The space economy encompasses a wide range of activities and industries, including space exploration, satellite communication, earth observation, space tourism, and more. As such, it touches on many different academic disciplines, including engineering, physics, computer science, biology, geology, meteorology, economics, and business, among others.
In particular, the following disciplines may be particularly relevant to the space economy:
Frontier Institute for Research in Sensor Technologies
Interdisciplinary research center that conducts research, teaching, and outreach activities in the broad area of surfaces and interfaces, thin films, microelectronic devices, sensor technology, and nanotechnology. Activities range from fundamental research to applied development to technology transfer.
Aerospace Engineering is an ever-evolving and highly challenging career choice. Aerospace engineers are on the leading-edge of that evolution, involved in research, design and development of a wide range of fascinating vehicles, some traveling at astounding speeds through both air and space. These systems can include airplanes, helicopters, satellites, launch vehicles, projectiles, airdrop vehicles, and an ever-widening range of unmanned aerial vehicles. The skills developed in these courses can be applied in a number of different industries including those associated with aerospace science missions, defense missions and commercial applications as well as in the automobile and marine industries.
At the University of Maine, undergraduate Mechanical Engineering students can obtain a Concentration in Aerospace Engineering by completing aerospace courses with a grade of C or better. For more information on the Undergraduate Aerospace Engineering Concentration, please contact Dr. Alex Friess.
University of Maine mechanical engineering graduate students can pursue a concentration in Aerospace, Robotics & Mechatronics or Smart Manufacturing. These concentrations are designed to provide MS and PhD students an opportunity to gain more knowledge in each specific area and broaden their future career options.
Aerospace serves as an engine for innovation in transportation with continuing advances in both aeronautics and astronautics. UMaine has multiple faculty with background and expertise in Aerospace Engineering. UMaine is looking to develop and offer more courses to support both the undergraduate and graduate concentrations in aerospace. Currently, three major areas in aerospace engineering, i.e., fluid dynamics, structures, and design, are covered. For more information, please contact Dr. Alex Friess.
Smart manufacturing aims to convert data, acquired across the product life cycle, into manufacturing intelligence to improve manufacturing. The emergence of cyber-physical systems and related innovations, including digital twin / digital thread, can be leveraged and effectively integrated into support of data-driven manufacturing or industry 4.0. The systematic computational analysis of manufacturing data can lead to more informed decisions, which in turn can enhance the effectiveness of modern manufacturing. For more information, please contact Dr. Babak Hejrati.
Advances in robotics and mechatronics have had a profound impact in many areas, including manufacturing, healthcare, shipping, space exploration, and autonomous systems. By completing this concentration, students will gain the necessary knowledge in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and computer science to pursue a career in this area. With expertise at UMaine in engineering and computer science, students will be able to take courses from multiple departments for completing this concentration. For more information, please contact Dr. Bashir Khoda.
The University of Maine offers a variety of modeling, computing, and data science programs and activities led by faculty in engineering, physics, and computing. Educational and training opportunities are available for those who approach this field as a developer as well as a user. Research-based learning opportunities are also available at the forefront of the discipline, where mechanism-driven methods (such as models based on ordinary or partial differential equations derived from physics) and data-driven methods (such as neural networks, deep-learning models) are combined in order to establish causality when analyzing data. These combined methods for data analysis are particularly relevant for evaluating and monitoring the health of space crew. For more information please contact Dr. Giovanna Guidoboni
College of Engineering. The mission of the College of Engineering at the University of Maine is to produce the graduates and new technologies needed to move Maine’s economy forward. As a UMaine signature area, the College plays a vital role in our state and beyond. The College of Engineering at the University of Maine is Maine’s only educational institution to offer 11 ABET-accredited engineering and engineering technology degree programs, including mechanical and electrical engineering, with an aerospace engineering certificate available.
University of Maine mechanical engineering undergraduate students can pursue a concentration in Aerospace whereas its graduate students can pursue a concentration in Aerospace, Robotics & Mechatronics or Smart Manufacturing. These concentrations are designed to provide MS and PhD students an opportunity to gain more knowledge in each specific area and broaden their future career options.
Aerospace – Aerospace serves as an engine for innovation in transportation with continuing advances in both aeronautics and astronautics. UMaine has multiple faculty with background and expertise in Aerospace Engineering. UMaine is looking to develop and offer more courses to support both the undergraduate and graduate concentrations in aerospace. UMaine also is looking to establish both undergraduate and graduate Aerospace Engineering Certificate programs with the ability to offer the latter in both residential and online modalities. Currently, three major areas in aerospace engineering, i.e., fluid dynamics, structures, and design, are covered. For more information, please contact Dr. Alex Friess.
Smart Manufacturing – Smart manufacturing aims to convert data, acquired across the product life cycle, into manufacturing intelligence to improve manufacturing. The emergence of cyber-physical systems and related innovations, including digital twin / digital thread, can be leveraged and effectively integrated into support of data-driven manufacturing or industry 4.0. The systematic computational analysis of manufacturing data can lead to more informed decisions, which in turn can enhance the effectiveness of modern manufacturing. For more information, please contact Dr. Babak Hejrati.
Robotics and Mechatronics – Advances in robotics and mechatronics have had a profound impact in many areas, including manufacturing, healthcare, shipping, space exploration, and autonomous systems. By completing this concentration, students will gain the necessary knowledge in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and computer science to pursue a career in this area. With expertise at UMaine in engineering and computer science, students will be able to take courses from multiple departments for completing this concentration. For more information, please contact Dr. Bashir Khoda.
Materials Science – Designing and engineering advanced materials, individual components, structures, as well as understanding mechanisms would enable the reliable operation of space vehicles subjected to extreme environmental conditions. The research on the life and durability of materials under various conditions will advance the understanding of environmental factors. UMaine offers an I-PhD concentration in Materials Science & Engineering. The program is supported by interdisciplinary faculty and researchers across the UMaine campus. The students have an opportunity to develop high-demand skills related to the design, fabrication, and utilization of materials for multiple disciplines and industrial sectors. For more information, please contact Dr. Yingchao Yang.
