NSF on the web- An indispensable resource

Directorate for Biological Sciences Division of Environmental Biology (DEB) Division of Environmental Biology (DEB) Ecological Biology Ecosystem Science Division of Integrative Organismal Systems (IOS) Division of Integrative Organismal Systems (IOS) Research Resources Research Resources Human Resources Division of Biological Infrastructure (DBI) Division of Biological Infrastructure (DBI) Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences (MCB) Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences (MCB) Biomolecular Systems Cellular Systems Genes and Genome Systems Genes and Genome Systems Emerging Frontiers (EF) Plant Genome Research Program Plant Genome Research Program Population and Evolutionary Processes Population and Evolutionary Processes Systematic Biology and Biodiversity Inventories Behavioral Systems Behavioral Systems Developmental Systems Developmental Systems Physiological and Structural Systems Neuronal Systems

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.

Scientific Review Administrative Review Research & Education Communities Proposal Preparation and Submission Organization submits via: FastLane NSF Program Director Program Director Analysis &. Recom. Division Director Concur Via DGA Organization Minimum of 3 Reviews Required DGA Review & Processing of Award Proposal Review and Decisions NSF Proposal Generating Document Returned As Inappropriate/Withdrawn Mail Panel Both Award NSF Proposal & Award Process & Timeline Decline 90 Days6 Months 30Days Proposal Receipt at NSF DD ConcurAward Proposal Processing Unit NSF

Merit Review Criteria 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

Grantsmanship makes a difference Know your audience. Think about the reviewers. –Write accurately, concisely and clearly. –Make the reviewer’s job easy. –Figures and tables get your point across clearly. –The reviewer may not be an expert in your specific field.

Why do some proposals fail to get funding? Absence of innovative ideas or hypothesis –Will provide only an incremental advance –Not exciting or cutting edge Errors –Unclear or incomplete expression of aims –Faulty logic or experimental design –Less than rigorous presentation Unrealistic, sloppy or incomplete Resources and facilities not in place –PI qualifications/expertise not evident –Necessary collaborations not documented

Commandments for Writing Competitive NSF Proposals Thou shall propose a brilliant idea. Thou shall design focused, thoughtful experiments. Thou shall read Grant Proposal Guide and Program Solicitation. Thou shall strategize and use thine strengths. Thou shall get help with proposal writing. Thou shall ask us early, ask us often. Thou shall write for the right audience. Thou shall not irritate the reviewers.