Opportunity Information: Apply for NNH24ZEA001N USRC
NASA Headquarters is offering the University Student Research Challenge (USRC), a discretionary grant opportunity under CFDA 43.002, posted as Amendment 4 to the NASA ARMD Research Opportunities in Aeronautics (ROA) 2024 NRA on the NSPIRES platform. The program is designed specifically to push university students to bring forward fresh, early-stage aeronautics ideas that connect to NASA Aeronautics priorities. Rather than focusing only on traditional academic proposals, USRC emphasizes student-led innovation and public engagement, aiming to help students develop both technical work and real-world skills that translate to research commercialization or broader technology adoption.
USRC invites students from accredited U.S. colleges and universities to propose new ideas or concepts that advance aeronautics. Examples of the kinds of projects NASA is looking for include advancing aircraft or aviation system design, developing new technologies or capabilities that support aviation, demonstrating a novel concept through prototyping or testing, or enabling progress in aeronautics-related technologies more broadly. The focus is on science and technology research and development, and proposals should be clearly relevant to aeronautics, with a credible plan for what will be built, tested, demonstrated, or learned.
A defining feature of USRC is its required cost-share fundraising component through a student-run crowdfunding campaign. NASA pairs grant support with the expectation that teams will raise additional funds from the public, and the act of building and executing the campaign is treated as a learning accelerator. In practical terms, this means students are expected to communicate their work in plain language, build interest outside their lab or classroom, and operate with an entrepreneurial mindset by validating public interest and rallying supporters. The crowdfunding element is not just about money; it is also about outreach, storytelling, and demonstrating that the project can attract attention and backing beyond NASA.
From an application logistics standpoint, Notices of Intent are not required, which lowers the barrier to entry and lets teams move directly into proposal development. The first proposal due date is November 7, 2024, but the solicitation is structured to allow later submissions that can be reviewed in subsequent cycles, extending opportunities for teams that need more time to form, refine their concepts, or prepare a stronger plan. The opportunity is listed under Funding Opportunity Number NNH24ZEA001N (USRC), with the solicitation referenced as NNH23ZEA001N-USRC, and the overall closing date shown as June 26, 2025, reflecting the multi-cycle evaluation schedule.
NASA is also offering live support sessions to help applicants understand the program and strengthen their submissions. Information Session/Q&A events are scheduled for Cycle 1 on September 30, 2024 at 2:00 pm ET, Cycle 2 on January 27, 2025 at 2:00 pm ET, and Cycle 3 on May 12, 2025 at 2:00 pm ET. These sessions are hosted on Microsoft Teams, with a call-in option available at 1-256-715-9946 using conference code 317928116#. Overall, USRC is best understood as a student-centered aeronautics R&D grant that combines technical project execution with a structured requirement to practice fundraising, public communication, and entrepreneurial thinking.Apply for NNH24ZEA001N USRC
- The NASA Headquarters in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "University Student Research Challenge (USRC)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 43.002.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2024-09-20.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-06-26. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted.
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