Fermi Science Support Center

Fermi Cycle 2 Guest Investigator Program Information

The Guest Investigations for Fermi's Cycle-2 Science Program have been selected based on peer-review recommendations. The peer review was held in mid-May 2009. Over 40 reviewers, including about 10% foreign participants, evaluated 206 proposals. Eight of these were requests were for continuation of Cycle-1 multi-year awards. This comprises about a 25% increase relative to Cycle 1. A total of 80 cycle-2 programs were selected. This number includes 3 "Large Projects", which are multi-year awards with a larger budget cap than the regular one-year proposals. The titles and abstracts of the selected programs are available here. The Cycle-2 Program begins in mid-August 2009 and lasts for one year.

No specific pointed observations - ToO or scheduled - were approved. However, one proposal to develop triggering criteria for a future pointed observation of the active sun was selected.

The Joint-Time Allocation agreements between Fermi and NRAO and NOAO led to the selection of 14 joint programs involving 641 hours of radio and 24 hours of optical observing time (final approval and scheduling of NRAO and NOAO will be made by those organizations).

Topical Breakdown

Proposal selection statistics by science category and by proposal type are illustrated in the accompanying charts. No a priori quotas are imposed on science topics or proposal types. While extragalactic science, predominantly AGN studies, remains the most popular study area, the proportion of pulsar programs increased significantly, which we attribute to the impressive suite of early results.

Proposal Types

The Fermi Cycle-2 proposal deadline has passed. Phase 2 instructions can be found here. A total of 207 proposals were received in response to the Cycle-2 NRA. The proposals are currently being processed internally at the Fermi SSC, and will be assigned to anonymous peer-review committees for evaluation. The Cycle-2 peer review will take place on May 18-20, 2009. The results of that review will be announced several weeks thereafter. Feel free to contact the Fermi Help Desk if you have any questions.

Fermi's Guest Investigator Program, part of NASA Headquarters' Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) Announcement, supports basic research relevant to the Fermi mission. Cycle 2 investigators will propose primarily for funding. Investigators may also apply for radio or optical observing time through the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) or the National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO) or for high-end computing resources. Finally, investigators may propose pointed Fermi observations, although such observations will require compelling justification. In this cycle investigators may propose data analysis studies of all Fermi science data, theory studies, correlated multiwavelength observations and the development of new data analysis techniques relevant to the Fermi mission. Note that LAT event data will be released at the beginning of the cycle; summary LAT data (e.g., fluxes and lightcurves of transients and ~20 scientifically interesting sources) will continue to be released. The GI program will also award radio and optical observing time through the Fermi-NRAO and the Fermi-NOAO joint proposal programs.

Details:

 

Fermi Cycle 2 Announcement

Appendix D.8 of ROSES-08, the Fermi Guest Investigator Program—Cycle 2, is the definitive definition of the GI program.

 

IMPORTANT! Properties of the Fermi GI Program

Investigations are to begin in the second year of Fermi's science observations, i.e., starting August 14, 2009.

In Cycle 2 there will be two proposal classes: (1) Regular proposals with research plans that can be completed in one year and (2) Large proposals whose research plans are more expansive and may take up to three years to complete. Grants for regular proposals will be up to $100K with an average range of 50-80K, while large grants will be up to $200K per year with an average range of 100-200K per year. Large projects will be reviewed before each of the two cycles following the cycle of the initial award to determine if appropriate progress is being made toward the proposed objectives.

It is anticipated that approximately $8 M will be available through this solicitation for the support of approximately 75 Guest Investigations of one-year duration each and up to ~8 Large projects.

What the Fermi GI program is:

