NASA is awarding approximately $8 million to 11 schools across the country for research and technology development projects in areas critical to the agency’s mission.

The Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) program supports science and technology research and development at colleges and universities in areas, such as remote sensing, nanotechnology, astrophysics and aeronautics. All of these are applicable to NASA’s work in Earth science, aeronautics, and human and robotic deep space exploration. The schools will receive as much as $750,000 each for work during a three-year period.

Results from the research will be given back to NASA where it may be used as part of ongoing agency work.

The awardees and the title of their winning proposals are:

University Of Alaska, Fairbanks: Development and Characterization of a New Hybrid Polymer-Nanoparticle Composite Coating for Corrosion Protection in Aerospace Applications

Wichita State University, Kansas: Novel Smart Skin Biomedical Sensor for Monitoring Crew Health Parameters in a Wireless, Passive, Lightweight, Robust, and Non-invasive Fashion

Maine Space Grant Consortium, Augusta: Multi- and hyperspectral bio-optical identification and tracking of Gulf of Maine water masses and harmful algal bloom habitat

Louisiana Board Of Regents, Baton Rouge: Damage Healing of Polymer Composite Structures under Service Conditions

University Of Oklahoma, Norman: High Efficiency Dilute Nitrides Solar Cells for Space Applications

Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island: Testing New Methods to Assess the Environmental and Floral/Faunal responses to Impacts on Earth

University Of Alabama, Huntsville: Development of Dust Free Binders for Spacecraft Air Revitalization Systems

University Of Vermont, Burlington: Characterization and modeling of biofilm development by a model multi-species ISS bacterial community

College of Charleston, South Carolina: Temporal and Spatial Variability of Floodplain Currents by In-Situ Observations, Radar Interferometry and Numerical Simulations

South Dakota School Of Mines & Technology, Rapid City: Advanced Bioelectrochemical Module (BEM) for Waste-to-Electricity Generation during Long-term Space Exploration

University Of Wyoming, Laramie: Experimental and numerical investigation of terrestrial stable cool flames for improved understanding of International Space Station droplet combustion experiments

To learn more about EPSCoR and to view an abstract from each of the 2015 EPSCoR education research selectees, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/epscor

For more information about NASA’s education programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/education