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SURF: Announcements of Opportunity

Below are Announcements of Opportunity posted by Caltech faculty and JPL technical staff for the SURF program. Additional AOs for the Amgen Scholars program can be found here.

Specific GROWTH projects being offerred for summer 2017 can be found here.

Students pursuing opportunities at JPL must be U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents.

Each AO indicates whether or not it is open to non-Caltech students. If an AO is NOT open to non-Caltech students, please DO NOT contact the mentor.

Announcements of Opportunity are posted as they are received. Please check back regularly for new AO submissions! Remember: This is just one way that you can go about identifying a suitable project and/or mentor.

Announcements for external summer programs are listed here.

The requested research listing (ID 657) is no longer available.

Project Title Disciplines Mentor  Posted 
Landing site selection on Europa    Planetary Science, Geological/Geophysical Engineering Morgan Cable (JPL)  21-Feb-17
SURF AO: Visualization of Galactic and Planetary Systems Simulations (VizSim) Project     Computer Science, Computer Graphics, Astronomy, Astrophysics, Physic Martin Lo (JPL)  20-Feb-17
New Horizons Encounters Pluto    Planetary Science, Physics or computer science Bonnie Buratti (JPL)  18-Feb-17
Software Development for Intraocular-Pressure-Sensing Handheld Detector    Computer Science, Biomedical Engineering / Mechanical Engineering Hyuck Choo  16-Feb-17
Electric thruster plume physics and instrumentation    Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science Lee Johnson (JPL)  14-Feb-17
Development of Planetary Protection Sterilization Techniques and Processes    Biology/Bioengineering, planetary protection Laura Newlin (JPL)  10-Feb-17
Dynamic RNA Nanotechnology for Therapeutic Applications    Biochemistry, Chemistry William Goddard  10-Feb-17
Hydride Molecules in Nearby Galaxies    Astronomy/Astrophysics, Computer Science Raquel Rodriguez Monje (JPL)  09-Feb-17
Simulating Power Usage for the M2020 Rover    Computer Science, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Jeffrey Favretto (JPL)  09-Feb-17
Deep Space CubeSat Avionics Technology    Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Aerospace Engineering/IT Yutao He (JPL)  08-Feb-17
In-orbit Capture Mechanism Design for Mars Sample Return    Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering Paulo Younse (JPL)  07-Feb-17
Design, Fabrication, and Test of a Multi-Segmented Neutral Buoyancy Robot    Physics/Applied Physics William West (JPL)  07-Feb-17
Mapping Shock Energetics in Dying Galaxies with Resolved Spectroscopy    Astrophysics Katherine Alatalo  07-Feb-17
Molecular Dynamics/COMSOL Simulation of Nanostructured Metal Surfaces for Next Generation Intraocular Pressure Sensor Development     Computer Science, Strong programming skills + chemistry/chemical engineering/related field Hyuck Choo  07-Feb-17
Structural, Dielectric, and Ferroelectric Characterization of Designer Tunable Dielectric Created by Molecular-Beam Epitaxy    Applied Physics, E&AS Darrell Schlom  07-Feb-17
Development of database Tool used to support the Planetary Protection    Computer Science, Microbiology Ryan Hendrickson (JPL)  06-Feb-17
Structural, Magnetic, and Ferroelectric Characterization of Designer Multiferroics Created by Molecular-Beam Epitaxy    Applied Physics, E&AS Darrell Schlom  06-Feb-17
Development and Support for M2020 Planning Software    Computer Science, Computer Engineering Usha Guduri (JPL)  06-Feb-17
3D visualization for Mars Science Laboratory Rover Planning    Computer Science, Information Systems/Technology Jeng Yen (JPL)  02-Feb-17
From Innovation to Flight - Pilot Projects    Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical or Electrical Eng, Adrian Stoica (JPL)  02-Feb-17
Autonomy and Perception for Sample Transfer    Computer Science, Robotics Neil Abcouwer (JPL)  02-Feb-17
