Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and minority-serving institutions (MSIs) have been invited to participate in a virtual event planned to leverage science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) small business opportunities.

According to the press release, representatives from NASA offices and mission directorates will discuss partnerships and the role of small businesses in the success of NASA’s missions.

In collaboration with NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement, its Office of Procurement, Office of Small Business Programs, and Space Technology Mission Directorate, HBCU and MSI representatives will learn about the Office of STEM’s minority university research and education project, as well as opportunities within NASA’s aeronautics research, science,  human exploration, and operations mission directorates.

Sessions will include speakers from contractors and leaders within NASA’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)/Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program.

Attendees will also learn about research opportunities involving grants, cooperative agreements, fellowships, and small business contracts.

Group sessions with NASA program and technical personnel, in addition to large prime contractors, will enable attendees to gain insight and strategies to pursue procurement and technical opportunities.

Conference workshop topics and speakers include:

· Workshops led by Gregory Robinson, program director for NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope; Jose Nunez, manager of the agency’s university partnerships and small spacecraft capabilities; and Koushik Datta, university innovation project manager for the
Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate.

· NASA Small Business specialists, featuring Robert Watts, Christine Munroe, and Jennifer Perez.

· Torry Johnson, program director, Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) Minority University Research and Education Project.

· Quenton Bonds, NASA’s center technology transition lead, and Robert Jones, program manager for NASA’s Small Business Innovation Research.

· Jenifer Scoffield, small business liaison officer for Northrop Grumman Corporation; Toni Hall, The Boeing Company’s small business liaison officer for the International Space Station; and Debbie Batson, director of large/small business strategic alliances at Teledyne Brown Engineering.

· Minority University Research and Education Project funding opportunities in NASA STEM, with Roslyn Soto, and, solicitation coordinator
for engagement opportunities in NASA STEM.

Panel discussions on HBCU/MSI mentor-protégé programs will include a representative from NASA’s Office of Small Business Programs, and NASA contractors Teledyne Brown Engineering, and representatives from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Media interested in learning more about interview opportunities and other details of these events should contact Rod Chappell at 757-759-019 or roderick.d.chappell@nasa.gov

For more information on NASA’s STEM Engagement programs, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/stem

For information about NASA’s Office of Small Business Programs, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-hosts-virtual-event-to-leverage-stem-small-business-opportunities-with-minority/