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Research Opportunities

Astrophysics research usually begins with writing a proposal. A proposal is a document that is submitted in response to a specific solicitation. This table shows the most common solicitations relevant to NASA astrophysics. Solicitations are released to the public on a specific date, called the Release Date, which is usually about the same day each year for a given solicitation. Some solicitations require submitting a Notice of Intent (NOI). This is a short document declaring your intention to submit a proposal at a later date. If one is required by the solicitation, the deadline is shown in column NOI. Proposals must be submitted by the deadline, called the Submission Date, or they will generally not be accepted. Proposal writing takes time (e.g., three months or more for a first-time proposer). Use the submission date to plan in advance. Hyperlinks on the proposal name will take you to the solicitation. Before you begin writing a proposal, read the solicitation to determine whether you are an eligible proposer, whether your science interests broadly align with the goals of the solicitation, and what will be required to write the full proposal. Good luck!

Opportunity Name and DescriptionRelease DateNotice of Intent (NOI) DateSubmission Date
Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences 2025
(ROSES-2025)
This is the omnibus NASA science solicitation. It includes multiple astrophysics programs, referred to as individual program elements. It is usually released each year on February 14.		10 July 2025——
Theoretical and Computational Astrophysics Networks
The Theoretical and Computational Astrophysics Networks (TCAN) program was established to address issues observed in The New Worlds, New Horizons report of the Astro2010 Decadal Survey.
NOTICE: NASA intends to solicit this program in ROSES-2025		10 July 2025TBDTBD
NASA Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF)
Observing time on IRTF is scheduled in six-month semesters. The semester and application periods are as follows: Semester A. Feb – July. Application open during September (Due Oct 1). Semester B. Aug – Jan Application open during March (Due Apr 1).		Sept 2025—1 Oct 2025
Euclid
The Euclid General Investigator program (ROSES program element D.18) solicits science investigations relevant to the Euclid mission. Euclid explores the composition and evolution of the dark energy and dark matter. Amendment 24.		10 July 2025——
NSF Astronomy and Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellowships (AAPF)
The National Science Foundation Astronomy and Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellowship (AAPF) supports early career scientists for independent research for up to three years at any qualifying institution. Target Audience: Postdocs		———
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)
The National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) provides three years of financial support inclusive of an annual stipend for graduate students. Target Audience: Students		———
James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) General Observer and Archival Research Programs support science investigations with JWST. We are pleased to announce the Cycle 5 Call for Proposals for James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) General Observer (GO), Survey, and Archival Research (AR) programs. We invite scientists to participate in this opportunity, which is open to all categories of organizations, both domestic and foreign, including educational institutions, profit and nonprofit organizations, NASA Centers, and other Government agencies.		1 Aug 2025—15 Oct 2025
Hubble Fellowship Program (NHFP)
NASA Hubble Fellowship Program (NHFP) supports independent postdoctoral research which contributes to NASA Astrophysics, including theory, observation, experimentation, or instrument development. Fellowships may be done at a US institution over a period of up to three years. Target Audience: Postdocs		——~ Oct 2025
NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP)
The NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) supports post-doctoral research at a NASA center. Astrophysics applications are typically reviewed following the November 1 deadline, although NPP applications are accepted for March 1, July 1, November 1 deadlines. Target Audience: Postdocs		———
NSF Astronomy and Astrophysics Grants (AAG)
The National Science Foundation Astronomy and Astrophysics Grants (AAG) Program supports individual investigator or collaborative research grants for (primarily) ground-based astronomy, theory, or laboratory astrophysics.		10 July 2025—17 Nov 2025
NSF Advanced Technologies & Instrumentation (ATI)
The National Science Foundation Advanced Technology and Instrumentation (ATI) Program supports research on the development of new technologies and instrumentation for (primarily) ground-based astronomy and astrophysics.		10 July 2025—17 Nov 2025
NSF Particle Astrophysics — Experiment
Supports research on the fundamental nature of matter, energy, space and time in the following areas: cosmic phenomena, underground physics and IceCube research support.		——~ Dec 2025
NSF Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology — Theory
Supports research in theoretical cosmology, including standard Big-Bang cosmology and alternative cosmologies motivated by new ideas in particle physics. Also supports theoretical particle astrophysics, which tests ideas for physics beyond the Standard Model.		——~ Dec 2025
Fermi Gamma Ray Space Telescope
The Fermi Gamma Ray Telescope General Investigator program (ROSES program element D.6) solicits proposals for science investigations relevant to the Fermi mission. Fermi observes gamma rays from 20 MeV to >300 GeV over the entire celestial sphere, and observes transient gamma-ray sources with energies extending from 8 keV up to 300 GeV.		10 July 2025N/A29 Jan 2026
Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR)
The Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) General Observer Program (ROSES program element D.9) solicits proposals for science investigations relevant to the NuSTAR mission. NuSTAR focuses high energy X rays (E > 10 keV), with an effective bandpass of 3–79 keV.		10 July 2025N/A29 Jan 2026
Astrophysics Research and Analysis (APRA)
The Astrophysics Research and Analysis program (APRA; ROSES program element D.3) supports suborbital and suborbital-class investigations, development of detectors and supporting technology, and laboratory astrophysics.		21 Feb 202512 Dec 202529 Jan 2026
Strategic Astrophysics Technology (SAT)
The Strategic Astrophysics Technology program (SAT; ROSES program element D.7) supports technology development efforts relevant to future strategic missions (generally NASA flagship or Probe class).		10 July 2025——
Future Investigators in NASA Earth and Space Science and Technology
Future Investigators in NASA Earth and Space Science and Technology (FINESST). Funding for graduate students in NASA related science. This program element is expected to solicit proposals in FY 2024, but final details and dates are not yet determined. Target Audience: Students		10 July 2025TBDTBD
Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS)
The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) General Investigator Program supports science investigations relevant to the TESS mission. TESS was designed to monitor the brightness of nearby F,G,K, and M stars to search for transiting exoplanets.		10 July 2025TBDTBD
Astrophysics Decadal Survey Precursor Science
The Astrophysics Decadal Survey Precursor Science (ROSES program element D.16) supports research in areas of relevance to strategic missions identified as priorities in the National Academies Astrophysics Decadal Survey Report.		10 July 2025——
Astrophysics Pioneers
The Astrophysics Pioneers (ROSES program element D.13) space and sub-orbital science investigations program supports small spacecraft such as CubeSats and comparable flight projects.		10 July 202523 Jan 202613 Mar 2026
PI Launchpad
NASA SMD, the University of Arizona, the University of Michigan, NASA ARC, NASA GSFC, JPL, and the Heising-Simons Foundation will host the PI Launchpad to guide participants through ways to turn their science question into a mission concept.		~ 2027——
X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission
The X-ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission General Observer program (XRISM; ROSES program element D.17) supports XRISM observations (type 1 proposals) and related supporting atomic physics investigations (type 2 proposals). NOTICE: Amended December 6, 2024. This program element has been deferred to ROSES-2025.		10 July 2025TBDTBD
Astrophysics Data Analysis
Astrophysics Data Analysis Program (ADAP) supports analysis of archival data that includes NASA assets. Call for proposals is bundled in the ROSES omnibus solicitation as program element D.2.
NOTICE: NASA may solicit this program in ROSES-2025 contingent on budget		10 July 2025TBDTBD
Nancy Grace Roman Technology Fellowship (RTF)
The Nancy Grace Roman Technology Fellowship Program (RTF) supports early career researchers to develop skills related to flight instrument development. Applications are concurrent with an APRA or SAT proposal. Target Audience: Postdocs		———
Chandra X-ray Observatory
The Chandra X-Ray Observatory program supports science investigations relevant to astrophysical sources of high energy radiation. The next observing cycle is expected to be Cycle 28.		~ Dec 2025—~ Mar 2026
Hubble Space Telescope (HST)
STScI solicits proposals for Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Observing, Archival, and Theoretical Research. The full details are made available through two documents, the Call for Proposals, and the HST Primer. Downloadable PDF collections of these articles are provided as a courtesy, made available and updated when feasible. The online documentation is the authority, and will be updated with the latest information.		——~ Aug 2026
Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE)
The Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE; ROSES program element D.16) measures the polarization of X-ray sources in the 2–8 keV band.		10 July 2025N/A11 Sept 2025
Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER)
The Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER; ROSES program element D.11) observes X-ray sources in the range 0.2–12 keV, especially neutron stars and other rapidly variable sources, with high-resolution timing and spectroscopy. It is onboard the International Space Station.		10 July 2025N/A11 Sept 2025
Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory
The Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory General Investigator Program (ROSES program element D.5) solicits proposals for basic research relevant to the Swift gamma-ray burst mission.		10 July 2025N/A11 Sept 2025
NASA Keck
Observations with the ground-based Keck telescopes. NASA Keck time is administered through NASA Exoplanet Science Institute (NExScI).
Note: Requests for letters of endorsement for Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) Technology Maturation proposals: Deferred Solicitation to 2026B.		8 Aug 2025—11 Sept 2025

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An illustration of Sun-like star HD 181327 and its surrounding debris disk. The star is at top right. It is surrounded by a far larger debris disk that forms an incomplete ellpitical path and is cut off at right. There’s a huge cavity between the star and the disk. The debris disk is shown in shades of light gray. Toward the top and left, there are finer, more discrete points in a range of sizes. The disk appears hazier and smokier at the bottom. The star is bright white at center, with a hazy blue region around it. The background of space is black. The label Artist's Concept appears at lower left.