Amy Harless

While some college students may spend their summer break working on their tan, one UNC Asheville student will spend it working with renowned NASA scientists and researchers.

Amy Harless, a sophomore majoring in atmospheric sciences, has been chosen to participate in the 10-week NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Summer Institute on Atmospheric, Biospheric, Hydrospheric, and Solar and Space Plasma Sciences beginning in June.

“It’s a very prestigious program to participate in as an undergrad,” said Christopher Hennon, the UNC Asheville atmospheric sciences assistant professor who first told Harless about the program. “Amy is very motivated and I knew that this program would be a great stepping stone for her career,” he said.

Only one of just 12 students picked for the program from across the country, Harless will work with scientists in the Mesoscale Atmospheric Processes Branch conducting hurricane research.

“I am highly fascinated by the dynamic elements of tropical cyclogenesis,” said Harless. “I have not had many classes that focus on hurricanes, and through this research, I hope to learn a great deal of knowledge about tropical meteorology along with the processes that are involved in doing research.”

The prestigious program generally only considers college juniors, but Harless got into the program as a sophomore.

Hennon wasn’t surprised. His experience helping Harless develop undergraduate research on the 2005 hurricane season showed him her exceptional ability.

“Knowing Amy, I wasn’t shocked. She is an excellent student, so I knew she had a good chance,” he said.

The 10-week Summer Institute is designed to introduce undergraduate students majoring in a science field to research opportunities at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., which is home to the nation’s largest organization of scientists and engineers dedicated to learning and sharing their knowledge on the Earth, solar system and universe.

For Harless, the combination of atmospheric science and space exploration is a dream come true.

“I have always wanted to work with NASA but am interested in meteorology also,” said Harless. “This program will allow me to do just that.”