About the NAI-MIRS Program in Astrobiology
The NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI) is a virtual organization that represents a partnership between NASA and competitively selected NAI Teams. The purpose of NAI is to promote, conduct, and lead integrated multidisciplinary research in the field of astrobiology. As part of its mission to help train a new generation of researchers in astrobiology and to increase diversity, NAI initiated the Minority Institution Research Support (MIRS) program in 2002. Beginning in the fall of 2005, Tennessee State University and the Minority Institute Astrobiology Collaborative (MIAC) partnered with NAI to manage the NAI-MIRS program.
The NAI-MIRS program is providing funding for summer sabbaticals in the field of astrobiology for two faculty members from minority institutions.
Minority Institution Research Sabbatical in Astrobiology
Faculty and researchers from minority institutions will be funded for the summer of 2010 to engage in a sabbatical focused on research in astrobiology. To compete for the two fellowship awards, the faculty member is expected to propose a research project that will fit into the Astrobiology Roadmap and be mentored by an established researcher in the field. The research project must have the potential for sustainability after the completion of the sabbatical.
Two fellowship awards will be funded for the summer of 2010.
Each fellowship award will provide:
- Stipend Support: up to 10 weeks at $ 1,600 per week with a $16,000 maximum award;
- Travel and Housing Allowances: $5,500 to spend up to 10 weeks at the host institution;
- Research Supplies: $5,000 in funding for supplies required to conduct research during the sabbatical period and/or establishing astrobiology research at the recipient’s home institution; and
- Travel Support: monies required to present at a national astrobiology conference with two students, pending NASA travel approval.
The length of the sabbatical is expected to be between six and ten weeks in the summer of 2010. The sabbatical will focus primarily, but not exclusively on the summer months. The selected applicant and two of his/her students will also receive funding for travel and housing to present at selected professional conferences..
Scientists from minority institutions, including Hispanic, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), and tribal colleges, are encouraged to submit proposals for this opportunity. The host scientist, or mentor, must be engaged in research related to the Astrobiology Roadmap. The applicant may spend the entire 10 weeks in one laboratory, but will be encouraged and supported to rotate through several laboratories focused on a similar topic. The sabbatical participants will also be encouraged to apply to become a member of an NAI Team or an NAI Focus Group.
The proposals for summer sabbaticals are due March 29, 2010. The two awards will be announced two to four weeks after the application deadline.