How to Succeed with NSF: September 14, 2018 Tips for Targeting, Writing, and Packaging a Successful Proposal September 14, 2018 Presenter: Deborah Hernandez, Sr. Director, Research Development Division of Research and Innovation

Workshop Objectives Review NSF’s Research Focus & Programmatic Structure Explore Funding Opportunities, Mechanisms, & Strategies Explain Proposal Evaluation/Review Criteria & Process Discuss How to Assemble a Competitive Proposal

Research Focus & Programmatic Structure Where does the National Science Foundation fit into the Federal Funding Landscape? Independent Federal Agency whose mission is to keep the U.S. at the leading edge of discovery by supporting research and education in all fields of fundamental science and engineering, except for the medical sciences. https://www.nsf.gov/about/glance.jsp Organized into 7 disciplinary Directorates, each with multiple Divisions/Offices and Programs https://www.nsf.gov/staff/orglist.jsp In FY17 NSF accounted for $5.7 billion of federal research obligations. This ranks NSF 4th overall among federal sources of funding (8.5%) but they rank 2nd in their support of basic research - $4.9 billion.

Funding Opportunities & Strategies How do I find and evaluate NSF funding opportunities? NSF website and all standard search engines Read the program pages, dear colleague letters, abstracts Check solicitation for $, number to be funded, restrictions Talk with the Program Officer What types of proposal mechanisms does NSF offer? Offers non-collaborative and collaborative proposal types Funds almost everything as a grant Special mechanisms: RAPID, EAGER, GOALI, RAISE, Conference, Equipment, Travel, Center, etc. defined in the NSF Proposal Guide: https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/policydocs/pappg18_1/pappg_2.jsp#IIE1

NSF Proposal Evaluation Criteria & Process Two Standard Merit Review Criteria Intellectual Merit: The potential to advance knowledge and understanding within one’s own field or across different fields. Must convey merit of the potential contribution as well as merit of the proposed approach. Broader Impacts: The potential to benefit society and help achieve specific, desired societal outcomes. Impacts may be economic, environmental, or educational; may improve research and education infrastructure; or may provide opportunities for underrepresented groups. Review Process Generally use ad hoc panel of scientists in program field who provide individual reviews Reviews given to the Program Officer who determines what to fund

Assembling a Competitive Proposal Required documents Science: 1-Page Summary with 3 sections: Overview, Intellectual Merit & Broader Impacts 15 page Research Plan & References Data Management Plan Investigator & Institutional Capacity: Investigator Biosketch Investigator Current/Pending Support Facilities, Equipment, and Other Resources Letters of Commitment from Unfunded Collaborators Financial/Other: Budget and Narrative Budget Justification Post-doc mentoring plan (only if applicable) Investigator Collaborators Spreadsheet

NSF Proposals – 1-page summary Overview – A stand-alone summary of the planned work. It should: Summarize the scientific or technological challenge you seek to address Present your project goal and specific objectives Identify key components of your proposed approach/methods Intellectual Merit – This is your potential to advance knowledge and understanding in an impactful way. Address the merit or significance of the topic, and the merit of your proposed approach/methods. Consider: What will my research add to what we already know? How will my research enhance or enable new directions in my field or in other related fields What is new or novel about my approach and why is it likely to work? Broader Impacts – Summarize plans to extend the impact of your research in ways that will benefit larger societal goals related to such things as broadening participation in the sciences, enhancing public health or safety, advancing economic competitiveness, etc.

NSF Proposals – Project Description 15 pages with no specified format beyond 3 required sections: intellectual merit, broader impacts, and results from prior NSF support Suggested Format: Introduction – ½ page that defines your topic by identifying the main scientific challenges you will address, specifically states your goals and objectives (or hypothesis and research questions), and highlights new ideas/novel approach and the expected impact of your work on the current state of science. Background/Significance—1-3 pages that provides a synopsis of recent findings in the area and summarizes what we do and don’t know. If appropriate, identify existing barriers to advances in your area that you will address through this project. This is your literature heavy section and should provide reviewers with a clear understanding of why your proposed work and approach will result in an important contribution to science.

NSF Proposals – Project Description Research Plan (8+ pages) is your forward-looking, technical description of planned activities and timeline. Identify WHAT will you do, HOW will you do it, and WHEN you will do it. You may choose to set this up with objectives and tasks, clearly identifying tasks that are sequential versus concurrent and identifying key decision points based on expected task outcomes. Explain WHY your proposed strategy/method is appropriate. This section should logically flow from your background/significance section. Use appropriate graphics. Consider providing a summary timetable to provide a graphic snapshot of the entire project. Results from Prior NSF Support, Broader Impacts, and Intellectual Merit

NSF Proposals – Data Management Plan Data Management Plan (2 pages) demonstrates how you will conform with NSF’s policy on dissemination and sharing of research results. Five (5) required sections. ***Some Directorates have separate instructions, so always check. the types of data, samples, physical collections, software, curriculum materials, and other materials to be produced in the course of the project; the standards to be used for data and metadata format and content (where existing standards are absent or deemed inadequate, this should be documented along with any proposed solutions or remedies); policies for access and sharing including provisions for appropriate protection of privacy, confidentiality, security, intellectual property, or other rights or requirements; policies and provisions for re-use, re-distribution, and the production of derivatives; and plans for archiving data, samples, and other research products, and for preservation of access to them.

NSF Proposals – Investigator Documents Biosketch – 2 pages and 4 sections Professional Preparation Appointments Products Synergistic Activities Current/Pending Support Collaborators Spreadsheet

Questions? You can reach me at x2648 or via e-mail dhernndz@Memphis.edu You can reach Mary at x4911 or via e-mail mary.earheart.brown@Memphis.edu Research Development Webpage http://www.memphis.edu/rsp/development/index.php