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Research Space Systems Technology in Milwaukee This Summer

Research Space Systems Technology in Milwaukee This Summer

The MSOE Space Systems REU immerses undergraduates in projects on spacecraft repair, astronaut wearables, and low-gravity simulations while providing a stipend, housing, industry site visits, and close mentorship from faculty experts.

Joseph Sampson
August 25, 2025 • 7 minutes

What’s Happening Today!

Welcome to a daily drop from That Black Chemist!

Milwaukee School of Engineering is hosting its Space Systems Technology REU, a 10-week, fully funded summer research program where undergraduates design and test innovations in spacecraft repair, astronaut wearables, and low-gravity simulations. Students also tour industry sites, collaborate with mentors, and present their work at a final conference.

Meanwhile, NASA and IBM just unveiled Surya, an AI model that improves solar flare predictions by 16% over existing benchmarks. The open-source tool is built to support researchers, students, and satellite operators in safeguarding astronauts and technology against space weather disruptions.

And if you love memes, stay tuned through the end!

Upcoming Opportunities

🚀 Space Systems Technology REU: Innovate for the Future of Space

Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) is offering a 10-week summer undergraduate research experience (pending NSF funding) focused on advancing space systems technology. Students will dive into projects on space mechanism design, self-healing materials for spacecraft repair, astronaut wearables, and low-gravity simulations, while working alongside faculty mentors in MSOE’s state-of-the-art facilities. Participants will also tour aerospace companies and present their work at the Wisconsin Space Conference.

📅 Program Details

Duration: June 15 – August 21, 2026 (Tentative)
Award: $700/week stipend + travel allowance + meal plan + on-campus housing
Location: Milwaukee School of Engineering, WI
Register Here: [Website]

✅ Eligibility

U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident
Completed sophomore year in engineering, computer science, applied math, applied physics, or related field
Full-time undergraduate enrolled Fall 2026 (not yet graduated)
GPA 3.0+
Interest in space systems research (no prior experience required)

⚠️ 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

☀️ NASA & IBM Launch AI Model to Predict Solar Storms

NASA, in partnership with IBM, has developed Surya, a heliophysics AI foundation model trained on 9 years of data from the Solar Dynamics Observatory. Surya analyzes massive solar datasets to forecast solar flares and predict space weather that threatens satellites, power grids, and communications.

Early tests show the model outperforms existing benchmarks by 16%, even generating visual predictions of solar activity hours in advance. By making Surya and its training data openly available, NASA hopes to empower scientists, satellite operators, and students worldwide to build innovative tools for safeguarding technology and astronauts from the Sun’s volatile behavior.

🔗 Read the full article here —>

Tip of the Day

🎨 Make Figures That Pop in Papers & Presentations

Clear visuals make your science more memorable and impactful. Here’s how to design figures that impress reviewers, audiences, and collaborators:

Keep It Simple: Avoid clutter—remove unnecessary gridlines, borders, or text. Every element should serve a purpose.
Consistent Styling: Use the same fonts, colors, and line thicknesses across all figures for a polished, professional look.
Readable Text & Labels: Ensure axis labels and legends are large enough to be legible in slides or printouts.
Color with Purpose: Choose color palettes that are colorblind-friendly and highlight key comparisons rather than distract.
Tell a Story: Design figures to guide the reader through your main point. Order panels logically and use captions that explain “why it matters,” not just “what it is.”