Funding Opportunities at the National Science Foundation

Sally O’Connor Claudia Rankins NSF BIO/DBI NSF EHR/HRD

GCAT Workshop

July 2009

Morehouse College

Presentation Overview of NSF and BIOOverview of NSF and BIO Some Programs of InterestSome Programs of Interest The Review ProcessThe Review Process Preparing Competitive Preparing Competitive

ProposalsProposals

NSF in a Nutshell Established as an independent agency (NSF Act of Established as an independent agency (NSF Act of

1950), governed by the National Science Board1950), governed by the National Science Board Organized into discipline-based Directorates and Organized into discipline-based Directorates and

Offices; Special responsibilities: Antarctic Program, Offices; Special responsibilities: Antarctic Program, Science and Engineering IndicatorsScience and Engineering Indicators, International , International ScienceScience

Budget: 6.065 billion (FY08)Budget: 6.065 billion (FY08) Makes ~11,000 new awards from >40,000 Makes ~11,000 new awards from >40,000

submissions with ~ 20-25% success ratesubmissions with ~ 20-25% success rate

Supports ~200,000 faculty, researchers, Supports ~200,000 faculty, researchers, fellows, studentsfellows, students

Uses rotators, visiting scientists, IPAsUses rotators, visiting scientists, IPAs

Inspector General

National Science Board

Staff Offices

Computer & Information

Science&

Engineering

Engineering GeosciencesMathematica

l & Physical

Sciences

Social, Behavioral

& Economic Sciences

Education & Human Resources

Budget, Finance & Award

Management

Information Resource

Managemen

t

Biological Sciences

National Science National Science FoundationFoundation Director

Deputy Director

Population & Evolutionary Processes

Population & Evolutionary Processes

Directorate for Biological Sciences(BIO)

Dr. James Collins, Asst. Director

Directorate for Biological Sciences(BIO)

Dr. James Collins, Asst. Director

Information and Automation Resources Unit

(IAR)

Information and Automation Resources Unit

(IAR)

Division of Environmental

Biology(DEB)

Division of Environmental

Biology(DEB)

Ecological BiologyEcological Biology

EcosystemScience

EcosystemScience

Division of Integrative Organismal

Systems(IOS)

Division of Integrative Organismal

Systems(IOS)

BehavioralSystems

BehavioralSystems

Developmental Systems

Developmental Systems

Environmental &Structural Systems

Environmental &Structural Systems

ResearchResources

ResearchResources

HumanResources

HumanResources

Division ofBiological

Infrastructure(DBI)

Division ofBiological

Infrastructure(DBI)

Division of Molecular and

Cellular Biosciences

(MCB)

Division of Molecular and

Cellular Biosciences

(MCB)

BiomolecularSystems

BiomolecularSystems

Cellular SystemsCellular Systems

Genes and GenomeSystems

Genes and GenomeSystems

Emerging Frontiers (EF)

Plant GenomeResearch Program

National Ecological Observatory Network

Plant GenomeResearch Program

National Ecological Observatory Network

Systematic Biology &Biodiversity Inventories

Systematic Biology &Biodiversity Inventories

Functional & Regulatory Systems

Functional & Regulatory Systems

Types of Proposal SubmissionTypes of Proposal Submission

No deadlines No deadlines (e.g. workshops, SGERs)(e.g. workshops, SGERs)

DeadlinesDeadlines

Solicited: Preliminary proposals or Letters of IntentSolicited: Preliminary proposals or Letters of Intent

Solicited vs. Unsolicited•Solicited proposals have a published Program Solicitation / Program Announcement

•Unsolicited proposals are associated with regular research programs (check websites and GTP)

Target datesTarget dates

Submission windowsSubmission windows

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Where do you submit your ideas?

http://www.nsf.gov

Directorate Division Programs Information on NSF contacts, award

abstract, program description, deadlines

Guide to Programs (GTP)

Grant Proposal Guide (GPG, Jan 2009)

Sign up for “My NSF” (now “NSF Updates”)

http://www.nsf.gov/mynsf/

Keeping Abreast of NSF Opportunities

“My NSF” Custom News(set your own profile – weekly email update)

