NSFCAREER WORKSHOP

PREPARING AN NSFCAREER PROPOSAL

Ana-MariaStaicuJune142019

Introduction

• DepartmentofStatistics,NCSU(since2009)Researcharea:functionalandlongitudinaldataanalysis,nonparametricstatistics,brainimaging

• NSFCareerAward(2015).Secondattempt

• ServedonNSFCareerpanel

PreparingNSFCareerproposal

• NSFisarrangedintoDirectorates->Divisions->Programs

DirectorateofBiologicalSciencesDirectorateofMathematicalandPhysicalSciences….

Moreinfoathttps://www.nsf.gov/staff/orglist.jsp

• Thinkcarefullywhereyourresearchproposalfits.Statisticsisfundedbymanydivisions/programs

• Carefullyreadthe2019PAPPGforguidelineshttps://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=pappg

PreparingNSFCareerproposal

NSFfunds:

• Novelideas(highriskprojectsrequireproventrackrecord)• “Transformative”research• Highimpact(notincremental)research• ProjectsthatimproveSTEMeducationanddiversity

Sectionoftheproposal1. CoverSheet2. ProjectSummary3. ProjectDescription4. ReferencesCited5. BiographicalSketch/es6. BudgetandBudgetJustification7. CurrentandPendingSupport8. Facilities,EquipmentandOtherResources9. SpecialInformationandSupplementaryDocumentation:

DataManagementPlan/PostdoctoralMentoringPlan(ifapplicable)

10. SingleCopyDocuments:Collaborators&OtherAffiliationsInformation

Projectsummary

• Maxlength=1page

• Itconsistsof– anoverview– astatementontheintellectualmeritoftheproposedactivity

– andastatementonthebroaderimpactsoftheproposedactivity

Projectdescription(includingresultsfrompriorNSFsupport)

• Maxlength=15pages

• Formostpart,itdescribestheproposedscientificresearch.Mustcontainasseparatesectionswithinthenarrative– asectionlabelled“IntellectualMerit”– asectionlabelled“BroaderImpact”– resultsfrompriorNSFsupport(max5pages)

ReviewCriteria

• IntellectualMerit• BroaderImpact

IntellectualMerit

• Potentialofthescientificprojecttoadvanceknowledgeandunderstanding

• Hownovel,creative,orpotentiallytransformativearetheproposedideas?

• Istheresearchplansuitabletobedevelopedfor5yearsorbeyond?

• Howwellconceivedandorganizedistheproposedactivity?• Doestheresearchplanincorporateamechanismtomeasure

itssuccess?• Doestheresearchactivityincludealternativeoptionsincase

proposedideasdonotwork?

IntellectualMerit

• HowwellqualifiedisthePItoconducttheproposedresearchplan?

• DoesthePIhavesufficientresources(eitheratthehomeinstitutionorthroughcollaborators)tocarryouttheproposedactivity?

Broaderimpact

• Howwelldoestheprojectadvancediscoverywhilepromotingteachingandtraining?

• Whatarethebenefitstothesociety?• Towhatextentwillitenhancetheinfrastructureforresearch

andeducation?

Broaderimpact(cont’d)

• Howwellwillitbroadentheparticipationofunderrepresentedgroups?Moregenerally,howwillitcontributetoachievingdesiredsocietaloutcomes?

• Isthereevidencethattheproposedactivityisfeasible?• Willtheresultsbebroadlydisseminated?How?

Broaderimpact(cont’d)

Whatkindofactivitiescouldbelistedhere• Applicationsthathavesocietalbenefit• Developmentofcoursesthatwillincludeknowledgebasecoveredintheproposal

• Mentoringundergraduateand/orgraduatestudents-whatisthePIdoingtoincreaserepresentationofunderrepresentedgroupsintheirfield?

• K-12STEMoutreach• PublicEngagement(collaborationwithlocalmuseums,

libraries,sciencecafes,etc)

Getcreativeandthinkoutsidethebox!

Broaderimpact(cont’d)

WhatneedstobeincludedintheBroaderImpactsection?

• Motivationandrationale• Activitiesthatyou’redoingnow– Developmentofcoursesrelatedtotheproposedresearch– Mentoringgraduateandundergradstudents;effortsinrecruitingstudentsfromunderrepresentedgroups

• Activitiesthatarenew– K12STEMoutreach– Publicengagement

• Evaluationandassessmentplan• Budget

Fiveelementsconsideredintheproposalreview

• Whatisthepotentialfortheproposedresearchactivitytoadvanceknowledgeandunderstandingwithinitsownfieldorinterdisciplinary(IM)?Howdoesitbenefitsocietyoradvancedesiredsocietaloutcomes(BI)?

