ISGC sponsors an Early Career Investigator Research Program (ECIRP) as part of the Research Infrastructure. Projects must align with the goals of establishing a sustainable project that meets the documented needs of NASA and the State of Iowa. ECIRP is designed to strengthen Iowas NASA-related research infrastructure by providing startup funding to early career university faculty who are conducting research that is aligned with NASA research activities. The ECIRP intent is to build new collaborations with NASA centers or other future funding sources and is required for this opportunity. Connections with ISGC industrial and government affiliates are especially encouraged. Involvement of students in research is highly encouraged, but not required.

Competition is open to faculty from Drake, Iowa, Iowa State, or Northern Iowa (ISGC core institutions), who are on tenure-track appointments or within two-years post-tenure. All direct funded participants (faculty and students) must be U.S. citizens. Faculty and/or students who are involved in the administration of this activity, but are not directly compensated, need not be U.S. citizens. The ISGC encourages proposals from females, members of underrepresented minority groups, veterans, and persons with disabilities.