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.
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.
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
• 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
Program Evaluation
 Pre- and Post-course content review
Standard CSUN course evaluation
Research Assistant evaluation
Faculty/Advisor evaluation
Overall program effectiveness
 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
 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.
Project Outcome
Metric for Success
Actual Achievement
For each cohort to 90% of all students in each cohort 76% of the cohort 1 successfully
successfully complete successfully complete 3 of the 4 completed the 3 or 4 data analysis
3
intensive
data data analysis courses
courses in year 1
analysis courses
Project Outcome
Metric for Success
Actual Achievement
Recruit and retain a
cohort
of
primarily
underrepresented
minority
MSET
students
A
minimum
of
50%
underrepresented minority students
within each cohort and a retention of
80%
The second cohort is approximately
50% minority students and one Deaf
student. We currently have a 90%
retention rate.
100% areMSET
majors
Project Outcome
Metric for Success
Actual Achievement
Research assistants
will
complete
a
research project and
present their research
100% of all research assistants will Approximately 100% of the YEAR 2
successfully complete a research research assistants are working on
project with a research mentor and a research project with a mentor.
present their research
Project Outcome
Metric for Success
Actual Achievement
To
encourage
all
undergraduate
students
in
the
program to pursue
further
education
within MSET majors
after completion of an
undergraduate degree
75% of undergraduate program
participants will pursue additional
education (such as graduate school)
after completion of the NASA
CSUN/JPL PAIR program and their
undergraduate degree
10 students (out of 22 in Cohort 1)
have/will graduate by June 2002.
80% of those students have/will
continue with postbac education.
LIST COURSES
PAIR
Course/
Lab
Semester
STUDENT ENROLLMENT
Black
M
F
1
1
2001Cohort 2
2002
2000Cohort 1
0
0
2001
*We do not have any Non-MSET Majors
White
M
F
3
3
Hispanic
M
F
5
2
Asian
M
F
2
1
Other
M
F
1
0
6
2
2
1
2
4
4
1
 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