ROSES25: F.19 Collaborative Opportunities for Mentorship, Partnership and Academic Success in Science

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), through its Science Mission Directorate (SMD), has released a new program element under its annual omnibus Research Announcement, Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) for the year. This specific opportunity, titled “Collaborative Opportunities for Mentorship, Partnership and Academic Success in Science,” is referred to by its funding number NNH25ZDA001N-COMPASS. This initiative is designed to support research and development projects in science and technology, especially those that foster mentorship, academic collaboration, and inclusion in scientific fields. NASA’s ROSES-2025 is a wide-ranging solicitation covering multiple individual program elements, each tailored to specific scientific objectives and communities. COMPASS is one such element, focusing on enhancing academic success and partnership building within science disciplines. It seeks to foster collaborative frameworks that integrate mentorship with formal academic and scientific research activities. While the exact scope of eligible research projects is detailed in the specific program element’s PDF—available via NSPIRES—the program aims to promote educational engagement, capacity building, and institutional development, all aligned with NASA’s broader scientific missions. Funding will be awarded as cooperative agreements or grants, with contracts generally excluded unless explicitly noted. Although the total program funding, award ceiling, and award floor are not specified in the summary, the typical award duration is three years, with some flexibility for shorter or longer periods based on project specifics. This grant does not require cost sharing or matching funds. Proposals may be submitted by a wide array of institutions, primarily U.S.-based. Proposers must be affiliated with institutions registered in the NASA NSPIRES system. While non-U.S. institutions may apply, they must do so under a no-exchange-of-funds policy and in accordance with the NASA Grant and Cooperative Agreement Manual (GCAM). Applications are being accepted now, with a submission deadline of March 20, 2026. Notices of intent are not requested. Submission must be completed via the NSPIRES platform. Prospective applicants must consult the appropriate Tables 2 or 3 of the ROSES-2025 solicitation to access the full text of the COMPASS program element, which provides essential details on evaluation criteria, required proposal components, and guidance on proposal formatting and submission. Most submissions will only be possible through Grants.gov if such access is requested at least 30 days prior to the due date. General questions about the ROSES-2025 announcement can be directed to NASA’s SMD via the provided contact email ([email protected]), while questions specific to the COMPASS element should be addressed to Steven Villanueva Jr. at [email protected]. The announcement encourages researchers to subscribe to updates through the NSPIRES platform, ROSES blog, and division-specific Google calendars to stay informed about new elements and amendments. This program element does not have a pre-application stage such as letters of intent, streamlining the process for applicants. Although this is a new program element, it forms part of an established annual cycle under ROSES. Consequently, it is classified as a recurring opportunity. Given the March 20, 2026, deadline and annual recurrence, the next anticipated application cycle would likely occur in March 2027. Applicants are advised to revisit NSPIRES by March 1, 2027, to confirm updates for the next round.