The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Headquarters has released a solicitation, titled NASA Space Technology Research Fellowships (NSTRF) – Fall 2017, on September 8, 2016. The solicitation is available by visiting the URL: https://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/summary.do?method=init&solId={A3488581-2E70-6AA1-76F0-E9A5A770A975}&path=open

NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) seeks to sponsor U.S. citizen and permanent resident graduate student researchers who show significant potential to contribute to NASA’s goal of creating innovative new space technologies for our Nation’s science, exploration, and economic future. This call for graduate student fellowship applications solicits applications from individuals pursuing or planning to pursue master’s (e.g., M.S.) or doctoral (e.g., Ph.D.) degrees in relevant space technology disciplines at accredited U.S. universities.

Selected applicants will perform research at their respective campuses and at NASA Centers. In addition to his or her faculty advisor, each Fellow will be matched with a technically relevant and community-engaged researcher who will serve as the student’s research collaborator.

This solicitation has two phases:

- Phase A is the application submission by the student. All Phase A applications must be submitted electronically through NSPIRES and are due by 6 PM ET on November 3, 2016. Detailed submission instructions for applicants are provided under “Other Documents” on the NSPIRES webpage associated with the NSTRF17 solicitation. Potential student applicants are urged to access the NSPIRES electronic proposal system well in advance of the proposal due date to register with NSPIRES, familiarize themselves with its structure, and to enter the requested information.

- Phase B is the application submission by the university where the selected student will be enrolled for the fall 2017 term as a full-time graduate student (as specified in the NSTRF17 solicitation).

Awards are planned to coincide with the start of the 2017 academic year and are subject to the availability of appropriated funds. Awards resulting from this competitive selection will be made in the form of training grants to accredited U.S. universities. This solicitation covers only new fellowship applications; renewal applications are handled separately.

Comments and questions may be addressed by e-mail to the Space Technology Research Grants Program Executive, Claudia Meyer (hq-nstrf-call@mail.nasa.gov). Responses to inquiries will be answered by e-mail and may also be included in the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document located on the NSPIRES page associated with the solicitation; anonymity of individuals/institutions who submit questions will be preserved.