NSF EPSCoR FTPP Virtual Site Visit (vSV) 2026
Please pay close attention!
All information regarding the vsv can be found on this page.
I am a…
When do I need to attend?
Jurisdiction Faculty and Staff
Log in at least 10 minutes before your assigned time.
Jurisdiction Students and Postdocs
Log in at least 10 minutes before your assigned time
everyone Know these facts!
The panel may ask similar questions. Please be prepared to respond and review the FAQ below.
Future Technologies and enabling Plasma Processes
Funded by the National Science Foundation Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (NSF EPSCoR) FTPP is a 10-member university and industry consortium, led by The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) and supported by a $20 million 5-year (2022-2027) grant. The project leverages Alabama’s laboratory and space plasma science expertise to contribute scientific knowledge, technologies, and workforce to Alabama’s aerospace, manufacturing, advanced materials, medical, bioscience, and agricultural sectors.
Alabama becomes a world-renowned hub for PSE (Plasma Science Engineering) by developing transformative future technologies (such as advanced materials, food safety and sterilization, space weather prediction) and building foundational plasma science research and industry with a skilled workforce.
FTPP will build research, education, economic, and workforce capacity in pursuit of making foundational discoveries in space and laboratory plasma physics and create future societally transformative technologies in the State of AL, utilizing Alabama’s statewide expertise in plasma science and technology.
Answers will vary. Consider your role within the FTPP. For example, whether you are faculty, a researcher, staff member, postdoctoral scholar, student. Be prepared to describe your involvement with the cooperative agreement as a whole. This may include serving as a mentor, participating in annual meetings, presentations, partaking in outreach events, collaborating with other FTPP members at your institution or across partner institutions, and taking part in FTPP working groups (e.g., the Graduate Student Working Group, Plasma Modeling Working Group, Plasma Diagnostics Working Group, or Plasma Agriculture Working Group).
The 3 research thrusts of FTPP are:
- TT: Transformative Technologies
- FR1: Foundational Research 1 – theory and simulations
- FR2: Foundational Research 2 – basic plasma science and diagnostic
Please read carefully the Research page on our website to identify which research thrust you are working on. Consult with your advisor to confirm your research thrust.
Plasmy!
Grad and Undergrad Students
1-Slide Instructions
Student presentations (one slide) are required to follow the Mike Morrison Better Posters template, which is designed to improve the clarity and impact of scientific communication. Think of these presentations as a “virtual poster.” This innovative format emphasizes a clean, organized layout that highlights the main findings, making it easier for viewers to quickly grasp the key message of the research. By using this template, presenters can more effectively engage their audience and facilitate meaningful discussion. The template is available for download in both PDF and LaTeX formats via the links below. Keep in mind: you will be presenting to the National Science Foundation (NSF).
Keep in mind: you will be presenting to the National Science Foundation (NSF).
Instructions from NSF:
Student Sessions: The vSV will include closed presentation and discussion sessions (90 minutes total) involving a total of ten (10) undergraduate and graduate students. No postdocs are invited to this session. The single presentation slide for each student should be specific to their participation in and exemplify their contribution to the RII Track-1 project.
At the start of the session, the ten students will be invited into a Zoom breakout room with the vSV panel and NSF staff, with no faculty present. Each student will present a “Three-Minute Thesis” type of presentation according to these guidelines:
- A single static PowerPoint slide is permitted.
- No slide transitions, animations or “movement” of any description are allowed.
- The slide is to be presented from the beginning of the oration. No additional electronic media (e.g., sound or video files) are permitted.
- No additional props (e.g., costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment) are permitted.
- Presentations are limited to 3 minutes maximum and presenters exceeding 3 minutes will be cut off by NSF staff facilitating the Zoom meeting.
- Presentations are to be spoken word (e.g., no poems, raps, or songs).
- Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation by speaking.
Each three-minute presentation will be followed by five minutes of questions and answers. The students’ presentations will occur as the agenda’s Interactive discussion session 5.
The final ten minutes of the session will be used for the panel to ask general questions of the students and their training. The student cohort discussion session will occur as the agenda’s Interactive discussion session 6.
Submit your 1-slide via email by clicking on the button below. All students will have to present a 3-Minute Flash Talk about their slide. Your poster will be your only slide. The presentation must be exactly 3 minutes. No more.
Your 1-slide must be approved by your research advisor before submission / presentation.
Review the FAQ to prepare for the questions!
review the schedule when you need to attend!
Deadline for submission: February 15, 2026
Key Takeaways for the Better Posters Template:
- Emphasizes Key Findings:
The central message is highlighted, allowing viewers to quickly understand the main results. - Simplified Content:
Reduces clutter by focusing on essential information, making posters easier to read and digest. - Improves Audience Engagement:
Encourages more interaction and discussion by presenting a clear, visually appealing layout. - Promotes Visual Hierarchy:
Uses strategic placement of text and graphics to guide the audience’s attention effectively.
Watch the video!
download templates:
postdocs
Instructions
Postdocs are required to prepare a 1-minute elevator speech describing their participation in the project. You may include information such as:
- Your participation in the project (example below)
- Introduce yourself
- Role, responsibilities, what you are working on and the tools/techniques/equipment used
- How your work contributes to FTPP goals (Ex: “I study plasma-material interactions using cold plasma technology, focusing on how plasmas interact with and modify material surfaces.”)
- Your training and mentoring experiences as a postdoctoral researcher
- Collaboration & Engagement
- Any collaborations with other FTPP members at your institution or across partner institutions
- Attendance to various working groups
- Outcomes/Achievements
- Publications, presentations, collaborations, patents, datasets, etc. (Ex: “I have published 3 peer-reviewed papers, presented at 2 conferences, and collaborated with 2 partner institutions on modeling experiments.”)
- Summarize your overall role and contribution to the project
- REVIEW the FAQ
- REVIEW the schedule
This brief, informal presentation will help the vSV panel understand your experiences and perspectives as a trainee.
Keep in mind: you will be presenting to the National Science Foundation (NSF).
Instructions from NSF:
Postdoctoral Trainee Session: The vSV will include a 30-minute closed session with postdoctoral trainees. At the start of the session, the postdoctoral trainees will be invited into a Zoom breakout room with the vSV panel and NSF staff. Each participant will present an informal one minute “elevator speech” describing their participation in the project. This will be followed by a discussion with the vSV panel about the trainee experiences, mentoring plans, opportunities, and general perspectives on the trainee experience. No presentation material is required for this session. The Postdoctoral Trainee Session will occur as the agenda’s Interactive discussion session 4.
other
Instructions
Please review all the information on the Memo sent by NSF. Some other important information is linked again below.