NASA Newsletter – Research at CUNY Queens College

Here are the latest updates on NASA opportunities for the Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) community from NASA’s MSI Engagement Team, including upcoming events, funding opportunities, and other opportunities for faculty and students.

Upcoming Events

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN: NASA MUREP’s HBCU/MSI Technology Infusion Road Tour hybrid event at Texas Southern University in Houston! Is your Minority Serving Institution interested in applying for NASA funding or partnering with large and small businesses on NASA contracts? Then join us in person or online at our next Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP) HBCU/MSI Technology Infusion Road Tour hybrid event September 13-15, 2022! Representatives from NASA’s Mission Directorates, Office of Small Business Programs, Office of Procurement, MUREP and others will share insight and opportunities to assist your pursuit of NASA funding. You’ll also have the chance to network with the speakers and their teams. Register now to hold your spot! Email [email protected] for more information.

Highlight your MSI’s expertise and capabilities on the MSI Exchange! Does your MSI have a Capability Statement in the NASA MSI Exchange? This resume-like tool is a great way to get your MSI noticed by NASA and its stakeholders to open doors for potential partnership on government contracts and awards.Register for our capability statement trainings on August 18th or September 28th to learn how to create or update one. If you’re unable to attend the live training, visit our pre-recorded training at your convenience or email the MSI Exchange team at [email protected] to get started.

Funding Opportunities

Now Open: Applications for NASA Innovation Corps™ Pilot. In an exciting, expanded partnership with the National Science Foundation, NASA’s Science and Space Technology Mission Directorates offer a new pathway to participate in Innovation Corps (I-Corps)™. The NASA I-Corps™ Pilot is aimed to accelerate the transition of promising ideas from the lab to the marketplace, while encouraging collaboration between academia and industry. The NASA I-Corps™ Pilot will support teams with access to training in innovation and entrepreneurship skills through a grant, for up to $10,000, and the opportunity to apply for additional funding, up to $40,000. Read the full NASA announcement. Eligible teams must include at least three members from higher education (two- to four-year institutions) or non-profit institutions with a NASA-relevant research focus. Proposing teams need not have received a previous NASA award to apply. Read the full solicitation and submit a proposal on NSPIRES. The recording from the June 29th webinar is here and the slides are posted under “Other Documents” on the NSPIRES page. Applications will be reviewed throughout the year with the following deadlines and targeted award start dates:

Due September 16th for award start date December 2022
Due November 17th for award start date February 2023
Due January 20th for award start date April 2023

Nominations for the Venus Science Coordination Group (VESCoor) due by September 30, 2022. NASA’s Planetary Science Division (PSD) and the European Space Agency (ESA) jointly are convening a Venus Science Coordinating group (VeSCoor). VeSCoor is a forum for dialogue within the broader, international Venus scientific community, in support of the upcoming ESA and NASA missions to Venus. VeSCoor’s primary goal is to identify new, unanticipated scientific approaches and outcomes based on synergies among the missions to Venus and suggest studies to enhance overall scientific return. PSD has announced the nomination process for U.S. VeSCoor participants via a Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) dated July 20, 2022 available in PDF format on Science.nasa.gov. Individuals may self-nominate or nominate another person. Nominations are due September 30, 2022 by 11:59 PM Eastern Time. Carefully read the DCL and the Terms of Reference (ToR) located under the “Community Announcements” section of the webpage entitled: For Researchers: Funding Opportunities and Announcements. PSD expects to select one co-chair and up to five members. Please email questions using “VeSCooR 2022” in the email’s subject line, to Dr. Adriana Ocampo, Venus International Liaison, NASA HQ Planetary Science Division at [email protected].

NASA Teams Engaging Affiliated Museums and Informal Institutions (TEAM II) Funding Opportunity! Team II is now accepting proposals for the new Community Anchor Awards for TEAM II (ANCHR), designed to support institutions, including Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), in strengthening themselves as a local NASA STEM informal education community resource. The basic goal of the TEAM II solicitation is to further NASA Strategic Objective 4.3: “Build the next generation of explorers” by engaging students to build a diverse future STEM workforce. Selected parties will offer NASA education directly aligned with space exploration, aeronautics, space science, earth science, or microgravity. Eligible proposers include U.S. non-profit science museums, planetariums, youth-serving organizations, and libraries. Proposals due October 18, 2022. Full information here.

Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) 2022 Released! ROSES is an omnibus solicitation with many individual program elements, each with its own due dates and topics. From the NSPIRES website, you can view the list of opportunities in Table 2 (organized by due date) or Table 3 (organized by subject matter) including hyperlinks to element descriptions in the Appendices. You can also view the list of open program elements here. Together, these program elements cover the wide range of basic and applied supporting research and technology in space and Earth sciences supported by NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. Visit the ROSES blog for more information. Here are a few of the many ROSES opportunities:
1. A.32 Weather and Atmospheric Dynamics solicits research using NASA data to advance our understanding of processes relevant to The Weather and Atmospheric Dynamics Focus Area. There are no limitations on the spatial and geographic scope of solicited efforts, but studies must link to meteorological and tropospheric phenomena. Proposed research should target processes that are relevant to the spatiotemporal cadence of the observations; however, the incorporation of methods that enable use of study observations to understand multi-scale phenomena is not precluded. Proposals must explicitly focus on remote sensing, and may utilize observations, reanalyses, assimilation, and model capabilities to perform the proposed science. This program element consists of two topical sub-elements: 1) Exploitation of Airborne Field Campaign Measurements, which targets the modern analysis of historic NASA airborne field campaign data with explicit links to NASA satellite data and 2) Characterizing and Understanding Uncertainty in the Atmosphere, aimed at increasing our understanding of NASA observations and the Earth system by improving the utilization of uncertainty estimates throughout the scientific process. Notices of intent are requested by September 16, 2022, and proposals are due November 2, 2022.
2. F.2 Topical Workshops, Symposia, and Conferences (TWSC F.12 of ROSES) solicitation. NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (SMD) solicits proposals for events, including asynchronous and virtual workshops, Open-Source Initiatives, etc., that contribute to SMD’s equity, science, technology and exploration goals. Because there is no central or dedicated TWSC funding, proposal submission requires designation of at least one reviewing program, division or office. Proposals that are relevant to more than one part of SMD also are welcome. Awards may be grants, cooperative agreements, intra-NASA transfers, or inter-agency agreements, as appropriate. This amendment releases the final text for F.2 TWSC, which had been listed as “TBD.” As a no due date or rolling submissions competition, TWSC proposals may be submitted at any time through May 12, 2023. TWSC does not accept Notices of Intent, but potential proposers must confirm the event’s topical relevancy and availability of funds before preparing or submitting a proposal to one or more SMD program officer listed here. General questions concerning may be directed to the coordinating point of contact at [email protected].
3. A.51 Applications-Oriented Augmentation for Research and Analysis The Earth Science Research and Analysis (R&A) and Applied Sciences programs are collaborating to support current R&A investigators in enabling them to work across the traditional boundaries between research and applications by adding end-user and stakeholder engagement to existing work to support “research to applications” and/or “applications to research” activities. This effort is intended to develop the capacity of investigators to work with end users. R&A will provide financial support and the Applied Sciences Program will provide guidance and resources to help investigators work with end-users and direct their research towards decision making applications. Proposals may be submitted at any time throughout the year until March 29, 2023.
4. B.20 Heliophysics Tools and Methods (HTM) program solicits proposals to advance the goal of a robust, vital, and cohesive Python environment for Heliophysics through Solar, Heliospheric, Magnetosphere, and Ionosphere/Thermosphere/Mesosphere. Proposals may be submitted at any time throughout the year until March 29, 2023.

Get ready to apply for future funding opportunities! Start by visiting the NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System (NSPIRES) website and creating an account. Then you’ll be ready to apply when new funding opportunities become available. Need assistance setting up your account? Contact [email protected]. Be sure to register for their newsletter to get announcements when new solicitations are posted.

Faculty Opportunities

Sign up to be a proposal reviewer! A great way to learn the NASA solicitation proposal process, contribute to your professional development, and support the mission of NASA is to sign up to be a proposal reviewer through NSPIRES. Whether you’re new to the federal awards process, or a seasoned veteran in applying for NASA solicitations, share your time and perspective and get a feel for what makes a good proposal to inform your future submissions. Create an NSPIRES account and sign up to be a reviewer as opportunities arise!