UMaine Space Initiative – The University of Maine has a long history of space-related research and development activities dating back to the early 90s. Supported by NASA and Maine Space Grant Consortium, our fellowship and scholarship programs have been continuously running for over 30 years, training the future workforce, generating intellectual property, and contributing to the state economy. In the past decade, UMaine has been the host research institution for NASA’s inflatable lunar habitat and test site for the next generation of hypervelocity decelerators to support NASA’s goal to take humans to the Moon and Mars. UMaine’s research led to the development of a Wireless Leak detection System for the International Space Station (ISS), which was launched to space in 2016. UMaine’s space research outreach goes beyond the university community and into the K-12 system. The first small satellite in the state of Maine is now under development at UMaine to support several science missions defined by middle and high schools in Maine. Our internship programs at the NASA field center resulted in several of our students being recruited by NASA, SpaceX, and other space technology companies. Maine Space Research Initiative will provide centralized support to take these successful research programs to the next level, through cohesive strategic planning and infrastructure enhancement. For more information, please contact Dr. Ali Abedi.
Versant Power Astronomy Center. Mainly noted for its potential input to educational endeavors and its ability to generate interest in the space industry, the Versant Power Astronomy Center is led by passionate people with involvement in space academic endeavors external to just the programming of the largest-domed planetarium (seats 50 people) in Maine and the observatory on-campus.
The following is an example of internship offering at the University of Maine:
The Innovate for Maine Fellows Program connects the best and brightest Maine college students with Maine’s most exciting, growing companies and business leaders in an effort to help grow and create jobs across the state of Maine. Emphasizing innovation and entrepreneurship, the program prepares students to collaborate with companies on innovation projects that accelerate company growth and give students a paid, meaningful, hands-on internship experience. Fellow Benefits include paid, hands-on internship experience on real innovation projects, exposure to Maine’s entrepreneurship & innovation culture, one-of-a-kind innovation training, networking opportunities with Maine business leaders, long-lasting relationships with other like-minded students.
Those participating in the program attend a one-week innovation boot camp to bond with fellow students, network with business leaders, and learn what it takes to succeed in innovative and entrepreneurial companies. The boot camp brings together fellows from all majors and backgrounds to form a close-knit cohort—an important part of the support system for the duration of the internship and beyond. From coffee and chocolate to wind turbines and tropical fish, Innovate for Maine Fellows have the opportunity to work on a number of projects over the course of their fellowship. With each new project, they are able to gain valuable, real-world experience in a variety of industries. Some past participants have been hired by the companies involved in the program for part-time positions while still in school or full-time after graduation. Many students have been inspired to lay the foundation for starting their own company in the future. Fellows have the option of working a 400-hour or 200-hour internship starting at the end of May. Most placements are located in the Portland or Bangor regions, but some interns could have the opportunity to work elsewhere across the state, depending on where companies are located and where an intern is willing to work. Eligible students include those enrolled in undergraduate or postgraduate degree programs from any major at any college or university in Maine, as well as college students from Maine enrolled in degree programs at a college or university outside of the state. For more information, please contact Renee Kelly.
Maine’s community colleges have a long history of support for and collaboration with the Maine Space Grant Consortium and our university partners in space-related research, student internships, and program and curriculum innovation related to the aerospace and space economy. Our programs provide STEM technology workforce education and technical skill development as well as academic transfer pathways to baccalaureate STEM fields related to aerospace and the space economy. These programs range from programs that educate the technicians who would operate and maintain complex aerospace systems to transfer programs that train the designers and engineers who would build them. These, and other programs, provide career paths directly into aerospace-related jobs or to advanced study.
Electromechanical Technology at CMCC, EMCC, SMCC, and WCCC combine theories and applications in mechanical, electrical, and automated systems through motor control, fluid power, mechanical drives, robotics, and programmable logic controllers. A comprehensive understanding of how these technical skill areas are linked together to create and maintain these complex, high tech systems, including manufacturing, healthcare, shipping, aerospace technology and space exploration, and autonomous systems, is developed through a hands-on curriculum that allows the learner to put together the various technologies into an automated work cell.
Information Technology at CMCC, SMCC, and YCCC provide students with experience in basic and advanced networking, security, basic and advanced virtualization, database design and management, and both Linux and Windows-based server and client operating systems. Students are also exposed to project management best practices and will gain an understanding of how IT fits into business organizations.
Computer Science at SMCC and YCCC involves both the theory and the practice of solving problems by computer, the backbone of the aerospace industry. From robotics to programmatic alteration of media to mobile applications, students receive instruction in both practical and theoretical aspects of computer science. Students learn the analysis, design, implementation and application of algorithms in order to solve complex problems. While computer science requires the study and use of several programming languages, the discipline as a whole encompasses much more; theoretical and practical mathematics, design and analysis of algorithms, and modeling of large systems are all part of computer science. Students also have opportunities to apply learning through hands-on research, such as the Cubesat collaboration with the UMS Maker Innovation Studio (MIST), and internships.
Pre-Engineering at SMCC helps students determine if they are interested in engineering and prepares them to transfer to a bachelor’s-level engineering program. The program focuses on developing a fundamental knowledge of physics, chemistry and mathematics, and provides an introduction to engineering, and the general education core required by engineering programs, including aeronautical, agricultural, biomedical, chemical, civil, electrical, industrial, material, mechanical and nuclear.
Department of Engineering – The Department of Engineering offers B.S. degrees in Electrical and Computer Engineering and in Mechanical Engineering. As part of required senior design projects, students may choose to work on aerospace-related projects. Students also have the opportunity to conduct research with Engineering faculty on topics related to aerospace applications.
As part of its expanding curriculum, the department has developed the following new courses. For more information, contact Dr. Carlos Luck.
EGN 321: Plasma Engineering in space science for electrical and mechanical engineering students. The purpose of this course is to educate students about the basics of science in near Earth space. The course progressed from the single particle motion in an electro-magnetic field to advanced concepts such as the pinch effect and magnetohydrodynamics. The course was embedded with weekly software simulations and two projects on plasma instruments. Students build software-defined radio based ionosonde trackers and 3D printed retarding potential analyzers. Overall this course covered different aspects of electromechanical technology and engineering, computer science and data science, and geology and planetary science.
