Applying to the National Science Foundation OSP Awareness Oct 2010 osp.syr.edu

NSF’s Mission To promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; and to secure the national defense. Annual budget: $7 billion (FY10 request)

NSF organization..… Supports all fields of fundamental science & engineering (except medical (bioengineering okay)) A.Directorates Biosciences; Computer & Information Science & Engineering; Education & Human Resources; Engineering; Geosciences; Math & Physical Sciences; Social, Behavioral & Economic Sciences B.Offices Cyberinfrastructure; Integrative Activities; International Science & Engineering; Polar Programs

Programs & Opportunities Dear Colleague Letter Program Description Program Announcement Program Solicitation

Types of Submissions - currently all thru FASTLANE - –Grants for Rapid Response Research (RAPID) –EArly-concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER) –Facilitation awards for sci. & eng /c disabilities –Supplemental requests (REUs, RETs) –Collaborative proposals –Equipment –Conferences, Symposia & Workshops –International Travel –Doctoral Dissertation Letter of Intent Preliminary Proposal Full Proposal Variations on the theme:

Submission “Deadlines” Target Dates – “soft” Deadline Dates – “hard” (5:00 p.m. local) Submission windows – time frame; end date “hard” (5:00 p.m. local)

NSF Proposals Convey 1) the project’s objectives and significance to science, engineering or education; It’s a great idea that’s important to NSF Project Description, Summary 2) the suitability of the methods proposed; The approach used is the best path to take; work is feasible and risks are reasonable relative to benefits. Project Description

NSF Proposals Convey cont’d 3) The qualifications of the investigator, project team and grantee organization to perform the proposed work; The investigator and the team possess the necessary expertise to assure project success. Biosketches All necessary resources and facilities are available to assure project success. Facilities, Equipment, & Other Resources

NSF Proposals Convey cont’d 4) the impact of the activity on the infrastructure of science, engineering and education; and Broader impacts may include enabling the next generation of scientists, engineers & educators. Project Description 5) the cost of the project. There’s value for the investment; the cost is “in line” with similar projects. Budget & Justification

Review Criteria What is the intellectual merit of the proposed activity? What are the broader impacts of the proposed activity? Panel, mail review, combination

Intellectual Merit Significance & impact - Importance to advancing knowledge and understanding within and across fields Significance & innovation - Suggest and explore creative & original concepts? Approach – Conception & organization of the activity? Qualifications – Qualifications of PI/team (prior work) Capability - Access to resources?

Broader Impacts Is discovery & understanding advanced while teaching, training, and learning is promoted? Broaden the participation of underrepresented groups Enhance the infrastructure for research and education, e.g., facilities, instrumentation, networks and partnerships Broad dissemination of results to enhance scientific and technology understanding How will society benefit?

In addition… NSF staff consider… Integration of research and education –… efforts that infuse education with the excitement of discovery and enrich research through the diversity of learning perspectives. Integrating diversity into NSF programs, projects & activities

What’s new in 2011? Data management plan and sharing award products – Supplemental Doc. May include: – What’s produced: the types of data, samples, physical collections, software, curriculum materials, and other materials; – 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);

What’s new in 2011? – DMP con’t – 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. Include costs for DMP in budget!

What’s new in 2011? Cont’d No cost sharing. –No voluntary committed effort. Cover page: –Performing/Research Organization changing to Project/Performance Site Primary Location information. Why? To comply with FFATA

What’s continuing from 2010 Responsible conduct of research –All undergraduate, graduate students and postdocs compensated by NSF must complete: CITI RCR training (all groups) Face-to-face or other approved training (Graduate students / postdocs)

Possible Outline (GPG) NOTE: Program solicitations may specify organization and content; these guidelines should be followed. 1.Introduction to project and it’s purpose (Introduce objectives in first page or two) 2.Context in which project fits a.State of Knowledge – what is known, what’s not b.Preliminary/foundational data c.Significance of Project… So what? 3.Project Objectives – brief list of what you will do & their significance

Possible Outline cont’d 4.Approach/Experimental Design/Methods a.What will you do, how will you analyze and interpret data and results? b.How do you know your methods work? (What does “success look like? Controls? Evaluation process?) c.What challenges might you encounter and how will you work around them? d.Dissemination plan (including Data Management Plan) e.Time line/project management 5.Broader Impacts & integration of research & education 6.Prior NSF results

Getting Started Review Directorate/program’s web site Review announcement or solicitation carefully Review what’s been funded in the past – Contact Program manager EARLY –You want to do what… might they be interested? Would there be other programs interested?

Writing… Start early (2 weeks before the deadline not recommended…) Write for the reviewers –Ask program manager how reviewed? Panel, mail, both? –Make proposal a delight to read! –Use meaningful/informative headers –Don’t use full justification –White space helps!!

Writing …. Have others review your narrative –Clear? Are review criteria addressed? –Any obvious holes to be filled? –Broader impacts meaningfully addressed? –Scientific experts and “generalist experts”. Write project summary last. –Two separate sections  Int. Merit & Broader Imp.

Fastlane and other issues –Register… –OSP can reset passwords if you’ve forgotten yours. Formatting – Must follow GPG unless solicitation says otherwise… – –OSP does get proposals returned for non-compliance Biosketches, font too small, publications non-compliance, collaborators not complete Project summary in first person, intellectual merit / broader impacts not separately presented. Grants.gov is coming…(yeh – right).

OSP resources… **NSF proposal checklist (osp.syr.edu / forms) Amy Deppa (e - apps) Amy Graves (CAS) Meghan MacBlane (iSchool) Caroline McMullin (Maxwell, SoE) Stuart Taub (LCSmith) Trish Lowney (narratives)