a radiation free environment to conduct biological experiments there. The broader impact of this project is that pre-engineering students will be exposed to state-of-the-art 3D electromagnetic simulation tools that will better prepare them for coursework in graduate studies and build confidence in working for NASA or related industrial setting in professional life.
This program will impact approximately 4 faculty members (two from ASU and two from UWG), 40 Pre-engineering undergraduate students from ASU, 30 high school students, 30 middle school students, 20 parents, 4 educators, and around 40 members of the general public, a total of approximately 170 individuals. The outcome of this project will be presented in 2027 annual meeting of Georgia Academy of Science, 2027 IEEE SOUTHEASTCON Conference and 2027 Fall SACS-AAPT meeting. The research result will also be used to seek external funding from NASA, DoD and NSF.
PI: Dr. M. K. Indika Senevirathna
This project addresses the need for compact, lightweight, and low-power semiconductor materials that can support future NASA sensing, detection, imaging, and electronic technologies. The proposed research will investigate anisotropic ReS2/ReSe2 van der Waals heterostructures as promising materials for space-relevant optoelectronic and sensing applications. These low-symmetry two-dimensional semiconductors offer direction-dependent optical and electronic properties that may be useful for photodetectors, optical sensors, transistor-based devices, remote sensing platforms, and scientific instrumentation. The project is strongly aligned with NASA Science Mission Directorate (SMD) and Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD), with secondary relevance to the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate (ESDMD). It is guided by current NASA priorities, including the 2025-2026 NASA Science Plan, the 2024 NASA Technology Taxonomy, and NASA STEM Engagement goal to build the next generation of explorers. The work supports GSGC goals in NASA mission-focused research, STEM engagement, and student preparation for future NASA-relevant careers. During the 2026-2027 academic year, the project will provide hands-on research training for three Georgia undergraduate students in semiconductor synthesis, characterization, device-oriented evaluation, data analysis, outreach, and scientific communication. Students will also be encouraged to pursue GSGC assistantships, scholarships, NASA internships, Georgia industry internships, research conferences, summer research programs, and graduate study. The project will also include one NASA-themed STEM outreach activity for Georgia high school students focused on semiconductor materials, solar cells, microelectronics, optoelectronics, and space sensing technologies. The anticipated program impact is approximately 30 participants, including undergraduate researchers, high school students, and outreach participants. Expected deliverables include preliminary CVD growth protocols, ReS2/ReSe2 heterostructure samples, characterization datasets, device-oriented measurements, student research products, outreach materials, dissemination products, and a final GSGC technical report. Together, these outcomes will advance NASA mission-focused semiconductor research while strengthening Georgia’s STEM workforce pipeline.
PI: Dr. Rosa Williams
Columbus State University (CSU) will offer five undergraduate “Hands-On” observing assistantships, to support students of Columbus State University’s Earth and Space Science B.S. program in getting professional observatory and astronomical instrumentation experience, under faculty and staff supervision and mentorship. Students will engage in observations of emission-line nebulae, tracking of Near-Earth Asteroids, timing studies of variability in the black holes powering active galactic nuclei, variable stars, and/or the Sun during a period of high solar activity. These observing assistantships will assist recruitment and retention in STEM, develop professional and technical skills in NASA-related competencies, and give students at the start of their studies the opportunity to be involved in professional research. Student assistants will be expected to present their work at a local (CSU) or regional conference. In addition, observing assistants will work with students from local schools for virtual or in-person observing sessions designed to educate and inspire middle and high school students interested in STEM careers.
