CREST Undergraduate RESEARCH Experience (CURE) AT HAMPTON UNIVERSITY

SUMMER 2014: JUNE 2-JULY 25

This 8-week session provides engaging research in atmospheric sciences and space sciences using observations from NASA spacecraft and ground-based measurements from optical instrumentation, with a goal of understanding our home planet, Earth.

  • Research using astronomical and atmospheric observations and measurements

  • Learn from a series of seminars and tutorials

  • Develop data analysis techniques

  • Explore spacecraft data analysis

DATES

  • February 17 – Application Process Opened

  • March 17 – Application Deadline

  • End of March - Notification of Applicants

  • Monday, June 2 - Program Begins

  • Friday, July 25 - Program Ends

APPLICATION

  • Online Application

  • Application Deadline: 17 March 2014

  • The application includes a completed online application form, plus submission of transcripts and one letter of recommendation.

VENUE

Hampton University: A scenic waterfront campus bordered by historic Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown to the north, and the oceanfront resort community of Virginia Beach to the south.

PROJECTS

Students engage in fundamental research under the direction of research scientists and faculty from Hampton University’s Center for Atmospheric Sciences. HU has a leadership role in several spacecraft missions; with responsibility for major elements of instrumentation on CALIPSO and as lead scientific institution responsible for overall success of the AIM mission.

  • AIM – A NASA spacecraft mission to study the mysterious mesospheric clouds at the edge of space which are providing a sensitive indicator of global climate change.

  • CALIPSO – An international space-borne laser platform probing the atmosphere to understand the effects of natural and human-generated aerosols that can reinforce or mitigate the effects of global warming.

ACTIVITIES

  • Workshops to develop and hone techniques of measurement and analysis using scientific software

  • Seminars on current issues of climate change, space exploration, and comparative planetology; promoting new perspectives of Earth, our home planet

  • Students learn to work as effective members of scientific teams under the direction of research scientists and faculty; preparing them for graduate studies and futures in government, industry, and academic research

STIPEND AND ACCOMMODATION

Students are provided a $3,600 stipend for the 8-week session, and reimbursed up to $500 for travel expenses. On-campus housing and meal-plan are also provided.