University Leadership Initiative (ULI) Solicitation Now Available! ULI provides the opportunity for university teams to exercise technical and organizational leadership in proposing unique technical challenges in aeronautics, defining multi-disciplinary solutions, establishing peer review mechanisms, and applying innovative teaming strategies to strengthen the research impact. This NRA will utilize a two-step proposal submission and evaluation process. The initial step is a short mandatory Step-A proposal due August 30, 2022. Those offerors submitting the most highly rated Step-A proposals will be invited to submit a Step-B proposal. All proposals must be submitted electronically through NSPIRES. The recording and slides of the recentApplicant’s Workshop with more information are now available for viewing. To be listed as an interested lead or partner, contact [email protected] with “ULI Partnerships” in the subject line and include the information required for the table in that web page. Research proposals are sought in seven ULI topic areas in Appendix D.4.

Topic 1: Safe, Efficient Growth in Global Operations (Strategic Thrust 1)
Topic 2: Innovation in Commercial Supersonic Aircraft (Strategic Thrust 2)
Topic 3: Ultra-Efficient Subsonic Transports (Strategic Thrust 3)
Topic 4: Safe, Quiet, and Affordable Vertical Lift Air Vehicles (Strategic Thrust 4)
Topic 5: In-Time System-Wide Safety Assurance (Strategic Thrust 5)
Topic 6: Assured Autonomy for Aviation Transformation (Strategic Thrust 6)
Topic 7: Zero Emission Aviation
Topic 8: Materials and Structures for Next-Generation Aerospace Systems

Applications for NASA SBIR Ignite small businesses funding opportunity due September 1st! As the entrepreneurial aerospace ecosystem continues to evolve, NASA recognizes that public-private partnerships produce greater impact. SBIR Ignite is a new way for small businesses that have a commercially viable technology idea to use NASA as a steppingstone in their path towards commercial success. With a greater emphasis on commercialization, SBIR Ignite funds U.S. early-stage, high-risk technology development to help make companies and their technologies more attractive to private sector investors, customers, and partners. Stay connected with the opportunity by signing up for communications to ensure you receive updates and submit your application by the September 1st deadline. Visit the SBIR Ignite solicitation page and view the recording for the recent webinar for more information!

NASA Opens Second Phase of $3.5 Million Lunar Excavation Competition. NASA launched the second phase of its Break the Ice Lunar Challenge to advance technology that is – quite literally – groundbreaking. The challenge invites the public to advance system technology for excavating and delivering lunar resources. Teams will be asked to design, build, and test an icy regolith excavation system prototype and an icy regolith transportation system prototype to maximize resource delivery while minimizing energy use and the mass of equipment delivered to the lunar surface. Phase 2 contains three levels, will last for 23 months, and offers a total prize purse of $3 million. Phase 1 teams, as well as new competitors, are encouraged to register for Phase 2 on the challenge site by 11:59 p.m. CT on September 30, 2022. For more information about the challenge, visit https://breaktheicechallenge.com/

Apply to DEVELOP for cultivation of the next generation of leaders and Earth observation users! DEVELOP provides 10-week research opportunities for participants to address environmental and policy concerns through the practical application of NASA Earth science information and geospatial data. Working in interdisciplinary teams and with the support of science advisors and mentors, DEVELOP participants build research and science communication skills that help them succeed in the workforce. The Spring 2023 Deadline is October 7, 2022. Click here for full project details and application information.

Check out NASA TechPort! If you are looking for information about NASA-developed technologies that can be utilized or built-upon, or to see where there may be gaps to fill, check out NASA TechPort. Showcasing NASA’s portfolio of active and completed technology projects, TechPort contains information for over 15,000 NASA-developed technologies, representing over $12 billion in applied research and experimental development investments. TechPort allows technologists and researchers to find technologies by organization, maturity, technology area/discipline, and work location. Each record has detailed information about the development including the benefits provided, research findings, partners/collaborators, points of contact, and more. Take a tour of the website and see how your research and expertise may be able to connect to NASA technologies.

