Astrobiology Early Career Collaboration Award Application

To apply for a NASA Astrobiology Early Career Collaboration Award, please complete the steps below by April 15, 2026. Your application requires all three steps:

1. Submit the ECCA Applicant Information Form below.
2. Submit a written application which includes a Collaboration Plan, plus a Budget and Schedule (described below), combined into a single PDF document. Email the PDF to HQ-Astrobiology-EC@mail.nasa.gov.
3. Ask your academic supervisor for a Letter of Recommendation. Also, ask your potential collaborator(s) for a Letter of Support for the research proposed. Please have your advisor and host email their letters directly to HQ-Astrobiology-EC@mail.nasa.gov.

Collaboration Plan

Create a brief description of the research you plan to conduct at the host laboratory, including, for example, any technique you expect to learn, or equipment you will need to use. Describe the relevance of the collaboration to your research and to astrobiology, tying to the Decadal Strategy for Planetary Science, the Astrobiology Strategy for the Search for Life in the Universe, and/or current or upcoming NASA missions. Also, include a rationale for the team(s)/researcher(s) you plan to visit. Include a short statement explaining your research background, interest in astrobiology, and career plan. Limit all text of the Collaboration Plan to <1500 words (excluding references and image/table captions in the word count).

Budget and Schedule

Include a budget breakdown describing the travel funds required, how they will be used, and the approximate dates of travel. Please not that these awards can only support travel expenses, not supplies or analyses. 

ECCA Applicant Information Form

Please note that pressing the "Submit" button above will only submit the Applicant Information portion of the ECCA application (Step 1). Your application is not complete until both the Information Form is submitted and a Collaboration Plan, Budget and Schedule, and all letters of recommendation are received at HQ-Astrobiology-EC@mail.nasa.gov as per the instructions above.

Applicants will be notified of an award decision no later than 4-6 weeks after the application deadline has passed.