Nine UNL Physics and Astronomy students have been named NASA Nebraska Space Grant Fellows for 2015-2016. The awards total over $20,000 for the development and research of aerospace-related projects. The UNL teams will develop a radio telescope array for use in teaching, outreach, and undergraduate research projects.
Associate Professor Brad Shadwick, Michael Sibbernsen, and Shawn Langan will act as mentors for the projects, while Junior Aniruddha Joshi will assist the project as radio array originator and manager.
The Department of Physics and Astronomy has a strong history of public outreach and service in astronomy. Astronomy Education at UNL is a leader in physics education, and has won National Science Foundation grants and recognition from the American Association of Physics Teachers. In addition, the department hosts a number of public observation nights throughout the year in conjunction with UNL and the city of Lincoln, such as Jazz in June and Sheldon Museum of Art events. Observation nights take place at the UNL Student Observatory as well as Behlen Observatory in Mead, Nebraska.
Nebraska Space Grant Fellowships aim to recruit undergraduate and graduate students who are interested in in aerospace-related research. NASA hopes to develop a future workforce in the STEM fields. Awardees must have demonstrated interests in STEM careers and strong academic achievement in order to win these competitive fellowships. U.S. Citizens are eligible for the award, with an emphasis on minority and female applicants, limited to specific institutions in the state of Nebraska.
Fellowship recipients and their research projects:
Nicole Benker (Junior) will develop a homemade tracking device for a radio telescope array.
Shelby Clausen (Senior) will calibrate an optical encoder and develop remotely controlled hardware at the 30” telescope at Behlen Observatory.
Jennifer Hamblin (Senior) will design the implementation of the control card for the radio telescope array.
Matthew Hormandl (UNL 2015) will develop control software for the radio telescope array.
Celeste Labedz (Senior) will create remotely accessible control software for the 30” telescope at Behlen Observatory.
Savanna McDonald (Senior) will design a remote user interface for the control software of the radio telescope array.
Jonathan Reyes (Ph.D. candidate) will work on developing novel fluid models for studying plasma systems with wide-ranging applications including space weather and solar physics.
Emma Schneider (Senior) will develop the setting algorithm, control algorithm for the 30” telescope at Behlen Observatory.
Alexander Stamm (Ph.D. candidate) will work on developing new particle-based plasma simulation tools with both laboratory and astrophysical applications.
