Astrobiology Early Career Collaboration Award Application

To apply for an Astrobiology Early Career Collaboration Award, please complete the three steps below by April 15, 2026. Your application will be considered incomplete until all three steps are done.

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 PDF to HQ-Astrobiology-EC@mail.nasa.gov.
3. Ask your academic supervisor for a Letter of Recommendation. Also, ask a collaborator(s) for a Letter of Support for performing the research in collaboration with you. Have both letter writers email their letter to HQ-Astrobiology-EC@mail.nasa.gov.  

Collaboration Plan

Create a brief description of the research you plan to conduct at the hosting laboratory (including, for example, any technique you expect to learn, or equipment you will need to use). Include how the collaboration is relevant to your research and astrobiology, tying to the Decadal Strategy for Planetary Science and / or 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 what travel funds are required, how they will be used, and the approximate dates of travel. These awards can cover travel expenses only and exclude support for 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.