NASA CSUN/JPL PAIR

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NASA CSUN/JPL PAIR Program
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The California State University, Northridge
(CSUN) PAIR program partners with Jet Propulsion
Laboratory (JPL). We are engaged in study related
to NASA strategic enterprises of Earth Science
and Space Science.
The goals of this project, which relate to MUREPs
mission, are to

• attract and retain minority students in SMET
  disciplines

• improve SMET students analytical and
  computer skills and give them experience
  working with NASA data sets

• increase the number of minority students
  interested in pursuing graduate careers in
  science and mathematics

• publish a workbook of projects appropriate for
  undergraduates, similar to Mission Mathematics
  1, on the topics covered in our four new data
  analysis courses and seminars.

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NASA CSUN/JPL PAIR Courses
We have created four new data analysis classes on
the topics of

• Solar Physics
• Proteomics
• Global Positioning Satellite
• Orbital Mechanics

Each student in the cohort is required to
complete three of the four courses.
Each course is augmented by a seminar series
hosting expert speakers on each topic.
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Objectives of all courses

• Study the character of the data
• Understand the nature of the data particularly
• problems
• Build mathematical or statistical models for
  prediction
• give a 10-minute oral presentation of class
  research activity

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Research Assistants

• work approximately 20 hours a week during the
  academic year and earn 1,000 per month.

• meet with advisors weekly and report on
  research project progress to promote scientific
  writing skills.

• give oral and poster presentations

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Program Evaluation

• Pre- and Post-course content review
• Standard CSUN course evaluation
• Research Assistant evaluation
• Faculty/Advisor evaluation
• Overall program effectiveness

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Impact of NASA PAIR Program

• weekly seminars on current research, open to
  public

• CSUN faculty developing proposals incorporating
  elements of the NASA PAIR curriculum

• G.P.A. improvements in several PAIR students

• Students displaying interest in a variety of
  scientific fields relating to NASA research

• New experimental courses on Fourier and Wavelet
  Analysis of Signals and Images and Bioinformatics

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Dissemination of work projects

• Faculty involved with the NASA PAIR project
  will compile a workbook of projects appropriate
  for undergraduates on the topics covered in the
  four new data analysis courses and seminars.

• Research Assistants present poster and give
  oral presentations at student research
  conferences.

• Dr. Gerry Simila presented results of the
  GPS/SAR course at the Americal Geophysical Union
  conference Fall 2000 and at the Geological
  Society of America in Spring 2001.

• The NASA PAIR project has received much
  attention on the CSUN campus. The program has
  been featured in the campus newspaper, college
  newsletters, and other media outlets.

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MSET MAJORS
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Graduate School Prep

• GRE Preparation lectures and classes
• GRE preparation books and materials
• Graduate school recruitment from UC San Diego,
  UCLA, and Caltech
• travel money for visiting graduate schools

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