NASA Kentucky EPSCoR Program

About NASA Kentucky EPSCoR

Kentucky’s NASA EPSCoR Program provides funding and support for NASA-related research projects within the state. Any Kentucky institution of higher learning is eligible to apply.

Current Funding Opportunities:
RFP-24-002: NASA KY EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Development (RID) (pdf) CLOSED
RFP-24-003: NASA KY EPSCoR ISS Flight Opportunity (ISS) FY2024 (pdf) CLOSED
RFP-23-001: NASA KY EPSCoR Faculty Research Travel Opportunity (RT) (pdf) OPEN

Recent Opportunities:
RFP-23-004: NASA KY EPSCoR Research Award (RA) Pre-Proposals 2023 (pdf) CLOSED
RFP-23-005: NASA KY EPSCoR Rapid Response (R3) White Papers 2024 (pdf) CLOSED


NASA Kentucky EPSCoR Program

The NASA KY EPSCoR (Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research) programs strengthen research capability in the state in areas of importance to NASA and Kentucky by promoting development of research infrastructure, improving capabilities to gain support outside of EPSCoR, and developing partnerships with NASA.NASA-KY-funded-projects

Proposal Resources:

* FY24 Research Award (RA) Focus Areas
* FY24 R3 Research Topics List
NASA Center Core Competencies
NASA Technology Taxonomy
NASA TECHPORT
NASA Guidebook for Proposers (2023)
NASA KY Recent Projects 2016-2022 (pdf)
NASA KY FAQ

NASA Kentucky EPSCoR supports faculty research development with these programs:

  • RA – NASA EPSCoR Research Award
  • R3 – Rapid Response Research
  • ISS – ISS Flight Opportunities
  • SFO – Suborbital Flight Opportunities
  • RIDG – Research Infrastructure Development
  • WCS – Workshop/Conference/Seminar
  • RT – Faculty Research Travel Awards

Please see recent RFPs for full program descriptions

Eligibility for NASA EPSCoR Programs:

Proposals will be accepted from institutions of higher education in Kentucky. Eligibility is not limited to Kentucky Space Grant Consortium Affiliate Institutions. US Citizenship is not required, but funded investigators must be eligible for employment in the US. Reporting on current and prior awards must be up to date to be eligible for funding. Kentucky commmercial, non-profit, and government entities can partner with KY academic institutions for proposals.

Reporting Requirements:

NASA KY will provide Principal Investigators (PIs) with a reporting template for each award. PIs are required to report research productivity and students supported via: 1) Progress reports during the award period, 2) Final Report within 30 days of the end of the award, and 3) Post-award annual update 1 year after project completion. Reporting must be current in order for NASA KY to meet NASA and state annual report cycles. Project reports should be submitted to nasa@uky.edu.

NASA EPSCoR Research Award (RA) Program

In addition to the programs above, NASA Kentucky solicits pre-proposals annually and competitively selects one for development into a full proposal to submit to the national NASA EPSCoR RA opportunity.

RFP-23-004: NASA KY EPSCoR Research Award (RA) Pre-Proposals 2023 (pdf) CLOSED

The NASA Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM), in cooperation with NASA Mission Directorates and ten Centers, solicits proposals for the NASA Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) Research Award (RA). Each funded NASA EPSCoR RA proposal is expected to establish research activities that will make significant contributions to the strategic research and technology development priorities of one or more of the Mission Directorates and contribute to the overall research infrastructure, science and technology capabilities, higher education, and economic development of the jurisdiction (Kentucky).

Contact Us

NASA Kentucky Space Grant Consortium and EPSCoR Programs

Dr. Alexandre Martin, Director

University of Kentucky College of Engineering
151 R.G. Anderson Bldg (RGAN)
Lexington, KY 40506-0503

Phone: 859-218-NASA (218-6272)
E-mail: nasa@uky.edu

Director Emeritus:
Dr. Suzanne W. Smith

Associate Director:
Jacob Owen   859-323-4542

Accounts Manager:
Angela Back   859-323-4543

 

NASA KY EPSCoR Research Awards (RA)

Investigation of Material Surface Erosion and Failure due to High-Velocity Particle Impact
Dr. Hailong Chen, Dr. Y.T. Cheng, Dr. Savio Poovathingal, Dr. Rui Fu, Dr. Richard Maiti

Multi-scale data-driven modeling of radiative transport through thermal protection systems
Dr. Savio Poovathingal, Dr. Hasan Poonawala, Dr. John Maddox, Dr. Michael Renfro, Dr. Jens Hannemann

Solar Activity and Space Weather
Dr. Gordon Emslie, Dr. Ali Er, Dr. Ivan Novikov, Dr. Gongbo Liang

Modeling of High-Speed Transitional and Turbulent Flows over Ablative Surfaces
Dr. Christoph Brehm, Dr. Alexandre Martin, Dr. Sean Bailey, Dr. Jens Hannemann

Coordinated Position and Attitude Control for Formations of Small Satellites
Dr. T. Michael Seigler, Dr. Jesse Hoagg

Influence of Gravity on Electrokinetic and Electrochemical Colloidal Self-Assembly for Future Materials
Dr. Stuart Williams, Dr. Gerold Willing, Dr. Hemali Rathnayake

Improving Heat Shields for Atmospheric Entry: Numerical and Experimental Investigations for Modeling Ablative Thermal Protection System Surface Degradation Effects on Near-Wall Flow
Dr. Alexandre Martin, Dr. Sean Bailey, Dr. Michael Winter, Dr. Chi Shen

A Paradigm-Shifting Therapy for Mitigating Cellular and Tissue Damage in Humans Exposed to Radiation
Dr. Patricia Soucy and Dr. Robert Keynton

Shape Memory Alloys for High Temperature and Surface Morphing Applications in Aerospace Industry
Dr. Haluk Karaca and Dr. Y.T. Cheng

The CubeLab Standard for Improved Access to the International Space Station for Scientific Payloads
Dr. James Lumpp

Versatile Biosensing Platform for Monitoring Bone Markers for Space Medicine
Dr. David Puleo

Efficacy of Countermeasures to Cardiovascular
Deconditioning in Men and Women During
Simulated Moon and Mars Explorations
Ms. Joyce Evans