AFOSR Promotes Educational Funding Opportunities at Annual Conference

  • Published
  • By Leah M. Haugen
  • AFOSR Public Affairs
CHICAGO, IL --  The Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Arlington, Va., conducted a workshop to discuss funding opportunities for research students during the 113th Annual American Society for Engineering Education conference held here recently.

Over 3,000 researchers, students, and professors attended the conference. According to organizers, this is the only conference dedicated to all disciplines of engineering education. ASEE is committed to fostering the exchange of ideas, enhancing teaching methods and curriculum, and providing networking opportunities for faculty members, deans, and industry representatives interested in furthering engineering education.

AFOSR conducted a workshop about funding opportunities entitled, "OASIS: Opportunities for American Students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)." The workshop provided information about current grant, scholarship and fellowship programs available for research students. Universities in attendance at the workshop included the University of Cincinnati, University of North Dakota, Brown University and Purdue University.

AFOSR Director of Policy and Integration, Lt. Col. John Kaplan, and AFOSR Program Manager, Dr. Kathleen Kaplan, presented five main opportunity programs for research students. These programs included the Junior Science & Humanities Symposium (JSHS) program for high school students; Awards to Stimulate and Support Undergraduate Research Experiences (ASSURE) program for undergraduates; National Defense Education Act (NDEA) program for both undergraduate and graduate students; National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship (NDSEG) program for PhD students; and the Young Investigators Program (YIP) for post doctorates.

Every year AFOSR provides funding opportunities for a variety of research students through its educational outreach programs. In 2006, AFOSR expects to award over $50 million for students. These awards, officials said, will greatly enhance the students' early career development, promote innovative research and increase opportunities to recognize Air Force challenges.

Doctor Kaplan, who manages four of AFOSR's educational funding programs, said, "AFOSR has comprehensive educational outreach that spans from high school, through undergraduate, masters, doctorate, and post-doctorate levels. These exciting opportunities are offered to improve the research capabilities of our future U.S. engineers and scientists."

By funding these kinds of programs, AFOSR continues to expand the horizon of scientific knowledge through its leadership and management of the Air Force's basic research program. As a vital component of the Air Force Research Laboratory, AFOSR supports Air Force's mission of control and maximum utilization of air and space. Many of the technological breakthroughs enjoyed by millions today, such as lasers, GPS, and the computer mouse trace their scientific roots to research first funded by AFOSR.