Here is a recent announcement from the National Astronomy Consortium describing a summer research program for students from underrepresented groups.
The NAC program is led by the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) and Associated Universities Inc., (AUI) in partnership with the National Society of Black Physicists (NSBP), and a number of minority and majority universities to increase the numbers of students from underrepresented and underserved groups and those otherwise overlooked by the traditional academic pipeline into STEM or STEM-related careers.
The National Astronomy Consortium (NAC) is an innovative, competitive program designed to provide research opportunities, and long-term mentoring support, to underrepresented students in STEM fields. The NAC program expands upon the traditional summer research experience by creating an expectation of long-term mentoring, along with engagement in a strong, national-level peer and mentor network. NAC students are selected for grit* and are partnered with world-class scientists, engineers, technicians, and other professionals, for research activities that extend beyond the summer into the academic year. Peer mentoring and support is an important component of the NAC, and is fostered through placement in thoughtfully-developed cohorts at leading observatories and universities.
Highlights of the program include:
· Summer, and extended, research experience
· In 2017, NAC sites include NRAO-Charlottesville, NRAO-Socorro, Princeton University, Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI), and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
· Summer stipend, and travel assistance
· Long-term mentoring
· Academic and professional development
· Year-round, monthly virtual ‘hangouts’ to maintain peer support and continue professional development
· Weekly cohort meetings during summer
· Participation in American Astronomical Society winter meeting
· Participation in annual NAC Workshop at Howard University
· Opportunities to present research to prominent members of professional societies, universities, and governmental agencies.
For application procedures, see https://science.nrao.edu/opportunities/student-programs/nac. The application process closes on February 1.