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Faculty Seed Grant

Deadline: June 13, 2025 | Released: May 1, 2025

Overview

The Iowa Space Grant Consortium (ISGC) requests proposals for the Faculty Seed Grant (FSG) program which will provide support to faculty to develop research and engineering programs that align with the NASA Mission Directorate research priorities, with a goal to become a self-sustaining research program. The ISGC plans to award one project that is conducting research aligned with any of the six NASA Mission Directorates (MD), Aeronautics Research (ARMD), Mission Support (MSD), Science (SMD), Exploration Systems Development (ESDMD), Space Operations (SOMD), and Space Technology (STMD). The project will have a two-year period of performance with $40,000 awarded annually, contingent upon review and completion of deliverables set in this RFP. 

To be considered for this funding, proposals must be conducting innovative research directly with one of the six NASA MD’s. Engaging undergraduate students with the project is encouraged and will strengthen the proposal

Priority will be given to proposals which:

  1. Are conducting NASA-related research
  2. Collaboration with NASA and/or ISGC affiliates;
  3. Include STEM workforce development elements 

Projects will be selected through a competitive process using selection criteria put forth in this RFP. These criteria will show alignment with MD priorities, demonstrate capacity of key personnel, indicate acceptable level of likelihood to succeed, be sustained in the future, show and  include the involvement of students in research activities. The detailed ISGC Strategic Plan 2025-2028 and NASA 2022 strategic plan.  MD links can be found on ISGC web page at: https://www.iaspacegrant.org/resource

Eligibility, Amount of Award, and Duration

All faculty of ISGC Core Institutions are eligible to apply:  Drake, Iowa, ISU, and UNI.

Submission is limited to one proposal per investigator. One award will be funded at $40,000 annually for a two year period of performance beginning July 1, 2025, through June 21, 2027. A total of $80,000 will be awarded over the lifetime of the award. A progress report will be required annually in February. A final report that includes an evaluation of the project’s effectiveness relative to the proposed objectives and other standard ISGC and NASA requirements will be required 30 days after the performance period closes or by July 21, 2027. Future funding is contingent upon all reporting requirements being met annually. Awardees will be required to submit the progress and final reports through the ISGC portal for faculty reporting on our website. All awards are dependent upon NASA funding availability

Proposal Content:

Title Page: project title, Principal Investigator name, and contact information.
Project Description (five-page maximum, 12 pt. font) that should include:
  1. Background
  2. Goals and objectives of the project
  3. Support for mission directorate alignment
  4. Evaluation plan
  5. Timetable
  6. Long term benefits
  7. Key personnel
  8.  
Budget and budget narrative (two-page maximum)
  1. Budget and justification that explains, in itemized detail, the ISGC amount requested and non-federal match contributions from the proposing institution (see g. below)
  2. Cost-share can be cash and/or in-kind contributions of faculty or staff release time
  3. Charging indirect on NASA funds is not allowable
  4. Waived indirect from NASA funds and cost share may be counted towards meeting the total match required of 1:1 per award (i.e., $40,000)
  5. Equipment purchases, facility construction or renovation, and foreign travel are not permitted (the definition of equipment is >$5,000 per item)
  6. The ISGC excel budget template is required, and is available online.
Matching fund commitment letter from an authorized institutional representative (typically an office of sponsored programs or grants office {except at ISU – use departmental approval process})
Curriculum vitae of Principal Investigator (two–page maximum)

Allowable expenses

Funds may be used to purchase supplies, support faculty or staff release time, support undergraduate students, or domestic travel related to the project. The proposal budget justification should describe how requested funds support the project goals. All supported individuals (faculty, staff, and students) must be U.S. citizens. Non-U.S. citizens may participate but cannot receive direct compensation from the award or cost-share funding. See budget template for unallowable expenses

Criteria for Evaluation

A scientifically literate panel of individuals who may not necessarily be experts in the proposed area will review proposals. The ISGC director will make the final decision on proposal funding. The following areas will be considered in the evaluation of the proposal:

Criteria
Topics
%
Total
100%
Scientific & Educational Merit
Scientific, technical, and educational merit of the proposed project. Proposal is relevant to the STEM goals of NASA ISGC, Iowa and/or proposing institution. Builds new collaborations with one or more NASA centers that align with documented NASA and State of Iowa needs and priorities, involves other Space Grant affiliates (where appropriate). Has a plan to attract and engage students with a focus on STEM workforce development.
30%
NASA Relevance
The degree to which this proposal is relevant to NASA’s Mission Directorates.
30%
Management
Competency of the proposers to carry out the plan and achieve the stated goals. Potential of the project to increase undergraduate retention and achievement.
10%
Evaluation
Plan for evaluation of the course developed or re-designed
10%
Budget
Adequacy and appropriateness of the budget to carry out the project, including institutional contributions or other matching funds.
20%

Proposal Submission Procedure

Submit proposals in Microsoft Word format to the ISGC office via this link: Faculty Seed Grant Submission by June 13, 2025. The budget is to be submitted with the ISGC Excel template available for download at: https://www.iaspacegrant.org/faculty/  (Two sheets/tabs are provided: the budget template, and justification).

  1. Number of students involved in hands-on research,
  2. Demonstrated scholarship as measured by peer-reviewed papers, presentations, other publications, talks, posters and/or patents/licenses produced,
  3. NASA collaborations established or strengthened,
  4. Additional funding acquired.
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Questions

Questions may be sent to the ISGC administrative team: