Identification of an Adviser is important, since the awards are made to the Research Adviser at the university on behalf of the student.
I am presently waiting for my citizenship, am I eligible to apply for the fellowship?
The GSRP supports students who are U.S. citizens while they are pursuing advanced degrees in science and engineering. U.S. citizenship is a requirement for participation in GSRP. NASA's Earth System Science Fellowship Program (ESS Fellowships) is, however, open to both U.S. and non-U.S. citizens. Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact the appropriate ESS Program Manager prior to submission of an application. ESS Applications are due on February 1, with funding beginning on September 1. Application information can be found here. Additional information concerning ESS can be found on the NASA Spacelink website.
Processing On-line Applications
Can the electronic form be saved and edited before final submission?
After the initial submission of the on-line form(s), students should be able to log on and edit any of the forms up until the deadline, February 1, 2007. After this date the forms will be closed and no further changes can be made. If problems arise, contact the GSRP technical help staff at gsrp@nasaprs.com or call (202) 479-9376.
What forms are required, in addition to the application?
A signature form must be signed by an authorizing official at the university for each GSRP application. This person is usually someone in the Office of Grants and Contracts or the Office of Sponsored Programs. Certifications are required elements of the applications, and must be signed by the university for each application. These may be downloaded from the solicitation.
I attended an institution in England for my Master's / Graduate work; how do I translate that into hours and GPAs for the online form?
Please check with your faculty advisor and your technical advisor.
Adviser Information
Who are the Center Technical Advisers and the Faculty Advisers for the GSRP?
The Technical Adviser is a NASA researcher and/or scientist who will provide guidance and commentary on the student's GSRP application and research. The Faculty Research Adviser is a professor from the applicant's graduate college or university who has agreed to review, sponsor, and critique the student's research.
What's the difference between the Center Technical Advisors and the Faculty Advisors?
The center technical advisors are NASA researchers and scientists who provide guidance, review and commentary on the student's research conducted at the Center. The faculty advisors are professors at the student's university. They sponsor the students and agree to provide guidance, review and commentary on the student's GSRP application and research.
Do I really need a Faculty Advisor?
As indicated on page 5 of the GSRP Solicitation, "All applicants must have a Faculty Adviser from the institution where they plan to receive their graduate degree. Graduating seniors accepted by a graduate school must contact their graduate school department and request an adviser to support the NASA research funded under the GSRP". This requirement is also provided on page 7 of the solicitation. Go to the GSRP website (http://fellowships.hq.nasa.gov/gsrp/) and select "Program Description". You will be taken to an overview page for the Program Description section. At the top, you can select from 4 different Program Description pages (Overview, Award Description, Eligibility and Reporting Requirements). If you select "Eligibility" a page will open with information about eligibility requirements.
Who is the University Authorizing Official?
This official is responsible for managing grants and contracts at the university. At most universities, this is usually the Director of Sponsored Research, the Director of Grants and Contracts, or the Vice President for Research and Development.
Proposal Information
Do I need a proposed research idea / subject / topic to apply to this program?
To get some ideas about a research topic you may be interested in, please see the GSRP Research Areas table and the different NASA Mission Directorate and Centers that specialize in these on pages 17 and 18 of the solicitation. On pages 9 and 10, a table is provided detailing contact information for the GSRP Program Managers for the NASA Mission Directorate – you are encouraged to contact them to discuss scientific topics of interest to you and the mission directorate. For further information in terms of a brief summary on the many GSRP Research Areas and the specific points of contact, pages 33 through 147 have been provided.
What should the proposal include and what is the format?
The proposal should include the text of the proposal, associated tables, forms, graphics and appendices, and references. The proposal should be formatted using one-inch margins at the top, bottom, left and right, printed in 12-point font and single-spaced. Detailed instructions are provided in the solicitation.
I am uncertain how to choose a NASA Center / Mission Directorate. Is it based on field of study or location of the Center?