PI: Dr. Rosa Williams
Columbus State University (CSU) will provide undergraduate research assistantships for students during Fall 2025 – Spring 2026. These assistantships will support student involvement in original, faculty-mentored research projects, in areas that will build competencies in both the NASA and STEM disciplines of astronomy, space science, and science education. In support of these research projects, the undergraduate assistants will work with faculty at Columbus State University (CSU), its Department of Earth and Space Science (ESS), and associated Coca-Cola Space Science Center (CCSSC). Faculty-mentored projects have in the past involved (a) satellite-based multi-wavelength astronomy of supernova remnants with Dr. Rosa Williams, and (b) minor planet tracking and orbit determination with Dr. Andrew Puckett. CSU has recently expanded our student-involved research programs to include (c) monitoring blazar optical variability with non-affiliate collaborator (and former CSU Space Grant student) Dr. John Hood at the University of Chicago, through the on-site mentorship of Co-I Michael Johnson. Research students will be expected to present results at an academic conference, and/or in a professional publication. To that end, we plan a trip for the undergraduate research students, along with their mentors where possible, to attend the Georgia Astronomers Research Meeting (GRAM) usually given in late Fall at one of the participating Georgia institutions.
PI: Dr. Priya Goeser
The Eagle Engineering Ambassadors (EEA) Program is a collaborative mentorship initiative between Georgia Southern University’s Armstrong Campus and local middle and high schools. The program is designed to expose a group of students to engineering concepts and careers through hands-on engineering projects within a structured mentoring framework. The program reinforces students’ STEM knowledge while cultivating a pipeline of future Georgia Southern STEM majors and the next generation of NASA scientists, engineers, technicians, and mathematicians.
The program will work with 2-3 middle schools and 5-7 high schools in Savannah and surrounding areas. Teachers will be recruited to identify students that will participate, coordinate ambassador visits, and supervise project activities. The program will pair a trained Georgia Southern engineering student (ambassador) with a host team consisting of the teacher and 6–8 students from the same school. The ambassadors will visit the host team 5-6 times each semester (Fall and Spring) to guide the team through mini engineering projects. While the teams usually meet after school hours, the ambassadors may also visit entire classes during school hours to reach broader student groups. Projects focus on NASA-relevant themes such as robotics, embedded systems, and 3D printing, offering students early exposure to real-world engineering challenges.
After the initial success of this program in the Savannah area, the PI is partnering with the Co-PI who is from Georgia Southern’s Statesboro campus to extend the program to at least 1-2 schools in that region. While this is a pilot-collaborative effort, the proposal is not written as a collaborative one. If successful, a collaborative proposal will be submitted the following year.
PI: Dr. Justin Robinson
The Georgia Outreach Team for Space (GOT Space) is a STEM outreach program founded in 2018 in partnership with Georgia State University (GSU), Georgia Institute of Technology (GA Tech), and the Georgia Space Grant Consortium (GSGC). The GOT Space program delivers interactive STEM presentations and demonstrations to K-12 classrooms, youth groups, and the general public across Atlanta and Georgia, thereby immersing students and educators in up-to-date, premier NASA research instrumentation and results (i.e., the Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes, International Space Station, Solar System missions, etc). The program consists of undergraduate, graduate, and faculty ambassadors, and K-12 STEM educators are able to directly and independently request a visit from the team via GOT Space’s website hosted by GA Tech and GSU. GOT Space also routinely holds workshops and meetings for K-12 educators, gaining first-hand experience with NASA-related discoveries and technologies. In all arms of the GOT Space program since its founding, GOT Space has impacted ~11,000 students and ~2,000 members of the general public. Given the average number of events and attendees each fiscal year and events already requested of GOT Space, GSU anticipates GOT Space will impact ~4,000 K-12 students and over 1,000 members of the public in the 2025-26 fiscal year.
