Jeremiah Munson ’19 describes his experience at NASA

As the weather turns brisk, we’re looking back to what Carthage students accomplished this summer. We have a long winter ahead of us, but soon it will be time to apply for research fellowships, summer internships, and Carthage’s own Summer Undergraduate Research Experience. So during the month of October, look for stories about how Carthage students spend summer breaks.

Jeremiah Munson ’19

Summer research at NASA facility at Glenn Research Center

High-altitude sensors require high-tech batteries. Just ask Jeremiah Munson ’19, a Physics major from Rushford, Minn. This past summer he worked at a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) facility at Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio, gaining valuable experience in engineering applications and a taste of what life after graduation might look like.

As an intern with the NASA Space Academy, Jeremiah worked on a project that designed a high-altitude balloon used to test out the special batteries intended for equipment that will reach the upper stratosphere and even possibly space to make them more suitable for space-like conditions. Over the course of several weeks, he researched and tested different electronic components, ultimately sending his work into the sky to collect performance data. Afterward, he analyzed the data and contributed his findings to the research team’s efforts.

One of the most exciting parts of his time there was having the chance every week to hear a NASA employee speak about their job and research.

“Getting to travel to different companies and meet employees in the industry was an amazing opportunity,” he said.

He enjoyed honing his networking skills and touring companies in the aerospace industry. His mentor at NASA, Dr. Geoffrey Landis, served as supervisor and role model.

“He does a lot of amazing work at NASA, and it was incredible getting to talk with him,” Jeremiah said.

At Carthage, Jeremiah is a member of the Computer Science Club, the Society of Physics Students, and is a musician in Pep Band. He has also worked on the CubeSat project through the Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium. His NASA internship built on his on-campus experience by giving him a chance to work more extensively with electronics.

“I feel more prepared and excited to enter the industry without doing grad school at least right away,” he said.

This internship offered a way to see whether or not graduate school was a good immediate next step. While unsure of what his professional life might have in store, the internship with NASA demonstrates that the possibilities are sky high.