Astronomy

Three NAU graduate students awarded NASA’s prestigious FINESST grants

Posted by Author on Source on September 3, 2020

Ty Robinson in his office.

Three Ph.D. students in Northern Arizona University’s Department of Astronomy and Planetary Science have been awarded grants through the Future Investigators in NASA Earth and Space Science and Technology (FINESST) program. The funding—up to $135,000 total per student for up to three years—supports graduate student-designed research projects that help further NASA’s Science Mission Directorate interests in Earth sciences, heliophysics, planetary science and astrophysics.

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NAU planetary astronomer receives NASA grants for two new studies of Main Asteroid Belt

Posted by Author on Source on

Cristina Thomas in front of her computers.

NAU assistant professor Cristina Thomas, whose research focuses on asteroids, recently received two grants from NASA to study two different types of asteroids in the Main Asteroid Belt. The results of her studies will add to the existing body of knowledge in this field, helping scientists better understand the origins of asteroids.

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NAU and the art of writing a successful scientific grant application

Posted by Author on Source on August 11, 2020

Ty Robinson

A critical part of science is being able to convince funding organizations that a research project is worth their money.

It’s so important, in fact, that Ty Robinson, an assistant professor in the Department of Astronomy and Planetary Science at Northern Arizona University, added a class, called Writing a Fellowship Proposal, to the curriculum. The course gives graduate students the knowledge and experience necessary to write applications for grants and fellowships.

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NSF fellowship, graduate school ahead for NAU researcher studying whether asteroids with tails led to water on Earth – NAU News

Posted by Author on Source on July 31, 2020

GRFP winner Jay Kueny teaches astronomy.

In the vastness of space, scientists have found 30-40 of what they call active asteroids. Besides the rarity, they’re unusual in that they have tails—normal for comets, not so much for asteroids.

These mysterious celestial bodies also may hold the secret to the origin of water on Earth.

It’s a hotly-contested question, said Northern Arizona University graduate Jay Kueny, and he’s eager to… Read more