NRAO's Student Observing Support (SOS) program, paused for 2026, trains telescope users by supporting new observing programs for VLA, VLBA, GBT, and ALMA.
Principal Investigators cannot be students or postdocs.; PI of SOS request must be resident at the same institution as the student.; If student/advisor is not PI of observing proposal, PI must provide letter of support.; Funding must commence no later than one year after award notification.
Requirements
Description of student's role in the planned research project.; Student's plan of dissertation research (if applicable).; Up-to-date listing of current and pending support for the PI.; Description of the need for proposed funding.; Budget Description detailing stipend, travel, and computer hardware requests.
Application materials
Final Funding Proposal, Budget Form; Final Funding Proposal, Budget Narrative Form; Terms, Conditions, and General Provisions; Subrecipient Agreement Form; Subrecipient Closeout Form
How to apply
Submit SOS proposal.; Receive notification of receipt.; If approved, read General Provisions.; Fill in Final Funding Proposal and Budget Narrative Forms.; Submit institutional invoices for access to funds if award is activated.
Important dates
Deadlines: September (ALMA), December (VLA/VLBA/GBT), June (VLA/VLBA/GBT) annually.; Funding must commence no later than one year after award notification.; Notification of application disposition within six weeks (new observations) or eight weeks (ALMA archive).
Documents
Terms, Conditions, and General Provisions; Final Funding Proposal, Budget Form; Final Funding Proposal, Budget Narrative Form; Subrecipient Agreement Form; Subrecipient Closeout Form
Contact
Jim Braatz (for letters of support and questions); NRAO Student Observing Support Administrator (for invoices)
Recent changes on this page
Plain-English summaries of meaningful source-page updates.
