Despite the importance of understanding the role of jet activity in galaxy and cluster evolution and dynamics, extragalactic jets remain surprisingly poorly understood.

The University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) received a $462,744 research grant from NASA's Shared Services Center (functioning as a civilian federal agency) to investigate extragalactic jets and their role in galaxy and cluster evolution and dynamics. Awarded on February 24, 2021, with an ultimate completion date of February 23, 2025, this grant supports UMBC's astrophysics research capabilities, which align with NASA's Science Mission Directorate priorities in understanding fundamental cosmic phenomena. The contract carries no small business set-aside designation and is structured as a standard grant for research, placing performance at UMBC's Baltimore, Maryland campus. As a child entity within the University System of Maryland, UMBC leverages its established research infrastructure and expertise in astrophysics to advance scientific understanding of jet emission mechanisms, power dynamics, and broader impacts on galactic systems.

This award reflects UMBC's significant track record as a federal research partner, particularly with NASA and the National Science Foundation across multiple scientific disciplines including astrophysics, Earth science, quantum science, and biomedical engineering. The research grant contributes to the broader national investment in space science and represents UMBC's continued role in addressing high-priority questions regarding extragalactic phenomena that remain poorly understood despite their importance to cosmological and astrophysical theory. The university's parent institution, the University System of Maryland, maintains extensive federal contracting relationships across multiple agencies and maintains a $6 million Blanket Purchase Agreement with the Department of Veterans Affairs, demonstrating the system's institutional capacity and strategic importance to federal research initiatives.