NASA Awards University of Houston $1.2 Million to Strengthen Diversity in STEM and Aerospace Engineering

NASA has awarded the University of Houston $1.2 million to grow diversity initiatives in STEM and aerospace-related engineering fields and address barriers to access and success for historically underserved and underrepresented students.

“Partnership for Inclusivity in Engineering Education and Research for Space” also known as PIE²RS, is a collaboration between UH, UH – Clear Lake, NASA’s Johnson Space Center, the Boeing Company and the Greater Houston Partnership.

“Our research, as well as the research of leading scholars, has highlighted the challenges underrepresented students face, including isolation, marginalization, racial bias and hostile educational environments,” said Dr. Jerrod A. Henderson, an assistant professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at UH and the project’s principal investigator. “Our goal with PIE²RS is to improve the recruitment and retention of students in aerospace-related STEM disciplines, increase their sense of belonging and broaden their participation through hands-on research and experiential learning opportunities.” 

Henderson said that the PIE²RS project will support students in the following ways:

• Customized experiential learning through capstone projects, internships and research opportunities, including 10-week paid research experiences for 18 students each year.
• Fostering a sense of belonging by cultivating a supportive community and strong peer relationships.
• Monthly professional development workshops to build essential skills.
• Layered mentoring where older students mentor younger ones, enhancing their own sense of belonging.