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Life in the Fastlane : RUI

Life in the Fastlane : RUI. Research in Undergraduate Institutions (RUI). …supports research at undergraduate institutions through the funding of individual and collaborative research projects (RUI,C-RUI), the purchase of shared-use research instrumentation, and

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Life in the Fastlane : RUI

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  1. Life in the Fastlane:RUI

  2. Research in Undergraduate Institutions (RUI) • …supports research at undergraduate institutions through the funding of • individual and collaborative research projects (RUI,C-RUI), • the purchase of shared-use research instrumentation, and • Research Opportunity Awards (ROA) for work with NSF-supported investigators at other institutions. Life in the Fastlane: RUI

  3. RUI: A Crosscutting Program • Crosscutting? • Directorates for: • Biological Sciences - Engineering • Computer and Information Science and Engineering • Education and Human Resources • Geosciences • Mathematical and Physical Sciences • Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences Life in the Fastlane: RUI

  4. RUI and C-RUI • Eligibility: faculty research projects submitted by individual faculty members or groups of collaborating investigators • Collaboration is KEY! • TALK TO THE PROGRAM OFFICER!!!! Life in the Fastlane: RUI

  5. Shared Research Instrumentation and Tools • Many disciplines have specific program announcements for shared research instrumentation… • Instrumentation and Facilities Program, Division of Earth Sciences -- PD 98-1580 • Multi-User Biological Equipment and Instrumentation Resources -- NSF 98-137 • Chemistry Research Instrumentation and Facilities --: NSF 00-81 • Instrumentation and Materials Research -- NSF 99-170 • Scientific Computing Research Environments For the Mathematical Sciences (SCREMS -- NSF 99-156 • Research Equipment Funding - Chemical and Transport Systems Division -- NSF 99-151 • UNIDATA Equipment Grants -- NSF 00-51 • Research Experiences for Undergraduates: Supplements and Sites -- NSF 00-107 • Course, Curriculum, and Laboratory Improvement -- NSF 00-63 • CISE Educational Innovation -- NSF 00-33 • Combined Research-Curriculum Development -- NSF 00-66 • Informal Science Education - Supplements to Active Research Awards -- NSF 97-70 • Connections to the Internet -- NSF 98-102 • Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI) -- NSF 98-142 Life in the Fastlane: RUI

  6. Shared Research Instrumentation and Tools • research instrumentation or equipment, or • database purchase or access • Primary Justification for requesting such instrumentation must be the research it will enable, but its use in the institution's instructional program is both expected and encouraged. Life in the Fastlane: RUI

  7. Research Opportunity Awards (ROA) • enable faculty members at undergraduate institutions to pursue research as visiting scientists with NSF-supported investigators at other institutions • Funded as “supplements to ongoing NSF research grants” • Requests for ROAs are submitted to NSF by the host institution Life in the Fastlane: RUI

  8. Research Opportunity Awards (ROA) • Purpose of ROA: • to increase the visitor's research capability and effectiveness, • to improve research and teaching at his or her home institution, and • to enhance the NSF-funded research of the host principal investigator (PI) • ROA activities are summer experiences, but partial support of sabbaticals is sometimes provided. • ROAs are made at the discretion of the program officer whose budget provides the funding. Life in the Fastlane: RUI

  9. Research Opportunity Awards (ROA) • Potential host researchers may be identified through the search of award abstracts on the NSF Web site http://www.nsf.gov Life in the Fastlane: RUI

  10. Awards • Awards for faculty research projects will usually be for a period of 3 years, • whereas awards for shared-use major instrumentation are usually for a period of 1 to 2 years. • Award size of individual investigator RUI projects has ranged from approximately $10,000 to over $100,000. Awards for collaborative proposals are expected to be at a higher level, depending on the number of faculty and co-workers involved. Life in the Fastlane: RUI

  11. Awards • In general, the budget should be appropriate to the scope of the project. • CONTACT THE NSF disciplinary program officer to determine if the proposed budget is within the appropriate funding range for the particular program and circumstances. Life in the Fastlane: RUI

  12. Awards • Deadlines: they vary by directorate, if there are any! • CALL THE PROGRAM OFFICER! Life in the Fastlane: RUI

  13. RUI Proposal Preparation • EVERY NSF GRANT MUST BE SUBMITTED THROUGH FASTLANE!! • *RUI proposals differ from other proposals primarily in that they must contain • (1) a Certification of RUI Eligibility and • (2) a separate RUI Impact Statement (see below). Life in the Fastlane: RUI

  14. ROA Proposal Preparation • EVERY NSF GRANT MUST BE SUBMITTED THROUGH FASTLANE!! • A formal request for an ROA supplement must be made by the host institution of the NSF-supported PI • If funds for the ROA are to be generated by rearranging the project budget of an ongoing award without changing the scope of the project, notification of the NSF program officer is the only requirement. • Arrangements for supplemental ROA support to an existing award should be discussed with the cognizant disciplinary program officer and tentative approval obtained prior to submission of the request. Life in the Fastlane: RUI

