Opportunities and Challenges in Obtaining NSF Funding

1. Opportunities and Challenges in Obtaining NSF Funding Parag R Chitnis Program Director Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences

3. Outline NSF Information Mission Organization Budget Outlook and Priorities for FY2006 Basics of NSF Funding Opportunities and Review Strategies for Fostering Institutional Grant Success

4. Origins of NSF �The Government should accept new responsibilities for promoting the flow of scientific knowledge and the development of scientific talent in our youth.� Science, The Endless Frontier, 1945 1947: Congress Approves, Truman Vetoes 1950: Compromise Bill Approved & Signed by Truman

5. Is an Independent Agency of the Federal Government Was established in 1950 to promote and advance scientific progress in the United States by sponsoring scientific research and by supporting selected activities in science and engineering Does not conduct research itself. Advances progress in science, mathematics and engineering Strategic Goals- People, Ideas, Tools, Organizational Excellence

6. NSF by the Numbers � FY 2003

7. NSF Role in Total Federal R&DFY 2005 Budget

8. NSF�s Share of Total Federal Basic Research Proposed for FY 2006 ($27 billion)

9. NSF Academic Research Obligations(Percent of Federal: FY 2005)

11. Example of Directorate Organization This is the way BIO directorate is set up to handle funding the next generation of biology. EF is a virtual units that crosses all unit. It is designed to flexible enough to meet the changing needs of the community. This is the way BIO directorate is set up to handle funding the next generation of biology.

12. Growth in NSF Budget FY 2000-2006 (mil)

13. NSF Funding Profile (FY 2006)

14. Increasing funding rate for NSF research grants is a major challenge for NSF

15. NSF FY 2006 Budget by Account (mil)

16. NSF FY 2006 Budget Priorities Strengthen core disciplinary research Provide broadly accessible cyberinfrastructure and world-class facilities Broaden participation in the science and engineering workforce Sustain organizational excellence in NSF management practices

17. NSF Priority Areas for FY2006 Biocomplexity in the Environment $ 84 million Nanoscale Science and Engineering $ 243 million Mathematical Sciences $ 89 million Human and Social Dynamics $ 39 million Cyberinfrastructure $ 509 million

18. Outline NSF in the federal R and D context NSF Information Mission Organization Budget Outlook and Priorities for FY2006 Basics of NSF Funding Opportunities and Review Strategies for Fostering Institutional Grant Success

19. Funding Opportunities Unsolicited Proposals in Disciplinary Programs Regular research grants- RUI CAREER program SGER and conference grants Supplements for broadening participation and for enhancing research impacts Solicited proposals for specific programs C-RUI grants Center grants- S&T centers, MRSEC, NSEC Training grants- IGERT, REU sites, GK12 Instrumentation grants Priority areas Education Grants

20. Regular Research Grants Unsolicited Any topic BIO Directorate does not consider disease related research proposals. BIO Directorate does not consider duplicate proposals unless you are a beginning investigator. Research Programs and Clusters are described on the web page.

