ROSES25: A.11 Early Career Investigator Program in Earth Science

The Early Career Investigator Program in Earth Science (ECIP-ES) is designed to support outstanding scientific research and career development of scientists and engineers at the early stage of their professional careers. As part of the Early Career Research (ECR) Program, this element welcomes innovative research initiatives and seeks to cultivate scientific leadership in Earth System Science to advance the development and implementation of the Earth Science to Action strategy.

Compelled by our planet’s rapid change, the Earth Science Division (ESD) is innovating, exploring, and collaborating to understand the Earth system, make new discoveries, and enable solutions for the benefit of all. ESD’s investments in technology, global observation data, groundbreaking foundational science and applications deliver trusted actionable Earth science data that support the US economy, national security through valuable information and tools, decision-making that affects human health, and improve the nation’s ability to forecast and respond to natural hazards and improve quality of life.

The ECIP-ES solicitation supports all aspects of scientific, technological, data systems, and applications research. Earth Science proposers should review ROSES-2025 A.1 Earth Science Research Overview, as well as the Earth System Science Research Program (ESSRP) website for additional details.

Eligibility 

The proposed research project must be led by a single, eligible early career investigator serving as the Principal Investigator (PI). Indeed, this individual must be the only essential team member; no Co-Investigators (Co-Is), paid or unpaid, are permitted. The ECIP-ES does not accept proposals with Co-PIs, nor two types of PIs, such as involving a Science PI or Institutional PI. Students and postdoctoral fellows may participate as paid team members. The proposed research may include collaborations. See NASA’s Grant and Cooperative Agreement Manual (GCAM) for the definitions of Collaborator vs. Co-Investigator. To be eligible a PI must be a recent Ph.D. recipient, defined as having defended and graduated on or after January 1, 2020, but see also bullet C below. Institutions and organizations are encouraged to submit proposals on behalf of their outstanding early career scientists and technologists in Earth System Science. This program element doesn't allow Co-Is including Co-I/Science PI, so the proposing institution must permit the early career researcher, including postdoctoral researchers, to propose as the single PI if they want to submit a proposal.