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NASA Space Technology Research Fellowships (NSTRF12) - FAQs

1) What is the NASA Space Technology Research Fellowships (NSTRF) opportunity?

The NASA Space Technology Research Fellowships (NSTRF) was a competitive graduate fellowship opportunity released by NASA Headquarters under the NASA Office of the Chief Technologist (OCT). The Fall 2012 fellowship start opportunity is identified as NSTRF12 and was focused on supporting graduate-level space technology research that aligns with NASA strategic goals and missions.

2) What is the primary purpose of the NSTRF program?

The program was designed as a workforce development effort to build a national pipeline of highly skilled engineers and technologists. It aimed to strengthen U.S. technological competitiveness and help develop future leaders in space technology through research training in practical, mission-relevant technology areas.

3) Is NSTRF a general scholarship or a research-focused fellowship?

NSTRF emphasized research training in practical, mission-relevant space technology areas rather than serving as a general scholarship. Fellows were expected to conduct innovative space technology research as the central component of the award.

4) Who is eligible to be supported by this fellowship?

The fellowship targeted U.S. citizen and permanent resident graduate students who show strong potential to contribute to NASA strategic goals and missions through space technology research.

5) What degree levels and fields of study does this opportunity target?

NSTRF targeted students who were either already pursuing, or planning to pursue, advanced STEM degrees (Masters or Ph.D.) in space technology-relevant disciplines at accredited U.S. universities.

6) Where is the fellow expected to conduct research?

Selected fellows were expected to conduct innovative space technology research primarily at their home universities.

7) Are there opportunities to conduct research at NASA Centers or other labs?

Yes. In addition to research at the home university, the fellowship described opportunities for exposure to broader research environments through opportunities at NASA Centers and at nonprofit U.S. research and development laboratories.

8) Does the program include mentoring?

Yes. Alongside the student’s faculty advisor, NASA planned to pair each fellow with a technically aligned professional mentor described as both community-engaged and relevant to the student’s research area.

9) What is the role of the NASA mentor in the fellowship experience?

The mentorship component was positioned as a key part of the training experience, intended to help students deepen their understanding of how research is developed, executed, reviewed, and translated into real-world technology progress.

10) Who receives the award funds: the student or the university?

Awards were issued as training grants made to the participating universities rather than directly to individual students.

11) Who submits the application?

Universities submitted applications on behalf of the student candidates.

12) How must applications be submitted?

All submissions had to go through NASA’s NSPIRES electronic proposal system, with final submission completed by an authorized organizational representative.

13) Where do applicants find the solicitation in NSPIRES?

The solicitation was accessed through the NASA Research Opportunities homepage (NSPIRES) by navigating to Open Solicitations and selecting NSTRF12.

14) What is the solicitation identifier for this fellowship?

The solicitation identifier is NSTRF12.

15) When was the opportunity posted?

The posting date was November 4, 2011, and the creation date was also November 4, 2011.

16) What was the application deadline?

Applications were due on or before January 11, 2012.

17) When were awards expected to start?

Awards were planned to align with the start of the 2012 academic year, contingent on the availability of appropriated funds.

18) What funding category and CFDA number are associated with this opportunity?

This solicitation fell under a discretionary grant category with a science and technology research and development focus. The CFDA number listed was 43.009 (Cross Agency Support).

19) Is cost sharing or matching required?

No cost sharing or matching requirement was indicated.

20) What should applicants do to avoid last-minute submission issues?

NASA encouraged applicants, advisors, and institutions to begin working in NSPIRES well ahead of the deadline to avoid last-minute technical or procedural issues and to become familiar with required fields and uploaded documents.

21) What if a student expects to change institutions for their graduate program?

Students who anticipated changing institutions were encouraged to coordinate early with faculty at the prospective institution(s) to assemble a competitive submission package through the university that would host their degree.

22) Who should be contacted with program questions about NSTRF12?

NASA directed applicants to contact the Space Technology Research Grants Program Executive, Claudia Meyer, via email at hq-nstrf-call@mail.nasa.gov.

23) How does NASA handle responses to submitted questions?

NASA noted that responses would be provided by email and also added to a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document hosted on the NSPIRES page for the solicitation, with anonymity preserved for those submitting questions.

24) Who should be contacted for technical or access issues related to the announcement?

Technical or access issues could be addressed through NAIS Support at nais.support@nasa.gov.