Alaxandrea O’Brien, a young professional and advocate studying environmental engineering, is the first student from a Western Australian university to be selected for Monash University’s pioneering National Indigenous Space Academy (NISA) program.

Alaxandrea, a third-year Bachelor of Environmental Engineering (Honours) student at The University of Western Australia, is among eight First Nations tertiary students heading to the United States and United Kingdom for a 10-week placement at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and RAL Space.  

Founded in 2019, the program aims to build Indigenous participation in STEM degrees and Australia’s growing space sector.

Alaxandrea, a Proud Dulgubarra-Mamu and Jirrbal woman and recent Premier’s Science Awards finalist, received the prestigious Andy Thomas Space Foundation and NISA Women’s Leadership Scholarship to support her trip to NASA JPL in California.  

Alaxandrea said she had always had a deep love for space and scientific exploration, which was refuelled when she attended the 2025 Robopalooza – a global and first-of-its kind robotics, AI and innovation festival held in Perth.

“I have a passion for innovation, STEM engagement and bridging academia with industry and want to combine this with caring for Country from a cultural lens,” she said.

Sharing her passion with other young people to inspire and mentor them into STEM pathways, Alaxandrea has been an active advocate, mentor and role model within the broader community through organisations such as the Polly Farmer Foundation, YAL, Madalah, UWA Girls in Engineering and  the CSIRO Indigenous Women’s STEM Academy.

Alaxandrea, who was awarded Miss Kwobordok Yok through the 2026 Miss and Mr NAIDOC program,  expects to gain skills she can bring home and use to solve problems relevant to the WA environment and resources sectors.

“This opportunity at NASA will serve as a powerful launchpad for my academic and professional growth, helping me advance my aspirations to drive meaningful socioeconomic and environmental impact,” she said.

“I'm interested in research that will create sustainable and nature-based solutions in industry, to enable culturally informed and integrated practices for First Nations people.”  

Each NISA student will be paired with a scientist or engineer mentor at NASA JPL and RAL Space. As well as Alaxandrea, this year's cohort includes:

• Tash Lee, Monash University

• Jamal Woods, QUT

• Jordan    Roulstone, QUT

• Jaimie    Duffy, University of New England     

• Noah Davis, University of Sydney

• Claire Weis, UNSW

• Alexander Cramp, UNSW

While at NASA/JPL & RAL Space students will work on real-life space projects developed by their mentors and contribute to current space missions, including work involving ocean exploration vehicles and research into microorganisms aboard the International Space Station.

In preparation for their journey, NISA students have undertaken a Space Boot Camp at Monash, covering areas including aerodynamics, robotics, rovers, astrophysics, planetary science, engineering, computer science and earth sciences, as well as past and current NASA and RAL Space missions.

Professor Chris Lawrence, Director of NISA and Professor of Practice in Space Innovation and Security Capabilities in the Faculty of Engineering at Monash University, said the scholarship would have a transformative impact.  

“NISA provides Indigenous STEM university students the unique opportunity to study and learn at two of the world’s leading space research facilities, RAL Space in the UK and NASA/JPL in the US,” Professor Lawrence said.

“Students work in teams on real life space missions and contribute to space exploration and search for other planets, solar systems and the ultimate search for other life existence in the galaxies. NISA is a life changing program for the next generation of space explorers.”

In 2026, NISA received national recognition at the Australian Space Awards, acknowledged with two Group Category honours: Indigenous Space Initiative of the Year and Diversity Initiative Program of the Year.

NISA has been proudly supported by the Australian Space Agency since 2023 and extends its best wishes to this year’s cohort.

Applications for NISA’s 2027 program will open soon. Students can apply via the NISA website.