IGERT Full Proposal Informational Session

1. IGERT Full ProposalInformational Session • WELCOME! Please place your phone on MUTE • If you wish to download the presentation at any time (including right now!) you may do so by going to FILE > SAVE AS> DOCUMENT • Questions on connection problems? Contact Angelica Brewer at 703.292.4636, abrewer@nsf.gov or Dean Gerdeman at 703.292.5089, dgerdema@nsf.gov . • Contact the teleconference at 866.810.6882; code 3163858# July-August 2007 Carol Van Hartesveldt and Judith Giordan IGERT Program Directors

2. IGERT Overview Proposals submitted to the IGERT program must describe integrative, research-based, graduate education and training activities in emerging areas of science and engineering. The IGERT project should be organized around an interdisciplinary theme and involving a diverse group of faculty members and other investigators with appropriate expertise in research and teaching. The interdisciplinary theme provides a framework for integrating research and education and for promoting collaborative efforts within and across departments and institutions. Students should gain the breadth of skills, strengths, and understanding to work in an interdisciplinary environment while being well grounded with depth of knowledge in a major field. In contributing to a diverse science and engineering workforce for the future, the IGERT project must include strategies for recruitment, mentoring, and retention aimed at members of groups underrepresented in science and engineering, including women, racial and ethnic minorities, and persons with disabilities. The graduate experience should contribute to the professional and personal development of the students and equip them to understand and integrate scientific, technical, business, social, ethical, and policy issues to confront the challenging problems of the future. As an opportunity for faculty to experiment with new approaches to graduate education, the IGERT project should provide students with experience relevant to both academic and nonacademic careers. This may involve such activities as internships and mentoring in industrial, national laboratory, academic, or other settings. Globalization of research and career opportunities places importance on providing students with an international perspective. This may be gained through programs within the institution, or through strongly integrated, collaborative research experiences and/or fieldwork at foreign institutions and sites.

3. Summary Points to Remember • Read and re-read the Solicitation • Proposal requirements and review criteria • Be sure to address each section required • Get input from all involved EARLY • Be sure all disciplines involved fully contribute • Be sure to clearly integrate and articulate • Exceptional value of the interdisciplinary science and the research to be done with the interdisciplinary educational curriculum (Intellectual Merit) • Inclusion and broadening participation (Broader Impacts) • Address challenges or risks

4. Agenda • The Review Process • The Proposal by Topic • Project Summary • Vision, Goals, and Thematic Basis • Major research efforts • Education and training • Organization, management, and institutional commitment • Assessment and evaluation • Recruitment, mentoring, retention • Recent traineeship experience • International collaboration • Recruitment and retention history • Budget and Allowable Costs • Supplemental Documentation

5. IGERT Full Proposal Review process • Fewer proposals, fewer panels • Panels more interdisciplinary • Limited continuity of panelists (reviewers) from preliminary proposal panels • Panel summaries from preliminary proposal available to panelists at panel • High Priority 15%, Medium Priority 20% • ~20 awards expected

6. Questions?

7. Please “raise your hand” by clicking on the hand icon. You will be called upon by name in the order you submitted your question.

8. Project Summary • First impression for reviewers • Avoid excessive background information • Be specific and clear about the goals, focus and value-add of your IGERT • Independently and explicitly address • Intellectual Merit • Broader Impacts

9. Vision, Goals, and Thematic Basis • Set the stage • Interdisciplinary theme • Vision, overview and need for this integration • Why it is important to train graduate students in this emerging area • Value-add • Why this collaboration of disciplines, individuals, constructs, institutions, etc., is important • Why it will work

10. Major Research Efforts • Interdisciplinary research in science/technology/engineering/math • Science/engineering: cutting edge; in emerging areas • Why this is important and will hang-together/integrate as a theme • Project future interdisciplinary research collaborations • Topics • Faculty collaborators

11. Education and Training • In the context of the interdisciplinary research theme – for consideration… • What is novel and innovative? • What level of facility in the various disciplines in required for Trainee success? • How will trainees in all the disciplines involved become familiar/facile with the all disciplines involved? (No Trainee left behind!) • What will each element contribute, and why is it important? • What faculty will be responsible, and are they on board? • Commitments of participants outside the institution • Evidence of your careful planning and integration • How will Trainees gain an appreciation for the globality of the science?

