Astronomical Sciences Technology and Instrumentation (ATI)

The Astronomical Sciences Technologies and Instrumentation (ATI) program provides individual investigator and collaborative research grants to develop new technologies and instrumentation for use in ground-based astronomy and astrophysics. The program seeks the development of innovative, potentially transformative technologies and instruments, even at high technical risk. Supported categories include (but are not limited to): advanced technology development, concept feasibility studies, and specialized instrumentation to enable new observations that are difficult or impossible to obtain with existing means. Proposals may include hardware and/or software development and/or analysis to enable new types of astronomical observations. Access to the ATI-supported technology and instrumentation development efforts by the U.S. astronomical community is viewed as an important metric of success. An annual Principal Investigators (PI) meeting is planned to disseminate information between the funded research efforts. 

Important Considerations: The ATI program is anticipated to be especially competitive in Fiscal Year 2027. For this reason, please note the following guidance. 

• Multiple submissions by the same lead PI, whether as part of a collaborative project or not, are strongly discouraged. 

• PIs who already have an active MPS Astronomical Sciences award that is not set to expire in the upcoming fiscal year should contact their cognizant Program Officer before considering submitting a proposal for another concurrent award. 

• As stated in the Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (Chapter IV.E), previously declined proposals may be resubmitted only after substantial revisions to take into account major comments or concerns from the prior review. Resubmissions that have not been sufficiently revised may be returned without review. 

• NSF recognizes that some research projects within this program may require more than three years to realize transformative research outcomes. Such proposals should include strong justification for the longer duration and the associated resources needed to undertake the project. 

• Collaborative proposals that leverage the unique contributions of different groups are welcome but must be well justified. 

Program Design: The ATI program provides both individual investigator and collaborative research grants to develop new technologies and instrumentation for use in ground-based astronomy and astrophysics research. Proposals may request support for advanced technology development, concept feasibility studies, and instrumentation to enable new observations that are difficult to obtain with existing means. Proposals that principally deploy existing or off-the-shelf instrumentation should demonstrate an innovative use of such instrumentation.  

The ATI program funds technology and instrument development projects that support the study of astronomical sources from ground-based observatories operating from optical through radio wavebands of the electromagnetic spectrum. A broad range of technologies are of relevance, including (but not limited to): high contrast adaptive optics systems, extreme-precision radial velocity techniques, high resolution spectrometers, interferometers, massively multiplexed spectroscopy techniques, astrophotonics, imaging detectors, telescopes and antennae, optics and optical devices, and correlators and elements of radio cameras. Suitable proposal topics include innovative hardware, software and/or analysis methods applicable to research supported by MPS Astronomical Sciences. Proposed developments may only have ancillary relevance to space-based projects. Proposals focused on studying the effects of the Sun on Earth’s atmosphere and near-Earth space environment, including the impact on telecommunications and other human activity, may be more suitable for the Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences Program (AGS). 

In all cases, proposals must adequately demonstrate the astronomical context of the work, or they may be returned without review. Submissions should demonstrate that the proposed technology, instrumentation, and/or software will significantly advance and improve ground-based astronomy observations.    

Concept feasibility studies that address technology innovation, retire risk related to new technology, and/or demonstrate a new technology are well suited to the ATI program. Routine design development will be given lower priority. Routine upgrades to existing instruments and facilities will also be given lower priority.

This program generally supports projects that are more exploratory, smaller in scope, and may have higher risk than those suitable for the Astronomical Sciences Innovations program or the Major Research Instrumentation program. Please contact a cognizant NSF Program Officer if you have any questions about the suitability of your proposal for submission to the ATI program.  

The ATI program supports making enhanced capabilities available to the wider astronomical community. Although technology and instrumentation intended for private observatories are permitted, such submissions are expected to describe the specific benefits to the entire U.S. astronomical community. 

The ATI program supports community coordination and sharing of experience in technology development. Investigators are expected to participate in an annual Principal Investigators (PI) meeting. These meetings may be held in person, virtually, or in a hybrid format and are scheduled for the September-October period. Including travel funds to attend this meeting in the project budget is recommended.

Proposed budgets may include contingency when appropriate. These costs must be identified and the level justified.  

ATI proposals to this program are selected according to review criteria specified in Section VI of the MPS Astro solicitation. Strong ATI proposals typically exhibit the following characteristic elements: 

• Motivation: Describing the impact of the project’s technology development on new ground-based observing capabilities will strengthen the proposal. This impact may range from significant improvements over existing facilities to providing a totally new observing capability. 

• Innovation: Describing a project’s potential to significantly advance the state-of-the-art and/or open new frontiers to science will strengthen the proposal. Proposals for routine upgrades to existing facilities are discouraged.  

• Commitment to the Public: Describing the benefit of the development to the larger U.S. astronomy community will strengthen the proposal. An example of such a benefit may include providing public access to the instrumentation developed via a specified amount of observing time open to the entire US community. Another example of a benefit would be community access to raw data, science-ready data and/or analysis software that can be used by the U.S. community.  

• Data accessibility: A data access description that discusses any planned proprietary data periods and the interface that enables community members to readily obtain such data will strengthen the proposal. 

• Technology Development: Projects that provide technology development will be strengthened by plans to make results publicly available through publications and presentations during the course of the project.  

• Technology Outreach: If appropriate and relevant, proposers are encouraged to include a technology outreach description that details any planned interaction with U.S.-based industry in either the development of the technology or in the potential use of the technology to be developed. Such activity may provide opportunities for additional funding avenues within the NSF.  

• Project Management: ATI projects are generally difficult to transfer between institutions while in progress. Proposals that have co-PIs who are post-doctoral fellows or soft-money scientists will be strengthened by discussing plans for managing the project in the event that such a co-PI leaves the institution.  

Other Funding Opportunities: Funding for technology and instrumentation may be awarded within other programs, such as the NSF-wide Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) program or the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) program. In particular, the MRI program serves to increase access to multi-user scientific and engineering instrumentation for research and research training in our nation's institutions of higher education and not-for-profit scientific/engineering research organizations. Within MPS Astronomical Sciences, funding for technology and instrumentation may be awarded through the Astronomical Sciences Innovations program, which supports a variety of astronomical activities. The Astronomical Sciences Core Research program may also award some support for technology and instrumentation. Proposers may contact the NSF Program Officer for guidance if they have questions about which solicitation is most appropriate for submission.  

Requests for supplemental funding, conference proposals, Grants for Rapid Response Research (RAPID) or EArly-concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER) proposals must follow the proposal preparation instructions contained in the PAPPG Chapter II.F.