The California State University, Northridge (CSUN) PAIR program partners with Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). We are engaged in study related to NASA strategic enterprises of Earth Science and Space Science. The goals of this project, which relate to MUREPs mission, are to:  improve SMET students’ analytical and computer skills and give them experience working with NASA data sets;  increase the number of minority students interested in pursuing graduate careers in science and mathematics;  publish a workbook of projects appropriate for undergraduates, similar to Mission Mathematics [1], on the topics covered in our four new data analysis courses and seminars.  attract and retain minority students in SMET disciplines;

We have created four new data analysis classes on the topics of:  Solar Physics  Proteomics  Global Positioning Satellite  Orbital Mechanics Each course is augmented by a seminar series hosting expert speakers on each topic. Each student in the cohort is required to complete three of the four courses.

Objectives of all courses Study the character of the data Understand the nature of the data – particularly problems Build mathematical or statistical models for prediction give a 10-minute oral presentation of class research activity

work approximately 20 hours a week during the academic year and earn $1,000 per month. meet with advisors weekly and report on research project progress to promote scientific writing skills. give oral and poster presentations

Program Evaluation  Pre- and Post-course content review  Standard CSUN course evaluation  Research Assistant evaluation  Faculty/Advisor evaluation  Overall program effectiveness

 weekly seminars on current research, open to public  CSUN faculty developing proposals incorporating elements of the NASA PAIR curriculum  G.P.A. improvements in several PAIR students  Students displaying interest in a variety of scientific fields relating to NASA research  New experimental courses on Fourier and Wavelet Analysis of Signals and Images and Bioinformatics

 Faculty involved with the NASA PAIR project will compile a workbook of projects appropriate for undergraduates on the topics covered in the four new data analysis courses and seminars.  Research Assistants present poster and give oral presentations at student research conferences.  Dr. Gerry Simila presented results of the GPS/SAR course at the Americal Geophysical Union conference Fall 2000 and at the Geological Society of America in Spring  The NASA PAIR project has received much attention on the CSUN campus. The program has been featured in the campus newspaper, college newsletters, and other media outlets.

 GRE Preparation lectures and classes  GRE preparation books and materials  Graduate school recruitment from UC San Diego, UCLA, and Caltech  travel money for visiting graduate schools