MEE 332: Fundamentals of Combustion Science – This introductory course explores the theory and application of combustion processes for the creation of heat and power. Topics include combustion chemistry, reaction kinetics and flame phenomenon within homogeneous and heterogeneous systems. Concepts will be applied to the design and operation of open-flame burners, internal combustion engines and propulsion systems. The course will introduce Ansys Chemkin to model simple combustion systems. Societal impacts such as emissions and fuel sources will be discussed. This course is relevant to spacecraft and rocket chemical propulsion system design and engineering.
MEE 322: Spacecraft Systems Engineering – This introductory course surveys the mission critical aspects of engineering within the space environment. Emphasis is placed on the role of the system engineer to integrate various subsystems and design constraints to meet mission objectives. Specific topics covered include mission planning, orbital mechanics, attitude control, thermal systems, power systems, telecommunications, electronics, human factors, and systems architecture. Case studies of historical and future space missions will be analyzed. This course is relevant to astronautics and aerospace engineering.
MEE 463: Aerodynamics – This course is an extension of the first course in fluid mechanics to the aerodynamic performance of wings and bodies in both subsonic and supersonic flow regimes. The governing equations of aerodynamics are derived and then applied to a variety of scenarios. Topics include potential flows, panel methods, boundary layer theory, turbulence modeling, compressible flow, and an introduction to Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) using ANSYS. Aerodynamics problems will be solved analytically, experimentally, and computationally. Programming in MATLAB will be used extensively in this course. This course is relevant to aeronautics and aerospace engineering.
Department of Computer Science – The Department of Computer Science offers courses in algorithms, programming languages, and data management techniques. In addition, the department has research capabilities in domain specific information retrieval (Prof. Mansouri). It delivers B.S. and M.S. programs in Computer Science, and a M.S. degree in Data Science. Graduate students must complete either a thesis or project that aligns with the student’s interests and thus could include aerospace applications. For more information, please contact Dr. Bruce MacLeod (general information) or Dr. Behrooz Mansouri(graduate programs).
Department of Technology – The Department of Technology offers undergraduate programs in Technology Management, Information Technology, and Cybersecurity. Any of these fields can have applications to the aerospace industry.
In addition, the Department offers a joint M.S. program in Cybersecurity with the University of Maine, Augusta, and this program is fully online. Graduate students complete either a thesis or capstone project, either of which is designed to align with the student’s interests and could include aerospace-related work. Faculty at the University of Southern Maine and the University of Maine also have discussed inclusion of cybersecurity courses into a multidisciplinary space operations program at the University of Maine. Additional coursework may be developed in space networking communications and cybersecurity within the aerospace framework. For more information, please contact Dr. Lori Sussman.
The Department of Technology encourages its students to seek out opportunities for both internship and cooperative (co-op) education experiences. Internships and co-ops are similar opportunities for students to work in regional businesses and industries to gain “real world” experience. They are similar in that they are both composed of employment experience and students are usually paid for their time. They differ in that academic credit is available for an internship and include regular visits by the University Internship Coordinator, weekly seminars, and additional reporting by the student. Co-ops are largely supervised by the company and do not require weekly seminars on campus.
Internships and co-ops are self-directed learning experiences based on the requirements of specific jobs that allow each student to transfer academic knowledge and skills into competencies required for successful careers. Each student is expected to take control of the learning experience and manage the learning process. The self-directed experience develops critical management abilities such as decision-making, time management, and scheduling, in addition to developing technical job-related competencies. For more information, please contact Suzanne Moreau.
The USM Career & Employment Hub assists students in connecting to their future by offering a variety of services from their first day on campus to years after they graduate. The Hub supports USM students through career exploration, self-assessments, resume and cover letter development, internship search, interviewing skills, and more. The Hub is committed to mobilizing USM students, faculty, and staff to address community-identified needs in partnerships marked by respect, reciprocity, and mutual benefit. The Hub can connect community members with USM faculty about service-learning experiences, as well as help them find student interns, employees, or volunteers. To learn about how your organization can connect with USM, please email usmworksforme@maine.edu or contact Andy Osheroff.
USM’s Southworth Planetarium seats 65, with up to 80 people capacity. Like other planetariums, the study considered its ability to disseminate and enhance educational initiatives related to space. While traditionally focused on space, the unique medium of presenting within a planetarium can play a wide array of educational and entertaining presentations.
The Southworth Planetarium hosts annually more than 15,000 visitors and has been in operation for more than fifty years. Offering K-12 and general audience space educational shows and presentations including planetarium shows, concerts, lectures, and special events. For more information contact Edward Gleason.
Geospatial Technologies Research and Training: The Muskie School of Public Service at the University of Southern Maine provides advanced undergraduate and graduate training in geospatial technologies and their applications including Geographic Information System (GIS), remote sensing and satellite imaging, drone mapping and surveying. We provide three fully equipped GIS Laboratories on the USM Gorham and Portland campuses where students have access to specialized software and high end computing power. We have drones available for student training and use and digital surveying equipment.
We provide undergraduate and graduate Certificates in Applied GIS as well as an undergraduate Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography-Anthropology with a concentration in Applied Geographic Information Systems (GIS) & Geospatial Analysis. This concentration develops theoretical and conceptual knowledge, and analytical and technical skills in GIS, remote sensing and geospatial analysis for those engaged in workforce fields in federal, state and local government, and private sector industries including construction, engineering, energy, environmental & land use planning, utilities & transportation, real estate development and surveying.
Our students are placed at NASA Centers on NASA summer fellowships and receive advanced training in Earth observation applications using remote sensing technologies. Our faculty have secured research funding from NSF, NASA, and other entities. For more information, please contact Dr. Vinton Valentine.
Policy, Planning and Management: The Muskie School of Public Service provides a graduate degree and training in public policy making and policy analysis, sustainable community planning and public and nonprofit management and administration. Training in this area includes the formulation, implementation, and evaluation of a wide variety of policies and programs at the local, state, and federal levels. Upon graduation, students are often placed in public sector positions across the state of Maine and are widely represented in municipal and local government. For more information, please contact Dr. Firooza Pavri.