21. RUI: Research in Undergraduate Institution Objectives To support high-quality research by faculty members of predominantly undergraduate institutions To strengthen the research environment in academic departments that are oriented primarily toward undergraduate instruction To promote the integration of research and education Eligibility Institution NSF-supported fields, More undergrads than grads, <10 doctoral degrees/year, Department No Doctoral program or participation in such program Investigator Does not advise doctoral students RUI Impact Statement Describes the expected effects of the proposed research on the research and educational environment of the institution Eligible "predominantly undergraduate" institutions include U.S. two-year, four-year, masters-level, and small doctoral colleges and universities. Eligible institutions (1) grant baccalaureate degrees in NSF-supported fields, or provide programs of instruction for students pursuing such degrees with institutional transfers (e.g., two-year schools); (2) have undergraduate enrollment exceeding graduate enrollment; and (3) award no more than an average of 10 Ph.D. and/or D.Sc. degrees per year in all disciplines that NSF supports, averaged over 2 to 5 years preceding proposal submission. Proposals involving more than one academic institution are acceptable, but one predominantly undergraduate institution must have overall management responsibility. Collaborations between predominantly undergraduate institutions and other institutions may be proposed; however, most of the researchers must be at predominantly undergraduate institutions. Autonomous campuses in a system are considered independently, although they may be submitting their proposals through a central office. It is therefore very important that the predominantly undergraduate campus be identified as the performing organization on the proposal cover sheet. B. Eligible departments (principal investigators) (1) must offer courses that qualify for bachelor's degree credit in NSF-supportable fields and (2) may offer master's degrees, but may not award a doctorate or offer doctoral courses and supervise doctoral research, even though the Ph.D. is not technically awarded by that campus. Eligible "predominantly undergraduate" institutions include U.S. two-year, four-year, masters-level, and small doctoral colleges and universities. Eligible institutions (1) grant baccalaureate degrees in NSF-supported fields, or provide programs of instruction for students pursuing such degrees with institutional transfers (e.g., two-year schools); (2) have undergraduate enrollment exceeding graduate enrollment; and (3) award no more than an average of 10 Ph.D. and/or D.Sc. degrees per year in all disciplines that NSF supports, averaged over 2 to 5 years preceding proposal submission. Proposals involving more than one academic institution are acceptable, but one predominantly undergraduate institution must have overall management responsibility. Collaborations between predominantly undergraduate institutions and other institutions may be proposed; however, most of the researchers must be at predominantly undergraduate institutions. Autonomous campuses in a system are considered independently, although they may be submitting their proposals through a central office. It is therefore very important that the predominantly undergraduate campus be identified as the performing organization on the proposal cover sheet. B. Eligible departments (principal investigators) (1) must offer courses that qualify for bachelor's degree credit in NSF-supportable fields and (2) may offer master's degrees, but may not award a doctorate or offer doctoral courses and supervise doctoral research, even though the Ph.D. is not technically awarded by that campus.

22. cRUI: Cross-disciplinary Research at Undergraduate Institutions Objectives to support research efforts involving faculty from different fields and undergraduate students at predominantly undergraduate institutions. to catalyze a cultural change in undergraduate research and education -- for students, faculty and institutions -- by establishing innovative models for collaboration that transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries. Eligibility Same as RUI Program suppots faculty at PUIs to develop multidisciplinary research programs Development of new research-based education and training activities integrated in the proposed multidisciplinary research. Participation of two-year colleges and minority-serving institutions through partnerships with research-intensive institutions, provided that the submitting institution is RUI-eligible and that primary research activities are performed at the RUI institution. Eligible "predominantly undergraduate" institutions include U.S. two-year, four-year, masters-level, and small doctoral colleges and universities. Eligible institutions (1) grant baccalaureate degrees in NSF-supported fields, or provide programs of instruction for students pursuing such degrees with institutional transfers (e.g., two-year schools); (2) have undergraduate enrollment exceeding graduate enrollment; and (3) award no more than an average of 10 Ph.D. and/or D.Sc. degrees per year in all disciplines that NSF supports, averaged over 2 to 5 years preceding proposal submission. Proposals involving more than one academic institution are acceptable, but one predominantly undergraduate institution must have overall management responsibility. Collaborations between predominantly undergraduate institutions and other institutions may be proposed; however, most of the researchers must be at predominantly undergraduate institutions. Autonomous campuses in a system are considered independently, although they may be submitting their proposals through a central office. It is therefore very important that the predominantly undergraduate campus be identified as the performing organization on the proposal cover sheet. B. Eligible departments (principal investigators) (1) must offer courses that qualify for bachelor's degree credit in NSF-supportable fields and (2) may offer master's degrees, but may not award a doctorate or offer doctoral courses and supervise doctoral research, even though the Ph.D. is not technically awarded by that campus. Eligible "predominantly undergraduate" institutions include U.S. two-year, four-year, masters-level, and small doctoral colleges and universities. Eligible institutions (1) grant baccalaureate degrees in NSF-supported fields, or provide programs of instruction for students pursuing such degrees with institutional transfers (e.g., two-year schools); (2) have undergraduate enrollment exceeding graduate enrollment; and (3) award no more than an average of 10 Ph.D. and/or D.Sc. degrees per year in all disciplines that NSF supports, averaged over 2 to 5 years preceding proposal submission. Proposals involving more than one academic institution are acceptable, but one predominantly undergraduate institution must have overall management responsibility. Collaborations between predominantly undergraduate institutions and other institutions may be proposed; however, most of the researchers must be at predominantly undergraduate institutions. Autonomous campuses in a system are considered independently, although they may be submitting their proposals through a central office. It is therefore very important that the predominantly undergraduate campus be identified as the performing organization on the proposal cover sheet. B. Eligible departments (principal investigators) (1) must offer courses that qualify for bachelor's degree credit in NSF-supportable fields and (2) may offer master's degrees, but may not award a doctorate or offer doctoral courses and supervise doctoral research, even though the Ph.D. is not technically awarded by that campus.

