NSF Flashcards
2 distinguishing characteristics of NSF
1) the only federal agency whose mission includes support for all fields of fundamental science and engineering (except medical sciences)
2) funding source for approximately 25% of all federally supported basic research conducted by America’s colleges and universities
NSF’s Strategic Plan FY18-22
Building the Future: Investing in Discovery and Innovation
GOALS:
> Expand knowledge in science, engineering and learning
> Advance the capability of the Nation to meet current and future challenges
> Enhance NSF’s performance of its mission
NSF Organization - What are the 7 Directorates?
1) Biological Sciences
2) Computer and Information Sciences & Engineering
3) Engineering
4) Geosciences
5) Mathematical and Physical Sciences
6) Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences
7) Education and Human Resources
Transformative Research
It’s through transformative research that NSF hopes to accomplish the goals laid out in its strategic plan.
Transformative research involves ideas, discoveries or tools that radically change our understanding of an important existing scientific or engineering concept or educational practice or leads to the creation of a new paradigm or field of science, engineering, or education.
NSF Review & Award Cycle - What are the 3 Phases?
> Phase 1 - Proposal preparation and submission (90 days)
> Phase 2 - Proposal review and processing (6 months)
> Phase 3 - Award processing (30 days)
Top 4 reasons a NSF proposal is returned without review
1) duplicate of, or substantially similar to, a proposal already under consideration or already funded
2) does not meet NSF proposal prep requirements
3) missed deadline
4) does not contain each of the required sections of the proposal
What are the 4 steps of NSF’s Phase 2 (Proposal Review & Processing)?
1) Reviewers selected
2) Peer Review
3) Program Officer Review and Recommendation
4) Division Director Review
NSF Merit Review Criteria (x2)
Intellectual Merit - to what extent does the proposed activity suggest and explore creative, original and potentially transformative concepts?
Broader Impact - to what extend does the proposal have potential to benefit society and contribute to specific and desired outcomes?
Mechanisms for announcing NSF Funding Opps
Program Description (PD) - encourages submission to a specific program of interest, posted to directorate/division website.
Program Announcement (PA) - describes the NSF program of interest.
Program Solicitation (PS) - more formal version of PA, usually allows submission for a limited time
Dear Colleague Letters (DCL) - notice of special competitions or supplemental funding opps
NSF Proposal Sections
- Cover Sheet
- Project Summary
- Table of Contents
- Project Description
- References Cited
- Biographical Sketches
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Current and Pending Support
- Facilities, Equipment and Other Resources
- Special Information and Supplementary Documents
- Postdoctoral Mentoring Plan (if applicable)
- Data Management Plan
- Single Copy Documents
* Collaborators & Other Affiliations
NSF Project Summary Requirements
- Limited to 1 page
-
Must include:
1) Overview - activity, objectives, methods
2) Intellectual Merit - potential to advance knowledge
3) Broader Impacts - potential to benefit society and contribute to specific societal outcomes
NSF Project Description Requirements
- Limited to 15 pages
- Clear SOW, workplan, relationship or work to present knowledge in field, relationship to work in progress by the PI, description of work to be completed by subs
-
Must include 2 sections -
1) Broader impacts
2) Results from prior NSF support (for all PIs and Co-Is)
NSF Biosketch
- limited to 2 pages
- fillable form or SciENcv only
- Includes: professional preparation, appointments, products, synergistic activities
NSF Budget Requirements
> Budget just no more than 5 pages
> 2-month salary rule: salary compensation for senior personnel limited to no more than 2 months of their regular salary in any one year, across all NSF funded awards.
- Organization defines the year, includes in budget just.
- If anticipated greater than 2 months required, budget just. used to explain
NSF Proposal Types
- Standard
- Rapid Response Research Proposal
- Early Concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER)
- Research Advanced by Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering (RAISE)
- Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI)
- Ideas Lab
- Facilitation Awards for Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities (FASED)
- Conference Proposals
- Equipment Proposals
- Travel Proposals
- Center Proposals
- Research Infrastructure Proposals
Rapid Response Research Proposal
NSF
Used when there is a severe urgency with regard to availability of, or access to, data, facilities or special equipment, or for quick-response research on natural or anthropogenic disasters or similar unanticipated events.
$200k up to 1 year
Early Concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER)
Used to support exploratory work in its early stages on untested, but potentially transformative, research ideas or approaches. This work may be considered especially “high risk – high payoff.”
Research Advanced by Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering (RAISE)
Used to support bold, interdisciplinary projects that:
- require substantial funding from more than one program or discipline;
- promise transformational advances;
- have the potential for discoveries that reside at the interfaces of discipline boundaries that may not be recognized through traditional review.
Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI)
GOALI type proposals are for projects that include collaborations between academia and industry in an effort to address critical industry needs and enable breakthrough technologies
Although an industry researcher must listed as a Co-PI , the industry partner cannot request funding– the funding is for the academic institution and related activities
GOALI type proposals must be submitted to an active opportunity or as a supplement to an existing award
Ideas Lab
Ideas Lab type proposals are another type that focus on transformative research
They aim to solve intractable problems and transform research paradigms
A call for participants will be issued by NSF for this proposal type
Ideas Lab type proposals require minimal documents including a 2 page description, biosketch and C&P
These are submitted as pre-proposals in Fastlane – they are not yet able to be submitted in Research.gov but will be soon
Facilitation Awards for Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities (FASED)
FASED type proposals are used in an effort to reduce barriers to participation in research for those needing special equipment and/or assistance
FASED funding requests are made in conjunction with regular proposals or may be done as a supplemental funding request
Details about the specific nature and purpose or need for the equipment or assistance are required
Conference Proposals
Support conferences that bring experts in special areas of science and engineering together.
Should be submitted at least one year prior to conference
Merit review criteria apply
Special requirements for Project Description including statement of need, recent meetings, organizers, location, and other details
Equipment Proposals
For specialized equipment for individual investigators, departments, or internal or external collaborators.
Only one PI can be designated for these and they have special requirements for the Project Description
Equipment proposals do compete with research and education proposals
Travel Proposals
Funding for scientific meetings
Center Proposal (NSF)
Centers focus on integrative learning, the frontiers of knowledge, and investing in a diverse set of partner organizations and individuals.
Centers must contribute to NSF’s strategic plan
Proposals and funding are typically for up to 10 years in duration
PIs need to contact the PO prior to submitting
And these proposal types are subject to a mid-award external merit review
Research Infrastructure Proposal
These are used to fund construction and operation of major equipment and facilities
PIs should contact the PO prior to submission
Merit review process applies
NSF Requires Prior Approval When…
- There is a change to scope
- There are significant changes, delays, or events of unusual interest
- Change of PI or add or change of co-PI
- Add or change of a subcontractor
- Transfer grant from one organization to another
NSF Technical Reporting Requirements
- Annual Project Reports
- Final Project Report
- Project Outcomes Report for the General Public (POR)
NSF requires 5 standards to be in place and maintained at grantee institution in order for an award to be issued
- COI Policy
- Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR)
- Financial Management Systems Standards
- Property Management Standards
- Procurement Standards
Used to support exploratory work in its early stages on untested, but potentially transformative, research ideas or approaches. “High-risk, high-payoff”
NSF’s “Early concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER)”
Up to $300k, 2 years in duration
Used to support bold, interdisciplinary projects that:
- require substantial funding from more than one program or discipline
- promise transformational advances
- have the potential for discoveries that reside at the interfaces of discipline boundaries that may but be recognized through traditional review
NSF’s “Research Advanced by Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering (RAISE)
Up to $1M, 5 years in duration
Seeks to stimulate collaboration between academic research institutions and industry.
Research should further scientific and engineering foundations to enable future breakthrough technologies with the potential to address critical industry needs
NSF’s “Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI)”
Industry partner cannot request funding.
Seeks to support the development and implementation of creative and innovative project ideas that have the potential to transform research paradigms and/or solve intractable problems.
NSF’s “ideas Lab”
Minimal docs required - 2 page max project description, bio sketch, current & pending
Through this program NSF seeks to reduce barriers to participation in research by providing special equipment and assistance under awards.
Encourages persons with disabilities to pursue careers in science and engineering by stimulating the development and demonstration of special equipment that facilitates research work.
NSF’s “Facilitation Awards for Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities (FASED)”
Supports conferences that bring experts in special areas of science and engineering together.
NSF’s “Conference Proposal”
Proposals must be submitted at least 1 hear prior
Merit review only
Used to find centers where diverse organisms and individuals can focus on integrative learning, the frontiers of knowledge.
NSF’s “Center Proposal”
Up to 10 years in duration
Subject to mid-award external merit review
For construction and operation of major research equipment and facilities
NSF’s “Research Infrastructure Proposal”
3 NSF goals
1) expand knowledge in science, engineering and learning
2) advance capabilities of nation to meet current and future challenges
3) enhance NSFs performance if it’s mission - attract, retain, empowers a talented and diverse workforce and improve agency operations
of NSF Directorates
7 - each sets own priorities in research and funding
- biological sciences
- computer and information sciences + engineering
- engineering
- geosciences
- math and physical sciences
- social, behavioral, economic sciences
- education and HR
NSF program officers
- who are they?
- what do they do?
- PO works for NSF but usually on sabbatical from university/NFE; they rotate
- subject matter expert in technical and programmatic areas (phase 2)
- conduct merit review
- recommend or deny proposal for funding based on peer review and merit review
NSF division director
- who are they?
- what do they do?
- NSF execs - not rotating
- responsible for long range planning and ensuring NSF hits strategic goals and objectives
- responsible for ensuring integrity of peer and merit review
- send proposals to phase 3 / biz review after considering peer review and merit review by PO and own review
NSF grants and agreements officers
- who are they?
- what do they do?
- phase 3 of NSF review
- review proposals received by division director
- recommend proposals for funding, finalize award and send to institution
- can also reject proposals even in phase 3
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