K-12 STEM Camps and Events
Each year USM’s STEM Outreach & Services work with thousands of Maine students and over 100 Maine schools in exploratory events to build computers, robots, cube satellites, and interactive labs. The program includes Maine Robotics and is dedicated to providing Maine youth and teachers with mentored activities within the STEM fields, focusing primarily on robotics for its multidisciplinary coverage of science and its ability to provide timely and popular tie-ins with today’s youth. STEM camps also include space themed opportunities such as cube satellites and space. For more information contact Thomas Bickford.
The Cubesat Design Competition invites grade 6-12 students from across Maine to conceptualize, plan and build an original payload design meeting the UCDC mission objectives and compete for the “Maine Cube Cup” trophy. The design competition, funded by NASA, the Maine Space Grant Consortium, and supported by the USM Maker Innovation Studio (MIST) and MaxIQ, challenges student teams to collaboratively perform complex engineering tasks under constraints to spur creativity and gain experience in the engineering design process thereby preparing them for college and/or career placement in a STEM field. UCDC aims to reach 6-12 grade school students from multiple educational preparedness levels. Groups 6-8 and 9-12 will be judged separately. The competition aims to engage students in STEM experiential learning and consider future careers within the space industry, increase student confidence in STEM through problem solving within a real space mission experience, allow students to develop and practice soft career skills, such as teamwork, leadership and project management, and bolster the CubeSat research and development work being undertaken within the Maine space industry. For more information, please contact Dr. Ashanthi Maxworth or Dr. Scott Eaton.
Northeastern’s Roux Institute is designed to spur innovation, build talent, and drive economic growth in Portland, the state of Maine, and the Northeast. Partnerships—with industry, academia, and government—set our education and research model apart.
The Roux Institute is named in recognition of the generous founding investment made by David Roux and his wife, Barbara. The Rouxs understand the challenges posed to society by rapid technological change—and why a new model of education is the best way to meet emerging industry needs.
The Rouxs teamed with Northeastern as the institute’s founding academic partner because they believe in the power of its distinctive model, which makes employers vital partners in learning and research. They saw opportunities ahead for transforming Portland, Maine, into a hub for nurturing talent and innovation in AI and other tech-forward fields.
All Roux Institute programs provide content relevant to the urgent and emerging needs of industry in Maine and the rapidly evolving regional, national, and global economy. Opportunities for experiential learning will be concentrated in Portland, the state of Maine, and the Northeast region. Students are encouraged to pursue co-ops and special virtual Experiential Network projects with the institute’s founding corporate partners, a group of leading employers in Maine.
Master of Professional Studies in Analytics. The program provides students with the knowledge and competencies integral to the role of an analyst. These include statistics, mathematics, analytics systems technology, business intelligence, advanced analytics, business process/management, business analytics agility, communicating with data, and leadership/data governance, policy, and ethics.
The program prepares students by applying the principles, tools, and methods of analytics to a project within a sponsoring organization. Students successfully assist with the extraction, development, delivery, translation, and implementation of data analysis for tactical and/or strategic decision-making in organizations.
Master of Science in Bioinformatics. The program provides cross-disciplinary training that prepares graduates to succeed in multiple roles in this new and growing field. Combining challenging academics in biology, computer science, and information technology with real-world experience, the Master of Science in Bioinformatics helps students integrate the knowledge, skills, experience, and confidence they need to achieve their goals and make a difference in the world. The program consists of core coursework in computational methods, programming, and statistics, enhanced by electives in molecular biology, biochemistry, molecular modeling, web development, database design and management, data mining, and other related topics. It is structured to provide students with the skills and knowledge to develop, evaluate, and deploy bioinformatics and computational biology applications. The program is designed to prepare students for employment in the biotechnology sector, where the need for knowledgeable life scientists with quantitative and computational skills has exploded in the past decade.
Align Master of Science in Computer Science. Northeastern’s Align Master of Science in Computer Science program, offered by the Khoury College of Computer Sciences, combines core coursework in program design, computer systems, and software development. Elective courses in machine learning, databases, distributed systems, networks and security, and software engineering allow students to tailor their degree to their unique interests. Classroom and cohort-based learning support students’ development of fundamental computer science and problem-solving skills. Students are part of a vibrant community and have access to outstanding academic support.
Align Master of Science in Data Science. The Align Master of Science in Data Science (Align MSDS) program’s first two semesters comprises four bridge courses that will prepare students from any undergraduate discipline for graduate-level coursework. The Align MSDS delivers a comprehensive foundation for processing, modeling, analyzing, and working with data. This program provides research and coursework in artificial intelligence, machine learning, databases, statistics (hypothesis testing), and the theory of language programming. During your time in this program, you will learn to collect data from numerous sources, explore and hypothesize, analyze using machine learning modals, and develop an effective analysis. These important skills, coupled with opportunities for experiential learning, will allow you to chart your own unique career path in this highly competitive and rewarding field.
Master of Professional Studies in Applied Machine Intelligence. In this program, you’ll take a multi-disciplinary approach to learning, creating well-rounded and sought-after innovators primed to utilize data and AI to inform domain-specific business decisions. Combining the disciplines of applied machine learning and artificial intelligence, data management, data analysis, and data visualization, a Master of Professional Studies in Applied Machine Intelligence teaches you to solve business problems within the rapidly growing field of artificial intelligence. The diverse concentrations of healthcare, finance, human resources, and business ventures are a direct reflection of the AI value potential in these categories. Our program empowers students to apply AI models and algorithms to a chosen industry and focuses on the interpretation, operationalization, contextualization, and implementation of AI. With a modular curriculum, you can easily customize your learning activities and experiences across multiple contexts both online and on-ground. Plus, you can earn your degree in less than two years.
Master of Science in Cybersecurity. The Master of Science in Cybersecurity explores key issues in information security and how technology can help resolve them. You’ll acquire hands-on tools for cybersecurity plus relevant knowledge in law, the social sciences, criminology, and management. Northeastern’s Khoury College has been designated by the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security as a Center of Academic Excellence in fields including information assurance research and cyber operations.
Master of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering. Northeastern’s Master of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering (concentration in computer networks and security) incorporates rigorous coursework, hands-on research, and experience-focused projects. You gain the skills needed for careers in wired and wireless secure networked systems, research and development, and academia. The curriculum is delivered at Northeastern’s Roux Institute in Portland, Maine. Classwork covers technologies for communication networks, including hardware and software aspects. You’ll learn about wireless sensor networking, NextG network technologies, internet trends, and smart optimization of networked systems. Students gain critical knowledge of communication and network security, approaches to cybersecurity, malware attacks, side-channel leakage, and hardware/software hardening.