PI: Dr. David Joffe
The Applied Leadership Program at Kennesaw State University (KSU) is designed to cultivate leadership, research, and communication skills among undergraduate students in STEM disciplines. This initiative offers participants a unique opportunity to engage in applied leadership by assuming key roles in the planning, coordination, and delivery of research talks and proceedings at conferences, workshops and public events, as well as STEM outreach activities to K-12 students. By integrating hands-on leadership experiences with public outreach and educational enrichment, the program aims to prepare future STEM professionals to effectively lead, mentor, and disseminate knowledge within both academic and community contexts. This proposal outlines the program’s framework, expected outcomes in student development, and its broader impact on STEM education and leadership capacity building. Undergraduate students engaging in the research and leadership activities beyond the standard curriculum gain practical, transferrable skills that are highly advantageous for those pursuing future careers in STEM. By integrating academic development with community engagement, the program fosters a collaborative environment that supports both personal growth and the broader mission of advancing STEM education. In addition, participation across STEM disciplines is explicitly multi-disciplinary. The program has included active involvement from students representing the Departments of Biology (with a focus on Biotechnology), Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Computer and Information Science, Engineering and Cybersecurity. This interdisciplinary engagement strengthens the program’s impact and reflects the program’s broad commitment to advancing and promoting STEM career paths. Our on-site workshops, seminars, and hands-on experiments continue to serve as vital components of our student leadership efforts, playing a key role in inspiring and engaging younger students in STEM learning. Undergraduate students in the program actively engage in research and present their findings at regional, national, and international conferences. In addition to contributing to journal articles, they share their research experiences through outreach presentations aimed at educating and inspiring the K-12 students. This comprehensive approach equips students with the knowledge, communication skills, and professional experience essential for success in STEM careers. The program is part of a broader undergraduate research program funded by KSU, supported by initiatives such as CETL, U-RISE, the USG STEM IV Grant, the Mentor-Protégé Program, and the Birla Carbon Scholars Program. The program will run from 08/15/2025 through 08/14/2026.
Promote Hands-on Research, Rapid Prototyping, Tinkering, and Experiments
PI: Dr. Anthony Choi
Mercer’s Open Robotics Laboratory (Machine Intelligence and Robotics Laboratory, MIRL) in the new Science and Engineering Building with work benches, equipment, consumable materials, and large open floor space for experiments. Due to increased research activity, MIRL lab space has been increased. MIRL now has another room solely dedicated to conducting robotics experiments and smaller lab space dedicated to Ballooning research. The laboratory is open to any student with interests in robotics, high altitude ballooning, AI, and intelligent machines. Students can walk into the lab and start on predefined small projects, larger projects with other members, research projects led by senior undergraduate or graduate student, or their own projects. It creates an environment for students to get hands-on experience with formal and informal support systems. Students can experience, experiment, and design with minimal cost and almost no delay in obtaining parts. The lab is stocked with not only major equipment, but also sensors, actuators, rapid prototyping capabilities, etc. The Open Robotics Laboratory provides a vibrant and conducive
environment where students can let their interests and imaginations run wild. In conjunction with this Open Robotics Laboratory, we established Mercer Robotics Club. Mercer Robotics Club will help recruit from a wide range of majors. We currently have 42 members with 9 major projects underway. It has attracted engineers from Robins Air Force Base interested in Robotics and Intelligent Systems. MIRL is starting to attract interest from local industry interested in collaborative prototype design of robotic systems to meet the requirements of Robins Air Force Base. This program has been prolific in exposing engineering students and
related majors to NASA aligned projects and creating a pathway for them to support NASA mission and its workforce goals. This lab is also a featured stop during Mercer University’s admission tour for prospective students, which allows us to engage the general public (parents) and students to increase the awareness and knowledge of NASA.
