The Broadening Participation of Next Generation Aerospace Engineers Through Traineeship and Workforce Development Program (BP-AE) at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering is part of a national program funded by NASA Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP).
MUREP is targeted, competitive funding that aims to enhance the research, academic and technology capabilities of minority-serving institutions (MSIs). These institutions, such as FAMU-FSU Engineering, recruit and retain underrepresented and underserved students, including women and girls, and persons with disabilities, into science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.
The BP-AE program at FAMU-FSU Engineering will involve students in design projects, undergraduate research experiences, professional traineeship, advanced research and career development activities in NASA-relevant fields.
The program research theme focuses on aerospace systems and technologies, including highspeed aerodynamics, combustion, propulsions, active flow control, smart materials, additive manufacturing. These topics fit well with the primary mission of the Florida Center for Advanced Aero-Propulsion (FCAAP), a Florida Center of Excellence.
FAMU-FSU
College of Engineering
One college, two universities, unlimited opportunity!
BP-AE will leverage FCAAP for expanded recruitment, curriculum development, mentorship, and research collaborations to maximize the overall impact.
The BP-AE coalition will provide intellectual & financial resources, infrastructure, and administrative support to carry out proposed objectives. We will recruit motivated under-represented minority (URM) students by providing coordinated training and professional development activities. The professional development program is comprised of four interconnected activities coordinated with collaborators designed to engage engineering students early and implement during their academic careers through sustained mentorship and workforce development. These activities include:
- Real-world senior capstone design project sponsorship
- Summer research and professional development for BP-AE undergraduate students
- MS Traineeship degree internship and project mentorship
- Co-advising graduate students’ research projects and graduate thesis with AFRL and NASA collaborators
- Summer Intern Recruitment Fair with NASA and Air Force Research Lab
- Engineering Senior Design Day
- BP-AE Annual Symposium with project presentation and PD session
Program Objectives: Develop shared goals and specific strategies to foster the leadership role of MSIs in expanding the aerospace engineering workforce
- Enhance collaboration for MSIs to share successful PD practices and advanced research
- Align MSIs efforts to address NASA’s critical needs and engineering priorities
- Develop NASA sponsored design projects and collaborative research projects
Strategic Alliance: Build Partnerships that unite the expertise and resources of a broad range of stakeholders at the federal, state, and local levels
- Florida A&M University (HBCU) + Florida State University (Carnegie R1) - FAMU-FSU College of Engineering (Unique Affiliation) + University of Central Florida (HSI)
- NASA Centers: KSC, MSFC, JSC, JPL
- FSGC + AFRL Munitions Directorate
Student Participants:
- Senior Design Team members
- Undergraduate Fellows
- Graduate Research Fellows
- BP-AE Summer interns – NASA, AFRL, COE
Expected Outcomes: Establish a consortium of MSIs to lead sustained recruitment and WD activities to broaden participation of URM students in aerospace careers
Integrated education-training-research WD process, including design project sponsorship, seminars & workshops, professional mentorship, and collaborative research.
Consortium
- Institutions
- NASA/AFRL Partners
Co-Pls
NASA MUREP Link: https://www.nasa.gov/stem/murep/about/index.html
BP - AE Fellow Application
NASA Summer Internship Application
AFRL Scholar Summer Internship Application
BP-AE REU Summer Internship Application
Improvements:
More contacts/people?
Any updates to Advisory Council and Fellows?
New Slogan for FAMU-FSU Stats image
Include Progress Report??
Recruitment of BP-AE Fellows
3 Graduate Fellows and 10 Undergraduate Fellows
Initiation of NASA-centric Senior Capstone Design Projects
10 Projects – 4 MSFC, 4 FSGC, 1 ASU (JPL Psyche project), 1 FCAAP project
Formation of Advisory Council
Engage Stakeholders NASA, AFRL, industry, and Academic Consortium
Engagement with MSIs
Moore is organizing a Virtual Graduate Fair with 6 HBCUs
Other Developing Programs
Kumar is leading an NASA ULI proposal on the development of supersonic Commercial Aircraft – 6 Universities & GE/Boeing consortium (Phase B review)
Kumar’s NSF REU program is under review – both aligning with the BP-AE core mission.
Principle Investigator
Chiang Shih, Ph.D.
(850) 645-0102
Co-PI
Carl Moore, Ph.D.
Florida State University PI
R. Kumar, Ph.D.
University of Central Florida PI
S. Vasu, Ph.D.