Research Initiation Grants

NASA EPSCoR will award up to three Research Initiation Grants (RIGs), each averaging $21,000. Travel Grant recipients who have been successful in establishing links with a NASA Center counterpart will be invited to compete for Research Initiation Grants. The purpose of these grants is to help develop research ideas and initiate projects related to NASA's Mission Directorates in collaboration with researchers at one of the NASA Field Centers. Please refer to the NASA's Four Mission Directorates for areas of research interest. 

In order to apply for a Research Initiation Grant, applicants must have been awarded a Travel Grant and have completed a visit to a NASA Field Center by December 31st, 2009. These grants are primarily intended to support Post Doctoral Research time, Graduate Assistant(s), Undergraduate Assistant(s), materials and supplies, and travel to NASA Centers for extended research visits. In order to apply for a Research Initiation Grant, researchers must align the project with the NASA's Strategic Plan and submit an original and eight copies of a proposal consisting of the following:

  1. cover page (click here for the cover/application page.)
  2. a research proposal limited to five pages of text. The proposal must address how the research will align with the Oklahoma's economic plan (Oklahoma EDGE) and education agenda.
  3. the proposal must relate to NASA's mission or Four Directorates.
  4. a one page budget (click here for budget page)
  5. a two page vitae of the Principal Investigator
  6. a letter of support and a commitment to collaborate from a NASA Center counterpart
  7. an original and eight hard copies.

**Permanent equipment and faculty salaries may not be included in the budget.

Proposal criteria include the following: 

  Cover Page/Application (5 points)

  Research Proposed: 

      Scientific and technical merit (25 points)

      Relevance to NASA (25 points)

      Relevance of the research project to Oklahoma's research interests and capabilities (10 points)

  Budget (20 points)

  NASA Contact Letter - should reflect strong support for research collaboration (15 points)

  Total Score (100 points)

Awards for Spring 2010 will be announced by January 14th, 2010. 

**Deadline for Spring 2010 Award is January 6th, 2010. 

Completed proposals should be submitted to: 

Stephanie Ponder, Project Coordinator
NASA Space Grant Consortium/NASA EPSCoR
The University of Oklahoma
College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences
1623 Cross Center Dr., Suite 9
Norman, Oklahoma 73019
405.325.6559
stephanieOKSG@ou.edu


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