Simulation for robotic placement of instruments    Computer Science Steven Myint (JPL)  02-Feb-17
Deep Learning and Pattern Recognition    Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Applied Math Thomas Lu (JPL)  01-Feb-17
Data Science Challenge: Measuring Coral Reefs with Airborne Imaging Spectroscopy    Computer Science, Earth science David Thompson (JPL)  01-Feb-17
Transformers    Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science/EE Adrian Stoica (JPL)  01-Feb-17
Mars On-orbit Sample Transfer Technologies (MOSTT)    Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Russell Smith (JPL)  01-Feb-17
Anomalous Signals in Astronomical Imaging Surveys    Astronomy/Astrophysics, Programming Eric Huff (JPL)  31-Jan-17
Constraining fundamental physics with Weak Lensing, Galaxy Clustering and Cosmic Microwave Background data    Astronomy/Astrophysics, Computer Science Tim Eifler (JPL)  31-Jan-17
Extreme Environment Instrument Electronics    Electrical Engineering, Physics/Applied Physics Jacob Shelton (JPL)  31-Jan-17
Technologies for Serving and Visualizing Vertical Profile Data Along Satellite Tracks    Computer Science, Earth Science Joe Roberts (JPL)  31-Jan-17
Coordination and Control of Teams of Unmanned Vehicles     Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Robotics Amir Rahmani (JPL)  31-Jan-17
Simulation for robotic placement of instruments    Computer Science Steven Myint (JPL)  31-Jan-17
Intelligent Computer Vision and Parallel Processing    Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Applied Math Thomas Lu (JPL)  30-Jan-17
Real-time Verification Software for Hyperspectral Data Compression on System-on-Chip    Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Computer Science Didier Keymeulen (JPL)  30-Jan-17
Web-based Visualization Software for Europa Flight Software Testing    Computer Science, Electrical Engineering Cindy Oda (JPL)  30-Jan-17
Europa Flight Software Test and Tool Development    Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering Cindy Oda (JPL)  30-Jan-17
New Horizons Encounters Pluto    Planetary Science, Physics or computer science Bonnie Buratti (JPL)  30-Jan-17
Simulation for robotic placement of instruments    Computer Science Steven Myint (JPL)  30-Jan-17
Automated imaging workflow for astrobiology    Information Systems/Technology, Astrobiology Kenneth Williford (JPL)  30-Jan-17
Autonomy and Perception for Sample Transfer    Computer Science, Robotics Neil Abcouwer (JPL)  27-Jan-17
Developing a GUI program for calculating stresses on solar system bodies    Computer Science, Planetary Science Robert Pappalardo (JPL)  26-Jan-17
Effects of Supernovae Explosions on Ultra-Faint Galaxies    Astrophysics Andrew Benson  25-Jan-17
Dynamics of the Atmospheres of Outer Planets and Titan and the Ancient Climate of Mars    Planetary Science, Astronomy Andrew Friedson (JPL)  25-Jan-17
Small Satellite Dynamics Testbed Hardware Testing and Software Development    Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Swati Mohan (JPL)  24-Jan-17
Applying Artificial Intelligence to Model-Based Systems Engineering    Computer Science, Mathematics Bradley Clement (JPL)  23-Jan-17
Neural Correlates of Interpersonal Interaction During Flow Experience    Neuroscience, Psychology Shinsuke Shimojo  22-Jan-17
Facial expression analysis and modeling    Neuroscience, Data Science Doris Tsao  22-Jan-17
Communications during Entry, Descent, and Landing for Mars 2020    Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Computer Engineering Melissa Soriano (JPL)  22-Jan-17
Delineating Mouse Visual System Functional Connectivity with Microstimulation    Neuroscience, Computation and Neural Systems Doris Tsao  20-Jan-17
Investigation of Penetrator Impacts on Thermal and Mechanical Granular Properties with Martian Regolith Simulant    Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Jose Andrade  20-Jan-17
High Performance Computing Level Set Discrete Element Method (LS-DEM) Software Development    Civil Engineering, Computer Science Jose Andrade  20-Jan-17
