Technology students complete NASA summer research program
Kesha Williams
August 20, 2013 For the second consecutive summer, ECSU students completed a 10-week research internship program at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. In 2012, NASA provided a $300,000 grant to cover the cost of students attending a 10-week, summer research program that would enlighten them of developments in aerospace and related career positions. Five ECSU students completed the internship program. Last year, Dr. Akbar Eslami, a professor in ECSU’s Department of Technology, received the grant that covers research projects on campus during the academic year as well as summer research program expenses. Eslami said that the summer internship program provides ECSU students with an opportunity to conduct research related to the areas of satellites, radar, and robotics. "They worked closely with NASA scientists. They saw how useful their mathematics, science and technical class assignments are when applied to real-world engineering and technology projects," Eslami said. "Once students complete the research program, they are better prepared to enter engineering and technology careers as well as graduate programs." The five students, Henry Mishoe, Calvin Fitts, Ka’Ren Byrd, Dwayne Brooks and James Lee, interned at Goddard from May 19 to July 26. Two ECSU faculty, Eslami and Dr. Jamiiru Luttamaguzi, a visiting assistant professor in ECSU’s Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, accompanied and assisted the student researchers. Also, Eslami, Luttamaguzi, and the interns have published three papers at national and international conferences. In 2012, the NASA interns presented their summer research projects in three national and local conferences. All these papers and presentations are outcomes of the NASA summer research topics. Eslami said presenting papers at conferences will help interns prepare for similar experiences when they acquire high tech jobs or when they are expected to present research papers as graduate students. The grant also supplied a $10,000 stipend for each student. The students in turn were responsible for paying travel, room and board expenses from their stipends. Students who qualify for the internships must major in science, math, and engineering. They must have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 as well.