Execute a balanced science program based on discipline-specific guidance from the national academies of sciences, engineering, and medicine, administration priorities, and direction from congress.…

The Pennsylvania State University was awarded a $100,000 research grant (23-SWIFT23-0023) by a civilian federal agency to detect and monitor electromagnetic counterparts of gravitational wave sources using the Swift observatory during the Fourth Observing Run (O4). The award, issued on November 13, 2024, with a completion date of November 12, 2026, supports Penn State's participation in a key scientific initiative aligned with the agency's exploration and discovery objectives. The grant carries no set-aside designation and is classified as a research grant with other-based pricing. Work will be performed at Penn State's University Park campus in Pennsylvania.

This grant reflects the university's established role as a premier federal research institution and aligns with the broader scientific community's commitment to multi-messenger astronomy. Penn State's involvement in gravitational wave research complements the agency's mandate to execute balanced science programs informed by National Academies guidance while advancing discovery in emerging cross-disciplinary fields. The university's extensive track record in federal research across space science, physics, and engineering positions it well to contribute sophisticated technical and analytical capabilities to this gravitational wave detection and monitoring project.

Execute a balanced science program based on discipline-specific guidance from the national academies of sciences, engineering, and medicine, administration priorities, and direction from congress. Participate as a key partner and enabler in the agency s exploration initiative, focusing on scientific research of, on, and from the moon, lunar orbit, mars, and beyond. Advance discovery in emerging fields by identifying and exploiting cross-disciplinary opportunities between traditional science disciplines develop a directorate-wide, target-user focused approach to applied programs, including earth science applications, space weather, planetary defense, and space situational awareness.