Student Opportunities

REGISTER NOW for NASA Days to network and interview with NASA managers for internships! Want the latest update on NASA OSTEM and Pathways Internship Programs? NASA Days MSI Internship Information/Workshop Sessions will be a part of the next NASA MUREP’s HBCU/MSI Technology Infusion Road Tour hybrid event at Texas Southern University in Houston September 13-15, 2022! As part of the Road Tour, MSI students are invited to attend in-person or virtual internship sessions on September 13th and 14th with an opportunity to network with NASA managers and internship coordinators on September 14th and interview with a NASA manager on September 15th. Register for NASA Days here then and visit the NASA Internships website for more general information. For more information email [email protected].

NASA Spring 2023 Internship applications due November 7th! As a NASA intern, students will work with leading experts and gain valuable experience as they participate in research and mission projects. Spring internship applications are being accepted through November 7th. Applications for Summer 2023 are due March 10th. Share the “5 Misconceptions about Applying for a NASA Internship” with students undecided about applying. For more information and to apply, visit the NASA Internship Program’s website.

GET READY to form your own MUREP Innovation and Tech Transfer Idea Competition (MITTIC) team! Are you fascinated by NASA technology? Can you turn a creative idea into a real-world application? Do you want to be an entrepreneur? The Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP) Innovation and Tech Transfer Idea Competition (NASA MITTIC) is your #SpaceToPitch! MITTIC is a spinoff challenge to develop new ideas for commercialization open to multi-disciplinary student teams attending Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs). Teams selected to participate will receive up to $5,000 with the winning team receiving an additional $10,000. Open office hours are available every Tuesday and Thursday from 3-4 p.m. CDT, on Microsoft Teams. To get started on your NASA MITTIC journey, visit their website. Check out the new enhancements for this year’s MITTIC competition!

NASA MITTIC is now offering TWO opportunities to compete:
- NASA MITTIC Fall proposals are accepted from August 17, 2022, through October 26, 2022.

NASA MITTIC Spring proposals are accepted from January 3, 2023, through March 15, 2023.

Teams are now able to use ANY NASA Intellectual Property (IP) from the patent portfolio as the basis for their spinoff concept. A list of 45 suggested technologies can also be found on our website.
MITTIC no longer requires prerequisites or training courses to be completed before a team may submit a proposal for the competition. However, teams who complete and submit proof of their training will receive additional points on their submitted proposal.

Student Teams needed for the FLOATing DRAGON! The FLOATing DRAGON (Formulate, Lift, Observe, And Testing; Data Recovery And Guided On-board Node) Balloon Challenge asks teams and their faculty advisors to design and prototype ideas for a guided data vault recovery system. Approximately four teams will be chosen to build and test their prototypes. Each finalist team will receive $5,000 to offset some development and participation costs. Upon successfully passing a rigorous mission review process (with the guidance of a dedicated NASA mission manager), finalist teams will conduct a test drop of their data recovery system in Ft. Sumner, New Mexico, in August 2023. The winning team may have an opportunity to integrate their system into official NASA development. A Notice of Intent is requested by Sept. 15. Proposals are due Oct. 20.

Registration NOW OPEN for the NASA International Space Apps Challenge! The world’s largest annual hackathon returns this year with the theme “Make Space,” which emphasizes NASA’s commitment to inclusivity. This year’s challenge will focus on Earth and space science, technology, and exploration. Participant registration for in-person and virtual events is now open through Oct. 2. Space Apps provides a platform where everyone across the globe with a passion for creativity and innovation can use their unique perspectives to tackle challenges created by NASA experts. The challenges range in skill level, expertise, subject matter, and objective, and span a spectrum of disciplines and interests that range from artificial intelligence and software development to art and storytelling. Visit the Space Apps website to register for an in-person or online event on Oct. 1-2, 2022.

Interested in Earth Science? The DEVELOP program provides 10-week research opportunities for participants to address environmental and policy concerns through the practical application of NASA Earth science information and geospatial data. Working in interdisciplinary teams and with the support of science advisors and mentors, DEVELOP participants build research and science communication skills that help them succeed in the workforce. The Spring 2023 Deadline is October 7, 2022. Click here for full project details and application information.

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