PI: Melissa Raburn
The Museum of Aviation Foundation’s National STEM Academy, in collaboration with Georgia State University GOT Space and Pink STEM, will deliver NASA-inspired STEM programming for middle and high school students across Georgia from August 2026 to May 2027. Offered at no cost to students, GSPAACES will provide hands-on workshops, GEAR Lab activities, outreach programs, and special events focused on aviation, aerospace, astrophysics, engineering, robotics, artificial intelligence, and real-world problem-solving. Programs will be supported by credentialed teachers, college interns, STEM Ambassadors, and partner mentors, creating meaningful learning experiences that connect students to NASA missions, technologies, and future STEM career pathways. Through school partnerships, tailored curriculum, and statewide collaboration, the initiative will expand access to high-quality STEM education while strengthening student confidence, STEM literacy, and workforce awareness. The project anticipates reaching at least 4,000 students and educators and will build on the National STEM Academy’s proven instructional framework and broad regional impact. Expected outcomes include increased awareness of NASA-related technologies, greater student interest in STEM learning, stronger connections between students and near-peer mentors, and a replicable model for informal STEM engagement in Georgia. Guided by the shared mission, “Igniting Dreams, Building Skills, Launching Careers,” GSPAACES positions the Museum of Aviation Foundation’s National STEM Academy as a sustainable partner in advancing NASA-aligned STEM engagement.
PI: Dr. Tamika Ray-Head
The GOT Space + Pink STEM Aviation, Astrophysics, and Career Empowerment for Scholars (GSPAACES) initiative is a statewide NASA-inspired workforce development program that combines the educational expertise of Georgia State University’s GOT Space, the immersive learning environments of The Museum of Aviation’s National STEM Academy, and Pink STEM’s Science & AI Discovery (S.AI.D.) Academy. Designed to prepare the next generation of aerospace innovators, GSPAACES engages middle and high school students in authentic NASA mission challenges that integrate artificial intelligence, Earth and space science, aviation, engineering, robotics, cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing, and emerging technologies. Rather than serving solely as a STEM enrichment experience, the program creates a comprehensive pathway from curiosity to college, industry credentials, internships, and careers aligned with Georgia’s growing aerospace and technology workforce. More than an educational program, GSPAACES is a workforce development ecosystem that intentionally develops both the technical competencies and professional skills students need to succeed in NASA, the Department of Defense, aviation, engineering, artificial intelligence, and advanced manufacturing careers.
PI: Dr. Jud Ready
NASA’s Artemis program is driving renewed lunar exploration, creating major opportunities for universities to advance technologies, partnerships, and workforce development for sustained human presence on the Moon. To support this, NASA launched the Lunar Surface Innovation Initiative (LSII) within the Space Technology Mission Directorate. The Lunar Surface Innovation Consortium (LSIC), managed by Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, serves as the central collaboration platform, uniting government, industry, academia, and nonprofits to address lunar technology needs and advance Artemis goals. LSIC now includes over 4,000 participants worldwide (~20% government, 40% industry, 30% academia, 10% nonprofit) and more than 45 member institutions. It holds biannual meetings with 300–500 in-person attendees and monthly technical meetings engaging 80+ participants, while also supporting student challenges like NASA’s BIG Idea and Lunar Autonomy Challenge. Georgia Tech has been selected to host the LSIC Fall 2026 Meeting (October 14–15), creating a direct opportunity to leverage this national forum to engage GT students, showcase Georgia Tech’s research capabilities, and build new collaborations in support of NASA’s lunar exploration goals. We are requesting funding from the Georgia Space Grant Consortium (GSGC) to primarily support student registration, student networking events, poster presentation awards, laboratory tours, student engagement activities, and outreach efforts associated with the 2026 LSIC Meeting. These activities will increase student participation and provide meaningful opportunities to interact with NASA leaders, industry professionals, government representatives, and Georgia Tech researchers while fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and expanding awareness of NASA-related research, internships, and career pathways.
PI: Dr. Deepak Mishra
This research will build upon cutting-edge neural rendering methods for 3D surface reconstruction using remote sensing imagery high-resolution remote sensing satellites for three sites, augmented by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) at one of these sites. Traditional multi-view stereo photogrammetric methods rely on rigid surface textures to accurately reconstruct a scene. However, many low-frequency regions such as arid and polar sites across Earth, exhibit uniform color and texture, making it difficult for traditional methods such as structure from motion (SfM) to create accurate surface models of the terrain. Neural Radiance Fields (NeRFs) overcome this problem by using neural volumetric rendering techniques to continuously learn the geometry and color radiance of a scene.
