Nevada NASA EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Development Program

This proposal identifies opportunities to enhance Nevada’s research infrastructure that will result in sustainable research programs relevant to both NASA and the State’s interests. The overall goals of the Nevada NASA EPSCoR program are: • Contribute to the overall research infrastructure, science and technology capabilities, higher education, and/or economic development of Nevada; • Improve the capabilities of Nevada faculty/researchers to gain support from sources outside the NASA EPSCoR program that are most relevant to NASA research and missions; • Develop partnerships among researchers at NSHE, NASA Centers, and industry; and • Work in coordination with the NASA Space Grant program to improve the environment for science, mathematics, engineering, and technology education in Nevada. Specific objectives that have been targeted to meet Nevada NASA EPSCoR RID program goals include: • Objective 1: Enhance research infrastructure by competitively awarding at least two significant RID seed grants each year. Grants will be relevant to both NASA and Nevada strategic science plans, as well as the NASA Center and Mission Directorate science priorities provided by the national NASA EPSCoR Project Manager. A requirement of the seed grant solicitation is the submission of at least one competitive proposal. • Objective 2: Promote the planning and implementation of training and proposal development workshops that will foster collaboration and the development of skills and knowledge to improve Nevada research infrastructure. Funding for at least one workshop per year is budgeted. An expected outcome from the workshops is the submission of a competitive research proposal. • Objective 3: Facilitate new research collaborations among NASA Centers and NSHE faculty by awarding travel grants. As many travel sub-awards as possible with remaining RID funds will be made available each year. An expected outcome is the submission of a competitive and collaborative research proposal among NSHE faculty and NASA Center scientists. The science priorities for this proposal are responsive to the NASA Center and Mission Directorate priorities provided by the national NASA EPSCoR Project Manager, the 2018 NASA Strategic Plan, the 2015 NSHE Science and Technology Plan and the Governor’s Office of Economic Development plan entitled “2012-2014 Moving Nevada Forward: A Plan for Excellence in Economic Development”. In preparation for this proposal, the NV RID TAC collaboratively developed a subset of science priorities as a focal point for future Nevada NASA EPSCoR endeavors based on the above documents, NSHE current and emerging research areas and business member perceptions of current focus areas for NASA. The TAC identified subset of science priorities is listed below by NSHE, State, and Business focus areas. NSHE Research Focal Areas that are NASA Relevant: Space exploration materials; Space Psychology; Materials and Advanced Manufacturing; Robotics (emergency services; human services, construction and mining technologies) UAS (materials, hardware, software, command/control and applications); Big Data; Radiation protection; Renewable Energy and Photovoltaics; Software engineering; Cybersecurity; Electronics; 3D Printing; CubeSat; Mars geochemistry; Astrobiology/Exobiology; Astrophysics and Planetary Sciences (James Webb telescope launching in 2020); Sample Science, Cell and Developmental Biology; Plant biology and Ecosystems; Microbial biofilms will shed light on how biofilms form and identify materials and ways to control biofilm formation. Water Resources; Hydrometeorology and Climate Modeling; Dry Land Agriculture; Earth Science; and Aerosols and Atmospheric pollutants and properties State of Nevada Focal Areas for NSHE: More STEM-Related Research and Development; UAS and Autonomous Ground Vehicles; Aerospace; and Crypto/Cyber Security

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

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