  15. ROA Proposal Preparation • ROA: The formal ROA request letter must be submitted via FastLane as a supplement at least 3 months before funds will be needed. • Proposal should include: • description of the arrangements and the work to be performed by the ROA visitor, • statement of the contribution of this work to the NSF-supported project and to the visitor’s future research and home organization, • budget with appropriate explanatory information, and • biographical sketch of the visitor. Life in the Fastlane: RUI

  16. Shared Instrumentation • Proposals must: • describe specific research project (or projects) to be conducted using the instrumentation or databases, • state why the instrumentation is essential, and Life in the Fastlane: RUI

  17. Shared Instrumentation • Proposals must: • describe the impact of the project and the instrumentation on the department's research environment. • sufficient detail must be provided for reviewers to judge the merit of the problems to be addressed and the methods proposed. Life in the Fastlane: RUI

  18. RUI Proposal Preparation • Include the acronym “RUI” in the title of the proposal entered on the Cover Sheet, e.g. "RUI: Behavioral and neurochemical analysis of a new animal model of Huntington’s disease." • Project Description should include: • “Results from Prior NSF Support” (0-5 pages) • “Future Plans” (0-10 pages) Life in the Fastlane: RUI

  19. RUI Proposal Preparation • RESULTS OF PRIOR RESEARCH • Up to 5 pages • Any NSF grant within past five years • A chance to show that you can do good work – there probably ought to be an element of self-promotion in this section • Describe the work you completed with prior support • Publications from prior work Life in the Fastlane: RUI

  20. RUI Proposal Preparation • RESULTS OF PRIOR RESEARCH • Human Resource Development – student involvement • Relation of prior work to current proposal • Mention other work that precedes your request and the progress you have made, either as “prior results” or integrated into your “future plans,” whether or not it was supported by NSF Life in the Fastlane: RUI

  21. RUI Proposal Preparation (2) PROJECT DESCRIPTION (1-15 pp) should include: • Objectives for the work and its expected significance; • relation to the present state of knowledge and to work in progress in the field; Life in the Fastlane: RUI

  22. RUI Proposal Preparation (2) PROJECT DESCRIPTION (1-15 pp) should include: • description of the general plan of the work, including experimental methods and analysis and, if appropriate, plans for archival materials or data-sharing. • For collaborative proposals, the thematic basis of the collaboration(s) underlying the research project and a description of the expected contribution of each of the faculty members to the proposed research project. Life in the Fastlane: RUI

  23. RUI Proposal Preparation • Collaborative proposals are expected to include (1) a strong research activity whose scientific merit is clearly enhanced by development of the collaboration, (2) a project theme that takes advantage of the strengths of the particular institution(s), justifying the nature of the research in that context, and (3) a research plan that enhances the research productivity of all faculty and student investigators involved. Life in the Fastlane: RUI

  24. RUI Proposal Preparation • Project Descriptionshould include: • A description of how student involvement in the research project and in the presentation of research results will be fostered; • how the research will be integrated with the students' education; • how the equipment, if requested, will enhance the research; and • educational uses planned for the instrumentation. Life in the Fastlane: RUI

  25. RUI Proposal Preparation • Faculty participants should include in their "Biographical Sketches" publications with undergraduate co-authors (with student names labeled by an asterisk). Life in the Fastlane: RUI

  26. RUI Budgets • NSF RUI allows • salaries and wages + fringe benefits, • research assistantships • Travel • materials and supplies • publication costs and page charges, • consultant services, • essential equipment, • indirect costs Life in the Fastlane: RUI

  27. RUI Budgets • Cost sharing (matching): not required, but provide examples of how NKU supports your work, include dollar value when possible • Faculty/student travel support • Equipment maintenance • Dedicated lab space • Equipment Life in the Fastlane: RUI

  28. RUI Proposal Preparation Impact Statement (max. 5 pages) • A chance to promote your activities • Institutional • Departmental • Individual *Importance of research to all three *Success stories within all three *The approach taken by any or all three to provide students with a better educational experience and success Life in the Fastlane: RUI

  29. RUI Proposal Preparation Impact Statement (max. 5 pages) • What obstacles must you overcome? • Heavy teaching loads • availability (or lack) of support personnel • nature of experimental and computational facilities, and • features of the student population Life in the Fastlane: RUI

  30. RUI Proposal Preparation • Impact statement should also describe: • record of the department(s) and institution(s) in educating undergraduates for science and engineering careers; • the plans to attract qualified undergraduate students to the project, including the criteria for their selection; • how you will increase the participation of groups underrepresented in science and engineering; Life in the Fastlane: RUI

