ROSES 2012 Nancy Grace Roman Technology Fellowships in Astrophysics | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the "ROSES 2012 Nancy Grace Roman Technology Fellowships in Astrophysics" opportunity?

This is a funding opportunity released by NASA under the NASA Research Announcement (NRA) number NNH12ZDA001N as part of NASA's broader Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences 2012 (ROSES 2012) solicitation. The listing highlights the Nancy Grace Roman Technology Fellowships in Astrophysics, but it sits within the larger ROSES framework that covers multiple science disciplines and program elements described in the ROSES appendices.

2) What is ROSES, and why does it matter for this fellowship listing?

ROSES is NASA's Science Mission Directorate umbrella solicitation used to fund a wide range of research and technology activities that support NASA missions and science goals. Even if you are focused on the Nancy Grace Roman Technology Fellowships in Astrophysics, key requirements, due dates, evaluation details, and points of contact are commonly defined in the ROSES appendices and the ROSES tables that list program elements and deadlines.

3) Which NASA organization is running this solicitation?

ROSES is issued by NASA's Science Mission Directorate (SMD), which supports research and technology across NASA science areas and missions.

4) What research areas does ROSES 2012 cover?

ROSES 2012 spans multiple disciplines, including Earth Science, Heliophysics, Planetary Science, and Astrophysics. Specific program details (including element-by-element requirements) are provided in the ROSES appendices.

5) What types of work can be supported under ROSES 2012?

The solicitation supports work across many stages of the research and technology pipeline, including:

• Theory, modeling, and analysis of NASA science data
• Development and maturation of instrumentation and experimental techniques for future missions
• Studies that build concepts for new space missions or advance enabling technologies relevant to NASA science objectives
• Investigations using aircraft, balloons, suborbital rockets, and commercial reusable rockets
• Laboratory analysis methods for extraterrestrial samples returned by spacecraft
• Laboratory analysis of terrestrial samples that help interpret or validate Earth-observing mission data
• Efforts to improve atomic and compositional parameters needed for interpreting observations
• Field campaigns and Earth surface observations tied to NASA missions
• Integrated Earth system modeling
• Applied information systems that translate Earth science research into societal benefits

6) How much funding is typically available?

Funding levels vary widely by program element and by the nature of the proposed work. Examples provided include narrowly scoped efforts (such as focused data analysis) that may be under $100,000 per year, while larger and more complex activities (such as development of science hardware) can exceed $1 million per year.

7) Does NASA state the total amount of money available?

The total amount available differs by program element, generally ranging from less than $1 million to several million dollars. This means some elements may fund only a handful of projects, while others may select several dozen, depending on merit, program priorities, and the quality and volume of submissions.

8) What funding instruments might NASA use for awards?

Depending on the applicant and the work, awards may be issued as grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, or inter- or intra-agency transfers. The administrative opportunity record lists grant and cooperative agreement as funding instrument types.

9) What is the typical period of performance?

The typical period of performance is four years. Some program elements may specify shorter timelines or allow up to a five-year maximum.

10) Who is eligible to apply?

NASA allows proposals from a wide range of organization types, including government and private entities, nonprofit and for-profit organizations, and both domestic and foreign institutions.

11) Are non-U.S. organizations allowed to participate?

Non-U.S. organizations may participate, but NASA policy generally requires projects involving non-U.S. organizations to be conducted on a no-exchange-of-funds basis. In practice, NASA funds are typically provided only to U.S. institutions. Special rules and exceptions are described in NASA's NRA Guidebook for Proposers and, in some cases, in joint solicitations with non-U.S. partners.

12) Is cost sharing or matching required?

No cost sharing or matching requirement is listed in the opportunity record.

13) What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?

The opportunity record lists CFDA 43.001 (Science).

14) What is the activity category for this opportunity?

The activity category is listed as science and technology and other research and development.

15) When was ROSES 2012 made available?

ROSES 2012 was made available around February 14, 2012 through NASA's NSPIRES portal.

16) When were proposals due?

Proposal due dates varied by program element, with dates beginning May 4, 2012 and continuing through March 22, 2013. For this specific opportunity record, the posting shows an original closing date of November 1, 2012, a current closing date of November 8, 2012, and an archive date of December 1, 2012, reflecting that individual program elements can have their own deadlines and may be amended within the overall ROSES window.

17) Is a Notice of Intent (NOI) required?

Many ROSES elements requested a Notice of Intent (NOI). The information provided indicates early NOI deadlines beginning March 16, 2012. Whether an NOI is needed for a specific element is determined by the ROSES appendices and the due-date tables.

18) Where do applicants find the specific requirements for a given program element?

Program-specific requirements, evaluation details, points of contact, and element-by-element instructions are provided in the ROSES appendices and in the tables listing due dates.

19) How do you submit a proposal?

Submission is electronic and must be made by an authorized official from the proposing organization.

20) Can proposals be submitted through Grants.gov?

Yes. Proposals can be submitted through NSPIRES or via Grants.gov. However, registration in NSPIRES is required for all proposers, and organizations that submit via Grants.gov must also be registered in Grants.gov.

21) Do principal investigators and co-investigators need NSPIRES accounts?

Yes. NASA emphasizes that all principal investigators and co-investigators must have NSPIRES accounts regardless of whether the proposal is submitted through NSPIRES or via Grants.gov.

22) Why does NASA recommend registering early?

NASA encourages applicants to register and become familiar with the submission systems early to avoid last-minute issues, since submissions are electronic and require NSPIRES accounts for investigators and authorized submission by the organization.

23) Who should be contacted for general ROSES policy or procedure questions?

General policy and procedure questions for ROSES were directed to Dr. Max Bernstein at NASA Headquarters (sara@nasa.gov; 202-358-0879).

24) Who should be contacted for technical questions?

Technical questions about particular program elements were to be handled by the program officers named in the ROSES appendices.

25) Where should applicants look for amendments or updates?

Applicants were encouraged to monitor NSPIRES and NASA's ROSES 2012 web archive for amendments, clarifications, and corrections issued through February 2013.

26) Why might the closing date change for an element under ROSES?

ROSES covers many program elements with different schedules, and individual elements can have their own deadlines and amendments within the broader ROSES window. The opportunity record reflects this by showing an original closing date and a later current closing date.

27) Is this opportunity limited to Astrophysics only?

This listing highlights the Nancy Grace Roman Technology Fellowships in Astrophysics, but it is part of ROSES, which spans multiple disciplines. The applicable scope for a specific submission depends on the program element and appendix you are responding to.