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Extraterrestrial Materials Academy

Universities Space Research Association (USRA)
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Please not that all applicants must submit their application through the Extraterrestrial Materials Academy portal. You can access it using the following link to apply: The Extraterrestrial Materials Academy

Extraterrestrial Materials Academy (ETMA)

The Extraterrestrial Materials Academy (ETMA) is scheduled for June 8–August 15, 2026, at the Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI) in Houston, Texas, in partnership with the University of Houston–Clear Lake (UHCL) and Texas Southern University (TSU), and in collaboration with NASA’s Johnson Space Center (JSC). Participants will receive training to develop analytical and laboratory skills and knowledge to be competitive for future careers in planetary science, focusing on sample science.

 

Overview

The ETMA will train participants to develop analytical and laboratory skills and knowledge to be competitive for future careers in planetary science, focusing on sample science, and equip participants with resources to help support their journey. The first phase of the academy will provide a foundation in planetary science via lectures, weekly paper discussions, and daily laboratory training in inorganic, organic, or biological analyses. During the second phase, participants will apply their new skills and knowledge to complete research in a capstone project. They will acquire further analytical training in a topic of interest by working in small groups on a research project with a scientist.

This 10-week intensive paid summer academy is designed for undergraduate students who do not already have access to research opportunities and planetary science content at their own institutions — students from colleges and universities that are not R1 institutions – and who have completed at least 36 credit hours at an accredited degree-granting institution located in the U.S. or its territories. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents in the U.S. Students with majors in physical/natural sciences, engineering, computer science, or mathematics are preferred, but all eligible students will be considered.

 

Curriculum

Lectures and Discussion: The first 4 weeks of the academy will provide a foundation in planetary science via lectures, weekly paper discussions, and daily laboratory training in inorganic, organic, or biological analyses. The following topics will be covered.

  • Astronomy
  • Solar system formation and planetary accretion
  • Nucleosynthesis, element formation, and isotopes
  • Isotope distribution in the solar system
  • Geology
  • Rock cycle
  • Mineralogy and how it can record past environments
  • The chemistry and geology of meteorites and comets
  • Earth and Moon formation
  • Planetary processes
  • Planetary Science
  • Planetary habitability
  • Early Earth
  • Mars
  • Ocean worlds
  • Venus
  • Exoplanets
  • Organic chemistry
  • Organic nomenclature
  • Organic reactions
  • Abiotic chemistry and the origin of life
  • Biology
  • Extremophiles
  • Biosignatures and the search for life
  • Planetary protection

 

Laboratory Topics: Participants will learn the fundamentals and receive hands-on laboratory training, including data collection and analysis of the following topics.

  • Petrography
  • Making thin sections
  • Petrography/optical microscopy
  • Mineralogy
  • Raman Spectroscopy
  • Visible Near Infrared Spectroscopy (VNIR)
  • Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)
  • X-Ray Diffraction (XRD)
  • Elemental Chemistry
  • Acid extraction of metals
  • Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES)
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Organic extractions
  • Liquid Chromatography Mass spectrometry (LC-MS)
  • Gas Chromatography Mass spectrometry (GC-MS)
  • Biology
  • DNA extraction and gel electrophoresis

 

Application Information

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet the following requirements.

  • Have completed at least 36 credit hours by January 16, 2026, at an accredited degree-granting institution in the U.S. or its territories
  • Be a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident
  • Be enrolled at an accredited degree-granting institution in the U.S. at the time of application (including Spring 2026) or have been enrolled for at least one semester in 2025 with plans to continue in 2026
  • Students graduating with a bachelor’s degree in the winter or spring preceding the academy may apply, but they must demonstrate their intent to continue their education.
  • Students majoring in physical or natural sciences, engineering, computer science, or mathematics are preferred, but all eligible students will be considered.
  • While applications are open to all qualified undergraduates, priority will be given to applicants from smaller or non-research-intensive universities.


Students enrolled in a graduate program and/or integrated program (i.e., pursuing a bachelor’s and master’s degree in parallel) are not eligible to apply.

 

Financial Support

Selected participants will receive at least $13,351 in financial support to cover the costs associated with their stay in Houston during the academy. This amount covers the participant stipend ($8,876), travel costs to and from Houston ($1,000), and housing ($3,475). Housing costs will be paid directly to the housing vendor on the participant's behalf and deducted from the total amount ($13,351).

 

Logistics

The academy will be held at the Lunar and Planetary Institute (LPI) in Houston, Texas. More information about logistics will be available at a later date.

 

Contacts

For information regarding the scientific content of the academy:

Laura Rodriguez
USRA/Lunar and Planetary Institute
Email: lrodriguez@lpi.usra.edu

For information regarding all other details:

Claudia Bellard
USRA/Lunar and Planetary Institute
Email: etma@lpi.usra.edu