GSRA (Graduate Student Research Assistance)

The Graduate Student Research Assistance (GSRA) program is designed to augment the compensation levels available to promising graduate students on LaSPACE campuses and thereby retain more U.S. students for graduate study at consortium institutions in Louisiana.

The GSRA Program serves to strengthen the educational base among member LASPACE institutions, and to contribute to the future STEM workforce in line with Federal and State needs. The specific objectives in recruiting superior graduate students under the LaSPACE program are: (1) to encourage highly qualified individuals with interests in NASA-aligned research to continue in the field, (2) to support graduate level education in Louisiana, and (3) to develop the research infrastructure needed to grow the level of aerospace and space science R & D in the state.

The GSRA supplement is $10,000 for a 9.5-month period and can be used for augmenting the student stipend, to defray thesis/dissertation related research expenses, and promote student research presentations at national meetings. Cost share on the award is required. Applications are judged based on NASA relevance of the research and overall relevance to LaSPACE programmatic objectives. Proposals must clearly identify the Mission Directorate priority being addressed by this project and show alignment with current work at NASA. We plan to issue five to six GSRA awards each year.

Proposal Submissions

  • Submit all properly executed proposals via email as fully searchable pdf documents to laspace@lsu.edu by 11:59 pm on Monday, May 5, 2025.
  • Important Dates:
    • Funding Opportunity Release Date: Monday, March 10, 2025
    • Proposal Due Date: Monday, May 5, 2025
    • Anticipated Award Announcements: late June 2025
    • Award Period of Performance: 08/15/2025 – 05/31/2026

Download Link (Word Document): LaSPACE_GSRA_Proposal_Guidelines_2025-2026
Download Link (PDF Document): LaSPACE_GSRA_Proposal_Guidelines_2025-2026