In this research, we will start with well-established NeRF models (Shadow NeRF (S-NeRF) and Satellite NeRF (Sat-NeRF)), consider newer NeRF variants, and develop original processing pipelines as necessary, to improve NeRF outputs. Three study areas are selected as representations of regions with low textural and color variation, although each is quite distinct topographically, texturally, and geographically. The first region is a sand dune in Death Valley, California. This arid site has little perceptible vegetation cover, is mid-latitude, has high topographic relief that makes it distinct from surrounding areas, tends to have low cloud cover, and no issues with satellite geometry affecting satellite imagery quality. The second region is a seasonally snow-covered mountain located in Alaska. This site has rock outcrops but low vegetation cover (above the tree line), is high-latitude, has high topographic relief but is one peak within a mountain range, tends to have issues with cloud coverer, and issues with high-latitude affecting satellite imagery quality and availability. The third region is a coastal wetland in Georgia (Sapelo Island). This site has dense graminoid vegetation that is <1 m, is mid-latitude, almost no topographic relief, can have issues with cloud cover, but no issues affecting satellite imagery quality. This coastal Georgia site is only site that we will be able to also include UAV imagery.
There are three objectives. First, compare NeRF methods developed for satellite imagery for three topographically and climatically distinct regions with low textural variation. Second, evaluate NeRF models using standard qualitative comparison of visual outputs (PSNR, SSIM, MAE). Third, determine if or how the NeRF pipeline needs to be adjusted to be optimized for each of these distinct regions that share characteristics of low textural and color variation. Our goal is to assess the feasibility of NeRF methods for generating surface meshes of terrain from these varied regions using multi-view satellite imagery from three sites, augmented by UAV imagery NeRF from one site in coastal GA.
The results from this research will contribute to research on NeRFs as a plausible contender to the current state-of-the-art for 3D scene reconstruction with remote sensing data, furthering fields in computer vision, photogrammetry, and geographic sciences.
PI: Dr. Gregory Feiden
The University of North Georgia (UNG) will hire one exceptional undergraduate student from the University of North Georgia
(UNG) in summer 2026 to serve as summer resident observer (SRO) at the North Georgia Astronomical Observatory (NGAO)—a night-sky observatory owned and operated by UNG. The SRO’s duties include serving as a telescope operator running weekly public viewing sessions, giving observatory tours, participating in scientific and career development workshops, and contributing original scientific research on exoplanet candidate validation and sky-glow monitoring. During this time, they will receive extensive scientific and career mentoring from a UNG faculty member.
Public viewings at the NGAO are free and are conducted each week on Friday from sunset until midnight (weather permitting). They are offered in conjunction with a free planetarium show at UNG’s George E. Coleman Planetarium. These events attract an average of 75 visitors each week. The SRO will organize and conduct public viewing sessions throughout the summer providing continuity for the public viewings occurring during the academic year.
The SRO will contribute to validation of hot Jupiter exoplanet candidates identified by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), and will continue long-term monitoring of local light pollution and sky glow of the local night sky. The former involves conducting multi-band photometric and spectroscopic radial velocity measurements using the facility’s two telescopes. Targets are selected from the TESS Objects of Interest catalog, with a requirement that they still need radial velocity confirmation. Contributions to the latter will involve monitoring zenith sky brightness, generating sky glow maps, and helping making data publicly accessible through a UNG sponsored webpage, and working with local code enforcement officers to monitor illumination levels from public light fixtures across the City of Dahlonega. Data will be used to educate the public at the observatory, planetarium, and local science events (Dahlonega Science Café, Mead Under the Stars), and to evaluate the effectiveness of Dahlonega’s recent darky sky ordinance with the
aim of advocating with the local county government for more widespread regulations. Furthermore, the research will evaluate where the University can improve lighting conditions to inform recommendations to administrators in charge of light decisions.
