Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP) activities engage a broad range of stakeholders across academia, industry, communities, and government to address national and agency-wide priorities for Minority Serving Institutions or MSIs. These activities are founded upon four pillars of investment and engagement, with research and partnerships serving as key drivers for building capacity and ultimate sustainability of MSIs.
Through MUREP activities, NASA supports Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions, Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions, American Indian Tribal Colleges and Universities, Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions and other MSIs, through multi-year research grants.
Research Infrastructure and Capacity Building
NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement in partnership with NASA Mission Directorates develops and fosters research capability through targeted awards to minority serving institutions.
MUREP Ocean Biology and Biogeochemistry (OCEAN)
MUREP OCEAN was established to increase the involvement of underrepresented minority serving institutions (MSIs) in NASA-funded research and education activities related to ocean sciences.
Learn More About MUREP OCEAN![](https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/edu-pyaginpeninsula.jpg?w=1024)
MUREP Space Technology Artemis Research (M-STAR – STMD)
M-STAR was established to promote STEM literacy and to enhance the capability of institutions to participate in NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) opportunities to advance technologies needed for exploration of the Moon, Mars and beyond.
Learn More About M-STAR![A woman standing in front of a NASA Research Center airplane](https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/lrc-2022-b701-p-01421.jpg?w=1024)
MUREP Aerospace High-Volume Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management Cooperative
MUREP High-Volume seeks to address the elements of innovation, a diverse workforce, and relationships with small businesses, through cooperative agreements with MSIs, with the goal of building a resilient aerospace manufacturing supply chain.
Learn More About MUREP High-Volume![Illustration showing several future aircraft concepts flying over a mid-sized city with a handful of skyscrapers.](https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/explore-flight-HI-RES-no-meatball.jpg?w=1024)
MUREP PBI/HBCU Data Science Equity, Access and Priority for Research and Education (DEAP)
MUREP DEAP Institutes, led by Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Predominately Black Institutions (PBIs) are established to accelerate discovery in various NASA Science Mission Directorate (SMD) domains through collaborative, data intensive approaches and co-designed programs that implement NASA open science principles and architecture to address critical national challenges.
Learn More About DEAP![3 students in a lab looking at something outside of the picture.](https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/hbcu_students.jpg?w=1024)
MUREP Women’s Colleges and Universities (MUREP-WCU)
MUREP-WCU seeks to address the significant gender gap and disparate experiences of women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in the United States, both in higher education and the workforce.
Learn More MUREP-WCU![](https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/women-in-stem.jpg?w=1024)
MUREP Institutional Research Opportunity (MIRO)
MIRO was established to strengthen and develop the research capacity and infrastructure of Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) in areas of strategic importance and value to NASA’s mission and national priorities.
Learn More About MIRO![CCNY Chemical Engineering Ph.D. student Loleth Robinson performs solid-state NMR measurements on NASA JPL battery materials for the future Europa Lander.](https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/ccny_image_1.jpg?w=1024)
MUREP Curriculum Awards (MCA)
MUREP Curriculum Awards (MCA) was established to strengthen the research capacity of Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), and enable students’ capacity for research in areas of priority to NASA Mission Directorates, while engaging diverse students in authentic learning experiences through curriculum improvement and development and culturally relevant and responsive teaching, learning and support.
Learn More About MCA![](https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/acd17-0106-008.jpg?w=1024)
Student Engagement
Utilize NASA unique opportunities and resources to engage students at MSIs through competitions, challenges, internships and fellowships.
Internships
At NASA, we explore the extraordinary every day and our work is more than just a profession—it’s a lifelong pursuit and a passion. NASA offers several opportunities for students to undertake meaningful and challenging projects that truly make an impact on humanity.
Learn More About NASA Internships![NASA Goddard Interns](https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/microsoftteams-image-1.png?w=1024)
Fellowships
The MUREP Fellowship Activity in partnership with The National GEM Consortium, engages underrepresented and underserved minorities in graduate Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) academic programs (Master’s, PhD).
