URAP

Digital Infrastructure Research for the New Space Economy

Nicole Starosielski, Professor  
Film Studies  

Applications for Spring 2026 are closed for this project.

Every satellite image, command signals to control a spacecraft or probe, and all the resulting science dataset from space missions are made possible by a largely invisible layer of ground-based digital infrastructure—complex systems that enable the transmission, storage, and processing of high-volume data across facilities distributed across geographies, organizations, and cultures. This project, part of UC Berkeley’s Certificate in Global Digital Infrastructure, examines the backbone of the digital infrastructure stack that underpins today’s space economy, from data centers and supercomputing facilities to fiber-optic networks and the ground segment that relays radio frequency data between satellites and spaceflight missions to teams back on Earth. Historically, nearly all of the space systems that rely on this stack were primarily coordinated by public-funded space agencies such as the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the European Space Agency (ESA), often working with industry partners. Increasingly, the sector is now being mostly driven by a fast-growing set of private actors, accelerating research and development while also raising new commercial, legal, governance, and ethical questions about what space activities are for—and at what cost.
Much of today’s “New Space” economy seeks to generate societal value through data-heavy services that support internet connectivity and Earth observation, such as globally distributed and affordable broadband as well as remote sensing capabilities. Yet, systematic assessments of how the underlying digital infrastructures across the Earth–space systems that support these services are designed, financed, deployed, governed, and operated are notably absent. In other words, the New Space economy is often discussed as if it begins in off-world domains, even though its performance, resilience, and environmental footprint are shaped by decisions involving actors and infrastructures on Earth. Consequently, knowledge of these socio-technical systems remains relatively limited across academia, policy, and industry—risking the creation of additional silos and missed opportunities for collaboration, especially as space becomes more contested and increasingly tied to geopolitical competition. Our team is compiling a scoping report to help bridge this gap by mapping how this digital infrastructure stack supports activities in and beyond our planet, and by identifying emerging opportunities and challenges as private actors explore moving data processing and storage in space, including proposals for orbital data centers and edge computing.
Led by Research Associate Iago Bojczuk at the Berkeley Center for New Media (BCNM), the project will examine investments, as well as research and development gaps and bottlenecks, especially in the ground segment. It will also address the governance and sustainability questions that shape how space activities connect to digital networks across countries, often through strategic collaboration among multiple technical, scientific, and institutional entities. For this research track, we are looking for students who are interested in learning about the digital infrastructure and space sectors and who want to be part of a collaborative effort to make these research findings intelligible and accessible through writing, curriculum development, and multi-stakeholder engagement. This is a hands-on research role focused on making complex systems legible: tracing how data, funding, institutional politics, and infrastructure are mobilized across an increasingly hybrid public-private ecosystem. We welcome students from business, science, and engineering, as well as the humanities and social sciences, to join our interdisciplinary team. Students who participate for more than a semester may have opportunities to publish with our team, attend national or international conferences, and engage with external research partners.

Role: In this position, you can expect to

Build a holistic understanding of the digital infrastructure and space sectors, including the evolving roles of public agencies and private commercial actors.

Learn about the links between terrestrial digital infrastructure (fiber, data centers, Earth stations, and supercomputers) and the “New Space” economy, including low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites and emerging pushes for orbital computing.

Develop analytical skills by mapping investment flows, commercial competition, design strategies, and governance gaps across these converging industries.

Synthesize diverse sources, merging academic literature with real-world industry reports to assess the state of the art from multiple perspectives.

Translate complex findings into clear, organized writing, including data visualizations and accessible narratives for a multi-stakeholder audience.

Collaborate with team members across various disciplines, learning from fields such as business, engineering, social science, and the humanities, while contributing unique perspectives to the project.

Identify future trends, drawing evidence-based conclusions about the convergence of space activity, planetary-scale data demands, and sustainability constraints.


Potential weekly tasks could include:

Data Collection on Industry Developments: Assist the team in gathering primary data on the intersection of the space and digital infrastructure sectors. This involves analyzing industry reports, tracking investment flows, and conducting interviews or surveys with stakeholders (including adjacent sectors). Work will also include reviewing and synthesizing scholarly articles on infrastructures such as Earth stations and data centers.

Support on Planning and Executing Literature Reviews: Gather and synthesize relevant materials on the connections between terrestrial digital networks and the space economy. This includes collecting real-world examples from techno scientific organizations such as NASA and ESA, industry stakeholders, as well as mapping out best practices, failed initiatives, noteworthy policy frameworks, and international agreements.

Curriculum Development Support: Provide input for the development of modules for a course currently under development, offer feedback on covered themes, and be prepared to articulate the project’s goals to partners and students at UC Berkeley and beyond.

Project Representation and Dissemination: Serve as the project’s liaison during events at UC Berkeley and the broader community, providing progress updates and fostering connections with relevant departments and research centers as opportunities emerge.

Research & Publication Support: Help in the development of the research process that could potentially culminate in presentations and the production of a peer-reviewed paper for an academic journal, in close collaboration with the Research Associate and other members of the Global Digital Infrastructure program.

Qualifications: We seek a passionate undergraduate student to assist in compiling, analyzing, and reporting information on the global space and digital infrastructure sectors. Ideal candidates should have a strong interest in science and technology, particularly the intersection of the space economy and the ongoing push for digitalization. Candidates must be able to collaborate effectively with researchers from various fields, including professors, graduate students, post-doctoral scholars, and industry stakeholders, while also working independently and diligently. We value adaptability, the ability to learn from diverse team members, and the capacity to contribute unique insights to the project. If you have a passion for science and technology, curiosity about working with international partners, and a commitment to contributing to more accountable, resilient, and equitable systems, we would love to hear from you.

Required Qualifications:

Undergraduates with a background in any engineering, social science, or humanities discipline, such as media studies and communication, science and technology studies (STS), geography, economics, or sociology, as well as STEM areas such as physics and environmental science, are welcome to apply.

Preference is given to students who enjoy learning through a mix of qualitative and quantitative research approaches, and who have a keen interest in understanding the connection between the space economy and digital infrastructure sectors.

Keen interest in researching technology and the connections with various organizations, and a commitment to driving positive change toward more equitable and collaborative systems.

Ability to work independently, collaborate with a geographically dispersed team beyond Berkeley, and be proactive in completing project activities.


Other Skills:

Practical experience with academic research is desirable, including the ability to read and synthesize technical and scientific papers, organize data, write blog posts and essays, and meaningfully contribute to discussions. We also welcome students with technical proficiency in visualization tools to assist with producing maps, flow charts, and graphs.

Diversity:

We strongly encourage undergraduates passionate about technology, sustainability, and equity, even if they have not yet had any research experience, to apply. We are dedicated to increasing the participation of minority students in the field, so first-generation college students or members of minority groups are particularly welcome. Our team is committed to fostering diversity and inclusivity in all aspects of our research and providing mentorship to interested students.


Contact: For any questions, feel free to reach out to Research Associate Iago Bojczuk at iago.bojczuk@berkeley.edu.

Day-to-day supervisor for this project: Iago Bojczuk, Post-Doc

Hours: 6-8 hrs

Off-Campus Research Site: This job can be done remotely, and under flexible hours. Travel to conferences and field sites may also be available.

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