10 Universities Win $250,000 Research Grants from NASA

NASA will award 10 one-year grants worth approximately $250,000 each for the "study of innovative, early stage space technologies that address high priority technical needs America's space program must master to enable future missions," according to an agency news release. One-year extensions of the grants may be possible.

The universities selected, and the titles of their proposals, include:

  • Johns Hopkins University, "Detection, tracking, and identification of asteroids through on-board image analysis;"
  • Michigan Technological University, "A new experiment for determining evaporation and condensation coefficients of cryogenic propellants and development of an efficient computational model of cryogenic film stability in microgravity;"
  • Northwestern University, "Broadband electrically tunable monolithic mid-infrared laser;"
  • Purdue University, "Innovations in understanding and modeling cryogenic propellants for long-duration spaceflight;"
  • University of Arkansas, "Asynchronous A/D converter for in situ instruments operating under extreme environments;"
  • University of Colorado, Boulder, "Comprehensive modeling of the effects of hazardous asteroid mitigation techniques;"
  • University of Florida, "Bio-inspired broadband antireflection coatings at long wavelengths for space applications;"
  • University of Michigan, "Broad bandwidth metamaterial antireflection coatings for measurement of the cosmic microwave background;"
  • University of South Carolina, "Oxygen recovery via carbon dioxide electrolysis with microtubular solid oxide cells;" and
  • University of Utah, "A lightweight compact multi-spectral imager using novel computer-generated micro-optics and spectral-extraction algorithms."

"A critical element of America's space technology pipeline rests in the cutting edge research in the early stage technologies conducted at the nation's universities," said NASA's Associate Administrator for Space Technology Michael Gazarik, in a prepared statement. "Through this investment NASA will continue to benefit from university-led R and D."

More information is available at nasa.gov.

About the Author

Joshua Bolkan is contributing editor for Campus Technology, THE Journal and STEAM Universe. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • illustration of a futuristic building labeled "AI & Innovation," featuring circuit board patterns and an AI brain motif, surrounded by geometric trees and a simplified sky

    Cal Poly Pomona Launches AI and Innovation Center

    In an effort to advance AI innovation, foster community engagement, and prepare students for careers in STEM fields and business, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona has teamed up with AI, cloud, and advisory services provider Avanade to launch a new Avanade AI & Innovation Center.

  •  black graduation cap with a glowing blue AI brain circuit symbol on top

    Report: AI Is a Must for Modern Learners

    A new report from VitalSource identifies a growing demand among learners for AI tools, declaring that "AI isn't just a nice-to-have; it's a must."

  • glowing shield hovers above a digital cloud platform with abstract data streams and cloud icons in the background

    Google to Acquire Cloud Security Firm Wiz

    Google has announced it will acquire cloud security startup Wiz. If completed, the acquisition — an all-cash deal valued at $32 billion — would mark the largest in Google's history.

  • digital dashboard featuring a shield icon, graphs, a world map, and network nodes

    IBM Introduces Agentic AI Governance and Security Platform

    IBM has launched a new software stack for enterprise IT teams tasked with managing the complex governance and security challenges posed by autonomous AI systems.