The NASA Astrobiology Institute is pleased to announce selections for research awards resulting from its 2010 Director’s Discretionary Fund competition. The selections cover a wide range of research topics, including perchlorate salts in Mars analogue environments on Earth, the effects of the space environment on extremophilic bacteria, the search for extrasolar planets around M-stars, the potential for prebiotic organic synthesis in frost flowers, and the microbial diversity of domestic water heaters. Approximately $940K are allocated toward 15 awards. The median award is $44K.

Selections were based on external reviews, with selection priority given to proposals that:

  • integrate the research of and realize synergies among the current NAI teams;
  • expand the scope of NAI research (and the NAI community) in innovative ways, accepting some risk in return for high pay-off potential;
  • respond in a timely way to new scientific results or programmatic opportunities;
  • develop connections between astrobiology research and other NASA science programs, particularly NASA’s Earth Science Program;
  • directly support flight programs, particularly through instrument development; and/or
  • use funding particularly effectively, for example through leveraging or building on past investments.

In addition, priority was given to supporting early career investigators.

For more information, go to http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/nai/funding/the-nai-directors-discretionary-fund/2010/