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ND NASA EPSCoR
FACULTY RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES

ND NASA EPSCoR
FACULTY SEED RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES
FUNDS AVAILABLE: Approximately $48,000
Issued: September 14, 2007
Deadline: Noon, October 8, 2007

TO:         NDSU and UND Faculty in Sciences, Engineering and Mathematics
FROM:   Dr. Paul S. Hardersen, Director, NDNASA EPSCoR
RE:         ND NASA EPSCoR Faculty Seed Research Opportunities

Printable Version (pdf)
Budget Summary

North Dakota NASA EPSCoR is currently soliciting faculty seed research proposals from North Dakota State University (NDSU) and University of North Dakota (UND) faculty in the physical sciences, engineering, and mathematics. Seed research proposals are designed to help faculty gain experience in formulating high-quality, rigorous research programs that have significant potential for non-NASA EPSCoR funding following the award period.

Awards require 1:4.50 match from the PI. Acceptable sources of match include state-appropriated faculty salary and cash. NDSU PIs must state any PI salary for match is during the academic year in the budget summary. UND PIs must include dates of the pay period being used for match, percent of effort, and source of faculty salary including a fund and department number. All sources of match can only be applied to the time period of the award. All awards require: 1) an end-of-year award report to be filed with the ND EPSCoR office, and 2) submission of a regular research proposal to NASA or NSF within 12 months of the end of the seed research funding. Failure to submit a regular research proposal to NSF or NASA will preclude the PI from further funding via North Dakota NASA EPSCoR.

Submissions must be consistent with one or more components of the 2006 NASA Strategic Plan, which can be found at: http://www.nasa.gov/about/budget/index.html

Preference will be given to proposals that align with ND NASA EPSCoR research priorities, which include planetary space suit research, astronomical/planetary sciences research, and other research areas that can be identified as offering significant potential for expansion in North Dakota. Preference will also be given to beginning, untenured faculty who have not yet received a ND NASA EPSCoR award. One major goal of the ND NASA EPSCoR program is to establish and nurture niche, NASA-related research focus areas in North Dakota that will attract additional NASA research funding to the state.

Faculty seed research funds will be available beginnng October 15, 2007, and must be spent no later than April 30, 2008. Proposers are encouraged to utilize the 2007 NRA Proposers Guidebook for guidance, which can be found here: www.hq.nasa.gov/office/procurement/nraguidebook

Checkist Requirements (submit in the following order):

1. Cover page that lists principal investigator (PI) contact information, amount of funding request, department chair signature, and a statement that the PI has/has not received ND NASA EPSCoR funding since July 1, 2005.

2. Proposal Transmittal Form. UND PIs complete a Proposal Transmittal Form and route the proposal through department, college, Grants & Contracts, and Research Development & Compliance (RD&C) for approval. The form can be found at: www.und.edu/dept/orpd/InternalForms.htm. NDSU proposals require a signed proposal transmittal form available through Sponsored programs Administration at www.ndsu.nodak.edu/research/spa/index.php.

3. A 5-10 page description of the proposed research that includes the following items:
a. Description of the primary research question and/or purpose
b. Description of the methodological approach and techniques
c. Relevance to NASA
d. Preliminary research results and implications, if applicable
e. Nature and extent of collaborations with NASA personnel
f. Contact information of NASA collaborators, if any
g. Letter from NASA collaborators that will contribute to this research, if any
h. Reference list, as appropriate

4. A detailed budget. Use the Budget Summary from at this web site: www.ndepscor/rfps/documents/NASABudgetform04220051206_001.doc . Include a one-page budget narrative along with the Budget Summary that itemizes, describes, and justifies each budget item. Include a separate, more detailed budget, if necessary, to provide sufficient detail. A lack of sufficient budget detail will adversely impact the evaluation of a proposal.

Original and three copies of proposals are due in the NDSU or UND ND EPSCoR office by Noon, October 8, 2007. Also, an electronic submission of the proposal as a single, unlocked PDF attachment must be sent to Carla Kellner at carla.kellner@und.nodak.edu.

Questions regarding this announcement can be addressed to Paul S. Hardersen, Director, ND NASA EPSCoR, (Hardersen@space.edu, 701-777-4896) or Carla Kellner (Carla.Kellner@und.nodak.edu, 701-777-2492).