NASA's Planetary
Geology and Geophysics Undergraduate Research Program (PGGURP)
NASA's current vision for space
exploration can be summarized as:
• to improve life here;
• to extend life to there; and
• to find life beyond.
Similarly, NASA's
mission for reaching these goals include:
• to understand and protect our home planet;
• to explore the Universe and search for life; and
• to inspire the next generation of explorers,
--as only NASA can.
The
undergraduate internship program described here directly supports NASA's vision
and goals through investigations into the geology of Earth and other planets.
Planetary geology is the study of the origin and evolution of surfaces and
interiors of the solid bodies in the Solar System, including
planets, satellites, comets and asteroids. The term "geology" is used
here in its broadest sense to include all elements of the
geological sciences. Planetary
Geology and Geophysics is a program that NASA established to facilitate the study
of the solid bodies in the Solar System.
The Planetary Geology and Geophysics Undergraduate Research
Program (PGGURP) was developed
to provide undergraduates the opportunity to participate in, and learn from, research
in planetary geosciences. The goals of this program are:
(1) to provide
incentive for the development of future planetary geosciences;
(2) to broaden
the base of participation of students in planetary geosciences;
(3) to introduce
students in traditional geoscience disciplines to planetary studies; and
(4) to educate
students about the conncetions between science objectives, data sets and
instrument requirements.
Research Possibilities
P G G U R P
provides undergraduates with an excellent opportunity to participate in and consider
planetary science research. Participation affords a realistic view of research
and a chance for undergraduates to appraise their interest in a particular area
of planetary geoscience. Research activities range from participation in
theoretical, photogeologic, experimental, laboratory, and/or field studies of
processes that occur on other planets or satellites. Typical tasks in which undergraduate
researchers may become involved include (but are not limited to):
• photogeologic and geologic mapping
studies of the Moon, Mars, Venus, Mercury and the satellites of the outer planets;
• laboratory studies of the physical
properties of rocks and ice under planetary conditions;
• impact crater experiments;
• wind tunnel simulations of aeolian processes
on Venus and Mars; and
• geoscience instrument development.
Internship Timing and Duration
Selected
students will work under the mentorship of a NASA-sponsored Planetary Geology
and Geophysics Program Principal Investigator for 8 weeks during the summer
months (May through August). The
precise dates will be determined between the intern and their NASA mentor.
Internship Locations
Internships
may take place at any NASA center, industry, or university where a NASA-sponsored
researcher is located. These include:
• the Jet Propulsion Laboratory
• U.S. Geological Survey Astrogeology Branch in Flagstaff, AZ
• University of Alaska (Fairbanks)
• the NASA Ames Research Center.
Eligibility
Undergraduates
majoring in geology or related sciences, and who have not been previously selected,
are eligible for this program. This includes class of 2008 graduates.
Preference
will be given to U.S. Citizens and permanent residents.
In accordance
with federal and state laws, no person in whatever relation with the State University
of New York at Buffalo shall be subject to discrimination on the basis of age,
religion or creed, color, disability, national origin, race, ethnicity, sex,
marital or veteran status. Additionally, Governor's Executive Order 28 and
University Board of Trustees Policy prohibit discrimination on the basis of
sexual orientation.
Selection
Competition
for these awards is keen, and they are limited to a maximum of 12 students.
Each application is closely reviewed and discussed by a panel of NASA
scientists. Selection criteria include: academic record, career objectives; and
letters of recommendation. Successful applicants will be notified immediately
following the selection committee meeting in February, 2008, and should be prepared
to accept or decline the offer within 2 days so that hosts can be notified,
and, if necessary, alternates selected.
Awards
A stipend of
$250 per week will be awarded for the duration of participation in the program (for
a maximum of 8 weeks), as well as transportation costs from residence to work
location and return, and a per diem allowance covering meals and housing.
Application
You may submit
an application form online at:
(http://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~tgregg/pggurp.html). Email Ms. Robyn Wagner, project Administrator, at rlwagner@buffalo.edu
or email Dr. Tracy K.P. Gregg, project
Director, at
(tgregg@geology.buffalo.edu) for additional applications or questions
concerning the program.
Written
requests and questions can be addressed to:
Ms. Robyn
Wagner
PGGURP
Dept. of
Geology
876 Natural
Sciences Complex
University at
Buffalo
Buffalo, NY
14260-3050.
All application
materials must be received by February 23, 2009.