Advanced Technologies and Instrumentation for the Astronomical Sciences

About

The Advanced Technologies and Instrumentation for the Astronomical Sciences (ATI) program provides individual investigator and collaborative research grants for the development of new technologies and instrumentation for use in ground-based astronomy and astrophysics. The program supports achieving the science objectives of the Division of Astronomical Sciences. The development of innovative, potentially transformative, technologies and instruments are sought, 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 US astronomical community is viewed as an important metric of success. An annual Principal Investigators meeting is planned to disseminate information between the funded research efforts.

The Advanced Technologies and Instrumentation for the Astronomical Sciences (ATI) program is designed for researchers and research teams committed to advancing ground-based astronomy and astrophysics through innovative technological development. This grant supports individual investigators and collaborative research efforts focused on creating new technologies, instruments, and software solutions that enable observations currently difficult or impossible with existing means. If you're developing cutting-edge astronomical instrumentation, conducting concept feasibility studies, or pioneering advanced technology applications in astronomy, this program welcomes your proposals—even those carrying higher technical risk in pursuit of transformative breakthroughs. The program prioritizes projects that serve the broader U.S. astronomical community, with funded technologies and instrumentation expected to be accessible to researchers nationwide. Success is measured not only by scientific achievement but also by how effectively developed tools are shared across the astronomy community. Annual Principal Investigator meetings facilitate collaboration and knowledge-sharing among funded research efforts, creating opportunities for researchers to learn from peers and expand their professional networks while advancing the field.

Grant Details

Frequently Asked Questions