The funding helped me to perform the research necessary for my thesis. 

Alaska Space Grant has helped me secure funding for a NASA internship. One of my goals for the next several years is to pursue summer opportunities outside of an academic setting to get a feel for what I might want to do after completing a PhD, and I think working for NASA is a great first step. Working for NASA may also give me ideas for future research projects, and ultimately for what I might want to work on for my dissertation.