The College of Natural and Applied Sciences at Missouri State University has partnered with NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas to perform research. The research is partially funded by a Research Infrastructure Development grant and the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR).

Over the summer, recent physics alum Aaron McCart interned there. Dr. Adam Wanekaya, associate professor of chemistry, and chemistry student Steven Caudle joined McCart for a portion of the summer.

Graduate student Garrett Beaver and physics student Steven Harrellson began their work there Aug. 19 along with Dr. Lifeng Dong, associate professor of physics, astronomy and materials science. The two students will continue there through the fall semester.

“Through this internship experience and hands-on research at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, the College of Natural and Applied Sciences will expand opportunities for its students in the future,” noted Dr. Dave Cornelison, department head of physics, astronomy and materials science. “We also plan to submit collaborative proposals with the scientists from Johnson and will host one at MSU during the semester to begin the planning stages for future programs.”

For more information, contact Wanekaya at (417) 836-5611.