  • Fermi PIs can propose to:
    • Analyze LAT event data from the beginning of science operations.
    • Analyze higher level data released by the LAT: lightcurves and spectra of ~20 bright sources; light curves and spectra of transients; and a point source catalog.
    • Carry out pointed LAT observations. However, proposers should be aware that very strong science justifications will be required in view of the probable low additional scientific benefit of such observations—see the Fermi Users' Group (FUG) analysis at http://fermi.gsfc.nasa.gov/ssc/proposals/pointing_analysis/. The total time allocated to pointed observation will be between 0 and 15%. Pointed observations will follow the same open data policy as sky survey data, i.e., they will become public immediately.
    • Analyze all science data released by the GBM from the beginning of science operations.
    • Support correlated observations of gamma-ray sources at other wavelengths that are directly relevant to Fermi.
    • Develop advanced techniques for analyzing Fermi data.
    • Perform theoretical studies of gamma-ray sources.
    • Observe Fermi-relevant sources on NRAO and NOAO facilities.
  • Fermi proposals may be submitted by investigators at both US and non-US institutions, but only PIs or Co-Is sited at US institutions may receive funding from NASA. Proposals without any investigators sited at a US institution will be evaluated (such an evaluation may assist an investigator obtain funding from a foreign funding agency), may result in a pointed LAT observation, or may be awarded NRAO and NOAO observing time.
  • The Fermi GI program is part of NASA Headquarters Research Opportunities in Space And Earth Science 2008 (ROSES-2008).

What the Fermi GI Cycle 2 program is NOT:

  • Fermi proposers will not have proprietary data rights to Fermi data. All Fermi science data products will become public immediately.
 

Schedule and Checklist of Required Items for a Complete Fermi Proposal Submission

Proposers are urged to read carefully the Description of the Fermi Guest Investigator Program for Cycle 2 (i.e., Appendix D.8 of ROSES-07). Below we distill the highlights.

Fermi's Cycle 2 proposal process will have two Phases. In Phase 1 you will submit a cover page and a scientific justification; the cover page (generated by a webform) will include a maximum budget cap and the scientific justification should include a brief management section that describes the resources required (e.g., FTE). The page limit for this section is 4 pages for a Regular proposal, and 6 pages for a Large proposal. An additional page describing proposed NRAO or NOAO observations must be added if you are applying under the 'joint proposal opportunity.' A peer review panel will review your Phase 1 proposal, and you will submit a Phase 2 budget proposal only if your Phase 1 proposal has been tentatively accepted.

PIs of Large projects approved in previous cycles must submit a progress report annually on the Phase 1 proposal due date (rather than on the anniversary of the award date). A Large project may be funded for a total of 3 years.

Proposal submission is fully electronic. No paper copies are required. For Fermi's Cycle 2, the Phase 1 (science/technical/management) proposals must be submitted via ARK/RPS. Phase 2 budget proposals will be submitted through NSPIRES. Both systems require simple registration before use—see below for details.

Schedule for Fermi Cycle 2

Announcement (as part of ROSES 2008) February 15, 2008
Major Amendment of ROSES 2008 Announcement February 15, 2008
Release of online proposal aids and documentation December 6, 2009
Notices of Intent January 23, 2009
Proposals Due March 6, 2009
Proposal Peer Review May 18-20, 2009
Fermi Cycle 2 Begins August 14, 2009

Checklist:

  • Register now

    Before submitting proposals, you must register with the relevant systems (below).

  • Notices of Intent - due January 23, 2009

    Submit the Notice of Intent (NOI) through the FSSC NOI website. You will provide the following information:

    • Your name
    • Your e-mail address
    • A tentative title
    • A tentative abstract
    • Proposal type: regular or large
    • Research type: Correlated, Data Analysis Techniques, GBM Analysis, or Theory
    • Subject category: Active Galactic Nuclei; Gamma-Ray Bursts; Pulsars; Stars; Supernovae, Novae, SNRs and Diffuse Emissions; Galaxies and Clusters; or Other

    There is no advance notice needed for the ARK/RPS system. You may submit a Phase 1 proposal even if you did not submit a NOI, but a NOI will help us plan the peer review of your proposal.

  • Phase 1 Proposal Submission - due March 6, 2009, 4:30 pm EDT

    Required Items for a Complete Fermi Cycle 2 Phase 1 proposal submission:

    1. A cover page submitted electronically via ARK/RPS. The help file specific to Fermi provides detailed explanations of the various entries. On this cover page you will include:
      • Contact information for all investigators
      • Abstract
      • Proposal categorization (large/regular, type of source studied, type of proposal)
      • Identification of joint programs (if relevant)—the current programs are the NRAO-Fermi and NOAO-Fermi cooperative agreements, and NASA's High-End Computing (see section Id of the Summary of Solicitation).
      • NRAO or NOAO resources requested (if relevant)
      • Maximum Budget Request—this is the maximum funding request you will make if your proposal is accepted, in thousands of dollars. For a multi-year large proposal, enter the budget for the first year only. Regular proposals may request up to $100K and large proposals up to $200K per year.
      • NASA FTE Commitment—this is the number of FTEs of NASA civil servant time that will be supported by the program if the proposal is accepted. This is not the total number of FTEs that will be devoted to the research program. Most likely the value will not be an integer.
      • Target forms (if relevant)—source name, position, and type are required. NRAO and NOAO joint proposals, and LAT pointed observations, are required to enter the requested observing time for the target. Additional information should then be provided for LAT observations. A file with a list of targets can be uploaded by clicking on the 'Add Targets' button at the top and bottom of the form.
    2. A single PDF file containing the text of your scientific justification uploaded via the RPS Web site. The page limit for the scientific justification is 4 pages for a Regular proposal, and 6 pages for a Large Proposal. If you are applying for NRAO or NOAO observing time under the 'joint proposal opportunity' then you must add an additional page describing the observations. The PI's Vita is not required. The font shall be no smaller than 10 pt, and need not include section headings. Figures and references are included in the page limit. This text should include:
      • Scientific description of your research plan.
      • A short statement demonstrating the relevance of the proposed research to NASA's objectives (see Table 1 of the Summary of Solicitation).
      • A management section that describes the resources required, including the expected contribution of the different investigators. This section should provide an estimate of the level of effort (e.g., 0.5 FTE of a postdoc), and the maximum budget request. If you are submitting a multi-year large proposal, please qualitatively describe the level-of-effort profile.
      • If you are proposing for NRAO or NOAO observing time under the 'joint proposal opportunity,' you must add an additional page to the scientific justification describing the observation. This page will be read for a technical evaluation of your observation plan, and should not be used to continue the scientific justification for the observation. The information required for NRAO observations can be found here, and for NOAO observations here. Note that you cannot apply for more than 200 hours or Target-of-Opportunity radio observations through the NRAO joint proposal opportunity, or for Target-of-Opportunity or survey program optical observations through the NOAO joint proposal opportunity, but must instead apply through the cooperative proposal opportunity of each program.
      • If you are proposing for funding under the Fermi-NRAO or Fermi-NOAO 'cooperative proposal opportunity,' please indicate this clearly in the science justification. You may not add an additional page describing the observations, but you should briefly justify the planned observations. Your proposal through the regular NRAO or NOAO proposal process must be reviewed by the relevant Time Allocation Committee (TAC) before the Fermi peer review panels meet (mid-May, 2009); the TAC evaluation of your observing proposal will be forwarded to the Fermi peer review panel evaluating your Fermi funding proposal.
      • If you are proposing for NASA-Provided High-End Computing Resources, please describe and justify your request (see section Id of the Summary of Solicitation).

    Proposals to analyze released LAT data on a particular source, perform correlated multiwavelength observations of a source, model a source or repoint the Fermi observatory, also require electronic submission of an ARK/RPS target form containing the source name and position (RA and Dec) of the target.

    Proposals must be received by 4:30 PM EDT March 6, 2007. If you have difficulties submitting your proposal or have technical questions about the Fermi mission, see our Getting Help section.

  • Phase 2 Proposal Submission

    You will submit a phase 2 (budget) proposal only if your phase 1 proposal has been (tentatively) accepted. You will receive instructions in that happy event.

 

Supporting Materials for Submitting Fermi Proposals

 

Getting Help

If you have problems with the first Phase proposal and target forms in the ARK/RPS system, please see the ARK/RPS Quick Help page; questions about ARK/RPS should be sent to the RPS Help Desk, which is linked at the bottom of the Quick Help page.

If you have questions or problems with the NSPIRES system, please consult the NSPIRES Help Page, or submit your technical support question to nspires-help@nasaprs.com.

If you have questions about the Fermi instruments, mission, simulation tools, or overall proposal program, please contact the Fermi Science Support Center Help Desk.

 

If you'd like to be a Peer Reviewer

The Fermi Cycle 2 Peer Review will tentatively take place May 18-20, 2009, in the vicinity of Washington, DC. Reviewers must have a PhD at the time of the Peer Review.

If you would like to be considered as a reviewer, please send an e-mail to the HEASARC Peer Review mailbox.