  31. RUI Proposal Preparation • Impact statement should also describe: • any plans for measuring the effect of participation on the participating students both during and after their undergraduate years; and • the anticipated contribution of new research tools (instrumentation, databases, etc.) to both educational and research opportunities for students and faculty. Life in the Fastlane: RUI

  32. RUI Proposal Preparation • A representative of NKU signs a Certification of RUI Eligibility included in the Supplementary Documentation section of the proposal. Life in the Fastlane: RUI

  33. Review Criteria for RUI • Reviewers are peers with expertise in the substantive area of the proposed research or education project. • selected by Program Officers • proposer should suggest at the time of submission, the names of appropriate or inappropriate reviewers. Life in the Fastlane: RUI

  34. Review Criteria for RUI • Project summary must highlight intellectual merit and broader impacts • Project description must detail intellectual merit and broader impacts Life in the Fastlane: RUI

  35. What is the intellectual merit of the proposed activity? • How important is proposed activity to advancing knowledge and understanding within its own field or across fields? • How well qualified is the proposer(s) to conduct the project? (If appropriate, the reviewer will comment on the quality of the prior work.) • Does the proposed activity suggest and explore creative and original concepts? • How well conceived/organized is the proposed activity? Is there sufficient access to resources? Life in the Fastlane: RUI

  36. What are the broader impacts of the proposed activity? • How well does the activity advance discovery and understanding while promoting teaching, training, and learning? • How well does the proposed activity broaden the participation of underrepresented groups (e.g., gender, ethnicity, disability, geographic, etc.)? • To what extent will it enhance the infrastructure for research and education, such as facilities, instrumentation, networks, and partnerships? • Will the results be disseminated broadly to enhance scientific and technological understanding? • What may be the benefits of the proposed activity to society? Life in the Fastlane: RUI

  37. Review Criteria for RUI Integration of Research and Education • How is research and education integrated in the programs, projects, and activities it supports at academic and research institutions? • What opportunities are available where individuals may concurrently assume responsibilities as researchers, educators, and students and where all can engage in joint efforts that infuse education with the excitement of discovery and enrich research through the diversity of learning perspectives? Life in the Fastlane: RUI

  38. Review Criteria for RUI Integrating Diversity into NSF Programs, Projects, and Activities • Broadening opportunities and enabling the participation of all citizens - women and men, underrepresented minorities, and persons with disabilities - is essential to the health and vitality of science and engineering. • NSF is committed to this principle of diversity and deems it central to the programs, projects, and activities it considers and supports. Life in the Fastlane: RUI

  39. Review Criteria for RUI • Specific to RUI and ROA Special instructions are supplied, calling attention to the Impact Statement and the special circumstances under which RUI investigators work. • Reviewers are asked to recognize the potentially slower publication rate of investigators and the pace of their research may be slower at a predominantly undergraduate institution. • The description of the environment in which the principal investigator works should be so written as to permit the reviewers to take such factors into account. Life in the Fastlane: RUI

  40. Review Criteria for RUI • Reviewers will look for indications of impacts such as: • increased faculty involvement in the mainstream of research; • direct student experience in research; • acquisition of research instrumentation that will improve faculty and student research opportunities; and • enhanced departmental ability to prepare students for entry into graduate study or scientific and engineering careers, as well as to provide a research-enriched learning environment for all students. Life in the Fastlane: RUI

  41. Review Criteria for RUI • Evaluation of research instrumentation proposals • criticality of the instrumentation for the research proposed, • the expected extent of usage of the instrumentation and the number of investigators and students benefiting,and • the institution's commitment for operation and maintenance. Life in the Fastlane: RUI

  42. Review Criteria for RUI • A summary rating and accompanying narrative will be completed and signed by each reviewer. Life in the Fastlane: RUI

  43. FASTLANE… • PI/Co-PI Information • Cover Sheet • Project Summary (include broader impacts and intellectual merit) • Table of Contents (An automatic function of Fastlane) • Project Description • References Cited Life in the Fastlane: RUI

  44. FASTLANE… • Biographical Sketches (Vitae – 2 page per person highlighting info specifically relating the project; list collaborators, former advisors; up to 10 publications) • Budgets (Including Justification) (WORK OUT Budget with Mary Ucci (x5768; uccim@nku.edu), and RGC will enter this budget information into FASTLANE) – you must write the justification though. • Current and Pending Support: total award amount, dates of program/project, title, funding agency, number of person-months per year devoted to the project (calendar, or academic and summer), project location, is it current, pending or planned in near future.  Life in the Fastlane: RUI

  45. FASTLANE… • Facilities, Equipment and other Resources • Supplementary Docs (Appendices if allowed, RUI certification, Impact Statement) • Link Collaborative Proposals • List of Suggested Reviewers (optional) • Deviation Authorization (if applicable) • Additional Single Copy Documents • Project Data Form (always to be completed by PI) Life in the Fastlane: RUI

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