Proposal Selection Committee

Proposal Selection Committee

Proposal Selection Committee

EVLA & VLBA

  • Perform triage on very highly rated or poorly rated proposals
  • Discuss large proposals
  • Discuss regular proposals by referee category, starting with a category's EVLA proposals then its VLBA proposals
  • Recommend proposals for approval or rejection, strongly guided by median and consistency of normalized referee ratings
  • Proposals, particularly those requiring coordination with other facilities, may be recommended for fixed-date observing. Such actions are rare. Possibly adjust recommended time and/or targets per proposal. (For Global VLBI proposals, only pass on a rating.)
  • Proposals may be recommended, at some priority, for insertion into the EVLA or VLBA dynamic scheduling queues. Such actions are common. Possibly adjust recommended time and/or targets per proposal. EVLA priorities range from 0 (highest) to 9 (lowest). VLBA priorities range from 1 (highest) to 3 (lowest).
  • Compare proposals at same dynamic priority, ensuring uniformity. Possibly shuffle some proposals to higher or lower priorities.
  • For EVLA, examine plots of pressure on dynamic time as a function of LST for principal, hybrid and move configurations. Assess over(under)subscriptions as function of LST. Possibly re-visit rejects to remedy undersubscriptions then revise plots.
  • For VLBA, examine number of recommended hours. Assess over(under)subscription. Possibly re-visit rejects to remedy undersubscriptions.
  • Produce list of recommended proposals to forward to Director's review. At the Committee's discretion, a small number of recommended proposals may be nominated for designation as Key Science Projects.

Connect with NRAO

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

Founded in 1956, the NSF NRAO provides state-of-the-art radio telescope facilities for use by the international scientific community. NSF NRAO telescopes are open to all astronomers regardless of institutional or national affiliation. Observing time on NSF 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. NSF NRAO also provides both formal and informal programs in education and public outreach for teachers, students, the general public, and the media.

The U.S. National Science Foundation (U.S. 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..."

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