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Writing for an NSF Career Award

Writing for an NSF Career Award. Sandra H. Harpole February 6,2012. Acknowledgements. Dr. George Hazzelrigg Competitive Proposal Writing www.research.lsu.edu/files/item38877.pdf Dr. Elizabeth VanderPutten Why This is Such a Great Time to be in Education www.research.lsu.edu.item39157.pdf.

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Writing for an NSF Career Award

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  1. Writing for an NSF Career Award Sandra H. Harpole February 6,2012

  2. Acknowledgements • Dr. George Hazzelrigg • Competitive Proposal Writing • www.research.lsu.edu/files/item38877.pdf • Dr. Elizabeth VanderPutten • Why This is Such a Great Time to be in Education • www.research.lsu.edu.item39157.pdf

  3. What is an NSF Career Award? • NSF’s most prestigious award for assistant professors • Funds academic career development of new faculty – not a research award • Based on a developmental plan • “well argued specific proposal for activities that will build a firm foundation for a lifetime of integrated contributions to research and education”

  4. What is an NSF Career Award? • Five-year award with minimum award of $400,000 • Designed to provide stable support at level and duration to build foundation for a lifetime of integrated contributions to research and education • Very competitive – about 400 of 3,000 proposals are funded each year • Deadline: July each year

  5. Planning Your Career • What is your expertise? Your interests? • What are your life/career goals? • What are your resources? • Do you have a strategic plan? • Where are you now? • Where do you want to be in 5, 10, 20 years? • How do you get there?

  6. Characteristics of Career Research Plan • Innovative, researchable project sufficient for five years of work • Built on existing literature with strong potential to contribute to that literature • Has appropriate methodologies for research questions • Reflects expertise and passion of principal investigator

  7. Career Education Plan • Brings excitement of research to education • Is consistent with mission and goals of the university • Is innovative but builds on the work of others • Is doable • Reflects the expertise as well as limitations of principal investigator • Is capable of being evaluated

  8. What do Career awardees do? • 90% work with graduate students to submit peer reviewed papers. • Only 8% work with graduate students who have internships in business. • Almost 80% involve undergraduates in research with 6% of the students getting industrial internships. • About 50% work with K-12 teachers or students

  9. Advice from Hazzelrigg and VanderPutten • Have a strategic plan • Build on your strengths • Differentiate your proposed research from your PhD. Thesis work and other sponsored research • Perform thorough literature search and exploratory research before writing proposal • Journal articles (update with personal contact) • NSF Grant Proposal Guide • Establish and maintain your contacts

  10. Advice from Hazzelrigg and VanderPutten • Read, critique and use research about STEM education • Science, Nature, Journal of Research in Science Teaching, professional societies • Read some National Research Council’s Synthesis work in education • How People Learn • Adding It Up • Knowing What Students Know • Scientific Research in Education • Learning Science in Informal Environments

  11. Writing the proposal • Read the request for proposals (RFP) carefully • Contact program directors early • Don’t make the research and education proposed too broad or too narrow. • Write to the reviewers • What is the research about (research objective)? • How will you conduct the research (technical approach)? • Can you do it (you and your facilities)? • Is it worth doing (intellectual merit and broader impact)?

  12. Writing the proposal • Work with others • Develop budget based on the research and education plan • Do not ask for too much or too little money • Follow the guidelines carefully • Have someone review your proposal • Proof and proof again • Prepare IRB if human subjects are involved

  13. Writing a Competitive ProposalGeorge Hazzelrigg • www.research.lsu.edu/files/item38877.pdf

  14. Contact Information • Sandra H. Harpole • sharpole@research.msstate.edu • 662-325-2922

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