23. CAREER Proposals Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program Eligibility untenured assistant professors Features Plans for research and education for the next five years Minimum of $500,000 for five years Once a year Some CAREER awardees receive PECASE awards Check the program announcement

24. Award Supplement Opportunities Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Research Opportunity Awards (ROA) Research Assistantships for Minority High School Students (RAMHSS) Informal Science Education Supplements International Research and Education Supplements Facilitation Award for Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities

25. ROA: Research Opportunity Awards To enable faculty at predominantly undergraduate institutions, including community colleges, to pursue research as visiting scientists with NSF-supported investigators at other institutions. Typically for summer experiences Usually about $25,000, including indirect costs. Supplement requests should Clearly describe the research to be conducted by the ROA visitor Contain a statement from the host about his/her role in the proposed research efforts Elucidate the contribution of the proposed work to the visitor�s future research plans and impact on his/her home institution Contain a budget with appropriate explanatory information Include a biographical sketch for the visitor

26. REU (Research Experiences for Undergraduates) sites To initiate and conduct projects that engage a number of undergraduate students in research. A well-defined common focus that enables a cohort experience for students. To involve students in research who might not otherwise have the opportunity, particularly those from academic institutions where research programs are limited Typically for summer research

27. Opportunities for Coastal and Marine Research Directorate for Biological Sciences Division of Environmental Biology Directorate for Geosciences Division of Ocean Sciences Cross-cutting programs Biocomplexity (e.g. environmental genomics) Special emphasis programs Microbial Observatories and Microbial Interactions and Processes Microbial Genome Sequencing

28. Opportunities for Undergraduate Education Advanced Technological Education (ATE) Federal Cyber Service: Scholarships for Service (SFS) Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Talent Expansion Program (STEP) Teacher Preparation Continuum (TPC) Robert Noyce Scholarship Program

29. CCLICourse, Curriculum and Laboratory Improvement Vision: Excellent STEM education for all undergraduates. Goal: Stimulate, disseminate, and institutionalize innovative developments in STEM education through the production of knowledge and the improvement of practice Three phases Phase 1: Exploratory Projects Phase 2: Expansion Projects Phase 3: Comprehensive Projects Phases reflect the scope, scale and state Phases reflect the scope, scale and state Scope -- number of components of the cyclic model Scale -- number of institutions, students and faculty State -- maturity of the proposed innovation Phases reflect the scope, scale and state Scope -- number of components of the cyclic model Scale -- number of institutions, students and faculty State -- maturity of the proposed innovation

30. Opportunities for Biomedical Research Disease related goals- Not eligible Research with disease-related goals, including work on the etiology, diagnosis or treatment of physical or mental disease, abnormality, or malfunction in human beings or animals, is normally not supported. Animal models of disease conditions or the development or testing of drugs or other procedures for their treatment also are not eligible for support. Research in medical bioengineering- Eligible Research in bioengineering with diagnosis- or treatment-related goals, that applies engineering principles to problems in biology and medicine while advancing engineering knowledge is eligible for support. Bioengineering research to aid persons with disabilities also is eligible.

32. Merit Review Criteria NSF invests in the best ideas from the most capable people, determined by competitive merit review. The intellectual merit of the proposed activity Creativity and originality Potential to advancing knowledge and understanding within and across fields Conceptualization and organization Qualifications of investigators Access to resources The broader impacts of the proposed activity Discovery while promoting teaching, training and learning Participation of underrepresented groups Enhancement of infrastructure for research and education Dissemination of results to enhance scientific and technological understanding Benefits to society

33. Ensuring a Balanced Portfolio Innovation and Creativity Breadth of research areas Priority areas and systems Demographics and Diversity Broadening participation Institutional impact- PUI, EPSCOR, etc. Integration of research & education International collaborations

34. Outline NSF Information Mission Organization Budget Outlook and Priorities for FY2006 Basics of NSF Funding Opportunities and Review Strategies for Fostering Institutional Grant Success

35. Some tips and resources Tips Identify the strengths Map out strategies Match with the appropriate agency Use resources, interactions with funding agencies and strengthen individual grantsmanship skills Resources Individual contacts in funding agencies Institutional programs NSF days and Regional conference