About us

BP-AE Overview

NASA MUREP BP-AE program is a multi-institution coalition with the focus to recruit underrepresented minorities (URMs) for a coordinated educational and professional enhancement program. The coalition involves both undergraduate and graduate students in design projects, undergraduate research experiences, professional traineeship, structured mentorship, advanced research and career development activities in NASA and aerospace-centric fields. The coalition is led by Florida A&M University (an HBCU), University of Central Florida (an HSI), and Florida State University (a majority institution) in collaboration with Air Force Research Laboratory–Munitions Directorate (AFRL), four NASA centers – MSFC, KSC, JSC, and JPL, and Florida Space Grant Consortium (FSGC).

The research themes focus on aerospace systems and technologies, including high speed aerodynamics, combustion, propulsions, active flow control, smart materials, additive manufacturing. These topics fit well with the primary mission of the Florida Center for Advanced Aero-Propulsion (FCAAP), a state of Florida Center of Excellence. FCAAP was formed to train and sustain highly skilled workforce as well as design and develop new technologies and products for aerospace enterprise. BP-AE leverages FCAAP for expanded recruitment, curriculum development, mentorship, and research collaborations to maximize the overall impact.

The BP-AE coalition provides intellectual & financial resources, infrastructure, and administrative support to carry out proposed objectives. The program recruits motivated URM students by providing coordinated training and professional development activities. The collaborative partnership by AFRL and NASA centers has provided professional mentorship and real-world experiences needed to prepare for their future careers while addressing the shortage of URM in the aerospace-centric workforce.

We expect to recruit and train cohorts of BP-AE Fellows (at graduate and undergraduate-levels) over the total grant period. Annually, recruitment events will be conducted internally within the BP-AE institutions and externally engaging with allied Minority Serving Institutions. The professional development program is comprised of five interconnected activities coordinated with collaborators designed to engage engineering students early and implement during their academic careers through sustained mentorship and workforce development. These activities include: (1) Senior capstone design project sponsorship; (2) summer research and professional development for undergraduate students; (3) MS Traineeship degree integrating internship and project mentorship; (4) sustained mentorship including peer-to-peer mentoring among BP-AE cohorts; (5) collaborating with NASA and AFRL engineering professionals in advanced research and mentorship for graduate students

MUREP is targeted, competitive funding that aims to enhance the research, academic and technology capabilities of minority-serving institutions (MSIs). These institutions, such as FAMU-FSU Engineering, recruit and retain underrepresented and underserved students, including women and girls, and persons with disabilities, into science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.

The BP-AE program at FAMU-FSU Engineering will involve students in design projects, undergraduate research experiences, professional traineeship, advanced research and career development activities in NASA-relevant fields.

The program research theme focuses on aerospace systems and technologies, including highspeed aerodynamics, combustion, propulsions, active flow control, smart materials, additive manufacturing. These topics fit well with the primary mission of the Florida Center for Advanced Aero-Propulsion (FCAAP), a Florida Center of Excellence.