2010 NAI Director's Discretionary Fund Selections
The NASA Astrobiology Institute is pleased to announce selections for research awards resulting from its 2010 Director’s Discretionary Fund competition. The selections cover a wide range of research topics, including perchlorate salts in Mars analogue environments on Earth, the effects of the space environment on extremophilic bacteria, the search for extrasolar planets around M-stars, the potential for prebiotic organic synthesis in frost flowers, and the microbial diversity of domestic water heaters. Approximately $940K are allocated toward these 15 awards. The median award is $44K.
Selections were based on external reviews, with selection priority given to proposals that
* integrate the research of and realize synergies among the current NAI teams;
* expand the scope of NAI research (and the NAI community) in innovative ways, accepting some risk in return for high pay-off potential;
* respond in a timely way to new scientific results or programmatic opportunities;
* develop connections between astrobiology research and other NASA science programs, particularly NASA’s Earth Science Program;
* directly support flight programs, particularly through instrument development; and/or
* use funding particularly effectively, for example through leveraging or building on past investments
In addition, priority was given to supporting early career investigators.
For more information and a list of selected research projects: http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/nai/funding/the-nai-directors-discretionary-fund/2010/ [Source: NAI Newsletter]
