At the Illinois Community College STEM Consortium on Sept. 10, 2026, I was offered an opportunity to interview a representative from the Illinois Space Grant Consortium. Heidi Bjerke serves as the manager of the Illinois Space Grant Consortium (ISGC), housed within the Department of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She offers opportunities and perspectives on how Parkland College students can get involved.
Q: How can a community college student actively engage with the Illinois Space Grant Consortium, and what are the best entry points?
A: “One of the best ways to get your foot in the door is to apply for a NASA internship because we fund NASA interns from any Illinois university or college. If you’re transferring to an affiliate, that’s even better because then you can apply for scholarships.
“Even though Parkland is not an affiliate, we consider them partners. We’re looking at doing combined group activities, such as NASA competitions, which is another avenue to get involved, Space Grant is willing to help with funding, and Parkland students benefit if they work alongside University of Illinois students.
“If they are Pathways or transfer students moving to an affiliate university in the next year or two, they can apply for scholarships. There are 10 other affiliate institutions they can transfer to.”
Q: Does proposed research need to strictly align with specific NASA mission directives, or can it be tangentially related, such as broader agricultural, biological or environmental engineering with space applications? What type of student is ISGC interested in?
A: “We don’t put restrictions on who applies. You don’t have to be a future aerospace engineering student; we need computer science, biology, and many other disciplines. Anything related to NASA science qualifies.
“However, faculty mentors and graduate students select who join their labs based on research focus. If you are an undergraduate transferring to UIUC in the fall, there are summer research programs you can apply for ahead of time.
“Yes, the research must be relevant to NASA’s missions and goals to be funded. There are four mission directorates, and they cover a wide array of activities in space and here on Earth.”
Q: What specific student opportunities, such as hands-on team competitions, design challenges, or research awards, are currently open to community college applicants?
A: “For team opportunities, groups like the Parkland Science, Astronomy Club, or Engineering club can participate in events like the Space Apps Challenge, the Human Lander Program, RASCAL, or Blue Skies Competitions.
“Space Grant is willing to fund combined teams of community college and University of Illinois students for competitions like the Midwest Rocketry Competition in Minnesota. There are many options available.”
Q: What financial award stipends or scholarship amounts are available for undergraduate and community college participants?
A: “Undergraduate scholarships are $3,000 per year. While Parkland is not an affiliate—City Colleges of Chicago is currently our only community college affiliate—students transferring to an affiliate university qualify for this funding.”
Q: What are the program durations for the available programs?
A: “Undergraduates can receive the $3,000 award twice (for up to two years of funding). Graduate fellowships are $10,000 each year, renewable for up to two years ($20,000 total).”
Q: Does ISGC offer or fund summer NSF REU-like hands-on research experiences for community college students?
A: “We don’t currently offer that for community college students, though we do for incoming UIUC students starting full-time in the fall.
“However, students can apply to various other campus funding programs to build those connections.”
Q: How does ISGC support students seeking NASA internships or industry placements, and what financial sponsorship is available?
A: “If a student secures a NASA internship, ISGC fully covers it—funding summer internships at approximately $8,200.
“We have fewer local industry placements, but we are actively seeking more opportunities there.”
Q: What resources or networks exist through ISGC to help community college students build long-term career pathways in STEM, space science, or aerospace?
A: “Our funding for NASA internships provides an entry point for students. Transfer students who participate in UROP (Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program) build hands-on experience that opens career pathways.
“Depending on annual funding, we also support student competitions and clubs, which offer additional opportunities for practical experience.”
Q: Where do you see ISGC expanding its research scope in the coming years, such as in biological systems, agricultural engineering or Earth science, and what kind of applicant stands out when applying to these non-traditional aerospace programs?
A: “NASA has a long history in Earth science and has taken strong interest in controlled environment agriculture and environmental dynamics to support life in space.
“Looking forward, ISGC is heavily focused on early workforce development. We actively promote NASA Pathways internships, which provide civil service entry points for STEM and non-STEM majors alike, including fields like accounting and social media communications.
“To support applicants, ISGC offers presentations and application guidance based on strategies from previously successful students. While Earth science funding has seen temporary cuts in recent years, environmental research remains vital as national weather patterns and climate conditions shift.”
Q: We were talking a little bit about nontraditional science focuses, and you mentioned earlier that getting students involved as early as possible is key. What about nontraditional students?
A: “When I talk about nontraditional, I mean non-STEM fields. NASA requires in-person attendance since virtual internships are no longer offered, but for nontraditional students, my advice is to apply repeatedly.
“Nontraditional students bring a wealth of experience and diverse backgrounds that NASA values highly. We have funded non-traditional students as NASA interns in the past, so it is entirely achievable. They are not solely looking for candidates on a traditional academic path.
“It is also important to look beyond standard STEM disciplines. NASA requires a broad range of skill sets to operate, including technical trades like welding, plumbing and HVAC.
“I highly recommend exploring NASA Pathways opportunities on USAJOBS.gov, which covers a much broader range of roles than the standard NASA STEM Gateway. Nontraditional students should consider applying through both portals to maximize their opportunities.”
Contact Information
Bjerke encourages students with questions to contact her by email:
Email: hbjerke2@illinois.edu
Additional Resources
- Illinois Space Grant Consortium: isgc.aerospace.illinois.edu
- Direct Contact Info: isgc.aerospace.illinois.edu/contact-us
- NASA Internships & Fellowships: isgc.aerospace.illinois.edu/home
- Career Connections Portal: isgc.aerospace.illinois.edu/career-connections
Editor’s Note: This article was submitted by guest contributor Kristin Palazzo following her attendance at the Illinois Community College STEM Consortium on Sept. 10, 2026.
