NASA Awardees for the Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) will be selected from the most outstanding investigators in NASA's science programs who have proposed exceptionally meritorious, innovative research in areas that will benefit NASA's understanding of the Earth systems, the Solar System and the Universe, the exploration and development of space, or the development of advanced astronautics and space technologies. To be eligible for a NASA PECASE award, an individual must be a NASA-funded researcher based on a peer reviewed award and a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident who has received his or her highest degree within five years of research grant application.

Nominations will be made by each of four broad NASA science areas based on criteria and procedures described below and will be forwarded to the NASA Chief Scientist. The Chief Scientist and the NASA Science Council wi1l review all nominations from science areas based on the research proposal and the individual's scientific accomplishments and will make final decisions regarding NASA awardees and alternates to be sent to the President.

I. SPACE LIFE SCIENCES

Awards in Space Life Sciences will include the research areas of:

Fundamental Space Biology

        Molecular Structures and Physical Interactions
        Cell and Molecular Biology
        Developmental Biology
        Organismal and Comparative Biology
        Evolutionary Biology
        Gravitational Biology

Bioastronautics: Biomedical Research and Countermeasures

        Physiology
        Radiation Health
        Environmental Health
        Behavior and Performance
        Clinical Research

Bioastronautics: Advanced Human Support Technology

        Advanced Life Support
        Advanced Extravehicular Activity
        Space Human Factors Engineering
        Advanced Environmental Monitoring and Control
 

Awardees will be chosen from investigators who have received research grants under the Annual NASA Research Announcement "Research Opportunities in Space Life Sciences." These grants will have been peer reviewed in the standard manner for proposals in the ground-based research program and selected for funding. In addition, to be eligible for this award, investigators must be U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents who have received their highest degree within five years of applying for the grant. If the total grant period requested is less than five years, the award will consist of additional years to extend the period of performance to five years, normally at no more than $100,000 per additional year.

Investigators in Space Life Sciences who meet these criteria will be considered for the Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers. Awards for the first year, to be awarded in the fall of 2001, will be selected from investigators who have current, active peer-reviewed grants for ground-based research in life sciences.

Nominees in Life Sciences will be selected as follows. The Division Directors and the senior advisory group will meet and, after careful consideration of all potential candidates, will select 3 individuals whose names will be forwarded to the Chief Scientist. Final decision of all NASA Awardees will be made by the Chief Scientist and the Science Council and will be forwarded to the President before August 1. Additional information is available on Fundamental Space Biology Division and Bioastronautics Research Division home page:
 

http://spaceresearch.nasa.gov/

II. MICROGRAVITY PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH

Awards in Microgravity Sciences Research will include the research areas of:

Biotechnology, focusing on macromolecular crystal growth and cellular biotechnology, tissue engineering, and biomolecular physics and chemistry

Combustion Science, focusing on processes of ignition, propagation, and extinction during combustion in a low gravity environment;

Fluid Physics, including many aspects of fluid dynamics and transport phenomena affected by gravity;

Materials Science, including electronic and photonic materials, glasses and ceramics, metals and alloys, polymers, biomaterials and nanostructures;

Fundamental Physics, where significant advantages exist for studies in a low-gravity environment, including the study of critical point phenomena, low-temperature physics, gravitational physics, atomic physics biological physics, and condensed matter physics.

Awardees will be chosen from investigators who have on-going research grants resulting from NASA Research Announcements (NRA) released for the NASA Microgravity Science Research Program. In addition, to be eligible for this award, investigators must be U.S. Citizens, nationals, or permanent residents who has received their highest degree within five years of applying for the grant. If the remaining grant period at the time of the Presidential Early Career Award is less than five years, the award will consist of additional years to extend the period of performance to five years, normally at no more than $100,000 per additional year.

Investigators in Microgravity Physical Sciences Research who meet these criteria will be considered for the Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientist and Engineers. Awards made in the fall will be selected from investigators who have current, active peer-reviewed grants for ground-based research in microgravity science.

Nominees in Microgravity Physical Sciences Research and flight will be selected as follows. The Discipline Program Scientists will recommend investigators from their programs to the Division Director, The Division Director, Lead Program Scientist, and the senior advisory group will meet and, after careful consideration of all nominations, will select 3 individuals whose names will be forwarded to the Chief Scientist. Final decision of all NASA Awardees will be made by the Chief Scientist and the Science Council and will be forwarded to the President before August 1.

Additional information is available on Physical Sciences Division home page:

III. SPACE SCIENCES

Awards in the Space Science Enterprise will include the thematic science research areas of:

Astronomical Search for Origins and Planetary Systems

The Sun-Earth Connection

Structure and Evolution of the Universe

Solar System Exploration

Awardees will be chosen from investigators who have received research awards through NASA Research Announcements, Cooperative Agreement Notices, and/or Announcements of Opportunity issued by the NASA Office of Space Science. The proposals leading to these awards will have been peer reviewed in the standard manner for proposals selected for funding. In addition, to be eligible for the award, the PECASE nominees must be U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents who have received their highest degree within five years of applying for the NASA research grant. If the research grant is awarded for a period of performance less than five years, the award will consist of additional years to extend the period of performance to five years, normally at no more than $100,000 per additional year.

Investigators in Space Science who meet these criteria will be considered for PECASE. Awards will be selected from investigators who have current, active peer-reviewed grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements in space sciences.

Nominees in Space Sciences will be selected as follows. The Discipline Scientist of the Office of Space Science (OSS) will recommend investigators from their programs to the Director of the Research Program Management Division. The Director will then meet with the Space Science Board of Directors and, after careful consideration of all nominations, select up to three individuals whose names will be forwarded to the Chief Scientist. Final decision of all NASA Awardees will be made by the Chief Scientist and the Science Council and will be forwarded to the President before August 1.

Additional information is available on the Office of Space Science home page:

IV. EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE

Awards in Earth System Science will include the research areas of:

Atmospheric Chemistry

Climate Studies

Terrestrial Ecosystem Studies

Natural Hazards Research

Solid Earth Sciences

Oceanography

Awardees will be chosen from investigators who have received research grants under NASA Research Announcements from the Office of Earth Science. These grants will have been peer reviewed in the standard manner for proposals in the ground-based research program and selected for funding. In addition, to be eligible for this award, investigators must be U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents who have received their highest degree within five years of applying for the grant. If the total grant period requested is less than five years, the award will consist of additional years to extend the period of performance to five years, normally at no more than $100,000 per additional year.

Investigators in Earth System Science who meet these criteria will be considered for the PECASE. Awards will be selected from investigators who have current, active peer-reviewed grants for ground-based research in earth system science.

Nominees in Earth System Science will be selected as follows. The Program Managers will recommend investigators from their programs to the Division Directors. The Division Director(s) and the Associate Administrator will meet and, after careful consideration for this award, the Division Directors will forward their nominations to the Associate Administrator who will review and select two individuals whose names will be forwarded to the Chief Scientist. Final decision of all NASA Awardees will be made by the Chief Scientist and the Science Council and will be forwarded to the President before August 1.

Additional information is available on the Office of Earth Science home page:

5/15/01 (Revised)