Master of Science in Computer Science. Northeastern University’s Master of Science in Computer Science prepares students for exciting, meaningful careers across the full spectrum of computer science applications and across industries. Whether you choose to be a generalist or a specialist, the MSCS program will equip you to tackle diverse challenges in the field of computer science. Refine your broad base of fundamental knowledge and gain expertise in breadth areas such as systems and software, theory and security, and artificial intelligence and data science. Discover what an MSCS degree from Khoury College can mean for you.
Master of Science in Data Science. An extensive core curriculum—designed jointly by Khoury College of Computer Sciences and the College of Engineering faculty—enables you to develop depth in computational modeling, data collection and integration, data storage and retrieval, data processing, modeling and analytics, and visualization. Electives from Khoury College of Computer Sciences, the College of Engineering, or a Northeastern partner college provide an opportunity to explore key contextual areas or more complex technical applications.
Master of Science in Project Management. The program provides students with the practical skills and theoretical concepts needed to lead complex projects. Students learn every step of the process: project definition, cost and risk estimation, schedule planning and monitoring, budget management, negotiation and conflict resolution, project leadership, and project presentation and evaluation. Featuring real-world case studies, the program presents techniques and tools for managing long- and short-term projects, successfully and cost effectively. Augmenting the core project management courses are concentrations that provide students with content-specific expertise—enabling them to deepen their knowledge in their field of interest. The Master of Science in Project Management prepares learners as project management practitioners capable of applying project management processes with technical, professional, and strategic expertise. With emphasis on experiential learning, the program provides dynamic opportunities for learners with varying degrees of work experience to practice their knowledge both globally and collaboratively while implementing traditional and innovative project management concepts for real-life and complex projects.
Graduate Certificate in Applied Analytics. In a global environment characterized by digital transformation, rapid change, and high levels of uncertainty, the ability to hire, reskill, and upskill analytic talent is a major driver of organizational performance. The Graduate Certificate in Applied Analytics will prepare students to develop analytical skills that will support decision-making in an organization’s strategy. The certification focuses on analytical, technological, and human literacies—with an emphasis on experiential learning—required for students to serve as strategic business partners in their organizations. A total of 18 credit hours are required to complete the analytical certification program.
Graduate Certificate in Project Management. The Graduate Certificate in Project Management helps prepare students to effectively and efficiently manage projects. The program provides the practical and theoretical knowledge for which the Project Management Institute tests, and it is expected that individuals who successfully complete this program will be capable of fulfilling the educational requirements of the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification exam. Topics covered through required and elective courses include project planning and scheduling, risk management, cost and budget management, and project evaluation and assessment. This certificate program is designed with sufficient course flexibility to accommodate professionals with various levels of project management experience. Project management principles are applicable to both manufacturing and service industries, including professionals in fields such as software engineering, construction management, and financial services.
Northeastern University offers postdoctoral opportunities for individuals who are Interested in applying artificial intelligence and machine learning to problems in their discipline, have a terminal degree from a field outside of computer science, which to apply for a two-year postdoctoral fellowship, where they will be part of the Institute for Experiential AI, dedicated to AI technologies that harness the unique strengths of humans and machines. Applicants who successfully complete their training, apply to faculty positions at Northeastern in Boston, at the Roux Institute in Portland, or elsewhere within the university’s global network. Examples of research projects designed for postdocs in fundamental or applied AI include AI to improve healthcare, adapting to climate change, computer vision and human behavior. the voice as biomarker, and analyzing the cell proteome
The Roux Institute is attracting new companies and talent to Maine, investing in the talent and companies that are already here, and fostering deep connections across all layers of the startup ecosystem. Learn more about the people behind our programs and the companies who are disrupting industries and changing the world.
Designed in partnership with Northern Light Health and MaineHealth, the Roux Institute’s Founder Residency: Future of Healthcare is the first-of-its-kind in Northern New England. The Residency is turbocharging Maine’s growing healthcare technology industry by bringing 30 early-stage HealthTech companies to the state over the next three years. The year-long Future of Healthcare Founder Residency is designed to support digital health, healthcare technology, biotech, and clinical innovation founders at the earliest stages of their entrepreneurial journey. Founders will work out of the Roux Institute’s cutting-edge innovation hub in Portland and have direct access to Northern Light Health and MaineHealth clinicians for mentorship, subject-matter expertise, and to serve as testing grounds for their technologies. In addition to a $50,000 investment, founders in the Residency have access to curated programming and mentorship from top experts and entrepreneurs in the field, free in-house business, design, and legal services, over $300,000 in free and discounted services, and a peer community of over 36 Roux portfolio companies that have raised over $20MM in the past 24 months to accelerate their growth. Founders who are selected and receive investment will be co-located at the Roux Institute for 12 months (beginning March 2023).
The Founder Residency: First-Time Founders and founders from underrepresented groups with high-growth ideas that have the potential to fundamentally alter the way we live and work. The program is a year-long in-person Residency designed to support and fund underrepresented founders (BIPOC/Female/Veteran/Rural) at the earliest stages of their entrepreneurial journey. The Residency co-locates Founders at our Portland campus and gives them a $25,000 living stipend, access to curated programming, mentorship, joint research opportunities, a network of expert advisors, and a peer community to accelerate their growth. We give you the runway and support to get your venture from point A to point B 5x faster than you’d be able to get there yourself. The Residency is divided into three phases throughout the year. Founders will have access to the Roux institute’s Portland campus for the entirety of the program.
Start Summits. Designed to transform ideas into prototypes, Start Summits are idea hackathons that support collaboration between curious, driven people from all over Maine.The Summits are fun and fast-paced events where you’ll experience what it’s like to build a startup team and race to develop a business—all with the support of experts and colleagues and fueled by good food! Plus, cash prizes are awarded to the first and second place teams.
