Initial draft of specutils funding proposal

Author: dhomeier

finance/proposal-calls/cycle5/homeier-specutils.md

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+# Homeier: Representation and I/O of multiple spectra in specutils
+
+### Project Team
+Derek Homeier
+
+### Project Description
+
+#### Roadmap Items
+List which [roadmap](https://github.com/astropy/astropy-project/blob/main/roadmap/roadmap.md) item(s) this work will help address?
+- Functionality
+  - :large_orange_diamond: Improve support for reading and writing spectra using the IVOA SpectrumDM.
+
+### Project / Work
+
+#### Create functional infrastrucure for multi-Spectrum objects
+
+- Write round-tripping writers/loaders for SpectrumList and potentially SpectrumCollection
+
+- Ensure adherence to standards like IVOA SpectrumDM
+
+- Investigate more efficient data storage options for inhomogeneous collections,
+  such as ragged array/awkward-array.
+
+- Participate in Spectroscopy Dev telecons.
+
+
+### Approximate Budget
+currency: US $
+
+- Salary under independent external contractor agreement: hours weekly for 45 weeks,
+  a total of tbd. hours (accounting for holidays) @ $120 / hour
+
+- TOTAL: $
+
+### Period of Performance
+Jan 1, 2026-Dec 31, 2026