Biomedical Discovery and Innovation Funding Opportunities at NSF

Semahat Demir, Ph.D. Program Director

Biomedical Engineering ProgramNational Science Foundation

UTEPFebruary 9, 2010

El Paso, TX

NSF, Cross-directorate and Interagency ActivitiesProgram Director, Biomedical Engineering (BME) (2004-1. Research to Aid Persons with Disabilities (RAPD) (2004-2006)2. Multi-Scale Modeling  in Biomedical, Biological, and Behavioral Systems (MSM) (2004-3. Collaborative Research in Computational Neuroscience (CRCNS) (2004-4. Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) (2004-5. Nanoscale Science and Engineering for Nanoscale Exploratory Research (NER) Theme:

"Multi-scale, Multi-phenomena Theory, Modeling and Simulation at the Nanoscale“ (2005-6. Dynamic Data Driven Applications Systems (DDDAS) (2005-7. Active Nanostructures and Nanosystems (ANN), Nanoscale Interdisciplinary Research

Teams (NIRT) Theme: Nanoscale Devices and System Architecture (2007-8. NIH/NSF for Bioengineering Approaches to Energy Balance and Obesity (2005-)9. Engineering Research Centers (ERC) Partnerships in Transforming Research, Education

and Technology, Program Solicitation NSF 07-521 (2007- ) 10. Emerging Frontiers Research and Innovation (EFRI (2007-) Cognitive Optimization and

Prediction: From Neural Systems to Neurotechnology (COPN) 11. Cyber-Enabled Discovery and Innovation (CDI) (2008-12. Building Engineered Complex Systems (BECS) 13. Science and Technology Centers (STC) 2009-Representative of Engineering Directorate• NSF Learning and Workforce Development (LWD) Cyber Infrastructure (CI) SWOT • NSF initiative in Neuroscience and CognitionChair, ENG Neurotech Working GroupNSF Representative, National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Subcommittee onBiometrics and Identity Management, (2006-)Co-Chair, NIH BECON Bridges Team

Outline• Vision• Funding mechanisms

– Partnership opportunities for Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) and industry

• NSF Merit Review Criteria• Tips for Successful Proposal Writing

NSF Vision

NSF: Where Discovery Begins

Enabling the Nation’s future through discovery, learning and innovation.

NSF Disciplines & Structure1) Biological Sciences (BIO)2) Computer and Information Sciences and Engineering (CISE)3) Education and Human Resources (EHR)4) Engineering (ENG)5) Geosciences (GEO)6) Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS)7) Social, Behavioral And Economic Sciences (SBE)8) Polar Programs9) Office of Cyberinfrastructure10) Office of International Science and Engineering11) Office of Integrative Affairs

Funding Opportunities at NSF

• Individual Programs– Research, education, center programs

• Priority Areas (Investment Areas for FY)– Cross-Programs and Cross-Directorates

• Cross Disciplinary Areas– Cross-Programs and Cross-Directorates

• Interagency Programs– NSF, and other government agencies

Award (Grant) Types• Individual Investigator Initiated Awards• CAREER Awards• Grants for Rapid Response Research (RAPID)• EArly-concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER)• Supplements• Workshops, conference• Center Awards• Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business

Technology Transfer (STTR) awards• Cross-disciplinary or cross-directorate

– GOALI (Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry)– IGERT (Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship)– EFRI (Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation)– ADVANCE– MRI

• Specific Solicitation Awards– NSF solicitations, Interagency solicitations

CENTERS for partnerships• Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology

(CREST) and HBCU Research Infrastructure for Science and Engineering (RISE) [EHR/HRD]• To enhance the research capabilities of minority-serving institutions through

the establishment of centers that effectively integrate education and research.

• Five opportunities: 1) CREST centers; (2) supplements for partnerships applied to existing CREST awards; (3) HBCU Research Infrastructure for Science & Engineering (HBCU-RISE) proposals; (4) supplements for diversity collaboration for projects co-funded with NSF's Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) programs; and (5) new projects in the Directorate for Education and Human Resources track: Innovation through Institutional Integration (I^3).

• Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers (MRSEC) Partnership for Research and Education in Materials (PREM) [MPS/DMR]• To enhance diversity in materials research and education by stimulating the

development of formal, long-term, collaborative materials research and education partnerships between minority-serving institutions and the National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Materials Research (DMR) supported groups, centers, and facilities.

CENTERS for partnerships(continued)

• Engineering Research Centers (ERCs) [ENG/EEC]• The lead or one of the domestic partner universities must

be a university that serves students predominantly underrepresented in engineering and science in the U.S.

• The Science and Technology Centers (STC) [OIA]• STCs are strongly encouraged to form meaningful,

substantive and long-term partnerships with minority-serving institutions, women's colleges and institutions that primarily serve students with disabilities, thereby providing formal connections with institutions that serve large populations of underrepresented students interested in STEM.

Broadening Participation Research Initiation Grants in Engineering (BRIGE)

• Funding opportunity intended to increase the diversity of researchers through research program support early in their careers

• Encourages support of under-represented groups, engineers at minority serving institutions, and persons with disabilities

• Up to $175,000 over two years• Full proposals due Feb. 14, 2010

NSF Merit Review Criteria• Criteria include:

• What is the intellectual merit and quality of the proposed activity?

• What are the broader impacts of the proposed activity?

What is the intellectual merit of the proposed activity?

• Potential Considerations:• How important is the proposed activity to

advancing knowledge and understanding within its own field or across different fields?

• How well qualified is the proposer (individual or team) to conduct the project? (If appropriate, the reviewer will comment on the quality of prior work.)

• To what extent does the proposed activity suggest and explore creative and original or potentially transformative concepts?

• How well conceived and organized is the proposed activity?

• Is there sufficient access to resources?

What are the broader impacts of the proposed activity?

• Potential Considerations:• How well does the activity advance discovery and

understanding while promoting teaching, training and learning?

• How well does the activity broaden the participation of underrepresented groups (e.g., gender, ethnicity, disability, geographic, etc.)?

• To what extent will it enhance the infrastructure for research and education, such as facilities, instrumentation, networks and partnerships?

• Will the results be disseminated broadly to enhance scientific and technological understanding?

• What may be the benefits of the proposed activity to society?

Tips for Successful Proposal Writing • Determine if your project is relevant to the program

• Get in touch with the Program Director • Program Director:

– Review Panels– Award/decline recommendation– Post management of the awards (progress report)

• Follow the instructions posted by the agency• Format, sections, project plan• Agency’s Review Criteria (NSF Merit Review Criteria)• Priority Areas for the agency

• Respond to a solicitation • Deadlines (preproposal, letter of intent, full proposal) • Additional review criteria and requirements

• Read “successful” proposals of your colleagues• Have your proposal reviewed by collaborators or colleagues before

submitting• Do not submit on the day of the deadline• Volunteer to serve on a review panel

Thanks for the invitation!

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