Zed Factor Fellowship
| Founded | 2020 |
|---|---|
| Founders | Dr. Tanya Harrison Dr. Therese Jones Carie Lemack Karina Perez |
| Focus | Aerospace Engineering |
| Location | |
Area served | United States |
| Website | zedfactorfellowship |
The Zed Factor Fellowship is a non-profit program in the United States that provides paid internships and executive mentorship to underrepresented undergraduate and graduate students seeking careers in aerospace.[1][2][3] The fellowship was founded in 2020 and is closely modeled on programs such as the Brooke Owens Fellowship.[4][5][6]
Motivation and overview
The Zed Factor Fellowship Program seeks to empower aerospace students from underrepresented backgrounds to explore the aerospace industry and become leading professionals, with the goal of expanding the industry's overall inclusivity, innovation, and societal impact.[7] The fellowship was founded in 2020 by Dr. Tanya Harrison (planetary scientist at NASA JPL and Planet Labs),[8][9][10] Dr. Therese Jones (Senior Director of Policy at the Satellite Industry Association)[11][12], Carie Lemack (CEO of DreamUp)[13][14][15], and Karina Perez (Director for Unmanned and Emerging Aviation Technologies at the Aerospace Industries Association).[16][17][18]
The program offer students paid summer internships at space companies (e.g. Relativity Space, Planet Labs, The Planetary Society, etc.), travel stipends, and mentorship from aerospace leaders, including CEOs, directors, co-founders, vice-presidents, and lead NASA engineers.[19][20] Fellows are flown out to the annual Future Space Leaders summit in Washington D.C. to network and meet industry officials. Fellows engage in a community service project of their design with support from the program.[21]
As of 2022, the fellowship program is partnered with the Brooke Owens Fellowship and the Future Space Leaders Foundation.[22]
Alumni
As of 2022, the Zed Factor Fellowship has 23 alumni across one cohort associated with more than 20 different national universities.[23]
In 2020, more than 180 students from 115 universities around the United States applied.[24] Approximately 25 are selected through an evaluation of technical ability, leadership potential, passion for the aerospace industry, and identification with an underrepresented community. This is done through interviews and essay responses, with particular emphasis given to students from minority-serving institutions and HBCUs. Finalists are matched with host companies, who independently conduct interviews and award offers.
Class of 2021
- Abed Musaffar, (UC Santa Barbara) — Venturi Astrolab
- Anna Shaposhnik, (University of Southern California) — Orbit Fab
- Catherine Santos, (Seattle Central College) — Aerospace Industries Association
- David Andrade, (Harvard University) — Blue Origin
- Geronimo Nores, (Stanford University) — Planet Labs
- Grace Kim, (Harvard University) — Kayhan Space
- Hugo Favila, (Columbia University) — The Planetary Society
- Kalyn Hopkins, (Ohio State University) — Wisk
- Linda Chen, (Princeton University) — Blue Origin
- Maria Elena Gonzalez, (Prairie View A&M University) — Redwire
- Nandini Sadagopan, (University of Notre Dame) — Orbit Fab
- Natalie Selene, (Cal Poly Pomona) — Kayhan Space
- Nikita Manjuluri, (Columbia University) — Redwire
- Noah Jacobs, (University of Alabama) — Wisk
- Oscar De Leon Vazquez, (UT Rio Grande Valley) — Venturi Astrolab
- Patricia Paje, (UC Davis) — Wisk
- Rishi Patel, (Virginia Tech) — Aerospace Industries Association
- Savannah Horton, (University of Virginia) — Zeno Power Systems
- Simran Dhoju, (University of Alabama) — Wisk
- Sumaiyah Shihipar, (UT Arlington) — Zeno Power Systems
- Thushan Fernando, (North Carolina State University) — Wisk
- Tiffany Tang, (Syracuse University) — Wisk
- Wilbert Andres Ruperto Hernandez, (University of Puerto Rico) — Venturi Astrolab
Class of 2022
- A, (Uni) — Venturi Astrolab
- ^ "About Zed Fellowship — ZFF". Zed Factor Fellowship. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ "SIA's Therese Jones Chats Zed Factor Fellowship - Via Satellite -". Via Satellite. 7 December 2020. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ "THE ZED FACTOR FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM | Youth Opportunities Hub". Youth Opportunities Hub. 20 December 2020. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ "Zed Factor Fellowship for Underrepresented Aerospace Professionals Launches - Via Satellite -". Via Satellite. 24 November 2020. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ "Fostering diversity and inclusion takes work". SpaceNews. 9 September 2021. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ Satellite, Via (2 December 2020). "Fellowship to benefit aerospace professionals | The Journal Record". The Journal Record. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ "Mission". Zed Factor Fellowship. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ "Tanya Harrison | Planetary Scientist". NASA Solar System Exploration. NASA.
- ^ "Tanya Harrison | Harvest". nasaharvest.org. Earth Data for Informed Agricultural Decisions.
- ^ "Dr. Tanya Harrison | NASA Science". Dr. Tanya Harrison.
- ^ "Therese Jones – Satellite Industry Association, Washington, D.C." Satellite Industry Association. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ "Therese Jones | Wilson Center". Wilson Center. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ "Carie Lemack". Space for Humanity. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ "Academy Award Nominated Carie Lemack to Head DreamUp". DreamUp. 17 March 2016. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ "Articles by: Carie Lemack | Space". Space.com.
- ^ "Karina Perez". Aerospace Industries Association. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ "Karina Perez". Symposium365. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ "Biography". Karina Perez Molina. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ "Executive Mentors — ZFF". Zed Factor Fellowship. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ "The Zed Factor Fellowship Host Companies — ZFF". Zed Factor Fellowship. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ "Why Community Service". Zed Factor Fellowship. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ "The Foundation". Future Space Leaders. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ "Zed Factor Fellowship Class of 2021 Fellows — ZFF". Zed Factor Fellowship. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ "Zed Factor Fellowship Announces Inaugural Class". Zed Factor Fellowship. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- ^ "Zed Factor Fellowship Announces Inaugural Class". Zed Factor Fellowship. Retrieved 8 March 2022.