Student Assistantships Program:
This program creates opportunities that enable student contributions to the NASA Mission Directorates and provides financial support to deepen their inquiry through various channels including research experiences, technical collaborations, and professional development.  
The affiliates and investigators with active PR NASA projects, in consultation with the Project Director, select the students to participate in their projects. The eligible projects include: interdisciplinary research projects aligned with NASA’s Strategic Goals, collaborative projects with Mission Directorates or NASA centers, and the development of educational STEM materials.
The student selection is based on the needs of each project and the skills and expertise of the students. The assignments and task-deliverables are defined by the advisor/mentor.
To be eligible for the assistantship, the student must be enrolled full-time in a STEM program in an accredited institution with a GPA of 2.8 or greater.
The students who are selected for this program are required to submit a Project Description and Work Plan co-signed by the advisor or mentor.
The project is performed during the academic semester by dedicating 18+ hours/week.  The students are required to submit a progress report at the end of the semester.  Monthly attendance sheets may also be requested.
The monthly stipend provided to the participating students is: PhD $1,600; MS $1,200; BS $600.
For more information please contact Ms. Laura Quiñones, Project Manager: laura.quinones7@upr.edu
For technical questions or problems with the Submittable platform, technical support is available Monday-Friday, 9am-5 pm MST and can be reached at support@submittable.com or 855-467-8264.

The NASA Puerto Rico Space Grant Fellowships and Scholarships Program is accepting applications for the 2026-2027 academic year (subject to availability of funds):

The Puerto Rico Space Grant Fellowships and Scholarships Program fosters the participation of college students inspired to do research that will contribute to NASA’s missions of exploration.  Open across a variety of research fields, students in Puerto Rico have the opportunity to create and perform their own research plan with an advisor. If you’re currently enrolled in college as an undergrad or graduate student and want to contribute solutions to NASA’s challenges, then this opportunity is for you!   

Requirements: 

• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Have a minimum GPA of 3.0
• Enrolled in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) 

          undergraduate or graduate program in Puerto Rico

• Academic progress according to schedule
• Curriculum Vitae of 1-2 pages (including peer-reviewed publications, proceedings, and presentations in local, national, and international conferences)
• Two letters of recommendation (one from the research advisor/mentor)
• Detailed Research Plan (3-5 pages) signed by applicant and research advisor.

The research plan must contain the following: 

• Title and Summary
• Goals and Objectives
• Relevance to NASA according to the NASA Technology Taxonomy and/or NASA Mission Directorates
• Rationale
• Work Plan
• Collaborations with NASA Centers and NASA Mission Directorates
• Milestones and Timeline for Aug 2026 – May 2027
• References Cited (no page limit)   

Subject to the availability of funds:  

Selected students will receive a stipend for the August 2026 - May 2027 academic year, as follows:           

• Doctoral $1,700 per month           
• Master's $1,200 per month           
• Bachelor's $800 per month    

There is also tuition assistance of $1,500 per semester for Doctoral and Master's students.

 Applications are open online until May 30, 2026 at 5 pm through the Submittable platform.

     For more information about the PR Space Grant Fellowships and Scholarships Program please contact: 

• Ms. Laura Quiñones, Project Manager, at laura.quinones7@upr.edu

Graduate students are expected to commit full-time to research, and undergraduates are expected to commit approximately 18 hours per week.

For technical questions or problems with the Submittable platform, technical support is available Monday-Friday, 9am-5 pm MST and can be reached at support@submittable.com or 855-467-8264.