Announcing ISGC Director

The ISGC is pleased to announce Dr. Sara D. Nelson as the Iowa Space Grant Consortium (ISGC) Director effective January 1, 2023. Please join us in welcoming Dr. Nelson! Sara served as the ISGC and Iowa NASA EPSCoR Interim Director. Prior to the interim position, Sara served as the Assistant Director for Education and Outreach. Nelson also holds a faculty position at the School of Education and conducts research in STEM Education.

Dr. Nelson also uses her expertise to work alongside the Iowa 4-H Youth Development Program, developing STEM educational programs and STEM literacy outreach across the state of Iowa.

Sara received her Ph.D. in education and M.Ed. in science education from Iowa State University. She obtained a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Luther College.

In addition to her work at Iowa State University, Nelson serves as Co-Chair for a Governor’s STEM Advisory Council Working Group. She also serves on the North Central STEM Advisory Board for the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council, the State Science Leadership Team, and the Science and Children Advisory Board of the National Science Teaching Association.

Free Biotech PD Workshop

Educators, want to learn more about the Genes in Space Program? Limited registration is now open, and free! Find more information HERE

Undergraduate Research Opportunity

Check out this opportunity for students to participate in research with the Georgia Tech High-Power Electric Propulsion Laboratory in Atlanta, Georgia! To learn more, please see below or visit HERE

Application deadline February 15, 2023!

Educator Opportunity Open: Space Education Workshop

The Iowa Space Grant Consortium (ISGC) in partnership with the Iowa STEM Council and Blue Origin will be sponsoring Iowa educators to attend the Space Port Conference for Educators held in Florida at the Kennedy Space Center, tour Kennedy Space Center and Blue origin facilities, and to meet and collaborate with other educators interested in space.

ISGC will provide funding to six Iowa educators for conference registration, airfare, lodging, transportation to and from the hotel and conference center, and select meals June 20th-23rd, 2023. Applications are now being accepted! Apply at: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/273e22d5ab554d5d9889965068726f40

Questions can be directed to Iowa Space Grant Consortium Program Assistant, Hailey Waller, at hewaller@iastate.edu.

University of Iowa OPL Job Opportunities

The University of Iowa Operator Performance Lab (OPL) has two job opportunities currently open. The two job positions include a Research Programmer and an Aircraft Mechanic.

The flight testing center is seeking a research programmer for aircraft related software development, instrumentation, fabrication, modeling, and simulation; data collection on site and at customer locations; support of flight test operations. OPL is a world-renowned flight test laboratory directed by Thomas Schnell. Research Programmer Link

The Operator Performance Lab, directed by Dr. Tom “Mach” Schnell, is seeking an A&P certified mechanic to work on its fleet of aircraft. Do you have what it takes to contribute to ground breaking research at one of the most impressive research labs at University of Iowa? Aircraft Mechanic Link

Space Port Conference for Educators

The Iowa Space Grant Consortium (ISGC) in partnership with the Iowa STEM Council and Blue Origin will be sponsoring Iowa educators to attend the Space Port Conference for Educators held in Florida at the Kennedy Space Center, tour Kennedy Space Center and Blue origin facilities, and to meet and collaborate with other educators interested in space.

ISGC will provide funding to six Iowa educators for conference registration, airfare, lodging, transportation to and from the hotel and conference center, and select meals June 20th-23rd, 2023. Applications will be accepted starting at the end of January. Stay tuned for the application link. Questions can be directed to Iowa Space Grant Consortium Program Assistant, Hailey Waller, at hewaller@iastate.edu.