Investigation of Interactions Between Robotic Leg Locomotion and Granular Media    Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Jose Andrade  20-Jan-17
Modeling for Satellite Radar Coverage    Aeronautics Charles Elachi  19-Jan-17
Modeling for Europa Sounder    Planetary Science, Electrical Engineering Charles Elachi  19-Jan-17
Multisensory Integration: Perceptual Illusions    Computation and Neural Systems, Neuroscience Shinsuke Shimojo  17-Jan-17
Structural and Functional Bioinformatics Toolbox for G Protein Coupled Receptors    Multidisciplinary, Bioinformatics and Computer Science Ravi Abrol  17-Jan-17
Supercritical CO2 Organic Extraction Efficiency Study    Chemistry/Chemical Engineering, Instrument Development Bryana Henderson (JPL)  17-Jan-17
Nanofabrication Study using He, Ne & Ga Focused Ion Beam System    Physics, Materials Science Oskar Painter  13-Jan-17
Process development for the assembly of biologically clean hardware for the Mars 2020 Mission    Chemistry/Chemical Engineering, Biology/Bioengineering Fei Chen (JPL)  13-Jan-17
Designing and Identifying Features for Classification    Data Science, Astrophysics Ashish Mahabal  13-Jan-17
Planetary Protection Support for Mars 2020 Activities    Biology/Bioengineering, Microbiology, Molecular Biology Arman Seuylemezian (JPL)  12-Jan-17
Sintered Filter Testing for Planetary Protection    Biology/Bioengineering, Environmental Science Ryan Hendrickson (JPL)  12-Jan-17
Planetary Protection Support for Mars 2020 Activities    Biology/Bioengineering, Microbiology, Molecular Biology Heidi Aronson (JPL)  12-Jan-17
Characterization of ISS microorganisms: Antibiotic profiling, biofilm formation, countermeasure development     Biology/Bioengineering, Computer Science Kasthuri Venkateswaran (JPL)  11-Jan-17
Neuromodulation Using Brain Wave Entrainment    Computation and Neural Systems, Computer Science Shinsuke Shimojo  10-Jan-17
The Interior Dynamics of Jupiter and Europa     Planetary Science, Geophysics David Stevenson  09-Jan-17
Optical and RF Spacecraft Downlink Signal Processors    Electrical Engineering, Computer Science Arby Argueta (JPL)  09-Jan-17
Large-Scale Automated Analysis of Volumetric Imaging Data    Neuroscience, Computer Science Elizabeth Hong  08-Jan-17
Molecular Basis of Protein Biogenesis    Biochemistry, Biology Shu-ou Shan  08-Jan-17
Developing a Novel Naturalistic Perceptual Learning Paradigm in Drosophila     Neuroscience, Behavioral biology Elizabeth Hong  08-Jan-17
Weak Gravitational Lensing    Astronomy/Astrophysics, Physics/Applied Physics Jason Rhodes (JPL)  07-Jan-17
First-Principles Quantum Mechanical Calculations of Materials    Physics, Materials Science Marco Bernardi  05-Jan-17
Making the Ultimate Movie of Jupiter's Clouds in Motion    Computer Science, Applied and Computational Mathematics Andrew Ingersoll  04-Jan-17
Heat Inactivation of Encapsulated Bacterial Spores    Biology/Bioengineering, Chemistry/Chemical Engineering Wayne Schubert (JPL)  03-Jan-17
Applications of 3D Nanofabrication    Chemistry, Applied Physics John Fourkas  03-Jan-17
Mapping Saturns hydrocarbons and haze from Cassini    Planetary Science, Atmospheric Science Robert West (JPL)  03-Jan-17
Exploring the mineralogy of Martian sedimentary deposits    Planetary Science, Geological/Geophysical Engineering Abigail Fraeman (JPL)  03-Jan-17
Circumstellar Matter (Jets, Disks and Torii) in Young and Dying Stars    Astronomy/Astrophysics, Computational/Programming Raghvendra Sahai (JPL)  03-Jan-17
UAV Remote Sensing for Vegetation Health    Environmental Science, Mechanical Engineering Darren Drewry (JPL)  03-Jan-17
MISR Plume Height Project    Earth Science, Environmental Science Abigail Nastan (JPL)  03-Jan-17
Computation tools for image analysis for spatial genomics in brains and embryos.     Computer Science, bioinformatics Long Cai  30-Dec-16
Design and production of an automated microscope    Mechanical Engineering, Medical Engineering Long Cai  30-Dec-16
