NASA Awards SFU $400K to Launch Space Science and Engineering Collaboration

NASA has awarded nearly $400,000 to launch Saint Francis University's Rural Institute for Space Science and Engineering Collaboration (RISE-C), a two-year initiative conducted in partnership with NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. The innovative program will immerse undergraduate students in NASA-related research while preparing them for graduate study and careers in the nation's aerospace workforce.

The grant, awarded through NASA's Collaborative Opportunities for Mentorship, Partnership and Academic Success in Science (COMPASS) program, provides $338,539 directly to Saint Francis University, with approximately $60,000 supporting NASA Goddard's participation through an intra-agency transfer. Through the partnership, students will work directly with NASA scientists and engineers while conducting research that explores how activity on the Sun affects Earth's upper atmosphere and influences technologies such as satellite communications and GPS navigation.

"Students don't have to attend a large research university to make meaningful contributions to space science," said Very Rev. Malachi Van Tassell, T.O.R., Ph.D., President of Saint Francis University. "Our mission is to prepare students to lead and serve, and one of our greatest strengths has always been providing students with opportunities to do extraordinary things. This partnership with NASA demonstrates that students from rural Pennsylvania can contribute to scientific research of national significance while preparing for careers that will shape the future of space exploration."

The award builds upon Saint Francis University's growing investment in aerospace education, research, and workforce development. The partnership opens a new frontier for undergraduate research, giving students unprecedented opportunities to work alongside NASA scientists while contributing to scientific research of national significance.

Over the past several years, the University has developed nationally recognized near-space balloon missions, expanded CubeSat research, created NASA-supported STEM outreach initiatives, and strengthened partnerships with government agencies and industry. RISE-C brings these initiatives together into a unified research institute that creates a seamless pathway from classroom learning to scientific discovery and leadership in complex research projects.

Led by Dr. Lanika Ruzhitskaya, Associate Professor of Physics, the RISE-C program is built around a simple but ambitious idea: students learn science best by doing science. For students at Saint Francis University, that means opportunities to assemble and test spacecraft, launch experiments into space, and collaborate directly with NASA scientists-all while earning their undergraduate degrees.

Rather than limiting research to the classroom, students will design experiments, launch near-space balloons, assemble and test spacecraft hardware, and contribute to the University's Solar Flare and Ionosphere Explorer (SoFIE) CubeSat mission. Along the way, they will receive mentoring from NASA scientists, participate in technical design reviews, visit NASA facilities, and gain experience typically associated with major research universities.

Students will also visit MIT Haystack Observatory, one of the world's leading centers for atmospheric and space science research, where they will receive hands-on training in ionospheric instrumentation, radar systems, and environmental testing techniques. These experiences complement their work with NASA scientists and expose students to the facilities, technologies, and research practices used by leading space science institutions.

"RISE-C is about much more than studying space," said Dr. Ruzhitskaya. "It is about inspiring students to ask big questions, solve real scientific problems, and discover that they belong in the research community. Working alongside NASA scientists gives our students an extraordinary opportunity to contribute to discoveries that advance both science and society while preparing them to become the next generation of scientists, engineers, and innovators."

The project integrates several existing Saint Francis programs, including near-space ballooning, Radio JOVE solar observations, CubeSat development, and STEM outreach, into a single research ecosystem where students progress from foundational learning to leadership roles on increasingly sophisticated scientific missions.