Programs of Interest

o Education and trainingEducation and training

o InfrastructureInfrastructure

o ResearchResearch

Example Training Programs

Research Experiences for Undergraduates Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU Sites)(REU Sites)

Undergraduate Research and Mentoring in the Undergraduate Research and Mentoring in the Biological Biological Sciences (URM)Sciences (URM)

Interdisciplinary Training for Undergraduates in Biological and Mathematical Sciences (UBM)

Historically Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate Program (HBCU UP)

Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology (CREST)

Some Infrastructure Programs

Course, Curriculum and Laboratory Improvement (CCLI)

Advanced Technological Education (ATE)

Major Research Instrumentation (MRI)Major Research Instrumentation (MRI)

Biological Databases and Informatics Biological Databases and Informatics (BDI)(BDI)

Field Stations and Marine Labs (FSML)Field Stations and Marine Labs (FSML)

Research Programs

o Special ProgramsSpecial Programs for for broadening participationbroadening participation

o Special faculty Special faculty opportunitiesopportunities

Research Opportunity Awards (ROA)

Funded as supplements to active NSF grantsFunded as supplements to active NSF grants Salary or stipend for undergraduate faculty Salary or stipend for undergraduate faculty Travel to host lab and/or to attend a meetingTravel to host lab and/or to attend a meeting Research suppliesResearch supplies

Provide support for faculty from PUIs to participate in Provide support for faculty from PUIs to participate in ongoing, NSF-funded research projects for ongoing, NSF-funded research projects for

limited periods, usually a summerlimited periods, usually a summerGoal -- Provide research experience for faculty to Goal -- Provide research experience for faculty to enhance research at home institution and host lab, enhance research at home institution and host lab, improve research & teachingimprove research & teaching

Making connections with an NSF grantee:Making connections with an NSF grantee: Network at scientific meetingsNetwork at scientific meetings Consult NSF FastLane list of awards in relevant Consult NSF FastLane list of awards in relevant

programprogram Contact NSF Program Director in your area of interest Contact NSF Program Director in your area of interest

(Consult the NSF web site for contact information)(Consult the NSF web site for contact information)

Broaden the participation of scientists from under-represented groups

Assist faculty to become actively engaged in research as independent investigators

Targets scientists who are Beginning Investigators to jumpstart their career

Improve competitiveness for research funds; Acquire new skills/tools for contemporary research

Estimated Awards: 15 – 25, about $3 Million annually

Research Initiation Grants(RIG)

Solicitation 09-501Target Date: 2nd Monday in Jan

Research at Undergraduate Institutions (RUI)

Designed to support Research in Predominantly Undergraduate Institutions (PUI)

RUI is a mechanism, not a separate funding stream

~ 10% of proposals submitted to BIO research programs are RUIs

“RUI” should be designated in the title of the proposal

Five page (max) “RUI impact statement” must accompany proposal

Check http://www.nsf.gov/home/crssprgm for announcement (NSF-wide)

Opportunities for Supplementing Ongoing Awards

Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)supports undergraduate researchers

Research Opportunity Award (ROA)for faculty at predominantly undergraduate institutions to

participate in NSF-supported projects Research Experiences for Teachers (RET)

builds long term collaborative relationships between K-12 teachers of science and mathematics and the NSF research community

Research Apprenticeship for High School (RAHSS) supports HS student training in research

Where within NSF is research in my discipline supported?

www.nsf.govwww.nsf.gov

Enter keywords

““crop soilcrop soil””

NSF Funding OpportunitiesAmerican Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)

NEW Solicitation:

Academic Research Infrastructure (ARI)

Major Research Instrumentation (MRI)

Science Masters Program

Major Research Instrumentation (MRI)

Available funds: $2 million

Funding rate: approx 59%

No minimum for PUI

PhD granting: no cost share except for 100 top-funded schools

http://www.nsf.gov/mynsf/

Keeping Abreast of NSF Opportunities

“NSF Updates” Custom News

Set your own profile