The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has announced the "ROSES 2024: B.16 Heliophysics Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning-Ready Data" funding opportunity under its annual omnibus Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) 2024 program. This opportunity falls under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category. NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (SMD) issues the ROSES NRA annually to support basic and applied research in space and Earth sciences. The program consists of multiple elements, each with unique due dates and topics. Awards from ROSES can take the form of grants, cooperative agreements, contracts, and inter- or intra-agency transfers, although most external research awards are expected to be issued as grants.

The objective of this particular program element is to advance the development and use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) methodologies for heliophysics research. Proposers must work toward producing AI/ML-ready datasets that facilitate advanced scientific discovery in this domain. The funding opportunity encourages proposals that address challenges in heliophysics data curation, accessibility, and usability in AI/ML workflows. Projects may involve data standardization, innovative AI/ML applications, or improvements in computational efficiency.

NASA provides funding mainly to U.S.-based institutions, though foreign organizations may participate under a no-exchange-of-funds policy, following the guidelines outlined in the NASA Grant and Cooperative Agreement Manual (GCAM). U.S. entities, both public and private, including non-profit and for-profit organizations, may apply. Some elements of ROSES may allow for collaboration with non-U.S. institutions, particularly in jointly sponsored space science programs.

The application process follows a two-step proposal submission system. The Step-1 proposal deadline is February 6, 2025, and the Step-2 full proposal deadline is April 17, 2025. NASA has provided detailed instructions on submission requirements through NSPIRES, where applicants can find specific program elements and submission guidelines. The proposals must include at least one required form, which can be accessed via the provided application package.

NASA does not require cost sharing or matching for this funding opportunity. The estimated total funding available and the number of expected awards have not been disclosed. The typical award duration is three years, with some exceptions allowing up to five years or specifying shorter terms. The specific funding ceilings and floors for individual awards are not listed in the announcement.

For general inquiries regarding ROSES-2024 policies and procedures, applicants may contact Max Bernstein, the Lead for Research in the Science Mission Directorate, at sara@nasa.gov. Technical questions specific to this program element should be directed to Katya Verner (Ekaterina.M.Verner@nasa.gov, 202-288-2651) or Patrick Koehn (patrick.koehn@nasa.gov, 202-358-0727). Additional information on the solicitation and amendments to the opportunity is available through NSPIRES and NASA’s official research website.