ASPIRE Areas of Placement

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Each ASPIRE student may choose two areas of interest in which to apply. The first area of interest is weighted much more heavily, so choose mindfully.

You might like…	…if these projects sound interesting!
Aerospace and Space-Related Engineering	Calibrate algorithms for the Dragonfly spacecraft navigation system using MATLAB Design and 3D print spacecraft models and build out a simulated operations plan Use C++ to construct complex trajectories of spacecraft and satellites
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning	Evaluate the threat of generative AI disinformation, including deepfakes, in multi-lingual platforms Test AI and Machine Learning models to see if they accurately identify cyberspace anomalies Create deep learning techniques for detecting drones via generative AI and ChatGPT
Engineering	Create a drone that would hover autonomously at a set altitude using specific sensors and controllers Develop a tool with Python to analyze and understand the effects of space weather on Earth orbiting satellites Learn 3D printing, laser engraving, and other engineering techniques to create projects in APL's maker space Design and build an autonomous vehicle and sound system to deter geese from being on APL's campus
Environmental, Earth, and Life Sciences	Map minerals on Mars and understand their origins using remote sensing datasets Explore ways to help endangered coral reef ecosystems thrive by encapsulating coral larvae with an innovative adhesive Investigate the use of eDNA to improve taxonomic classification of marine species
Information Technology and Cybersecurity	Use Linux to design a secure password management solution that could be utilized by the US Navy Search for hidden threats in a network to find sophisticated cyber attacks that may have escaped traditional security measures Hide secret messages in unexceptional media to enable covert information exchange Create a key system to protect access to cryptocurrency
Mathematics and Data Analysis	Visualize the link between bat populations and zoonotic disease through data Analyze the impacts of a potential vaccine for the Zika virus and how it might affect virus transmission rate Leverage machine learning and analytic technics to understand historical, and predict future, trends in opioid overdoses
Physical Science	Create a tool to measure wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation using Arduino Uno Study how to improve quantum algorithms using methods developed in nuclear magnetic resonance Design and build an electric-field sensor and web-based mapping software to measure low frequency electric field signals and noise sources
Programming and Computer Science	Use Python to develop an accessibility map of APL's campus to assist those with mobility challenges Improve the ability for robotic arms to learn new manipulation skills via behavior trees Reconstruct the Francis Scott Key Bridge in virtual 3D using state-of-the-art tools and drone footage Create a new version of Battleship using Java and a set of connected communications links
STEM Communications and Education	Create prototypes and materials for the Maryland MESA STEM club teachers in grades 3-12 Author a comic book to present astronomy concepts from NASA's Basics of Space Flight for K-12 students Work with niche teen audiences to campaign for, and distribute, NASA-sponsored science kits

We are not a hospital and do not provide medical internships.

A list of possible mentors and/or projects is not available to students or parents. Only one application per student will be considered, so choose your areas of interest carefully. Your primary area of interest determines which mentors may view your application. If a mentor’s project has very specific needs, we will take your secondary area of interest into consideration.

Project Types

In addition to your areas of interest, each applicant may also choose up to three project types. Think of project types as assignments you might do or projects you’d like to try. Regardless of your area of interest, what sounds the most fun? What suits you best? Which types of projects sound most interesting to you?

Each mentor has a different project planned for their ASPIRE student and no two are the same. You may choose up to three project types. All three of your choices will be considered equally. Please note these project types are examples and simply indicate your interests, not the type of project with which you will be matched. Your mentor may have something entirely different planned for you.

• Coding and Software – Primarily working at a computer, learning or using a programming language like Python or C++, building an algorithm, or solving a programming problem
• Defense – Researching swarming unmanned vehicles, learning about undersea surveillance systems, prototyping different defense systems and the tools used to make them
• Design – Creating an application; designing a game; using creativity to investigate, create, or innovate
• Experimental Lab Work – Working with samples in a lab, learning how to safely handle scientific specimens, being on-site in a lab environment, and performing experiments
• Public Relations – Writing and editing, creating innovative designs to help tell stories, working on social media posts or online campaigns, helping with multimedia or video projects
• Research and Development – Spending time in deep research, reading and conducting reviews of articles and papers, sifting through survey data or interviews, thinking through difficult problems to propose new and exciting solutions, analyzing financial data or budgets
• Social Impact – Tackling issues related to inequality, justice, and accessibility; working on projects that directly affect people's quality of life such as prosthetics, architecture, or civil engineering; solving problems using psychology or sociology
• Technology, Electronics, and Hardware – Tinkering with robotics, building a computer or drone, working with your hands, learning mechanical engineering
• Theoretical or Abstract – Learning quantum computing, mechanics, or computing; working through problems related to dark matter, energy, or chaos theory; studying the behavior of particles and energy

Internship Participation Preference

You may select ONE of the options below on your application. You will be considered for opportunities that match your preferences:

• In-person internships - Students complete 90% or more of their internship in-person at APL. There may be up to one day per week of intern-from-home flexibility.
• Virtual internships - Students complete 100% of their internship work remotely, except for mandatory in-person onboarding, equipment returns, and extreme IT troubleshooting. They may come on campus but are not required to do so.