Application Tips – How to Apply for the NASA LEADS Pilot

  • Use this site as a resource.
  • Mark your calendar: This twelve-month, part-time program will comprise a mix of virtual and in-person sessions during CY2025.
  • Attend Informational Sessions and Tips for Applicants Sessions for detailed information about the application questions.
  • Speak with your supervisor to gain their approval/buy-in: Your organization might have a vetting process for candidates. Potential travel costs and participation time are the responsibility of the applicant’s center/MSEO. Every application will require supervisor approval.
  • Join the NASA LEADS Team in MS Teams and set your notifications to receive updates when information session dates and participation info are posted.
  • While you are preparing application for LEADS, consider the following:
    • Opening your aperture outside of how you are affected by events and into how others are affected by your actions, interactions, decisions, and your skill to contribute to psychologically safe environments.
    • Self-reflection on your experiences, behaviors, and biases in order to demonstrate you have a growth mindset.
    • Using the Context-Challenge-Action-Result (CCAR) writing model, which uses specific examples from your personal experience. Citing your accomplishments and how they align to the NASA Mission.

The Important Details

Rules of the road still apply:

  • Spell and grammar check! Better yet, have someone else review your application.
  • Spell out acronyms the first time you use them.
  • Use the number of characters provided without going over.
  • Remember that your application will be reviewed by people who are not experts in your field.
  • Per Federal Government policy, you MAY NOT use ChatGPT or other artificial intelligence tools to assist in drafting application and assessment responses. Using artificial intelligence as part of application preparation will render the Application ineligible.

Things to Consider while Gaining Supervisor Buy-in

The image is a flowchart describing how an organization can integrate LEADS leadership lessons into daily operations. It consists of two main sections: 1. A purple oval shape on the left side contains the text: "Explain how your Organization can infuse LEADS' leadership lessons into daily operations." 2. Two arrows pointing to the right from the oval, each with an icon and text: - The top arrow is labeled "Right Person" and includes an icon of three people with a magnifying glass. The text next to it reads: "Is LEADS the right program at the right time in your career & development?" - The bottom arrow is labeled "Right Program" and includes an icon of a presentation board with checkmarks. The text next to it reads: "Will LEADS' learning outcomes support your organization’s needs? (Check with LEADS Pilot Sharepoint)." The design uses a light gray and purple color scheme with clear, legible text and simple icons.

Answering NASA LEADS Application Questions

Question 1: Where do you see yourself in 2-3 years? What is your vision? (500 characters)

You may consider the following while answering this question:

  • A good answer is not necessarily about seeking a promotion or a career change.
  • Your short-term goals.
  • If there are accomplishment/ competencies you seek to gain/ update / improve and how you will use them
  • How your goals will support your home or desired organization (e.g., show you understand NASA’s science mission and/ or how you want to make a positive contribution to NASA and your field).
  • If there are any components of LEADS that may support your goals and how.

Question 2: How will your participation in NASA LEADS help you achieve that vision and further your leadership journey at NASA? (500 characters)

You may consider the following while answering this question:

  • How NASA LEADS will better prepare you as a leader.
  • Your idea of what it takes to excel in science leadership.
  • If there are unique or particularly complex challenges that you have encountered in science leadership, reflect upon the ways you may apply knowledge and skills gained at NASA LEADS to overcome/ improve/ change current challenges at your organization or the Agency at large.

Question 3: What will your organization gain from your participation in NASA LEADS? (1,000 characters)

You may consider the following while answering this question:

  • Why is this the right time in your career for your home organization to invest up to 25% of your time into honing leadership skills.   
  • How LEADS may increase your level of performance in your day-to-day activities.
  • What NASA LEADS Learning Outcomes may have the largest impact at your organization.   
  • If there are any LEADS Learning Outcomes you are unlikely to achieve elsewhere in your day-to-day activities. 

Question 4: What impact do you think NASA Civil Servant Scientists should have on society. In your response, please address how you think NASA leadership should react to of socio-environmental and/ or socio-technological challenges, matters of diversity and inclusion in the sciences, and democratization of science as an enterprise. (1,000 characters)

You may consider the following while answering this question:

  • Your core values and NASA’s core values (i.e., safety, integrity, teamwork, excellence, and inclusion). Because leadership requires a firm grounding in ethics, how your values align with NASA’s values is an important consideration.
  • How the role of the Civil Servant Scientist differs from the roles of scientists in academia or industry, particularly regarding impact on society. Reflect upon the parts of the Civil Servant Scientist role resonate most with your values.
  • How the role of a Science Leader different from the role of Scientist in non-leadership positions, particularly regarding diversity and inclusion. Reflect upon the parts of the Science Leader role resonate most with your values.

Question 5: Describe a time when you received constructive feedback.  In your response, please address how you responded to this feedback, any challenges you faced in receiving this feedback (if any), and how you integrated this feedback. (1,000 characters)

You may consider the following while answering this question:

  • NASA LEADS will require significant introspection and a growth mindset.
  • Whether you are the kind of person who seeks out feedback from peers, supervisors, and people who might be less senior than you are. In what ways you have benefited from that feedback.
  • How you react/ follow up when you receive negative feedback. If there are instances in which you were more/ less receptive to make changes.
  • How you have coped with receiving feedback during stressful times.

Question 6: Describe your experience in scientific team(s). In your response, please explain how you set expectations, handled personal conflicts and disagreements, managed competing priorities, and delivered on commitments. (1,000 characters)

You may consider the following while answering this question:

  • How NASA LEADS will prepare you nurture teams capable of learning, innovating, and competing in support of NASA’s Mission. 
  • The ideal skillset needed to lead a high-performing team.
  • What your approach has been to planning and executing team projects and what are the strengths and weaknesses of that approach.
  • How you have coped with teams’ interpersonal conflict during stressful time sand what are the strengths and weaknesses of your coping mechanisms.
  • If there are any team building competencies you seek to gain/ update / improve as part of LEADS and how you will use them at your home or desired organization.

Quick links

Informational Sessions

Join our supervisor and participant sessions to learn more.

Image of astronaut’s hands in glovebox

Program Eligibility

Who qualifies for the program?

Program Application

Visit Talent Marketplace to apply.

Aerial view of a vast, snow-covered glacier under a clear blue sky, with the wing of an aircraft visible on the right side of the image.

Who to Contact

Get your questions answered.