Roux’s Entrepreneurship Treks are two-week, high-intensity programs that combine classroom learning with field study excursions to local startup companies in a variety of tech sectors. Taking part in a trek will allow you to join like-minded peers from across the country in exploring the expansive entrepreneurial ecosystem of Maine and Northern New England. Participants will earn a badge through Northeastern to hone your entrepreneurial-thinking skills, drive innovation while working on group projects with Maine-based startup companies, explore Maine through co-curricular activities, and expand your network and add significant experience to your résumé. By the end of the program, you will be armed with the practical skills, expertise, and confidence to excel in your next professional pursuit—whether that be with your own venture, joining a startup or larger organization.
The Roux Institute Techstars Accelerator. The Roux Institute’s partnership with the world-renowned Techstars Accelerator works with startups focused on building products and solutions in areas that will revolutionize how we live and work, including AI, life sciences and health, and data and analytics. The Portland based accelerator is only the second Techstars program in New England after Boston, and one of more than two dozen accelerators operating around the globe. The program is designed to help program companies establish connections and roots in Maine, which will drive business growth throughout the state and northern New England. The accelerator will introduce startups to a potential talent pipeline of graduate students who are studying at the Roux Institute, in addition to the benefits of working and living in Maine, while attracting investors and strengthening the regional economy. Companies receive three months of intensive training and hands-on mentorship from the institute, researchers, investors, experienced entrepreneurs, and academic and industry advisers. The startups also receive funding while learning how to grow their businesses by acquiring and serving new customers. The program culminates in Demo Day, to be attended by potential investors and stakeholders from across the Maine ecosystem.
Colby College offers majors in physics (with a concentration in astrophysics), geology, and computer science, and a minor in data science, each of which expose students to topics that are foundational for postgraduate work and careers in the space economy. In addition, the college is home to the Davis Institute for Artificial Intelligence, the first-ever cross-disciplinary institute for artificial intelligence at a liberal arts college.
Physics (with a concentration in Astrophysics) – Astrophysics concentrators learn about the underlying physics that governs the properties and behavior of celestial objects, including planets, stars, galaxies, and the universe as a whole. Through hands-on laboratory courses that make use of the research-grade campus observatory, they also learn how telescopes are used to gather data and how to interpret this data in order to learn about the nature of the cosmos. Students work with faculty on research exploring a range of topics in extragalactic astronomy, from the role of supermassive black holes in regulating galaxy growth, to the formation and evolution of galaxies over cosmic time. Students gain experience analyzing data from NASA facilities such as the Hubble Space Telescope and the James Webb Space Telescope throughout the course of these research projects. For more information, please contact Dr. Elizabeth McGrath.
Geology – Geology majors study the forces that shape our planet, the physical history of those changes, the rocks that compose Earth and the ways biological, chemical and physical interactions affect the Earth. Faculty research in the department encompasses areas such as paleoecology and climate change, glacial and Quaternary geology, structural geology and plate tectonics, the geology of meteorites, sedimentation and stratigraphy, and paleontology. Extensive laboratory facilities and research-grade equipment, including tools for coring samples, a scanning electron microscope with an x-ray diffractometer, an x-ray fluorescence spectrometer, an elemental analyzer, and tools for rock and sediment processing, are available for student use in research collaborations with the faculty. For more information, please contact Dr. Tasha Dunn.
Computer Science – The department of Computer Science teaches core computing principles within an interdisciplinary environment. Students can major in Computer Science or in one of many CS+X majors (Computational Biology, Environmental Computation, Computational Psychology, Interdisciplinary Computing: Theater and Dance, and Interdisciplinary Computing: Music). Students in computer science courses learn primarily through programming projects that provide them with experience in design, the application of computational thinking, and problem solving. Such knowledge is essential for the development and operation of the complex software systems and data analysis tools needed to support the space economy. In addition, there is a data science minor offered jointly through the Computer Science, Mathematics, and Statistics Departments. For more information, please contact Dr. Stephanie Taylor.
Davis Institute for Artificial Intelligence – The Davis Institute for Artificial Intelligence at Colby (https://davisinstituteai.colby.edu) is the first cross-disciplinary institute for artificial intelligence (AI) at a liberal arts college. The Institute facilitates interdisciplinary, human-centered scholarship using rich datasets with real-world consequences and prepares students for a future where AI is transforming industries, careers, and modes of discovery, creativity, and scholarship. For more information, please contact Dr. Amanda Stent, Director of the Davis Institute for Artificial Intelligence.
The Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve (Wells NERR) is a regional center for education, training, and outreach for coastal, estuarine, and watershed ecology and science. Reserve interpretive education programs inform and engage audiences in learning about coastal ecosystems and their impacts from climate change. Audiences include thousands of regional residents and visitors of all ages, including K-12 school groups, families, day campers, and teachers. Through classroom, workshop, and hands-on Education programs translate research into readily available information, increase environmental literacy, and help promote stewardship of the environment. All interpretive education programs link to at least one of the following themes: climate change, water quality, habitats, and land use change. We also aim to expand our program offerings and presenters to integrate more racial and ethnic diversity.