12. Questions? • Please “raise your hand” by clicking on the hand icon. You will be called upon by name in the order you submitted your question.

13. Organization, Management, and Institutional Commitment • How will your IGERT be organized, managed and led? • Clear, specific and inclusive plans • Roles specified: faculty, trainees, advisors, others • Trainee input mechanisms defined • Multi-institution projects: How will they work? • All of the above and… • Communication • Monitoring and assessment of efficacy • Leadership and integration

14. Assessment/Evaluation • Plan for all aspects of your IGERT • Outputs and process • Plans and assessment at least on an annual basis • Project goals to be planned and evaluated – topics for consideration • STEM • Recruiting and broadening participation • Faculty and student interaction processes; roles; progress • Education/Training/Curricular: • Course development and execution • Course approvals • Externships • Assessment of the project as a whole

15. Assessment and Evaluation: It’s NOT Rocket Science, but it does take discipline and communication… Define Goal Determine Inputs and Outputs Develop Plan and Process Do It Measure Improve

16. Recruitment, Mentoring, and Retention • Evidence of careful planning • Plans for all students • Plans for groups underrepresented in science and engineering • Using what you have – will it work and be enough? • Look critically at what you have • Plans tailored to your proposed IGERT • Partnerships documented with letters

17. QUESTIONS? • Please “raise your hand” by clicking on the hand icon. You will be called upon by name in the order you submitted your question.

18. Recent Traineeship Experience • Experience with ANY graduate traineeship program, NSF or other • Renewal proposals • Outcomes of previous award • Added value of potential new award • Do not provide results of traditional NSF-supported research projects

19. International Collaboration • Optional • Years 2-5, $50,000/year • Value to graduate student training must be clear • International work must be clearly related to the interdisciplinary theme and plans for education and training • Student preparation and monitoring essential

20. Recruitment and Retention History • Evidence of success in graduate training • Context of the disciplines involved in your IGERT at the institution(s), college(s), departments involved • Evidence of potential IGERT applicants • Use the template provided

21. Renewals • Bottom line: • Document what was learned from your previous IGERT • Be clear about what is new and innovative • FOLLOW the requirements in the Solicitation for each section! • Broadening Participation - Renewals: • Use data for the IGERT, not individual departments • How will diversity goals be sustained or increased?

22. Questions? • Please “raise your hand” by clicking on the hand icon. You will be called upon by name in the order you submitted your question.

23. Budget and Allowable Costs • Budget caps per year • $600K, or $650K if international INCLUSIVE of indirect costs (8%) • Use NSF budget pages in planning budget • Place all funding requested in appropriate categories • Organize budget justification by budget page categories (explain the use of funds) • Make tables in budget justification for: • 1st year special allocation • International, if proposed, by year (2-5)

24. Budget (continued) • Senior personnel • PI - One month/year • Other faculty funded (4 total faculty-months, year 1 only) • Other personnel • No postdocs • No undergraduates • Graduate students are typically trainees and listed under Participant Support Costs • Project manager/administrator funds allowed

25. Budget (continued) • Equipment • Only that included in the special 1st year allocation, in table • Travel • Not for trainee travel • Should not be excessive

26. Budget (continued) • Participant Support Costs • Trainee stipends @ $30K each • Travel • Subsistence • Other: cost of education @ $10,500 each • Subawards • Totals from subaward budget pages

27. Questions? • Please “raise your hand” by clicking on the hand icon. You will be called upon by name in the order you submitted your question.

28. Supplementary Documentation • Limits on letters • 8 without international • Additional 4 with international (total 12) • No paper documents accepted • Content of letters • Explicit in solicitation • Give this information to letter-writers • Negotiate early with your institution

29. Summary 21st Century Global STEM Careers It’s all about integration: emerging science, excellence in training and education, engaging and enfranchising a broad participation and preparation for 21st century global careers and contribution… Broadening Participation