The NASA Space Biology (SB) Program Element falls within the Biological and Physical Sciences (BPS) Division, formerly known as the Space Life and Physical Sciences Research and Applications Division (SLSPRAD). BPS moved from the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate (HEOMD) to the Science Mission Directorate (SMD) on July 20, 2020.
The program element focuses on ideas that will increase NASA’s understanding of how living systems respond to the unique environments that are encountered during space exploration, including the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) environment inside the International Space Station (ISS) and deep space conditions beyond LEO, including transit to and maintenance in Lunar and Martian environments. Therefore, this program element solicits proposals for investigations that characterize how living systems respond and adapt to spaceflight or spaceflight-like conditions.
This opportunity solicits four different Projects Types; Research Investigations (RI), Expanded Integrative Investigations (EII), Early Career Investigations (ECI), and GeneLab Analytical Investigations (GLAI). These Project Types are described in detail in Section 2.2 of this program element, as are the criteria that a proposed project needs to meet in order to be responsive to each specific Project Type. Project Types have different platform requirements (i.e., ISS-flight and/or ground) described in Section 2.1, and are limited to the specific Focus Areas (Integrated Animal Physiology, Plant Biology, or Microbial Ecosystems) described in Section 2.3. Proposers, therefore, are strongly encouraged to read this program element carefully to ensure that their applications are compliant with the requirements for each Project Type and Focus Area. Proposals for Project Types that utilize inappropriate platforms or that are responsive to inappropriate Focus Areas may be declared non-compliant and returned without review. Award amounts and durations will depend on the Project Type and Focus Area chosen by the applicant.
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