Teacher/Educator Training – Workshops, geared toward science teachers, that are research- and field-based programs that improve teacher and student understanding of the environment using local examples. Workshops provide resources and experience to support the incorporation of estuary and watershed, and earth observational topics into classroom teaching, while promoting estuary literacy and environmental stewardship. Topics include sea-level rise and phenology, under the context of climate change on our planet earth. For more information, please contact Suzanne Kahn
STEM Internships – The Wells NERR continues to participate in hosting college students (community colleges and 4-year schools) as a way to engage these motivated and enthusiastic individuals in the Maine Space Grant Community. Students from UMaine, YCCC, SMCC, and SJC have participated in a variety of ecological field- and laboratory-based projects that link hands-on scientific research with technology and coupling of earth observation science with similar goals to NASA’s Earth Observing System (EOS) aimed at coupling ecological and biological research and data to the Earth science community. For more information, please contact Dr. Jason Goldstein
Exhibits – The Reserve’s interpretive exhibits open a window on the world of coastal research and landscape change on a regional and global scale. They draw upon the resources of the site — its land and water, its plant and animal communities, its human history — and demonstrate the importance of stewardship to cultural identity and environmental health. The two major exhibit areas are in the Visitor Center and the Maine Coastal Ecology Center (MCEC) exhibit wing. Exhibits in the Visitor Center, explore how the landscape of southern Maine’s coastal lowlands formed naturally over thousands of years and how that landscape is shaped by the people who inhabit it. Recent additions explore climate change, renewable energy, and sea-level rise. Exhibits within the Ecology Center describe research at the Reserve and throughout the Gulf of Maine. For more information, please contact Suzanne Kahn
Day Camps – There are full-day and full-week day camp offerings on a variety of topics for children ages 6 to 15 during the summer and school vacation weeks. Campers explore habitats, play games, engage in intriguing science experiments, and create crafts. Recent camps have explored the salt marsh, tide pools, birds, reptiles and amphibians, life under a log, plankton, fish, wildlife survival, insects, and more. All camps strive to have campers outdoors as much as possible, fully immersed in habitat discovery on the trail system. For more information, please contact Suzanne Kahn
Coastal Resource Library – The Dorothy Fish Coastal Resource Library is a specialty library with a collection focused on water quality, coastal ecology, and aquatic ecology, among other topics. The library collection of over 2,400 volumes can be searched online and an interlibrary loan service enables statewide access to books, articles, and theses. We will continue to promote this valuable resource and increase our collection. For more information, please contact Suzanne Kahn
Citizen Monitoring – The Reserve has Picture Posts that enable environmental monitoring and phenological change by citizens, students, and community organizations through digital photography. The Reserve plans to expand the citizen science network for this ongoing project. Placing phenological data in the context of other environmental data, such as weather and water quality data already collected by the Reserve, will help to more effectively predict environmental responses to climate change and implement better management practices that adapt to these changes. As part of this effort, the Reserve will work toward becoming a long-term plant and animal monitoring site in connection with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. For more information, please contact Caryn Beiter
Cubesat Design Competition – This initiative includes grade 6-12 students from across Maine to conceptualize, plan, and build an original scientific payload design meeting the UCDC mission objectives and compete for the “Maine Cube Cup” trophy. The MESAT-1 Cubesat, designed and engineered by middle- and high-school students in Maine is a collaborative project in-part with researchers from the Wells NERR who helped to lend biologically and ecologically relevant guidance for the design of the scientific payloads for the remote sensing of Maine coastal waters while in orbit. As part of this initiative, the Wells NERR has helped to promote and engage students in STEM experiential learning and consider future careers within the space industry, biotechnology, and oceanography as well as to tie in biological oceanography and water quality from the state of Maine with future satellite missions. Wells NERR also serves to continue to bolster the cubesat research and development work being undertaken within the Maine space industry. For more information, please contact Dr. Jason Goldstein.
Physics and astronomy majors at Bowdoin College study fundamental principles of science and engineering that are excellent preparation for technical work or graduate study in observational and theoretical astronomy, astrophysics, electrical or material engineering, and sensor technology development.
Faculty provide advanced undergraduate research opportunities on campus, including: computational modeling of electromechanical systems, astrophysical systems, and the earth’s carbon balance; astrophysical data analysis; fabrication and testing of electromechanical resonators for quantum computing applications; fabrication and study of bolometric dark matter detectors; atmospheric sampling and carbon cycle analysis; theoretical study of black hole and neutron star dynamics; and observational studies of active galaxies and quasars.
Majors are also given application guidance and encouragement for participation in national (NSF-REU and NASA/MSGC) and international (DAAD-RISE) undergraduate internship programs that allow Maine students to explore the widest possible range of space science and technology careers.
The University of New England provides majors and minors through which we are preparing students for the space economy.
School of Marine and Environmental Programs – Majors include marine science, environmental science, and marine affairs, all of which seek a deeper understanding of natural, social, and economic systems. Students in these majors explore the complex relationships between natural and human systems with interdisciplinary approaches. Space-borne technology has radically transformed how we assess and understand terrestrial and marine systems on Earth. For more information, contact Dr. Charles Tilburg.
Geographic Information Systems minor – Geographic Information Systems (GIS) minors learn the nuts and bolts of mapping. This includes using satellites and uninhabited aerial vehicles (UAVs) to understand our changing planet. It is only because we have gone to space that we can understand our own planet, informed by terabytes of data every day from Earth observing satellites. Our students analyze these treasure troves of data to provide novel insights about our changing planet from the equator to the poles and hte open ocean to the tallest mountains. GIS minors are ready to participate in a space economy where we receive more data than we can possibly analyze each day from space. For more information, contact Dr. Will Kochtitzky.
Climate Change minor – Climate change is one of the defining challenges of our time. Students are trained in this interdisciplinary minor with scientific, social, political, and economic perspectives to find solutions and adapt to climate change. Going to space to understand Earth plays a critical role in this as we continue to understand climate impacts and plan for adaptations. This program helps train interdisciplinary thinkers to solve these problems. For more information contact Dr. Bethany Woodworth.
Data science – Our data science majors acquire skills for data engineering, data mining, modeling, and production pipelines for dealing with the vast quantity of data coming from space, as well as from our and other planets. For more information, contact Dr. James Quinlan.
Office of Innovation and the P.D. Merrill Makerspace – The Office of Innovation promotes experimentation and innovation across disciplines and fosters an entrepreneurial mindset in undergraduate and graduate students. Undergraduate students may apply for a highly selective Innovation Fellows program, a paid opportunity to pursue innovation in their field of interest. In the P.D. Merrill Makerspace students from every program get hands-on practice in 3d design and printing, coding, robotics, sensors, drones and more – through labs, research projects and programs. For many students, the Makerspace, provides their first experience in hands-on project work. Digital and physical design labs are available for prototyping projects ideas and all students are welcome. For more information, contact Justine Bassett.
The following is an example of computer science-related educational offering at Educate Maine:
Educate Maine leads the state’s Code.org Professional Learning Program for Computer Science Education Courses. We are Maine’s Regional partner coordinating the facilitation and training of 70+ teachers a year in computer science (CS). Our year-long professional learning program kicks off with our five day intensive, in-person, Summer Institute. Code.org offers curricula and training that is designed to prepare educators to provide high-quality instruction in computer science, even for teachers who have never taken a CS course before. Learn more here.
