MSGC Research Workshops - Montana Space Grant Consortium

Explore what it means to conduct research

The goal of the MSGC workshops is to introduce Montana undergraduate students to non-medical research in science and engineering.

Montana undergraduates who are interested in STEM research experiences, but who have not completed hands-on research, are invited to apply. Students who are from smaller Montana campuses (not MSU, UM, and Tech) are given priority, as are freshmen and sophomores.

We generally don't support students in medical majors, or those going into medical fields. Student must reside in the state of Montana to participate in the workshop (unless it is noted as a virtual workshop).

Workshop Details

Workshops are nine hours of training, over a Friday evening and Saturday.
Pay is a $200 stipend for participants who meet program requirements.
A brief home project is a required deliverable.
Travel and accomodations to in-person workshops are reimbursed.
Meals are provided.
Unless otherwise specified, MSGC coordinates hotel rooms and meals.

Application Information

Applications will be due approximately two weeks before the workshop. MSGC will provide a specific deadline for each workshop offered. See more below.
Applications are submitted via Submittable.
- If you don't already have a Submittable sign-in, you will need to create one.
Applicants will be notified of their acceptance one week prior to the workshop.
- Applications will need to confirm their participation to hold their spot!
Qualifications
- Enrolled at least part-time at a Montana institution
- Undergraduate student status
- Complete a small project within two weeks of completing the workshop
- Less priority is given to students that have attended workshops in the past. (Check out our other research opportunities instead!)
- We generally don't support students in medical majors, or those going into medical fields.
- Student must reside in the state of Montana to participate (unless it is noted as a virtual workshop).

Apply for a Workshop!

Fall 2026 Workshops

Astronomy Workshop

Astronomy

This workshop is designed to introduce students to astronomy and STEM research. Students will learn to use advanced telescopes, capture and process night-sky data to transform it into beautiful images, and gain valuable experience using advanced equipment.

Dates: October 9 - 10

Location: Montana Learning Center, Helena MT

Brief Application Due: Deadline has passed

Behavior Modeling workshop

Behavior Modeling for Space Exploration

Ants use collaborative and organizational skills to accomplish incredible feats. These behaviors can be modeled in robotics to execute complex missions on the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Join this workshop to observe ant behavior and use that information to inform decision making and communication models used in space exploration.

Dates: October 16 - 17

Hosts: Dr. Joe Eason & Dr. Eric Dyerson

Location: University of Montana - Western, Dillon MT

Brief Application Due: Deadline has passed

Drone Workshop at University of Montana

Remotely Piloted Aircraft: Making Maps

Students will learn about imagery collections, data processing and map creation using drones.

Dates: October 23 - 24

Hosts: Dr. Jeremy Crowley and Bart Bauer

Location: University of Montana, Missoula MT

Brief Application Due: October 9, 2026

Spring 2027 Workshops - Dates to be Announced

Monitoring invasive plant species using drones (sUAS)- and ground-based measurements

Students will learn about invasive species, ecosystem impacts, grass identification and the use of sUAS (Small Unmanned Aircraft System) in remote sensing.

Dates: TBD

Hosts: Dr. Megan Poulette and Matt Prinkki

Location: Rocky Mountain College, Billings MT

Investigating GMOs Through DNA Analysis

Are you curious what significance Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) have for the foods we eat? Here’s an opportunity for those new to research to investigate! Use professional laboratory equipment to extract DNA from corn and soy foods of your choice. Then use Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), and gel electrophoresis to determine which are derived from GMOs.

Dates: TBD

Host: Dr. Christa Merzdorf

Location: Montana State University, Bozeman MT

AI Applications at NASA

AI and machine learning have a wide range of applications at NASA in data interpretation and image classification. This workshop is designed for students interested in developing foundational AI fluency and understanding how AI tools are applied in research and technical workforce settings. Participants will collect data with a drone equipped with RGB and thermal imaging sensors. The data will then be analyzed with the help of AI in combination with relevant NASA data sets.

Dates: TBD

Hosts: Drs. Brad Whitaker, Riley Logan, Shane King

Location: Montana State University, Bozeman, MT

Fixed Wing UAS Workshop

Learn how to build fixed Wing Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) from scratch. Participants will learn the electronics that make up a fixed wing aircraft system as well as several styles of building techniques from foam core construction to 3D printed parts. Weather permitting, aircraft will be test-flown under the guidance of a safety pilot. Flight simulator training will also be provided.

Dates: TBD

Host: Dr. Michael Walach

Location: BOREALIS Lab - Montana State University, Bozeman MT