New Investigator Program

Request for Proposals

The Virginia Space Grant Consortium (VSGC) is seeking tenure track faculty at member universities for our New Investigator Program. This program is designed to strengthen Virginia's research infrastructure by providing startup funding to Virginia Space Grant Consortium university personnel who are conducting research that is directly aligned with NASA's mission. The RFP is open to new tenure track faculty at VSGC member institutions; College of William and Mary, Hampton University, Old Dominion University, University of Virginia and Virginia Tech.

NASA's research interests embrace a wide range of science, engineering, computational and other disciplines. This opportunity is available to new faculty members who are within the first five (5) years of their academic career. The deadline for electronic proposals is January 15, 2013.

Individuals must be qualified to serve as a principal investigator at their respective institution and be a U.S. Citizen. A total of 5 awards of $10,000 each will be made. The award period is February 1, 2013 - January 31, 2014. Submission is limited to one proposal per investigator.

DOWNLOAD the request form.

Five faculty members from VSGC-member universities have received the New Investigator Program award of $10,000 each for the 2011-2012 cycle. The New Investigator Program award is designed to strengthen Virginia's research infrastructure and to provide start-up funding for new faculty members who have yet to become established researchers. Geared to faculty who are conducting research directly aligned with NASA's mission, the program targets those who are in the first five years of their academic career. Faculty who submit a proposal must be qualified to serve as the principal investigator at their respective institutions. Proposals are reviewed by a panel of VSGC member university representatives and NASA experts.

Since 2009, a total of $150,000 has been awarded to 15 faculty members!

Recipients for the 2011-2012 program cycle are:

Dr. Phil Arras
University of Virginia
Department of Astronomy
Physics of Estrasolar Planet Atmospheres, Interiors and Orbits

Dr. Stella B. Bondi
Old Dominion University
Department of Engineering Technology
Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) and Composite Material-Analyzing Mechanical Properties

Dr. K. Todd Lowe
Virginia Tech
Aerospace & Ocean Engineering Department
Demonstration of a 16 Simultaneous Point, Spatio-Temporally Resolved Flow Thermometry Technique for High Speed Flow Research

Dr. Iordanka N. Panayotova
Old Dominion University
Department of Mathematics & Statistics
High Altitude Clear Air Atmospheric Turbulence: Improving the Forecasting through Increasing the Fundamental Understanding of Causes and Mechanisms Leading to Turbulence

Dr. Kristin Wustholz
College of William and Mary
Department of Chemistry Enhancing the Electron Transfer of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Using Single Molecule Microscopy