NASA MUREP MCA Grant: RAISE

About RAISE

Remote-sensing and Analytics for Integrating Science Education (RAISE) with NASA SMD to Strengthen Student Research Capacity at Minority Serving Institutions.

The RAISE (Remote-sensing and Analytics for Integrating Science Education) project, funded by a $1.2 million NASA MUREP grant, aims to enhance UTRGV students’ STEM research skills in Earth and planetary sciences. Led by Dr. Tian Dong and co-investigators Dr. Chu-Lin Cheng and Dr. Engil Pereira, the project will improve curriculum, offer professional development, and provide paid internships and seminars. Through this initiative, students will engage with NASA scientists and gain practical experience, preparing them for successful STEM careers.

Core Curriculum

Earth and Environmental Science courses were enhanced by integrating NASA data and tools into the curriculum. Students now engage in hands-on activities with remote sensing and data analytics, exploring real-world issues like water quality in the Rio Grande Valley. This update brings a new form of learning into the classroom, empowering students to apply these skills during field trips and research projects.

Seminar Series

The seminar series connects students with professionals from NASA, R1 universities, and industry, exposing them to exciting research and career opportunities. It’s a fantastic opportunity for students to learn about exciting research and career paths while networking with potential grad advisors and employers.

Student Internships

This summer 2025, 10 undergraduate students from UTRGV participated in internships sponsored by NASA’s MUREP program through the RAISE grant. Hosted at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Johnson Space Center, and UT Austin, students worked on projects spanning planetary science, remote sensing, spacecraft safety, astronaut health, Earth surface processes, and microbial research. Their topics included Mars organic chemistry, Amazon floodplain mapping, spacecraft safety engineering, radiation effects on astronauts, river and glacier modeling, and machine learning applications in microbiology.

Through these experiences, students gained hands-on research training, professional development, and mentorship, preparing them to pursue advanced studies and careers in STEM and space exploration.