Schar Astro-Scholars
Young Astro-Scholars Internship Program: Astronomy Data Analysis and Space Research for NASA Missions
Welcome to the Young Astro-Scholars Internship Program: Astronomy Data Analysis and Space Research for NASA Missions
This summer high school internship program is led by Dr. Peter Plavchan from the College of Science, and from the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University. The program is an interactive STEM experience where students carry out a cutting-edge research program including the collection of data from the George Mason Observatories, and then analyze that data in support of genuine mission follow-up observations for the NASA TESS mission.
Detailed information about the program contents and how to participate can be found here. For summer 2024, we will be accepting applications for our third cohort. Please see the above link for more information, and/or email the Schar Executive Education program or Dr Peter Plavchan.
Journal of Astro-Scholars Research (JASR) at George Mason University
The Journal of Astro-Scholars Research (JASR) at George Mason University features original research papers from the Young Astro-Scholars Internship Program. These papers represent the culmination of a several month long independent student research efforts to collect and analyze real observational astronomy data, and follow through to the rigorous scientific interpretation of the analysis.
The authors are given some guidance as to the structure and content of their research papers, with no editing provided by Mason faculty and researchers. The authors are given documentation on how to carry out their analyses, but must independently complete the numerous steps involved with existing software tools. The data analyzed include data they have themselves collected with the George Mason Observatories Geller Telescope, and archival data not yet analyzed. All analysis is carried out directly by the scholars with minimal faculty input with an aim to provide genuine research products applicable to the current state of the art in the exoplanet observational astronomy field.
JASR Volume 1
This inaugural edition of the Journal of Astro-Scholars Research features research papers from the Summer 2023 Cohort. The summer cohort collected and analyzed real observational astronomy data in support of exoplanet candidate validation of targets from the NASA TESS mission, in coordination with the NASA TESS mission Follow-Up Working Group, Sub-Group 1 focused on ground-based photometric light curve follow-up. All observations are contributing real constraints on the vetting of candidates from this mission.
Astro-Scholar Cohorts
Cohorts are listed in reverse chronological order, and them alphabetized by first name. Only last initials are provided to protect identities. Verification of participation can be provided by emailing Dr Peter Plavchan.
Summer 2023 Cohort
Aarushi K
Abby E
Adam T
Adiya S
Alan Z
Allen R
Allison S
Anna L
Arjun R
Brandon Y
Cecilia L
Amorim H
David C
Estefania O
Eugene S
Harisudhan H
Hridita C
Isabella C
Janson R
Jayarsh S
Johnny Z
Kabir G
Kevin H
Kevin P
Leo P
Mark W
Marshall C
Mayuka V
Rowan C
Rishab S
Rohan M
Sailee V
Samantha L
Samuel J
Shlesh S
Sreya E
Surbhi S
Tanush B
Tayba S
William Y
William L
Yaoyang L
Yuxuan J
Zara K
Zirui C
Summer 2022 Cohort
Aahil V
Aaron L
Al W
Alexander D
Alexander M
Amelia Y
Anqi F
Arjun R
Arlen K
Asher D
Ashwin P
Bocheng (Jorden) L
Charlie L
Chienyu (Cheryl) S
Chih Kang L
Christine L
Dennis L
Fubo L
Gary (Shengyi) W
Jeffrey J
Jerry Y
Jesse W
Joanna M
Jonathan Li
Joshua C
Justin D
Kevin G
Kriti S
Kyle H
Lawrence H
Leonardo W
Li Yun H
Liming Z
Nathan B
Naziha M
Patrick G
Raymond L
Ruize (Richard) Y
Ryan M
Shaunak S
Shuohan Z
Steven O
Tianhui W
Tianyi (Jacob) L
Trisha P
William W
Xilong C
Xuanyu C
Zhen L