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