Learn More About Fellowships![A women in a blue shirt and gloves holds an object in front of a thermal camera, with the cameras output on a screen behind her.](https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/1300530-large.jpg?w=1024)
First Nations Launch (FNL)
FNL is a NASA Artemis Student Challenge that provides an opportunity for students attending a Tribal College or University, Native American-Serving, Nontribal Institutions NASNTI, or who are members of an active American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) collegiate chapter to design, build, and fly a high-powered rocket to be launched at a competition at the Richard Bong State Recreational Area in Kansasville, WI.
Learn More About First Nations Launch![A group of First Nations Launch students holding rockets at a launch site](https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/first-nations-launch.jpg?w=1024)
MUREP Innovation Tech Transfer Idea Competition (MITTIC)
MITTIC is a higher education spinoff challenge established to develop new ideas for commercialization, open to multi-disciplinary student teams attending Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs).
Learn More About MITTIC![Patrick Babb, a student from Fayetteville State University, participating in NASA MITTIC’s “Space Tank,” showcasing their spinoff technology concept.](https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/jsc2019e014444.jpg?w=1024)
NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars (NCAS)
NCAS targets community college students from Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) to inspire the students to finish their two-year STEM degree, then either transfer to a four-year STEM degree program, or enter the STEM workforce.
Learn More About NCAS![A group of NCAS students holding their rover](https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/ncas2016-greenteam.jpg?w=800)
NASA MINDS
NASA Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP) Innovative New Designs for Space (NASA MINDS) is a multi-semester undergraduate level challenge that provides funds to student and faculty teams from Minority Serving Institutions to design and build prototypes for technologies needed in support of our Artemis mission.
Learn More About NASA MINDS![NASA MINDS](https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/edu_nasa_minds.jpg?w=1024)
MUREP Aerospace Academy (MAA)
MAA is a national, innovative activity designed to increase participation and retention of historically underserved and underrepresented K-12 youth in STEM.
Learn More About MAA![Research assistants in the Center for Space Exploration Technology Research setup a laboratory scale turbine combustion rig](https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/afrc_edu_murep.jpg?w=1024)
MUREP Precollege Summer Institute (PSI)
In support of the advancement of U.S. national workforce development and educational goals, the MUREP PSI seeks to inspire, equip, and support students as they transition from high school to college STEM degree programs and prepare them for STEM careers.
Learn More About PSI![MUREP PSI students constructing a drone during Fayetteville State University’s 2022 summer residential experience.](https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/fayetteville_state_university_-_murep_psi_2022.jpg?w=985)
Partnerships and Sustainability
Leverage strategic partnerships that drive capacity building at MSIs and within underrepresented and underserved communities.
MUREP INCLUDES
In support of the National Science Foundation (NSF) INCLUDES initiative, NASA is committed to broadening participation in STEM by establishing coalitions of organizations led by Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) in the U.S. that can support broadening participation initiatives in engineering-related disciplines and fields.
Learn More About INCLUDES![Chemist Trey Barnes smiling in front of a chemistry sample](https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/chemist-trey-barnes.jpeg?w=1024)
MUREP Partnership Learning Annual Notification (MPLAN)
MPLAN connects Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) with NASA Mission Directorates and promotes research collaboration. Funding up to $50,000 per award supports MSI teams to develop innovative ideas and action plans for commercialization.
Learn More About MPLAN![A collage of people doing various activities in front of a blue background.](https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/mplan-banner.png?w=750)
MUREP for American Indian and Alaska Native STEM Engagement
MAIANSE was established to increase American Indian and Alaska Native engagement in STEM through authentic and unique NASA experiences.
Learn More About MAIANSE![TCU team develops science payloads for spaceflight during RockOn.](https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/murep2017.jpg?w=1024)
Minority Serving Institution Exchange
The Minority Serving Institution (MSI) Exchange is a tool that supports your search for innovative and diverse academic collaborators by curating Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) program offerings and capability statements of Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) nationwide.
Read More About MSI Exchange![MSI Gateway](https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/msi-gateway-laptop-image1_0.png?w=1024)
NASA Days
NASA Days is a four-step MUREP activity designed to give students attending Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) an overview of NASA’s OSTEM internship program, NASA Pathways Intern Employment Program (IEP), and NASA Fellows activities.
Learn More About NASA Days![A group of interns holding a hashtag NASA Interns sign.](https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/intern-carousel-image.png?w=540)