Research Seed Grants

The Illinois Space Grant Consortium (ILSGC) Research Seed Grants are designed to facilitate the development of research expertise among ILSGC members in aerospace engineering, astronomy, Earth and space science, and other areas of interest to NASA. The grants will allow the award recipients to obtain the preliminary results needed to support larger proposals to NASA and other federal or non-federal funding agencies. Emphasis will be placed on research in an area of interest to NASA. Applications by faculty from non-research-focused institutions and pre-tenure faculty will be given preferential consideration. Applicants may be faculty members or research scientists who are either early career (Ph.D. up to seven years postgraduate) or starting a new area of research. Proposed projects should have an emphasis on aerospace, physics, astronomy, cosmology, Earth system science, and other interdisciplinary space-related science or engineering fields relevant to NASA Mission Directorates. Grants must be matched (at least one-to-one) with funds from non-federal sources.