What’s Happening This Week!

Welcome to a weekly drop from That Black Chemist!

NASA is opening the door for students to explore careers in space, science, and engineering through its upcoming OSTEM Internships webinar. The session will walk participants through internship opportunities, eligibility requirements, and application tips with firsthand insights from current NASA interns. It’s a chance for aspiring scientists and engineers to learn how to turn curiosity into a real pathway at NASA.

Meanwhile, new work on AI in health care is highlighting how thoughtful standards can make artificial intelligence more trustworthy in the doctor’s office. From AI-powered medical transcription to tools that help evaluate stem cell quality, researchers are emphasizing reliability, security, and correctness to ensure AI supports doctors rather than replaces them—freeing up more time for patient care.

Stay tuned for more science updates and opportunities from That Black Chemist!

Upcoming Opportunities

🚀 Launch Your Future: NASA OSTEM Internships Webinar

NASA is hosting a virtual information session for students interested in joining its Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) Internship Program. This webinar will walk attendees through available internship opportunities, eligibility requirements, and the application process, with insights directly from current NASA interns. Participants will also receive practical tips to strengthen their applications and have the chance to ask questions live.

📅 Program Details

• Date: Tuesday, February 3, 2026

• Time: 3:00–4:00 PM ET

• Format: Virtual webinar

• Registration Deadline: Monday, February 2, 2026

• Meeting Link: Sent via email on February 2 and again on February 3

• Register Here: [Website]

✅ Eligibility

• U.S. citizenship required to participate and be eligible for NASA internships

⚠️ Bonus Opportunities You Should Know

• 🧪 NSF REU Summer Research Programs: List of funded undergrad research programs. (Search here)

• 🎓 Zintellect: List of scholarships, research fellowships, and internship opportunities funded by the U.S. government or private sector. (Search here)

• 💰 NASA OSTEM Internships: List of NASA Internships for high school and undergraduate STEM students. (More info)

• 🪖 Department of Defense (DoD) SMART Scholarship: $30,000-$46,000 scholarship awarded to top STEM students. (Link)

🌍 International Opportunities

• 🧲 Pathways to Science: List of upcoming internships, scholarships, and research programs hosted by any country [open to international students]. (Search here)

• 🔬 Amgen Scholars Program: Prestigious summer research program for undergraduate students in the U.S., Europe, or Asia. (More info)

• ⚛️ European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN): Search for any upcoming internships related to chemistry, physics, engineering, or data science! (Link here)

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Scientist’s Scroll

🩺 AI in the Doctor’s Office: Why Standards Matter for Trustworthy Care

Experts at NIST emphasize that strong standards are essential to ensure AI systems are accurate, reliable, and secure. Without clear benchmarks, AI tools risk making confident but incorrect diagnoses or being manipulated through compromised datasets, similar to computer viruses. NIST researchers are developing methods to detect these vulnerabilities and guide voluntary AI standards that support innovation while protecting patients.

🔗 Read the full article here —>

Everyone Sucks at Math—Until they do Science!

It Only takes 3-4 Weeks to Master Algebra for Science & Engineering!

The hardest part about math isn’t the raw calculations: it’s understanding what the math means when rearranging and graphing functions. Many high school algebra and precalculus courses don’t train students to interpret the math from a qualitative perspective which is why many students who are ‘good at math’ struggle in introductory chemistry, physics, and engineering courses.

That’s why I’ve created the Ultimate Algebra Guide for Science & Engineering Majors which covers all of the relevant concepts from algebra, trigonometry, and precalculus courses that are applicable for science & engineering majors condensed into a 700+ page guide!

You will learn how to graph functions with Desmos and GeoGebra before diving into hundreds of pages detailing the relevant math notes along with application-based problems seen in introductory science and engineering courses.

• Click here to access the Ultimate Algebra Guide for Science & Engineering!

Click Here to Access the Algebra Guide!

Confused About Class? Click Here to Book a Tutoring Session with Me!

Tip of the Week

📊 Visualize to Understand: Use Graphing Tools to Study Smarter

Equations and formulas click faster when you can see them. Graphing tools like Desmos and GeoGebra turn abstract math into something interactive and intuitive, helping you build real understanding instead of memorizing steps.

• Plot as You Learn: Graph functions alongside your notes to instantly see how changing parameters affects behavior.

• Experiment Freely: Slide constants, adjust domains, and test “what if” scenarios without fear of messing up your work.

• Connect Math to Meaning: Visuals reveal asymptotes, intercepts, periodicity, and growth patterns that are easy to miss on paper.

• Check Your Work: Use graphs to sanity-check algebra, calculus, or physics problems before moving on.

• Build Intuition Early: The stronger your visual intuition, the easier advanced topics like calculus, differential equations, and modeling will feel later.

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Today’s Theme: Fact or Fiction Friday

Congratulations on making it through the work week! Ready to test your science savvy?

👇🏾 Vote if you think the statement below is fact or fiction and tell us why in the comments!

Statement: Most organic molecules conduct electricity better than semiconductors.

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