The goal of the GSRP program is to cultivate research ties to the academic community, to help to meet the continuing needs of the nation's aeronautics and space effort by increasing the number of highly trained scientists and engineers in aeronautics and space-related disciplines, and to broaden the base of students pursuing advanced degrees in science, mathematics, and engineering. It is hoped that in the pursuit of your research, you would not only use your institution's facilities but would make a few trips to the research facilities at the NASA Center of choice since NASA Research and Development Centers are uniquely designed to provide excellence in aeronautics and space research. The requirement to submit a report on the Anticipated Use of Center or University Facilities and Resources (page 4 of the Solicitation) would be your way of outlining how you hope to use both facilities to the best of your advantage and to achieve your research goals as laid out in your proposal.
Students are strongly encouraged to collaborate with a faculty member AND with a potential NASA Technical Advisor to identify a project therefore a NASA Center and Technical Advisor will have to have been contacted and will have to be cited in the proposal for the proposal to be responsive to the goals and requirements of the program.
Mail-In Documentation
I am extremely excited about the fellowship opportunity that NASA's Graduate Student Research Program provides. I am, however, having difficulty figuring out where the mailed portion of the proposal is to be sent. Am I to send 14 different copies of the signature sheet, transcripts, and official letter of recommendation? Or only two copies to each center?
Each Center and/or Mission Directorate process their documents separately. The Center and/or Mission Directorate to which you are applying determines the address to send your documents. The last step of your online application indicates the mailing address for all the required documents.
As I understand it, I should mail only one copy of each of the necessary paperwork items?
Only one copy of all mail-in documents is required if you've applied to only one center. If you applied to two centers and/or mission directorate two copies of your documents are required with one copy mailed to each location to which you are applying.
My University does not provide transcripts for the program I participate in…this is a well known problem with this Master's program. Can I submit my degree application?
I understand that a Master's transcript may not be available, however, in order for a reviewer to give your proposal full consideration for support, there must be some data which enables the reviewer to understand the requirements you met to receive your degree.
In lieu of a transcript, documentation indicating what had to be achieved - the completion of certain courses, level of proficiency, accomplishment of specific requirements, etc. - would be appropriate.
It is important that your proposal not be at a disadvantage compared to other proposals for which complete required documentation was received.
I am in the military and as such have moved around quite a bit in the last 10 years. Must I submit an official transcript from every university/community college (12 of them), even if the classes did not go towards my B.S. degree? As a Master's student presently, the price for each transcript adds up very quickly and becomes quite heavy.
New students are required to provide an official transcript that lists all university coursework (undergraduate and graduate). Renewal students are to provide an official transcript that lists all courses taken since the previously submitted application.
Can I fax in a copy of the form or does it have to be mailed in to have the original signatures? I will be traveling and faxing / scanning / emailing would be the quickest way for me to get the form to you.
An originally signed Signature Form is required. You would be advised to fax in the signed form and then mail it in.
Who is the institutional authorizing official that normally signs for the GSRP application?
Responsible Official. Most colleges and universities have departments of sponsored research, which are responsible for helping their faculty and students to apply for grants. Someone in this department is usually responsible for signing the GSRP application as the authorizing official. Each educational institution has its own procedure for this process, so it would be best to contact your institution's department of sponsored research. Normally, however, this person would review the complete application before he/she signs it.
Internships and Other Opportunities at NASA
Are there any other educational programs besides the GSRP available at NASA?
For information regarding other opportunities at NASA, direct your attention to: http://fellowships.hq.nasa.gov/gsrp/home/fellowships.cfm , http://education.nasa.gov , or http://www.nasa.gov .
Are there any specific institutions that work in partnership with NASA educational programs?
All accredited U. S. colleges and universities may participate in the GSRP, and other NASA education programs. Other educational opportunities may be found on the NASA education website, http://education.nasa.gov/ or http://www.nasa.gov .