Research in atomic, optical, and quantum areas    Physics/Applied Physics, atomic, molecular, and optical physics Nan Yu (JPL)  30-Dec-16
Computational analysis of next generation sequence data to identify mutations and rearrangements    Computer Science, Biology David Kwiatkowski  21-Dec-16
Mars Data Analysis    Planetary Science, Earth Science Matthew Golombek (JPL)  19-Dec-16
Underwater Robot Vision and Manipulation    Computer Engineering, Computer Science Renaud Detry (JPL)  19-Dec-16
Superconducting Nanowire Single Photon Detectors for Deep-Space Optical Communication    Electrical Engineering, Physics/Applied Physics Matthew Shaw (JPL)  19-Dec-16
Analysis of Martian North Polar Erg Gullies    Planetary Science Serina Diniega (JPL)  14-Dec-16
Design of a Force Sensor Device to Quantify Mechanical Response in Plant Cells and Tissues.    Bioengineering, Biophysics Elliot Meyerowitz  14-Dec-16
Using networks to explore biological systems    Biology, Computational Biology, Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Physical Sciences, or other relevant disciplines John Quackenbush  13-Dec-16
Maritime Cross-USV Stereo    Computer Science, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Christopher Assad (JPL)  13-Dec-16
Virtual Reality Lab at the ICT Mixed Reality Lab    Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related major David Krum  12-Dec-16
Gut-brain interactions in HD    Neuroscience, Biology Ali Khoshnan  12-Dec-16
Voting Rights Databases    Political Science, History J. Morgan Kousser  10-Dec-16
The Subaru Prime Focus Spectrograph: Fiber Modeling    Astrophysics, Optics Evan Kirby  09-Dec-16
Swarm Spacecraft Testbed Robot Design and Control    Aeronautics, Space Engineering Soon-Jo Chung  08-Dec-16
Autonomous flight and trajectory control for highly agile aerial robots and space vehicles    Aeronautics, Space Engineering Soon-Jo Chung  07-Dec-16
Visual Radar    Computer Science, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Roland Brockers (JPL)  06-Dec-16
Integration of advanced autonomous navigation algorithms on a miniature quadrotor system    Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Systems Engineering Roland Brockers (JPL)  06-Dec-16
Buoyant Rover for Under-Ice Exploration    Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering Andrew Klesh (JPL)  02-Dec-16
Star Formation and Starburst Galaxies    Astrophysics, Physics Nicholas Lee  01-Dec-16
Unraveling the Moon's Geologic History    Planetary Science, Astronomy/Astrophysics Paul Hayne (JPL)  30-Nov-16
Probing Fundamental Physics and the Large Scale Structure of the Universe with Galaxy Redshift Surveys    Astronomy/Astrophysics, Physics/Applied Physics Olivier Dore (JPL)  30-Nov-16
Einstein Papers Project: Coping With Fame    History, History and Philosophy of Science Diana Kormos-Buchwald  28-Nov-16
Machine Learning for Cybersecurity: Botnet Detection    Computer Science, EE Julian Bunn  28-Nov-16
Computational modeling of social learning in humans    Computation and Neural Systems, Applied and Computational Mathematics Ralph Adolphs  23-Nov-16
Mathematical Logic/Set Theory    Mathematics Alexander Kechris  23-Nov-16
A Framework for Multi-Agent Robotics Software Development    Computer Science, Robotics Jean-Pierre de la Croix (JPL)  22-Nov-16
Multi-mission multi-agent robotics for maritime applications: Perception and Autonomy    Computer Science, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Michael Wolf (JPL)  22-Nov-16
Multi-Phase, Planetary-Chemistry Modeling for Biosignatures    Chemistry/Chemical Engineering, Planetary Science Pin Chen (JPL)  22-Nov-16
Inhomogeneous cloud coverage and its effect on characterizing exoplanets    Astronomy/Astrophysics, Planetary Science Renyu Hu (JPL)  22-Nov-16
Organic Synthesis and Methods Development    Chemistry Brian Stoltz  18-Nov-16
Computational modeling of altruistic decision-making    Computation and Neural Systems, Neuroscience Ralph Adolphs  16-Nov-16
Solving big data problems in bioengineering    Computer Science, Data Science Viviana Gradinaru  13-Sep-16