Exciting News
NASA Summer 2023 Participant Named Regeneron Science Talent Search 2024 Finalist
We wanted to share some exciting news about one of our outstanding NASA Summer 2023 program participants. David Lu Cao has been selected as one of the finalists for the prestigious Regeneron Science Talent Search 2024.
David's remarkable achievement reflects not only his dedication to scientific inquiry but also the high caliber of participants in our program. We are immensely proud of his accomplishment and delighted to showcase the success of our program's participants.
You can find more details about David's recognition on the Regeneron webpage: Regeneron Science Talent Search 2024 Finalists.
Summer 2025 Program
Department of Physics and Astronomy
College of Science and Schar School of Policy and Government
George Mason University
Location: Hybrid (primarily virtual, with in-person options at the GMU Fairfax Campus)
Course Dates: June 14, 2025 - August 30, 2025
The internship program consists of:
*Please take note of the individual dates for each section as they are mixed.
- Three Synchronous Virtual Meetings (Saturdays 1:00 pm-3:00 pm EST; 10:00 am-12:00 am PST;
- June 14 - Opening; Introduction of the Research Program; Assigning Observing Sessions
- June 21 - Lecture and Research Project Selection
- June 28 - Lecture and Research Project Feedback
- Five Asynchronous Study and Lecture Sessions (Faculty team will release recorded lectures based on students’ research progress.)
- Dates: June 17, June 19, June 25, July 2 and July 9
- Dates: June 17, June 19, June 25, July 2 and July 9
- Nighttime Virtual Telescope Observing Sessions ( Small group sessions by RSVP)
- Dates: June 16 - June 30
- Dates: June 16 - June 30
- Research Project Analysis & Paper Writing & PostBoard Preparation Period
- Dates: July 9 – August 1
- Format: Students will work on their research papers with optional group discussions via Discord. Faculty will provide guidance to help finalize papers for publication.
- Research Paper Presentation/Conference day
- Date: August 2 ( Hybrid format: in-person & virtual participation optional)
- Date: August 2 ( Hybrid format: in-person & virtual participation optional)
- Final Paper Submission Deadline
- Date: August 30th
Registration
- We can only accept 50 students this summer. Available seats are on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Please email execed@gmu.edu for application and program fees.
- Need-based scholarships are available.
On Monday, students will have the exciting opportunity to present their research papers at George Mason University. For those coming from out-of-state, a hybrid option is also available. The conference not only serves as a platform for showcasing research projects but also provides a competitive edge, as teams can vie for awards and scholarships offered through the Experimental NASA Data Analysis and Space Research Scholarly Paper Writing Young Scholars Program. As an added benefit, all program participants will receive two tickets, allowing them to extend invitations to family or friends to attend the conference. The National Space and Data Analysis Board (NSDAB) guarantees an exceptional experience, supporting students in honing their presentation skills and showcasing the knowledge acquired during the Young Scholars program. It's an enriching opportunity for students to shine and share their passion for space and data analysis.
NASA Data Science Analysis and Scholarly Research Paper Writing
*Please take note of the individual dates for each section as they are mixed.
June 14th – August 30th, 2025
- Cutting-edge research experience in NASA space data science and statistical analysis
- Engaging in astronomy and space sciences through a combination of research projects and lectures
- Working on current NASA mission research and crafting professional-quality scholarly papers
- Remote or in-person control and operation of the 32-inch telescope – the second-largest university telescope on the East Coast at George Mason University Observatory.
- Using software and data for research:
- Python
- Jupyter notebooks
- Github
- AstroImageJ
- Observational Astronomy
- Data Analysis
- FITS files (astronomy imaging data format)
- Statistical analyses:
- measurement error, time-series analysis, reduced chi-squared, rms, standard deviation Bayesian statistical analyses.
Project Presentation Conference on August 2nd, 2025
On Saturday, August 2nd, 2025, students will have the exciting opportunity to present their research papers at George Mason University. For those coming from out-of-state, a hybrid option is also available.