NASA Shuttle with American Flag
Mini-Grants from the NASA Nebraska Space Grant & EPSCoR Programs

The following mini-grant programs provide Nebraskans with opportunities to develop innovative projects in the state with strong ties and relevance to NASA.

Research Mini-Grants
Higher Education Mini-Grants*
Teacher Training Mini-Grants*
General Public Mini-Grants
Travel Mini-Grants

*K-12 student education initiatives will not be funded by the Nebraska Space Grant per directive from the NASA Office of Education

Selection Process: Submitted proposals are reviewed by a subcommittee of the NASA Nebraska Space Grant & EPSCoR Technical Advisory Committee, which includes representatives of all academic and non-academic affiliates of the program. The evaluation committee’s rankings are presented to the program staff which considers allowable costs and budget constraints for final determination of which proposals may be funded.

Reporting Requirements: Those that submit successful proposals will be required to complete an annual report or quarterly reports as required by NASA. These forms allow the NASA Office of Education to track the impact of its programs throughout the U.S. Additionally, some longitudinal tracking / reporting will be required after the funding period expires to gauge the impact of the research or program over time.


Research Mini-Grants

The Research Mini-Grant program provides small aerospace-related research grants to Nebraska researchers interested in further developing ties with NASA scientists and conducting research important to NASA. There are two goals of the mini-grant program: 1) To elevate the aerospace-related research being conducted in Nebraska for future infrastructure building and workforce development opportunities; and 2) To result in future proposals to NASA and/or other federal, state, or private organizations for sustainable funding.

Faculty and staff at participating NASA Nebraska Space Grant college and university affiliates (see listing on right side of webpage) are eligible to apply for Research Mini-Grants. Graduate students pursuing thesis or dissertation research at these participating affiliates may also apply.

Mini-grant funding is not intended to be used for sustaining funding; rather it is intended to be used to support a project or program for one year, allowing the project or program to grow and obtain more permanent funding elsewhere.

The following are encouraged in research proposals:
Demonstrated alignment with NASA priorities (e.g., Vision for Space Exploration)
Letter of support from NASA collaborator
Potential for growth, contributing to Nebraska’s infrastructure and workforce
Leveraging potential for resulting proposals to NASA and other federal agencies
Provision for student research experience(s)
Collaborations with industry
Potential for resulting peer-reviewed publications
Diversity, both faculty and students
Contribution to faculty development
Typical funding for Research Mini-Grants: $2,500 - $7,500 (occasionally to $12,500**) **Funding at this level is usually reserved for proposals with strong NASA collaborations

Unallowable budget items: Equipment over $5,000, faculty salary or overload, foreign travel

Documentable matching funds are required for Research Mini-Grants. A minimum of 1:1 non-federal match (cash or in-kind) is required. Matching beyond the minimum requirement may demonstrate the ability to further extend the research and therefore may strengthen a proposal.

Proposals are due Friday October 31 , 2008. The funding period is Spring 2008 – Fall 2009.

Download Research Mini-Grant Application

 

Higher Education Mini-Grants*

NASA is increasingly interested in the development of the future workforce for the science, technology, engineering, and related fields. Higher Education Mini-Grants are available for innovative projects and programs that will retain or impact students in such academic fields at the college or university level. It is the goal of these mini-grants to encourage students to pursue careers in these fields after they graduate, contributing to the scientific workforce.

Faculty, staff, and administrators of organizations associated with higher education are eligible to apply for Higher Education Mini-Grants.

Mini-grant funding is not intended to be used for sustaining funding; rather it is intended to be used to support a project or program for one year, allowing the project or program to grow and obtain more permanent funding elsewhere.

The following are encouraged in project or program proposals:
Student research and hands-on experiences (undergraduate and graduate)
Activities which promote workforce development
Collaboration(s) with industry
Collaboration with NASA
Use of NASA Educational materials
Curriculum and course development activities
Partnerships among organizations or institutions to benefit the most students
Programs which promote or support diversity initiatives

Typical funding for Higher Education Mini-Grants: $250 to $2,000

Documentable matching funds are required for Higher Education Mini-Grants. A minimum of 1:1 non-federal match (cash or in-kind) is required. Matching beyond the minimum requirement may demonstrate the ability to further extend the project or program and therefore may strengthen a proposal.

Proposals are due Friday October 31 , 2008. The funding period is Spring 2008 – Fall 2009.

