NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship (NESSF) Proposal

Sundar A. ChristopherChairman, Atmospheric Science

Workshop for graduate students and those contemplating graduate school

Important Dates

Call for proposals...........................November 1, 2011 Proposals due (new applications)....February 1, 2012Announcement of new fellowships……...May 15, 2012Start date of fellowships................September 1, 2012

PROPOSAL MUST BE UPLOADED to ONLINE NASA SYSTEM JANUARY 3, 2012 so UAHuntsville can do the necessary paperwork.

PROPOSAL MUST BE UPLOADED to ONLINE NASA SYSTEM JANUARY 3, 2012 so UAHuntsville can do the necessary paperwork.

Why Apply?• $24, 000/year for THREE years as stipend –

one of the best packages!• All tuition paid• Health insurance paid• Prestigious• Independence• Opportunity to do research

All this to go to grad school, do some fun research, and get a degree!

NASA Science Mission Directorate Goals and Purpose

• Study planet Earth from space to advance scientific understanding and meet societal needs

• The purpose of NESSF is to ensure continued training of a highly qualified workforce in disciplines needed to achieve NASA’s scientific goals outlined above.

• Awards resulting from the competitive selection will be made in the form of training grants to the respective universities with the advisor serving as the principal investigator.

How Many Awards?

The financial support for the NESSF Program comes from SMD’s four science divisions: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Planetary Science, and Astrophysics. For the 2012/2013 academic year, NASA expects to award approximately 50 new graduate fellowships in Earth Science, 3-5 in Heliophysics, 10 in Planetary Science, and 6-10 in Astrophysics.

Who Can Apply?

Individuals pursuing Masters or Doctoral (Ph.D.) degrees in Earth and space sciences, or related disciplines

Reading

NASA Guidelineshttp://www.nsstc.uah.edu/~sundar/ats782/NESSF-2012-2013-Solicitation.pdf

Actual winning proposals are here:http://www.nsstc.uah.edu/sundar/#/?p=teachingUsername and password provided during workshop.

Compiled Individual EvaluationSolicitation No.:11-Earth11F-0151

Proposal Title: Satellite Remote Sensing ….Proposal Number:11-Earth11F-0151

• PI Name: Christopher, Sundar• PI Institution: UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA IN HUNTSVILLE• Review: ATMOS• Reviewer 1: Anonymous – Primary• Brief Description of Research:• Criteria: Academic Qualification of Student• Reviewer 1: Good=3• Criteria: Quality of Proposed Research• Reviewer 1: Good=3• Criteria: Relevance to NASA Priorities

Compiled Individual Evaluation Continued

• Reviewer 1: Very Good=4• Criteria: Soundness of Approach/Feasibility• Reviewer 1: Good=3• Criteria: Understanding of Research Area• Reviewer 1: Good=3• Enter sum of criteria score:• Reviewer 1:16• Strengths:• Weaknesses:• Overall Evaluation• Reviewer 1• Rationale for Overall Evaluation:

What to do?

• Talk to your adviser. He is the PI; therefore, he must be willing to support your project.

• If he approves:a) Register online in nspires.nasaprs.comb) Ask your adviser to email Linda Berry (berry@nsstc.uah.edu)

and provide name of student and title of project.c) Write an outline for proposal with idead) Ask adviser to review and provide feedbacke) Write the proposal and finalizef) Adviser must write a recommendation letterg) Adviser must initiate proposal in the NSPIRES system (NOT you)

Your Responsibilities

• After adviser initiates proposal, you must enter relevant information in NSPIRES system. Online system is self-explanatory.

• Upload proposal.

Before You Write the Proposal

• Think about your target audience.• Who is the reviewer? • How will they review.• Your margin for sloppiness? – None!• Each reviewer will be evaluating several

proposals.• Therefore, your proposal must be TOP NOTCH!

How To Write a Proposal

• Abstract• Introduction• Specific Objectives• Relevance to NASA Objectives• Data and Models• Methodology • Summary• References• Timeline of Research/Academic Goals

Abstract

Be concise and tell the entire story in a few words:

• Why is your project important? • Why are you doing this project? • What are the new methods and data? • Who will benefit?

The abstract is the most important piece since it is the first thing that a reviewer will read.

Introduction

• Explain your rationale for doing the project and show off your literature survey skills.

• Make sure that references are relevant.• Be specific and do not ramble

Specific Objectives

• Must be specific and to the point• The specific objectives of this project are …• Bulletize

Relevance to NASA Objectives• Cite and bold the objective and state how your proposal

fulfills the objectives.Example:

• The proposal announcement notes that team members will be expected to advance innovative and practical uses of Earth observations serving regional and/or national needs for decision-making through development of applications. The PI will use satellite data to provide an assessment of particulate matter air quality for SERVIR-Himalaya using practical and innovative methods. The PI will integrate satellite data with a regional chemistry model to provide air quality forecasts. These products will be delivered to SERVIR to fulfill the regional needs of aerosol impacts on air quality and climate.

Data and Models

• If data is involved indicate study area, months/years of data, types of data, and uncertainties you know about.

• Do not propose 10 year data analysis since the proposal is for 3 years.

• Succinctly explain the model, grid sizes, and the advantages and disadvantages of the model.

• Be upfront. Let the reviewer know that you have done your homework.

Methods

• Be specific and to the point.• Map every objective clearly to methodology. • Talk about expected outcomes.• Address uncertainties and errors clearly.• Include figures and preliminary results. This

signals the reviewer that you are indeed capable.

Summary

• Provide a succinct summary to remind the reviewer the high points is acceptable.

• Make sure you tell them why this proposal is important and who will benefit from such work.

Writing tips

• Only provide high quality, well labeled figures with descriptive captions. Reviewers get irritated with bad figures!

• Spell check, grammar check – repeatedly• Do not adjust font sizes and spacing. Follow the font

and margin requirements for the proposal. • Use a good font and be consistent. Make sure your

font meets the guideline requirements.• Proofread – over and over!• Write in an exciting tone. Show your enthusiasm in

your writing!• This means that you need to start your proposal

preparation – TOMORROW!

1. Carefully follow the instructions in the RFP.2. Focus the proposal on a single scientific problem

describing the research plan and anticipated results. 3. Provide judicious amounts of tutorial material, especially

if proposing innovative work. 4. Give credit to others as appropriate by including

references to preceding work in the field. 5. Proofread and spell check before submitting. If possible,

have a colleague proof the proposal.

Top Ten Do’s for Proposal Writing

6. Keep the proposal text as short as possible without sacrificing completeness.

7. Use clear, easy to read type fonts and page layouts of material.

8. Include all requested information. 9. Strive for realism and adequacy of the budget.10. Provide any and all material necessary to understand the

budget.

Top Ten Do’s for proposal writing – continued

Help Is Here

For more information, visit my website: http://sachristopher.wordpress.com/