Student Observing Support (SOS)
Forecasted
Student Observing Support (SOS) supports students’ telescope and archival research through stipends, computing equipment, and conference travel to develop research skills and train future telescope users.
Funder: National Radio Astronomy Observatory
Due Dates (Anticipated): December 2026 (VLA/VLBA/GBT) | June 2027 (VLA/VLBA/GBT) | September 2027 (ALMA)
Funding Amounts: Up to $40,000 per award; $40,000 in active awards per year per investigator; normally two years
Summary: SOS supports student telescope and archival research through stipends, conference travel, and computing equipment.
Key Information: The SOS principal investigator cannot be a student or postdoc and must share the supported student’s institution.
Description
Student Observing Support (SOS) is a fellowship program run by the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) to train the next generation of telescope users. Future opportunities may support projects using ALMA, the VLA, the GBT, and the VLBA, or research using ALMA archival data. Support connects students’ research contributions with professional development, including dissertation research and presenting results at scientific conferences.
Awards are selected by the Student Observing Support Committee, comprising scientists external to NRAO. The committee considers scientific merit, clearly defined student contributions, the importance of the work to student development, responsible funding requests, and equitable distribution of support. SOS is not intended to provide continuous support throughout a student’s graduate career.