Download Higher Education Mini-Grant Application

 

Teacher Training Mini-Grants*

Teacher Training Mini-Grants are available for innovative projects and programs to further train K-12 faculty in aerospace-related fields that will impact the most Nebraska students over time. It is the goal of these mini-grants to further develop the teaching skills and curricula that will have its greatest impact in the classroom by improving the quality of aerospace-related education for Nebraska students. Recent workforce studies have documented that the quality of teachers in the classroom does have an affect on the future workforce.

Faculty, staff, and administrators of organizations associated with education are eligible to apply for Teacher Training Mini-Grants.

Mini-grant funding is not intended to be used for sustaining funding; rather it is intended to be used to support a project or program for one year, allowing the project or program to grow and obtain more permanent funding elsewhere.

The following are encouraged in project or program proposals:
Partnerships among schools and school districts
Hands-on and training experiences for teachers
Curriculum sharing
Collaboration(s) with industry
Collaboration with NASA
Use of NASA Educational materials
Partnerships among organizations or institutions to benefit the most students
Programs which promote or support diversity initiatives

Typical funding for Teacher Training Mini-Grants: $250 to $2,000

Documentable matching funds are required for Teacher Training Mini-Grants. A minimum of 1:1 non-federal match (cash or in-kind) is required. Matching beyond the minimum requirement may demonstrate the ability to further extend the project or program and therefore may strengthen a proposal.

Proposals are due Friday October 31 , 2008. The funding period is Spring 2008 – Fall 2009.

Download Teacher Training Mini-Grant Application

 

General Public Mini-Grants

NASA is increasingly interested in the development of the future workforce for the science, technology, engineering, and related fields. To a lesser extent than Higher Education programs, General Public Mini-Grants are available for innovative projects and programs that will recruit and educate the general public in such fields. Projects and programs funded through the General Public Mini-Grant program are typically implemented in large public facilities, e.g. museums and planetariums, or at large events, e.g. State Fair. It is the goal of these mini-grants to expose as many Nebraskans as possible to the aerospace-related fields.

Mini-grant funding is not intended to be used for sustaining funding; rather it is intended to be used to support a project or program for one year, allowing the project or program to grow and obtain more permanent funding elsewhere.

The following are encouraged in project or program proposals:

Partnerships among institutions and organizations
Collaboration with NASA
Use of NASA Educational materials
Collaboration with industry
Projects that impact the most Nebraskans
Programs which promote or support diversity initiatives

Typical funding for General Public Mini-Grants: $250 to $2,000

Documentable matching funds are required for General Public Mini-Grants. A minimum of 1:1 non-federal match (cash or in-kind) is required. Matching beyond the minimum requirement may demonstrate the ability to further extend the project or program and therefore may strengthen a proposal.

Proposals are due Friday October 31 , 2008. The funding period is Spring 2008 – Fall 2009.

Download General Public Mini-Grant Application

 

Travel Mini-Grants

The Travel Mini-Grant program was created as an opportunity for Nebraskans to further develop ties to researchers and scientists at NASA field centers, present research findings at a conference, or obtain training in new areas important to NASA.

The Travel Mini-Grant program does not typically fund all expenses for a trip. Proposals should document what other funding sources will be used to support the travel. Proposals should highlight how other Nebraskans will benefit from this travel, e.g. teacher training that will result in lesson plan development and sharing.

The following are encouraged in travel proposals:
Establishing NASA ties at field centers
Presentation of research results in an area important to NASA
Student workforce development
Teacher training
Programs which promote or support diversity initiatives
Other sources of funding support
Letter of support from NASA collaborator
Potential for growth, contributing to Nebraska’s infrastructure and workforce
Leveraging potential for resulting proposals to NASA and other federal agencies
Provision for student research experience(s)
Collaborations with industry
Potential for resulting peer-reviewed publications
Diversity, both faculty and students
Foreign travel is not allowed.

Typical funding for Travel Mini-Grants: $250 to $1,000

Documentable matching funds are requested for Travel Mini-Grants. If possible, 1:1 non-federal match (cash or in-kind) is acceptable. Matching beyond the minimum requirement may demonstrate the ability to further extend the project or program and therefore may strengthen a proposal.

Travel Mini-Grant proposals are accepted throughout the year.

 

Download Travel Mini-Grant Application