On September 19^th, 2024, DRAFT text for F.18 MOSAICS 5-Year Collaboration Awards was Released for Community Comment. The deadline to receive comments have been extended from 11/22/24 to 12/9/24.

When it is solicited, F.18 Mentorship and Opportunities in STEM with Academic Institutions for Community Success (MOSAICS) Five-Year Collaboration Awards will solicit proposals for up to five years of funding to support longer-term research and mentoring collaborations between scientists and engineers at NASA Centers or Facilities and faculty at institutions historically underfunded by NASA. Three funding categories are available: Small, Medium, and Large, corresponding up to ~$200,000/year, ~$500,000/year, and ~$1M/year, respectively, including indirect costs.

While comments on any aspect of the draft are welcome, we especially encourage feedback on: the proposal schedule, including deadline; the funding categories and the plan to not use Dual Anonymous Peer Review (DAPR) when evaluating proposals.

Comments and questions concerning this draft are now due by December 9, 2024 either anonymously via the Google form at https://forms.gle/5CgoYNdazEEfRSoW6 or via email to hq-smd-bridge@mail.nasa.gov with the subject line "Feedback on ROSES-2024 F.18 DRAFT".

All proposals received by this date will be included in the Winter 2025 review. Anticipated start dates for these awards are March-May, 2025.

We have a new name, that more accurately captures the full range of our program. MOSAICS—formerly known as the SMD Bridge Program

Leads with Mentoring
Offers and Expands Funded Research Opportunities
Covers SMD-relevant STEM topics broadly
Academic Institutions are key partners 
Defines Community Success via shared goals of faculty-, student- and NASA- collaborators

MOSAICS are created from many smaller elements, greater than the sum of their parts.

The information below is preserved here for historical reasons now, and will be refreshed when this Website is redesigned (anticipated Fall/Winter 2024). For now, please refer to the “Latest Updates” section for accurate information on the current call for proposals.

The program’s primary goal is to develop sustainable partnerships among institutions historically under-resourced by NASA and NASA Centers or Facilities. These partnerships are expected to focus on paid research and engineering student positions at participating institutions with the goal of transitioning science and engineering students from undergraduate studies into graduate schools and/or employment by NASA or related institutions.

A community workshop was held in October 2022 to engage NASA and potential partners to understand the current landscape at a variety of under-resourced institutions (URIs) and to co-create the program. Findings from the workshop have provided a foundation for establishing funding opportunities in the Bridge Program.

In addition to strong support for NASA’s intention to solicit full Bridge Partnership proposals, a common theme from the workshop was the need for NASA to also facilitate new potential Bridge partnerships where no NASA collaboration currently exists, through seed funding. Another key theme from the workshop was the importance of strong positive mentorship in developing students into STEM professionals, as well as the impacts of poor mentorship on retention of STEM students.

Proposals must be relevant to a science objective(s) of one or more SMD Divisions, Offices, and/or missions. Bridge teams may include scientists and engineers supporting archived, operational and/or developing NASA flight missions to provide authentic student work experiences with NASA experts, facilities and resources. Bridge teams may include scientists and engineers who support instrument and technology development for future NASA missions.

A yearly symposium or similar event, to bring together current as well as potential Bridge participants is anticipated. This event may be fully virtual, in person or hybrid depending on circumstances. The first symposium may occur shortly after selectable Bridge programs begin to receive funding. The goals of the symposium will be to connect Bridge teams to each other and offer opportunities for faculty, students and NASA Center or Project mentors to network, share experiences, foster new collaborations and communicate with each other.

Questions may be addressed via email to the SMD Bridge Program. Address emails to Dr. Patricia “Padi” Boyd, Bridge Program Director, Science Mission Directorate, NASA, Washington, DC 20546. Emails may be acknowledged individually, and when appropriate responses will be posted a Questions and Answers (Q&A) on this site. Anonymity of persons or institutions submitting questions will be preserved.

Updates to this information will be posted on this site.

Questions about the SMD Bridge Program should be directed to Padi Boyd via the SMD Bridge Program and please cc SARA@nasa.gov.