# Fifth Year Milestone for the NSBP/SAO EHT Scholars December 17, 2023 - [ Blog ](/news-categories/blog) **For the past four years, the National Society of Black Physicists (**[**NSBP**](https://www.nsbp.org/)**) and the Smithsonian Astronomical Observatory (**[**SAO**](https://www.cfa.harvard.edu/sao)**) have partnered to create cutting-edge research internships within the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) project targeting STEM undergrad and graduate students from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds. This** [**NSBP/SAO EHT Scholars**](https://richardanantua.com/nsbp-sao-eht-scholars-program/) **program is now preparing internships for Summer 2024, and we welcome applications– especially from NSBP members. Up to three Scholars will be selected from a competitive pool of applicants to be matched with world class mentors at SAO this coming summer.** ![NSBP-SAO-EHT-Flyer-2024](/sites/g/files/omnuum3116/files/eht/files/eht_nsbp_poster_powerpoint_2024v1.png) The program has had a remarkable track record of successes: 2020 Scholar Elon Price defended her [Fisk Master’s thesis](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ITgP86doYZlDaWtvtetHdyy_gssGw_Dj/view?pli=1) on modeling the Sagittarius A\* inner accretion flow, 2021 Scholar Dr. Brandon Curd led an [MNRAS publication](https://academic.oup.com/mnras/article-abstract/519/2/2812/6939842?redirectedFrom=fulltext&login=false) on the detectability of super-Eddington flows from tidal disruption events by EHT, 2022 Scholars Emmanuel Durodola and Nitya Nigam are both co-authors of [Emission Modeling in the EHT/ngEHT Age](https://academic.oup.com/mnras/article-abstract/519/2/2812/6939842?redirectedFrom=fulltext&login=false), and 2023 Scholar Kaitlyn Shavelle has led a manuscript with Dr. Daniel Palumbo for submission to the Astrophysical Journal Letters. Importantly, the NSBP/SAO EHT Scholars has served as a feeder to the EHT, as Dr. Brandon Curd joined the Collaboration upon creatively relating his Harvard PhD thesis on super-Eddington accretion to potential observational signatures of tidal disruption events for the EHT. Dr. Curd is currently a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Texas at San Antonio in the [research group of Professor Richard Anantua](https://richardanantua.com/). The 5th year may mark a key turning point in the Scholars program, as the SAO’s [NSF MSRI-2](https://new.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/mid-scale-research-infrastructure-2-mid-scale-ri-2) proposal– if awarded– will enable the expansion of the program to several leading research institutions and diverse societies such as the Society for the Advancement of Native Americans and Chicanos in the Sciences ([SACNAS](https://www.sacnas.org/)). **More Information** Previous Press Releases: 2020 NSBP News: [NSBP/SAO Event Horizon Telescope Scholars](https://nsbp.org/news/552955/NSBP--SAO-Event-Horizon-Telescope-Scholars-Program.htm%20https://aas.org/posts/news/2020/09/program-opens-new-research-pathways-underrepresented-young-astrophysicists) American Astronomical Society: [Program Opens New Research Pathways for Underrepresented Young Astrophysicists](https://aas.org/posts/news/2020/09/program-opens-new-research-pathways-underrepresented-young-astrophysicists) Event Horizon Telescope: [NSBP/SAO EHT Scholars Program Opens New Research Pathways for Underrepresented Young Physicists ](/blog/nsbpsao-eht-scholars-program-opens-new-research-pathways-underrepresented-young-physicists) 2021 Event Horizon Telescope: [NSBP/SAO EHT Scholars Reaches Second Year Milestone](/blog/nsbpsao-eht-scholars-program-reaches-second-year-milestone) Contact Information: Richard Anantua Department of Physics and Astronomy University of Texas at San Antonio San Antonio, TX, USA Email: Sheperd Doeleman Smithsonian Astronomical Observatory Harvard University Cambridge, MA, USA Share on:- [ Facebook ](#) - [ Twitter ](#) - [ Linkedin ](#)