Proposal Submission and the Close of the Call for Proposals

Compliance in Proposal Submission

Only proposals that are submitted via the online PST, that comply with the technical constraints and restrictions described in the Call for Proposals, that conform to the policies stated in this document, and that are received before the submission deadline will be considered. The Observatory reserves the right to reject proposals that do not adhere to the policies in this document.

For semester proposals, the proposal deadline is strictly enforced: no modifications to the proposal can be made by the author after the close of the call. If before the proposal deadline, it is possible to withdrawal a proposal and submit a new version (see Section 3.4.3). Requests to the Helpdesk for modifications to the proposal after the deadline will not be considered. Such requests include, but are not limited to, modifying the author list, the contents of the proposal, and modifying the requested items, such as source coordinates, requested time, or facility resources. Users should not submit duplicate proposals during a single Call for Proposals with the intention of acquiring a more favorable review.

Extension of the Close of Call for Proposals

The Observatory encourages users to leverage the NRAO Science Helpdesk and Knowledgebase in preparing their proposals. The Helpdesk is actively monitored to provide timely responses to inquiries, particularly near the close of the Call for Proposals. If an inquiry to the NRAO Science Helpdesk is made sufficiently ahead of the deadline but the issue is not resolved by the deadline, the Observatory will work with the proposers to reach a reasonable solution. The Observatory is not ultimately responsible, however, for late proposal submissions that are a result of inquiries with the Helpdesk - particularly last minute requests. The Observatory encourages users to consult Helpdesk resources far ahead of the deadline and to submit their finished proposals well in advance of the deadline.

There are many third party applications and services (e.g., Overleaf, Google Suite) that may aid a proposer in preparing their proposal. In the event that such a third party application experiences an outage or is otherwise unavailable, the Observatory is not responsible for the impact on a user’s ability to submit a timely proposal.

It is not the policy of the Observatory to extend the deadline for the Call of Proposals without sufficient cause. It is at the discretion of the Assistant Director for Science Support and Research if such an extension is warranted. If an extension is deemed necessary, a banner message will appear on the PST portal to indicate the new deadline.

Changes to Submitted Observatory Proposals

For semester proposals, proposers have the ability to withdraw their proposal directly through the PST without needing to contact the NRAO Science Helpdesk. If this action is taken prior to the proposal deadline, a new proposal can be submitted. Note that the PST currently permits proposal withdrawal only if it’s initiated a minimum of fifteen (15) minutes before the deadline. Beyond this time frame, proposers will need to contact the NRAO Science Helpdesk to withdrawal a proposal. After the proposal deadline, a submitted proposal may be withdrawn but no longer modified. Requests for withdrawal should be made via the NRAO Science Helpdesk. It is at the discretion of the Observatory to permit withdrawal however; if the review process has begun, the proposal will not be withdrawn.

Connect with NRAO

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory and Green Bank Observatory are facilities of the U.S. National Science Foundation operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc.

Founded in 1956, the NRAO provides state-of-the-art radio telescope facilities for use by the international scientific community. NRAO telescopes are open to all astronomers regardless of institutional or national affiliation. Observing time on NRAO telescopes is available on a competitive basis to qualified scientists after evaluation of research proposals on the basis of scientific merit, the capability of the instruments to do the work, and the availability of the telescope during the requested time. NRAO also provides both formal and informal programs in education and public outreach for teachers, students, the general public, and the media.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 "to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense..."

AUI collaborates with the scientific community and research sponsors to plan, build, and operate cutting-edge facilities. We cultivate excellence, deliver value, enhance education, and engage the public.