Early-Stage Investigator

Applications Open: October 28, 2022
Submission Deadline: December 12, 2022
Award Announcements: February 24, 2023

Announcement of Opportunity

up to $10,000
*One award anticipated based on availability of funds. The remaining applicants will automatically be considered for the Research Infrastructure Program award.

The Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium (WSGC) Early-Stage Investigator (ESI) award supports faculty members in the development of research capacity and/or the pursuit of initial research data for subsequent proposals to the WSGC or other funding entity. Applicants must be 1) in the first five years of their first tenure-track** appointment and 2) a full-time faculty member at a WSGC affiliate university or college. Proposals must show explicit alignment with the goals of one or more NASA Mission Directorates.

**Full-time faculty members from colleges and universities that do not have tenure-track faculty may also apply. Applicants should include a statement regarding their faculty status and the relevant appointment policies of their institution.

**Full-time faculty members from colleges and universities that do not have tenure-track faculty may also apply. Applicants should include a statement regarding their faculty status and the relevant appointment policies of their institution.

• Develop new or enhance existing lines of research
• Involve or have the potential to involve undergraduate and/or graduate students
• Quantitatively demonstrate impact (e.g., through number of students engaged, future funding opportunities pursued, or other institutional metric of faculty effectiveness)
• Initiate or enhance research in line with one or more NASA Mission Directorates (For more information on NASA Directorates, see spacegrant.carthage.edu/about/mission/directorates)

Successful proposals will combine a robust, relevant research project with a plan that contextualizes the proposed project within a larger strategic plan for the research. Clear and measurable outcomes that are aligned with the project activities, and a detailed budget with explicit alignment to project objectives are required (See Announcement of Opportunity for Grant Budget Proposal and Invoice Reporting Template Form).

Awards will be based on the proposal topic alignment with NASA Goals, the probability of success as measured by the coherence of the project objectives and proposed activities, the significance of the research, and the likely impact of the proposed project on the applicant’s professional development.

Periods of performance may not extend beyond March 31, 2024.

• Register on the WSGC website (https://spacegrant.carthage.edu/forms/account/login) Returning applicants will be required to update registration information annually.
• Sign in and submit the Grant Application Form(applicants may apply to multiple funding programs) and supporting documents.
• NOTE: In the award field, please select Early-Stage Investigator: Up to $10,000.

• Full-time faculty members within the first five years of their first tenure-track** appointment at WSGC Affiliate universities and colleges are eligible.
• Students funded through this grant must be U.S. Citizens.
• Affiliate member institutions must have affiliate award agreement documents on file with the WSGC Program Office.
• Research initiatives must align with at least one of NASA’s Mission Directorates: Aeronautics Research, Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, Space Operations Mission Directorate, Science, and/or Space Technology.
• Research initiatives must focus on NASA-related activities including: earth and atmospheric sciences, astronautics, aeronautics, space sciences, and any other space-related fields (e.g. agriculture, business, law, medicine, nursing, social and behavioral sciences, space architecture, and space biology).
• Students funded through this grant must be U.S. Citizens.
• The Consortium especially encourages applications from women, minorities and persons with disabilities.
• Minimum 1:1 match from Affiliate campus is required.

Submit a proposal addressing each of the six elements listed below. Be sure to clearly identify each element within the proposal with a section heading. Applicants will be asked to upload the proposal at the bottom of the application. It should not exceed 10 pages, including figures (see the Announcement of Opportunity for more details).

• Introduction/Summary
• Background
• Proposed Activities
• Timeline
• Budget:  Grant Budget Proposal and Invoice Reporting Template Form
• CV/Personnel*
  *Note: This grant only allows one Principal Investigator to be listed on the application.

As part of the award acceptance, awardees will be asked to attend the Annual Wisconsin Space Conference as outlined in the award agreement and submit the following documents on the WSGC application website under Manage Applications/Current Grant Cycle Applications

• Award Agreement Letter
• Institution W9
• Media Release Form
• One-Paragraph Biography
• PI Professional Photo
• Quarterly Invoices/Cost-Share Report with Supporting Documentation
• Office of Education Survey must be completed by November 15, 2023, and updated with Final Report
• Interim Report (if period of performance is greater than 6 months)
• Summary/Final Report (due 30 days after the project end date)
• Present project at the Annual Wisconsin Space Conference
• 2-3 project photos featuring faculty/students/program participants
• Alumni Story

Please direct questions about the Early-Stage Investigator program to:

Gubbi Sudhakaran
Associate Director for Research Infrastructure
Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium
Associate Dean, College of Science and Health
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
Phone: 608-785-8431
Fax: 608-785-8403
gsudhakaran@uwlax.edu

Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium
Carthage College
2001 Alford Park Drive
Kenosha, WI 53140
Phone: 262-551-6054
E-mail: spacegrant@carthage.edu