CALL FOR PROPOSALS

VERMONT SPACE GRANT 

GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANTSHIPS FOR 2012-2013 

Submission Deadline  --  March 19, 2012, 4:00 p.m.

 GRA Competition Cover

 The Vermont Space Grant Consortium (VTSGC) is pleased to announce that, subject to the availability of NASA funding, Graduate Research Assistantships for the12-month period consisting of the 2012-2013 Academic Year and summer, 2013 will be available on a competitive basis to MS and Ph.D. students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines at the University of Vermont.

I.  Program Overview

The goal of this program is not only to help prepare the next generation of researchers in STEM disciplines but to provide research support for faculty working in areas that align with new and continuing NASA research priorities and technology needs.  Therefore, the proposal for a VTSGC Graduate Research Assistantship must be written by the faculty principal investigator and designed to show how the requested support for a specific student will advance the P.I.’s research program in an area that is a NASA research priority.  The project must have the potential to be nationally competitive for follow-on funding from NASA or another Federal agency through regular channels.

II.  Who Is Eligible 

Faculty Principal Investigators will be full-time UVM faculty in STEM disciplines working in a research area currently funded by NASA.  Preference will be given to tenure track faculty.  Students must be US citizens studying full-time at UVM for a graduate degree in a STEM discipline.  Ideally, the student will have completed the bulk of his or her formal course work requirements and be able to devote significant time to research.  Faculty P.I.’s are especially encouraged to propose awards for students who are women, members of underrepresented groups in STEM disciplines, or persons with a disability.

 III.  Amount and Period of Support

Subject to the timely arrival of NASA funding, these awards will provide graduate student support of up to $27,500 for a 12-month period consisting of the 2012-2013 Academic Year and the summer of 2013.

 IV.  Application Procedure 

  1. A hardcopy of the following must be received in the Vermont Space Grant Office (Pearl House, 2nd Floor - Room 209, 12 Colchester Ave, Burlington, VT  05401) no later than 4:00 p.m. on March 19, 2012:
    1. A signed proposal Cover Page (Attached and on VTSGC Website),
    2. The Proposal Packet described below, and
    3. A transcript for the student.
  2. An electronic version (PDF or MS Word) of the Proposal Packet must also be sent as an email attachment to the VTSGC’s Director, Bill Lakin, at the email address wlakin@together.net no later than 4:00 pm on March 19, 2012.

 V.  The Proposal Packet 

The proposal packet should include

1.      A short description of the project (no more than three pages exclusive of citations) including the role the student will play and any previous work done by the student.

2.      A short section containing explicit evidence that the project is aligned with a new or continuing NASA research priority.  For example, the P.I. may cite a current or pending NASA Research Announcement (NRA) or include an email of support from a NASA researcher to demonstrate NASA interest.

3.      A short description of how the student will be mentored.

4.      A two-page faculty C.V. (per faculty, if joint).

5.      A listing of all current and pending support (grants, contracts, subcontracts) including role in projects, time commitments, effective dates, and dollar amounts (indicate if total or direct costs).

6.      A one-page C.V. for the student and a course plan for the year of support for the student.  The course plan should include all courses in which the student will be enrolled for the proposed period of support.

7.      An Appendix containing any other information that you wish to have considered in the evaluation of the proposal.  However, an extensive Appendix is discouraged and may not be considered by the Review Panel.

 VI.  Obligations Associated With Funding

  1. This funding is expected to lead to the P.I. submitting a research grant proposal to NASA or another Federal agency for follow-on funding to sustain the project beyond the end of the award period.
  2. The P.I. will, on request, provide Progress Reports to the Space Grant Office during the award period.  A Final Report will be due within 30 days of the end of the award period.

 Please contact Bill Lakin, Director of the Vermont Space Grant Consortium, at 324-8206 or by email (wlakin@together.net) if further information is required.