Office of Research and Engagement Faculty Development Team NSF CAREER Program Office of Research and Engagement Faculty Development Team February 17, 2016

LEARNING OBJECTIVES PROGRAM OVERVIEW PROPOSAL ELEMENTS REVIEW PROCESS ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Office of Research & Engagement

Office of Research & Engagement CAREER OVERVIEW: “The Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program is a Foundation-wide activity that offers the National Science Foundation's most prestigious awards in support of junior faculty who exemplify the role of teacher-scholars through outstanding research, excellent education and the integration of education and research within the context of the mission of their organizations. Such activities should build a firm foundation for a lifetime of leadership in integrating education and research.” Office of Research & Engagement

Office of Research & Engagement PROGRAM GOALS: Provide stable support for 5 years to allow career development of outstanding new teacher-scholars in the context of the mission of their organization. Build a foundation for a lifetime of integrated contributions to research and education. Provide incentives to Universities to value the integration of research and education. Increase participation of those traditionally underrepresented in science and engineering. Office of Research & Engagement

Office of Research & Engagement Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) : Selects from among the most meritorious recent CAREER awardees based on two important criteria:  innovative research at the frontiers of science and technology that is relevant to the mission of NSF, and community service demonstrated through scientific leadership, education or community outreach. Office of Research & Engagement

Office of Research & Engagement

SUBMISSIONS BY DIRECTORATE: Office of Research & Engagement

SUCCESS RATE BY DIRECTORATE: Office of Research & Engagement

Office of Research & Engagement UT SUCCESS RATES: YEAR # PROPOSALS # AWARDS SUCCESS RATE 2010 17 4 22% 2011 16 2012 3 17% 2013 10 1 6% 2014 18 2015 21 **3+ ??? **3 awards appear in NSF awards database, all from the COE, all utilized FDT support! Office of Research & Engagement

INVESTIGATOR ELIGIBILITY: By the deadline for submission: Hold a doctoral degree in a field supported by NSF; Be untenured until October 1 following the deadline; Have not previously received a CAREER award; Be employed in a tenure-track (or equivalent) position as an assistant professor (by Oct 1st following deadline); Have not had more than two CAREER proposals reviewed. Untenured Associate Professors are NOT eligible. Office of Research & Engagement

CAREER Proposal Elements: A compelling research plan An innovative but feasible education plan A plan for effective integration of research and educational activities Results of prior NSF support (if applicable) Departmental Letter Statements of collaboration if relevant Appropriate proposal budget Office of Research & Engagement

Office of Research & Engagement CAREER Research Plan: Place the work into context Why is the proposed research important? What has been done / what is known to date? In what way(s) is the proposed work novel? Provide some details for an expert reviewer How do you plan to approach the problem(s) under study? What will you do if the approach does not succeed? Why does the project require five years of effort? Office of Research & Engagement

CAREER Education Plan: Activities should go beyond what is expected from any assistant professor in your field Workload should not be unreasonable Should be informed by what has been successful in the past -- intellectual merit of the education component Should have a plan for assessing the success of the education program Check with your Program Officer or search the abstracts on the web Office of Research & Engagement

Office of Research & Engagement Integration of Research and Education - All CAREER proposals must have an integrated research and education plan at their core. Q: How will your research impact your education goals and how will your education activities feed back into your research? Office of Research & Engagement

Involving others (graduate, undergraduates, K-12, high school teachers, public) in your research using new tools, laboratory methods, field components, web outreach, cyber networks, etc... Partnering with those in other communities, especially those traditionally underrepresented in Sciences and Engineering Bringing the excitement of your research topics to help in the education of others Searching for new methods to deliver your research results to a broader audience than those in the immediate research community Using the broader community to gather data for your scientific pursuits (“citizen science”) http://www.nsf.gov/career

The Department Letter (2 pages): Support for the PI’s proposed CAREER research and education activities Description of how the PI’s career goals and responsibilities mesh with that of the organization and department Commitment to the professional development of the PI with mentoring and whatever is needed to forward the PI’s efforts to integrate research and education Statement indicating that the PI is eligible for the CAREER program Should not serve as a letter of recommendation or endorsement of the PI or the research project

Office of Research & Engagement BUDGET: Estimated Number of Awards: 400 per year Anticipated Funding Amount: $222,000,000 Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO), the Directorate for Engineering (ENG), or the Division of Polar Programs (PLR): minimum of $500,000 for the 5-year duration (including indirect costs) All others: minimum of $400,000 for the 5-year duration Office of Research & Engagement

Office of Research & Engagement BUDGET: Support for senior personnel is allowed only for the PI's salary. All other allowable costs are permitted, including funds for postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, undergraduate students, summer salary, education or outreach activities, support for an evaluator, travel and subsistence expenses for the PI and U.S. participants when working abroad with foreign collaborators, and consultant expenses. In some cases, it may be appropriate to include academic year salary support for the PI on a CAREER budget. Office of Research & Engagement

NSF Merit Review Process: All CAREER proposals a NSF require at least three external evaluations before the Program Officer can take an action to recommend or decline an award Evaluation can be done by either: Ad Hoc reviewers only Panel Review only Combination of both Ad Hoc and Panel Review Office of Research & Engagement

VARIATIONS BY DIRECTORATE: Merit Review - Ad hoc plus Panel Most of GEO (except AGS) BIO and SBE Primarily dedicated CAREER Panels ENG, CISE, EHR MPS varies by Division AST: panel only CHE, DMR: mix of ad hoc and panels DMS: mostly panels Office of Research & Engagement

REVIEWER SELECTION: The ad hoc/panel reviewers: have specific content expertise have general science or education expertise Sources of ad hoc/panel reviewers: Program Officer’s knowledge of the research area References listed in proposal Recent professional society programs Computer searches of journal articles related to the proposal Investigators are encouraged to: Suggest persons they believe are especially well qualified to review the proposal Identify persons they would prefer not review the proposal 22

FIVE REVIEW ELEMENTS: What is the potential for the proposed activity to: advance knowledge and understanding within its own field or across different fields (Intellectual Merit); and benefit society or advance desired societal outcomes (Broader Impacts)? To what extent do the proposed activities suggest and explore creative, original, or potentially transformative concepts Is the plan for carrying out the proposed activities well-reasoned, well organized, and based on a sound rationale? Does the plan incorporate a mechanism to assess success How well qualified is the individual, team, or institution to conduct the proposed activities Are there adequate resources available to the PI (either at the home institution or through collaborations) to carry out the proposed activities? 23

BASIS FOR THE DECISION: Peer Review Content of the review is more important than rating Program Officer analyzes: Fairness and substance of the reviews; any technical issues raised (can they be resolved swiftly and easily); reviewer’s enthusiasm for the project; any additional feedback from reviewers/panels or other program officers; sometimes also clarification from the PI if needed Portfolio Balance – Research and education topics and their integration; potential for transformative impact in both; priority or timeliness of the area of research and systems; demographics of the PI population and diversity of institution types; stage of the career development of the PI; international partnerships 24

REASONS FOR RETURN WITHOUT REVIEW: Co-principal investigator(s) listed on the cover page Departmental Letter is missing The proposed work duplicates, or is substantially similar to, a proposal already under consideration by NSF from the same submitter The proposal was previously declined and was not revised to take into account the major comments from the prior NSF review Office of Research & Engagement

DEADLINES (full proposal): July 20, 2016 Biological Sciences (BIO) Computer & Information Science & Engineering (CISE) Education & Human Resources (EHR)   July 21, 2016 Engineering (ENG)   July 22, 2016 Geosciences (GEO) Mathematical & Physical Sciences (MPS) Social, Behavioral & Economic Sciences (SBE)   Office of Research & Engagement

A Recent Success Story…

Office of Research & Engagement RESOURCES: Solicitation (15-555) NSF CAREER website and FAQs Program officers Grantseekers Toolkit Faculty Development Team NSF CAREER recipients Office of Research & Engagement

Office of Research & Engagement WHAT NEXT? Read the solicitation Determine “readiness” Contact a CAREER program contact Let your department head know Identify a SME to review your proposal Start outlining your research and education plans Sign up for an FDT Summer Writing Cohort Office of Research & Engagement

Dr. Louise Nuttle, Director Faculty Development Team lnuttle@utk.edu Office: (865) 974-3795 Mobile: (423) 741-6420 103 Blount Hall Office of Research & Engagement