• Towhatextenttheproposedresearchexplorescreative,originalandtransformativeconcepts?

• Istheproposedplanwellreasoned,well-organized,basedonasoundrationale?Doestheplanincorporateaninstrumenttomeasureitssuccess?

• Howwellqualifiedistheindividualorteamtoconducttheproposedactivity?

• ArethereadequateresourcesavailabletothePItocarryouttheproposedresearchactivity?

FirstexperiencewithNSFCareer(unsuccessful)

Proposaltitle:StatisticalMethodsforAnalysisofEmergingFunctionalDataStructures

• Myplanthen:“Playsafe!TakealltheprojectsIworkon,findacommonthemeandwritetheproposal”

• Intellectualmerit.Emphasizesignificanceofresearch,noveltyofideasWorkonthisextensivelyandhaveitreadbymanycolleagues/friends/evenfamily

• Broaderimpact:K12Outreach,undergrads(teachingindevelopingcountry),grads(under-representativegroups).SummerstatisticsbootcampGetcreative!Demonstratetheproposedideasarefeasible!

Decision:notfunded(G/G/VG)Reviewer1

Reviewer2

PanelSummary

• “Theproposalwaswellwrittenstartingwithaspecificexampleofthetypesofdataandthequestionsofinterest…“

• “Theproposalleftmeunconvinced.Itreadslikealonglistoftechniquesthathavebeenthrownatfunctionalproblems.PerhapsifIworkedmoredirectlyonFDA(functionaldataanalysis)Imighthaverecognizedsomemoreinnovativeideas.”

• “Theproposal“wouldhavebeenstrongerifithadincludedmoreabouttheactualmedicalapplication.”

• “Overallhowever,theproposalconsistsoftoomanydifferentandunfocusedideas ...“

• “Educational componentisstrong”• “Overallthepanelagreedthatfindings ofthisproposalareratherincremental in

nature.No newbroadlyapplicabletheoreticalmethodologyisanticipated.”

SuccessfulexperienceNSFCareer

Proposaltitle:NextGenerationFunctionalMethodsfortheAnalysisofEmergingRepeatedMeasurements

• NSFreturnswithoutreviewtheresubmissionsthatareidenticaltotheirpreviouslysubmittedversions!

• ReadNSFCareersolicitationforthecurrentapplicationyear!

• NSFvaluestransformativeandcreativeresearchplan!

Proposaltitle:NextGenerationFunctionalMethodsfortheAnalysisofEmergingRepeatedMeasurements

• Researchplan(newapproach):startwithavision.Startworkingonitearly!

• Outlinethemainobjectivesoftheresearchproposalandrunthembyyourmentorsaswellasmoreexperiencedcolleagues

• SharetheproposedresearchplanwiththeProgramOfficer

• BroaderImpact:usethesameeducationalplanaspriorsubmission,becauseofthethepositivefeedbackithadreceived

• Decision:proposalwasrecommendedforfunding!

TipsfromNSFCareerexperience

• Describethe“significanceoftheproposedresearchandresearchobjectives”passionately!(timelymanner,novelty,describethecomplexityoftheproblem)

• Usemotivatingapplicationswheneverapplicable.Theyallowtobetter/easierillustratetheproposedmethods

• Includetheoreticalresultsofyourproposedmethods(evenifstudiedunderstrongerassumptions)

TipsfromNSFCareerexperience

• Includespecifictimelineoftheproposedresearch.Yourresearchplanshouldbeconvincinglydoneinfiveorabitoverfiveyears!

• ResultsfrompriorNSFsupport:ifyouhavepriorNSFsupportthiscomponentisextremelyimportant.Don’tbeshy;listyourcontributiononanyNSFprojectthatfundedyou.Beconcise(spacematters!)– NSFreturnswithoutreviewaproposalwhosepriorNSFsupportcomponentismissing!

TipsfromNSFCareerexperience

• BroaderImpact:Theeducationalcomponentisveryserious!Itcanchangethefundingdecisionofyourproposal

• Thinkoutsideofthebox– NSFfundsinnovativeideas!

• Youneedtostartearly(typicallythisisdoneincollaborationwithotherparties,andyouneedtobemindfuloftheiravailability)

TipsfromNSFCareerexperience

• Doyourabsolutebestwiththisproposal!

• YoucansubmitashorterversionofitasaregularNSFproposalinNovember(withminimalextrawork).Youwouldberequestedtowithdrawit,ifyourNSFCareerissuccessful.

• IfthePOasksyoutowithdrawyourregularNSFsubmission,trustthemandjustdoitItmeansNSFisrecommendingyourCareerproposal forfunding!

ThankYou!