Foothill SLI STEM Internship Scholarship 2021-22: NASA-USRA Research Internship

Description: NASA AMES Research
In partnership with NASA-USRA, the Science Learning Institute (SLI) will provide internships for two Foothill College students in the areas of high performance computing in winter quarter 2022. Projects directly contribute to USRA and NASA’s mission: project 1 is focused on Earth data visualization and project 2 is focused on post-wildfire flooding.

*There are two projects which will each take on one intern: *

Project 1: Earth Data Visualization using WorldWind in the area of high performance computing. The internship aims to gain insights into WorldWind platform and understand the deployment of a visualization service based on it. The focus will be on designing efficient server and client sides for visualization. The task will showcase a wildfire dataset over CONUS (Continental US) from 2018 to present. The intern will:

• Develop a WorldWind based web app running on a Kubernetes instance.
• Prepare show case dataset to fit the WorldWind criteria to load and visualize.
• Set up an efficient backend data server to match the needs of WorldWind platform.
• Possible improvements for user-experience in the built visualization.
  Preferred Qualifications:
• Web Design skills (html, javascript, css)
• Backend skills (Databases and Cache: SQL) Cloud Computing (Kubernetes)
• Programming Language including but not limited to Python and/or Java.

Project 2: Post-Wildfire Flooding in the area of high performance computing. The objective of this internship is to develop a fine-tuned precipitation dataset from a new generation of radar data and match its spatial and intensity patterns to nationally operational radars. The intern will:

• Retrieve new and operational radar data
• Pre-process both datasets.
• Apply a statistical and/or machine learning method to adjust the distributions.
• Measure the task success by calculating statistical metrics and visual comparisons.
• Visualize the data in a user-friendly format.
  Preferred Qualifications:
• Strong mathematical and statistical skills
• Programming languages including but not limited to Python, R, MATLAB.
• Data visualization experience is desired.
• Earth science background is a plus.

For more information, go to the SLI website: https://foothill.edu/sli/internships/schoolyear.html

Application deadline: Monday, October 25, 2021

Internship commitments:

• Enrollment in ITRN course (depends on projected number of hours of internship). Course tuition will be covered by the Science Learning Institute or your financial aid.
• A program orientation for the internship program in early September with the Science Learning Institute.
• Other requirements and commitments through NASA USRA.
• Submission of a final report of your internship experience at the end of the internship.
• 20 hours per week for 11 weeks (a full academic quarter).
• This will be a virtual internship, conducted online.

Scholarship amount:

• Scholarship payments will occur in two installments and will depend on successful completion at each stage: one in the middle of the internship and one at the end. Total scholarship amount from Foothill College will total $2000 with an additional $2000 to be provided as a stipend through NASA-USRA.

1. See criteria above in description
2. Majoring in a STEM discipline.
3. Only U.S. Citizens will be considered for this opportunity.
4. Should have completed at least two quarters of coursework at Foothill College. Foothill College must be your primary school (more credits at Foothill College than at De Anza College).
5. Full completion of the application, including naming a faculty/staff reference.

Priority given to:

• Students with demonstrated financial need, who have not previously had an internship or company experience, and who have the intent to transfer.
• First time degree earners (no prior degree such as a Bachelor’s or Associate)

Application requirements:

• Fill out academicworks general scholarship application.
• Apply through Handshake portal:
  - Go to Foothill’s Handshake: https://foothill.joinhandshake.com
  - Search for “USRA” to find the two postings.
  - Apply through their system IN ADDITION TO filling out this Academic Works scholarship. Both are required for a complete application.
• Fill out supplemental application questions, including uploading your resume.
• Upload unofficial transcript to scholarship portal.