Montana NASA epscor research infrastructure development (RID) FY 2015-2017 montana research and education activities aimed at solving current technical and scientiflc problems facing NASA and the…

This is a $500,000.00 Cooperative Agreement awarded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to Montana State University for the Montana NASA Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) Research Infrastructure Development (RID) program from fiscal years 2015-2017. The goals of this effort are to boost the research programs of Montana college and university faculty in areas that match scientific and technical problems of importance to NASA, make NASA aware of competitive researchers and capabilities in Montana, build research infrastructure at higher education institutions in the state, and assist in Montana's aerospace-related economic development. The award does not include a set-aside designation. Montana State University, a leading research university in Montana, will be the prime awardee on this cooperative agreement.

Montana NASA epscor research infrastructure development (RID) FY 2015-2017 montana research and education activities aimed at solving current technical and scientiflc problems facing NASA and the aerospace community. These accomplishments and their resulting infrastructure have allowed many montana researchers, including students, to have opportunities to work with NASA that were not present prior to the implementation of NASA epscor and the national space grant programs. Due to the success achieved thus far, the goals outlined below for the montana NASA epscor program for the next three years will remain consistent MTH those of the earlier program. RID-specific goal: to help boost the research programs of montana college and university faculty research in areas that match scientific and technical problems of importance to NASA to a new level of national prominence, enabling them to compete successfully for regular NASA research funding. General montana NASA epscor goals: to make NASA better aware of nationally competitive researchers and capabilities already existing in montana. To build research infrastructure at institutions of higher education throughout montana that can benefit individual researchers and groups working on scientiflc and techmcal problems of importance to NASA by developing expertise and capabilities not currently available within the state. To assist in montana's economic development in aerospace-related fields by: - utilizing epscor research to strengthen existing montana high-tech companies. - seeking new connections between montana faculty researchers and state industries. - building university research enterprises that will foster "spin-off startup enterprises. To maintain a focused effort to buud nationally prominent, competitive research groups at montana's major universities, while at the same time providing opportunities for research involvement to interested, committed faculty and students at smaller institutions. To coordinate the montana NASA epscor and montana space grant consortium (msgc) programs in a seamless, unified approach to enhance aerospace-related educafion, research, economic development, and public outreach throughout the state with a plan grounded in the state's capabilities, priorifies, and goals. RID objectives research inifiation grant objectives a l . Continue to evaluate research initiafion grant proposals on 1) scienfific/engineering impact, 2) NASA connection, 3) technical feasibility, 4) broader impacts (such as state research infrastructure and economic development), 5) suitability of the proposed research team, and 6) probability ofthe work resulting in further NASA funding. A2. Continue to require letters of support from NASA personnel in research initiafion grant proposals. A3. Maintain at least 70% of students working on research initiation grant projects presenting at the msgc student research symposium held annually at montana state university-bozeman. Travel grant objecfives BL. Confinue to evaluate travel grant proposals on 1) scientific/engineering impact, 2) NASA connection, and 3) broader impacts (such as state research infrastructure and economic development). B2. Confinue to recommend that faculty make a presentafion during their visit to the NASA site. B3. Confinue to coordinate travel grant efforts with NSF epscor, NIH inbre, and other state and federal agencies