The following is an example of computer science-related educational offering at Educate Maine:
Educate Maine’s Project>Login staff are trained facilitators for CSforALL’s SCRIPT Workshops in Maine. SCRIPT Workshops can help districts identify actionable plans for implementing computer science curriculum. If you are interested in learning more email Angela Oechslie with any specific questions.
What is SCRIPT?
The SCRIPT — the Strategic CSforALL Resource & Implementation Planning Tool — is a framework to guide teams of district administrators, school leaders, and educators through a series of collaborative visioning, self-assessment and goal-setting exercises to create or expand upon a computer science education implementation plan for their students.
School districts and other local education organizations are the unit of change toward creating rigorous, inclusive and sustainable K-12 computer science education. The SCRIPT supports systems-level change by addressing six key areas: (1) Leadership, (2) Teacher Capacity and Development, (3) Curriculum and Materials Selection and Refinement, (4) Partners, (5) Community, and (6) Technology Infrastructure.
What Does A Workshop Look Like?
The workshops are generally two full days with an average of five participants from each district. Teams from each district are comprised of administration (both school and district level) and educators.
The following is an example of computer science-related educational offering at Educate Maine:
Educate Maine’s Project Login program is also the Community Partner in Maine for Girls Who Code (GWC) and so we are helping to close the gender gap in tech by working to expand 3rd-5th grade and 6th-12th grade GWC clubs across Maine. We also coordinate summer camp experiences by mobilizing a group of host sites, partners, funders and volunteers to facilitate and support the participants’ experience.
When clubs affiliate with Educate Maine they unlock additional resources and access Project Login’s volunteer network of industry professionals and women-in-tech speakers willing to mentor girls and nonbinary students with their projects. Interested in volunteering or learning more visit the website.
The following is an example of computer science-related educational offering at Educate Maine:
Funded by NASA, Educate Maine is collaborating with MaxIQ Space and the Maine Space Grant Consortium to deliver a K-12 Space STEM program in 2023.
The goal of this program is to promote Space STEM skills and open up career opportunities in the growing space sector. In April 2022, the development of the Maine Space Sector was confirmed (press release), and this K-12 Space STEM program has been designed for Maine to equip and prepare youngsters for the opportunities that await them.
Using the modular electronics kits, conducting experiments and research, these kits can be extended to handle high altitude balloon flights and rocket launches. This particular program has been designed for Maine, to support teachers and students, to ensure that the Maine space sector can grow to its full potential. Learn more about the collaborative program here.
The following is an example of computer science-related educational offering at Educate Maine:
The Project>Login Podcast is a STEM career exploration podcast. The Project>Login podcast features Mainers working in technology jobs across the state. It is meant to be a career-exploration tool and follows an informational interview format. Folks from across Maine are featured, from CIOs to software developers to business analysts and more! In 2023, we will highlight Mainer working in the Space sector.
The goals are to:
The following is an example of internship offering at Educate Maine:
150-180 hour STEM Outreach and Career Exploration Intern supports the Project>Login program at Educate Maine. Meant for a high school intern in a STEM honors diploma program or a college student in a STEM degree program, this internship allows the student to gain real-world hands-on experience collaborating with partners in K-12, higher education and STEM and computer science industry sectors in Maine.
The intern will design and develop authentic STEM experiences including those in the space economy.
At the end of the internship the student will be able to present about their experience and apply the skills they learned in subsequent internships or careers. For more information, please contact Angela Oechslie.
Since its launch in 1997, the Maine Space Grant Consortium has sponsored ‘Space Day’ activities in school districts throughout the state to nurture K-12 students’ enthusiasm for the wonders of the universe and inspire them to continue the stellar work of today’s space explorers. This STEM initiative has become one of the premier K-12 educational events in the State of Maine with the goal of educating, encouraging and inspiring future generations on the extraordinary achievements, benefits and opportunities in the exploration and use of space. This award-winning program has involved hundreds of thousands of teachers and students throughout the United States, Canada and beyond. In the past 25 years, Space Day events have taken place in 21 countries around the globe on six continents. Thanks to widespread media, millions of people have learned about the Space Day programs since its inception. So effective is this global initiative that it was honored with the Space Foundation’s prestigious Education Achievement Award. During the first week of May 2023, ‘Space Day’ Maine will celebrate its 25th Anniversary with schools in Brunswick, Freeport and South Bristol. For more information, please contact Sharon Eggleston.
Challenger Learning Center of Maine
The Challenger Learning Center of Maine is a 501©3 non-profit organization offering education programs for K-12 students, educators and families throughout the state of Maine. On Jan. 28, 1986, the crew of NASA’s Challenger shuttle died tragically when a booster engine failed, causing the shuttle to break apart just 73 seconds after launch. In the aftermath of the Challenger accident, the crew’s families came together, firmly committed to the belief that they must carry on the spirit of their loved ones by continuing the Challenger crew’s educational mission. Their efforts resulted in the creation of the Challenger Center for Space Science Education. In 2004, the Challenger Learning Center of Maine was created and serves students across the entire state of Maine.
Our Mission: engage students and teachers in dynamic, hands-on exploration and discovery opportunities that strengthen knowledge in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), inspire students to pursue careers in these fields, and provide an outlet to learn and apply important life skills.
The Challenger Learning Center of Maine [CLCME] currently offers various types of STEM programming both in-person and virtually for students. The core programming of CLCME is focused on its in-person space simulation missions modeled after NASA space initiatives. CLCME has a unique building with a mission control room, transporter room and space lab environment simulator. Students are assigned job positions for a mission simulation where they become NASA professionals for the day. During the mission, students perform research and data collection that is required of different job roles such as engineer, life support specialist, navigator, robotics specialist, medical officer, biologist, geologist and more! Before and after a mission, CLCME discusses different STEM careers and degrees like the ones students experience during a mission. Challenger’s mission and STEM programs meet national, state and local standards and are integrated into classroom science curriculum.
Challenger also performs STEM afterschool programming, vacation camps, public STEM outreach, and has a large virtual STEM platform available too.
More information visit, www.astronaut.org, 207-990-2900, contact@astronat.org
Challenger Learning Center of Maine / 30 Venture Way, Bangor, ME 04401
501c3 #:01-0542376
