The ROSES Announcement for Cycle 8 of the NICER General Observer program is available on its NSPIRES webpage.

NOTE: In a change from previous cycles, Cycle 8 will be solely to fund analysis of archival data (both from NICER and for coordinated observations). Please read the solicitation carefully to ensure compliance with these new guidelines. There will be no new observations or joint programs available for Cycle 8.

NICER General Observer proposals may be submitted in two phases. Principal Investigators (PIs) for phase 1 proposals may submit their requested observations and corresponding scientific justification via the Astrophysics Research Knowledgebase Remote Proposal System (ARK/RPS) portal.

For details on the NICER General Observer program and how to submit proposals, see the NICER Cycle 8 Proposer's Guide.

If you have any questions regarding this information, or any other aspects of the NICER GO program, please contact Elizabeth Ferrara at elizabeth.c.ferrara@nasa.gov.

Dual-anonymous reviewing: Please be aware that NICER proposal reviews will follow a dual-anonymous review process, and that proposals will be required to meet dual-anonymous standards to be considered for inclusion in the program. For more information on preparing a proposal for dual-anonymous review, please refer to NASA’s information for proposers.

Successful U.S.-based PIs from phase 1 may be invited to submit phase-2 budgets proposals via NSPIRES during the first quarter of 2026.

Volunteer Reviewers: We are seeking volunteer reviewers for the NICER Cycle 8 Peer Review, which will take place virtually in late October / early November 2025. Reviewers must have a PhD at the time of the Peer Review. If you would like to be considered as a reviewer, please e-mail Elizabeth Ferrara at elizabeth.c.ferrara@nasa.gov with a brief description of your research interests and experience.