KECK INSTITUTE FOR SPACE STUDIES

     

 

Solicitation Release Date: 1 October 2024
Proposal Concepts Due (Required): 1 November 2024
Proposals Due: 20 December 2024

The Keck Institute for Space Studies (KISS) is soliciting proposals for Study Programs to be carried out during the 2025 calendar year.

Download Full Details

The goal of the Keck Institute for Space Studies is to develop ideas and concepts that can revolutionize space science and engineering, especially those that have the potential to impact or create future space missions. The Institute does this by convening study programs and workshops that bring together leading scientists and engineers from the external research community along with the best engineers and scientists from JPL and the Caltech Campus.  We are interested in bringing people together in novel ways on in-depth collaborations that will pursue new scientific and technical directions.

We intend to select and support 3-5 Study Programs for the 2025 calendar year.  Submitting a concept proposal is the first step in developing a proposal for a 2025 KISS study.

Study program concepts are solicited in the broad areas of space studies including but not limited to planetary science, earth science, astronomy & astrophysics, and engineering. The Keck Institute is looking for programs that would not happen without KISS support. We are looking for technically-oriented studies that significantly advance a field.  Proposals for incremental advances are not solicited here.

  • We very much encourage proposals from individuals outside the JPL and Caltech communities as well as individuals from JPL and Caltech.
  • We especially encourage proposals for studies that might involve a partnership in the study program between KISS and another organization. Potential partners could include commercial industry, private sector organizations including foundations, or government.  We encourage innovative concepts in this regard.
  • While we strongly encourage proposals to have a Caltech lead, a JPL lead, and an external lead, this is no longer a strict requirement. It remains a requirement to show involvement of, and benefit, to the Caltech and JPL communities.

We will also consider proposals for 1–2-day symposia that are interdisciplinary in nature and that would highlight the Caltech/JPL leadership in a new or strategically important area. If you are interested in proposing a symposium, please contact Harriet Brettle directly at hbrettle@caltech.edu or 626-395-6630.

Your proposal concept (due 1 November 2024) should include:

  • Completed Proposal Concept (2-pages, including participant list; see templates) submitted via email to asoriano@caltech.edu.

Your final proposal (due 20 December 2024) should include:

  • 6-page Proposal with required appendices (see templates): submitted as a pdf via email to asoriano@caltech.edu.
    Please note: Letters of committment from the 18 participants must be included in the proposal.

The proposal concept process does not have a go/no-go decision associated with it as some other proposal concept phases do. The proposal concepts allow the KISS Steering Committee to understand the breadth of the proposals coming in, and to help proposal teams develop the best proposals possible.

KISS proposal summary


Proposal Concepts Due (Required): 1 November 2024

Submit a PDF version of your concept via email to asoriano@caltech.edu by the deadline above.

Please continue working on your proposal. While you will be provided with feedback on your proposal from a KISS Steering Committee Member, this is not a go/no-go decision.

Email Your Concept Submission Here

Proposals Due: 20 December 2024

Submit a PDF version of your proposal via email to asoriano@caltech.edu by the deadline above. Your letters of commitment must be in Appendix C.

Email Your Proposal Submission Here

Can foreign nationals be included as core-participants in KISS workshops?
Yes - we welcome the best talent globally available.

When I submit my proposal concept, do my 18 core participants all have to finalized?
No. This list of core participants only needs to be finalized when you submit the full proposal. It is helpful, however, to submit as best a list as possible so that the KISS Steering Committee can give you the best feedback possible.

When will I get notified that my proposal concept got the green light and to go ahead and submit a full proposal?
KISS doesn't have a go/no-go policy for the study program call. We use the two-page proposal concepts to get an idea of what proposals are coming into the Institute.

How long can the proposal be?
The proposal itself can be 6 pages long, and there are some required appendices that have no page limit.

How many core-participants can be included in the proposal?
We will only accept letters of commitment from 18 core-participants. You are welcome to list additional people you would like to suggest as core-participants, but only the top 18 listed will be guaranteed a spot in the study should it be selected.

Are the three Co-Leads included in the limit of 18 core participants we may propose?
Yes.

Are letters of commitment from core participants in email format acceptable?
Yes. Concatenate all of the letters (regardless of format) and incorporate that into the required proposal appendix.

Are students considered core participants?
Students are generally not considered core participants, although such is not disallowed. Typically, students are nominated by core-participants to attend the study. This process of nominating the early career participants occurs during the registration process for the study, after the study has been selected for funding.

I am a JPL co-lead, and I understand that KISS cannot provide funding to JPL to participate in the study. How do we go about getting funding to attend the workshop and participate during the study program?
Please contact the Office of the Chief Scientist and Chief Technologist at JPL for their process on how to secure JPL support for a study.

Does KISS pay for all external visitors to travel to and from the Institute for workshops?
No. We do cover venue, most meals, and staff support for the workshop, but participants are expected to find means to fund their own travel. We have very limited travel funds for attendees, so we can partially support travel for the few who have special need for it. Preference is given to students, postdocs, young faculty, and young researchers. Those who cost share with KISS are also given preference.

Does KISS pay labor for external visitors who are core workshop participants?

No.