Research Infastructure Program

In 2006 we initiated a new strategy for investing space grant funds in a more meaningful approach that would yield higher returns measured in terms of increased research competitiveness. In this strategy we combined space grant funds allocated for the Higher Education and Research Infrastructure Programs and requested the state's primary graduate research institutions, the University of Maine (UMaine) and the University of Southern Maine (USM), to each identify a research theme that aligns with NASA and the institution’s research priorities. Targeted faculty for the research themes at UMaine and USM submitted concept papers describing the use of the combined funds to seed the development of the research themes over a two-year cycle in order to make substantial contribution to the institutions' research competitiveness. The concept papers including methods and outcomes that support institutional efforts to enhance the competitiveness of the target area.

Eligible activities include: Seed research grants for Maine researchers pursuing collaborative efforts with NASA personnel; Discipline-specific Workshops for networking between Maine researchers and NASA; Travel funds for Maine researchers and students to attend and/or participate in activities at NASA field centers or other institutions involved in NASA-related programs; Student stipends; and Curriculum development.

Click on the links below to view a narrative of the funded research programs.

Program Focus: Development of a Lunar Outpost Wireless Monitoring and Analysis System (LOWMAS) for the Lunar Outpost Research and Educational Demonstrator.

Lead Principle Investigator: Vince Caccese, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maine.

Program focus:  Experimental Investigation, Modeling and Development of MEMS and CNT Based Sensors and Integrated Sensor Arrays.

Lead Principal Investigator: Mustafa G. Guvench, Ph.D., Professor of Electrical Engineering, Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Southern Maine.