TLDR: Two Boise State University graduate students, Juan Camilo Rojas Lucero (Computing) and Lindsay Stark (Geophysics), have been awarded highly competitive NASA Future Investigators in NASA Earth and Space Science and Technology (FINESST) research grants. These grants will support their doctoral studies and research, with Lucero’s project notably leveraging artificial intelligence for environmental monitoring.
Boise State University is celebrating a significant achievement as two of its graduate students, Juan Camilo Rojas Lucero and Lindsay Stark, have been honored with the prestigious 2025 NASA Future Investigators in NASA Earth and Space Science and Technology (FINESST) research grants. These highly competitive awards, which saw only 10% of applications funded this year, will provide crucial support for their doctoral studies and innovative research projects.
Juan Camilo Rojas Lucero, a Ph.D. candidate in Computing (expected 2027), is focusing his research on the application of artificial intelligence and deep learning to monitor water levels in semi-arid regions. His work involves analyzing decades of satellite imagery, a vast dataset that would be impossible for a single researcher to process manually. By leveraging AI, Lucero aims to extract critical insights into seasonal moisture trends, which are vital for agriculture and rangeland management, particularly in areas like Idaho’s Snake River Plain. Associate Professor Jodi Brandt, who advises Lucero, remarked on the grants’ competitiveness, stating, ‘Any university would be pleased to have just one graduate student win a fellowship. The fact that Boise State has two this year speaks to the great environment we have for graduate education.’ Lucero expressed his personal and professional satisfaction, noting, ‘That is one of the biggest accomplishments in my life. I’ve worked with NASA geospatial data for many years, so [this award] means a lot personally and professionally.’
Lindsay Stark, a Ph.D. candidate in Geophysics (expected 2028), also received a FINESST award, which will contribute to her advanced research in the field. While specific details of Stark’s project were not immediately available, her success underscores the breadth of cutting-edge research being conducted by Boise State students in collaboration with NASA.
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The FINESST awards, part of broader NASA graduate research opportunities, offer substantial support to doctoral students. These grants can provide up to $84,000 per year for up to four years, including a $40,000 annual stipend, tuition, health insurance, and funds for conference attendance. Recipients also gain invaluable experience through onsite research opportunities at NASA Centers across the country, collaborating with leading NASA experts to further their understanding and disseminate their research findings within the scientific community.