PI: Dr. Ajith DeSilva
This project integrates research, workforce development, and STEM outreach to advance nanostructured electronic devices and strengthen Georgia’s STEM workforce. The research focuses on improving charge transport in hybrid inorganic–organic semiconductor systems used in solar cells, thermoelectric generators, and energy-storage devices through molecular charge-transfer bridges and Hall-effect measurements. The goal is to develop affordable, scalable technologies for sustainable energy conversion, energy storage, and photonic applications. Undergraduate students will gain hands-on experience in device design, fabrication, characterization, MATLAB programming, data analysis, and scientific computing. Approximately 10–15 students will participate annually in research and workforce development activities and present their findings at scientific meetings. Outreach efforts will engage middle school, high school, and first-year undergraduate students through classroom demonstrations and laboratory activities that increase awareness of STEM education and careers. The project aligns with NASA’s Aeronautics Research, Space Operations, Science, and Space Technology Mission Directorates and supports applications in aerospace, space exploration, sustainable energy, and advanced materials.
PI: John Callaway
The Aerospace Industry Training program at West Georgia Technical College (WGTC) is designed to establish a partnership between West Georgia Technical College’s Economic Development and local aerospace companies. This initiative aims to upskill and train participants with the necessary skills and knowledge to thrive in the aerospace industry.
Through hands-on training with specialized industry-standard equipment and software participants will learn the skills necessary to diagnose, repair, and calibrate aircraft parts, equipment, and instruments critical to aircraft operations. Examples include: fuel pump and fuel delivery systems, hydraulic pumps and hydraulic fluid delivery systems, navigational instrumentation, communications equipment, air craft/aeronautical engine ignition systems, etc. The program will utilize cutting-edge technology and tools commonly used in the aerospace industry to ensure students gain practical experience, creating a job-ready workforce.
The objectives of this program are to further develop the aerospace industry training available in West Georgia through purchase and use of industry specific tools and equipment, to upskill workers locally to work within high-demand, high-wage businesses related to the aerospace industry, and develop stronger industry relationships with WGTC in order to forge future opportunities for students interested in entering this field.
Outcomes from this project will be: approximately 12 individuals annually will be gainfully employed in the aerospace industry and will be equipped with the skills and knowledge to be effective on the job. WGTC will expand it’s ability to provide practical hands-on training through purchase and acquisition of specialized equipment relevant to this industry. Local aerospace companies will benefit from a skilled workforce trained to meet their specific needs.
Our primary industry partner for the initial phase of this program is Fokker Services Group. Their involvement will provide students with access to industry expertise, advanced technology, and real-world applications. Fokker Services Group’s collaboration will ensure that the training program aligns with current industry standards and practices, enhancing the overall quality and relevance of the education provided.
PI: James Wood
The Boss Laser Cutting Challenge is a program designed to develop engineering students’ skills on industry standard equipment, as well as connect them with potential employers who use this technology.
In order to prepare students to join the local workforce, the Boss Laser Cutting Challenge will ask students to design a product, program the software, and produce the final outcome. The Boss Laser Cutter is an industrial grade laser cutter with a wide range of applications. It utilizes an edition of Lightburn software, a native application written for Windows, Mac OS, and Linux. Many local businesses use this or similar equipment in the fabrication of products or components.
Students will be given the task of selecting a material, designing a finished product, and producing the item using the Boss Laser Cutter. The results will be judged by local industry partners, all of whom utilize industrial laser cutters in their business. These potential employers will select the winner of the competition.
The objective of the Boss Laser Cutting Challenge is to introduce engineering students to the process of using an industrial laser cutter, teach them the skills needed to operate the software and machine, and to engage students with local employers. We expect several outcomes from this process:
- Engineering students will work on a practical STEM activity.
- Students will complete the class with a specific, industry relevant skill.
- Students will meet local employers and have a chance to discuss the various uses of their new skill in industry application.
- Employers will look to WGTC engineering graduates to fill vacancies.