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!