Biomedical Discovery and Innovation Funding Opportunities at NSF Semahat Demir, Ph.D. Program Director Biomedical Engineering Program National Science Foundation UTEP February 9, 2010 El Paso, TX

NSF, Cross-directorate and Interagency Activities Program Director, Biomedical Engineering (BME) ( Research to Aid Persons with Disabilities (RAPD) ( ) 2. Multi-Scale Modeling in Biomedical, Biological, and Behavioral Systems (MSM) ( Collaborative Research in Computational Neuroscience (CRCNS) ( Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) ( Nanoscale Science and Engineering for Nanoscale Exploratory Research (NER) Theme: "Multi-scale, Multi-phenomena Theory, Modeling and Simulation at the Nanoscale“ ( Dynamic Data Driven Applications Systems (DDDAS) ( Active Nanostructures and Nanosystems (ANN), Nanoscale Interdisciplinary Research Teams (NIRT) Theme: Nanoscale Devices and System Architecture ( NIH/NSF for Bioengineering Approaches to Energy Balance and Obesity (2005-) 9. Engineering Research Centers (ERC) Partnerships in Transforming Research, Education and Technology, Program Solicitation NSF (2007- ) 10. Emerging Frontiers Research and Innovation (EFRI (2007-) Cognitive Optimization and Prediction: From Neural Systems to Neurotechnology (COPN) 11. Cyber-Enabled Discovery and Innovation (CDI) ( Building Engineered Complex Systems (BECS) 13. Science and Technology Centers (STC) Representative of Engineering Directorate NSF Learning and Workforce Development (LWD) Cyber Infrastructure (CI) SWOT NSF Learning and Workforce Development (LWD) Cyber Infrastructure (CI) SWOT NSF initiative in Neuroscience and Cognition NSF initiative in Neuroscience and Cognition Chair, ENG Neurotech Working Group NSF Representative, National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Subcommittee on Biometrics and Identity Management, (2006-) Co-Chair, NIH BECON Bridges Team

Outline Vision Vision Funding mechanisms Funding mechanisms –Partnership opportunities for Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) and industry NSF Merit Review Criteria NSF Merit Review Criteria Tips for Successful Proposal Writing Tips for Successful Proposal Writing

NSF Vision NSF: Where Discovery Begins Enabling the Nation’s future through discovery, learning and innovation. Enabling the Nation’s future through discovery, learning and innovation.

NSF Disciplines & Structure 1)Biological Sciences (BIO) 2)Computer and Information Sciences and Engineering (CISE) 3)Education and Human Resources (EHR) 4)Engineering (ENG) 5)Geosciences (GEO) 6)Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS) 7)Social, Behavioral And Economic Sciences (SBE) 8)Polar Programs 9)Office of Cyberinfrastructure 10) Office of International Science and Engineering 11) Office of Integrative Affairs

Funding Opportunities at NSF Individual Programs Individual Programs – Research, education, center programs Priority Areas (Investment Areas for FY) Priority Areas (Investment Areas for FY) – Cross-Programs and Cross-Directorates Cross Disciplinary Areas Cross Disciplinary Areas – Cross-Programs and Cross-Directorates Interagency Programs Interagency Programs – NSF, and other government agencies

Award (Grant) Types Individual Investigator Initiated Awards Individual Investigator Initiated Awards CAREER Awards CAREER Awards Grants for Rapid Response Research (RAPID) Grants for Rapid Response Research (RAPID) EArly-concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER) EArly-concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER) Supplements Supplements Workshops, conference Workshops, conference Center Awards Center Awards Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) awards Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) awards Cross-disciplinary or cross-directorate Cross-disciplinary or cross-directorate –GOALI (Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry) –IGERT (Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship) –EFRI (Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation) –ADVANCE –MRI Specific Solicitation Awards Specific Solicitation Awards –NSF solicitations, Interagency solicitations

CENTERS for partnerships Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology (CREST) and HBCU Research Infrastructure for Science and Engineering (RISE) [EHR/HRD] Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology (CREST) and HBCU Research Infrastructure for Science and Engineering (RISE) [EHR/HRD] To enhance the research capabilities of minority-serving institutions through the establishment of centers that effectively integrate education and research. To enhance the research capabilities of minority-serving institutions through the establishment of centers that effectively integrate education and research. Five opportunities: 1) CREST centers; (2) supplements for partnerships applied to existing CREST awards; (3) HBCU Research Infrastructure for Science & Engineering (HBCU-RISE) proposals; (4) supplements for diversity collaboration for projects co-funded with NSF's Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) programs; and (5) new projects in the Directorate for Education and Human Resources track: Innovation through Institutional Integration (I^3). Five opportunities: 1) CREST centers; (2) supplements for partnerships applied to existing CREST awards; (3) HBCU Research Infrastructure for Science & Engineering (HBCU-RISE) proposals; (4) supplements for diversity collaboration for projects co-funded with NSF's Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) programs; and (5) new projects in the Directorate for Education and Human Resources track: Innovation through Institutional Integration (I^3). Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers (MRSEC) Partnership for Research and Education in Materials (PREM) [MPS/DMR] Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers (MRSEC) Partnership for Research and Education in Materials (PREM) [MPS/DMR] To enhance diversity in materials research and education by stimulating the development of formal, long-term, collaborative materials research and education partnerships between minority-serving institutions and the National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Materials Research (DMR) supported groups, centers, and facilities. To enhance diversity in materials research and education by stimulating the development of formal, long-term, collaborative materials research and education partnerships between minority-serving institutions and the National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Materials Research (DMR) supported groups, centers, and facilities.

CENTERS for partnerships(continued) Engineering Research Centers (ERCs) [ENG/EEC] Engineering Research Centers (ERCs) [ENG/EEC] The lead or one of the domestic partner universities must be a university that serves students predominantly underrepresented in engineering and science in the U.S. The lead or one of the domestic partner universities must be a university that serves students predominantly underrepresented in engineering and science in the U.S. The Science and Technology Centers (STC) [OIA] The Science and Technology Centers (STC) [OIA] STCs are strongly encouraged to form meaningful, substantive and long-term partnerships with minority- serving institutions, women's colleges and institutions that primarily serve students with disabilities, thereby providing formal connections with institutions that serve large populations of underrepresented students interested in STEM. STCs are strongly encouraged to form meaningful, substantive and long-term partnerships with minority- serving institutions, women's colleges and institutions that primarily serve students with disabilities, thereby providing formal connections with institutions that serve large populations of underrepresented students interested in STEM.

Broadening Participation Research Initiation Grants in Engineering (BRIGE) Funding opportunity intended to increase the diversity of researchers through research program support early in their careers Funding opportunity intended to increase the diversity of researchers through research program support early in their careers Encourages support of under-represented groups, engineers at minority serving institutions, and persons with disabilities Encourages support of under-represented groups, engineers at minority serving institutions, and persons with disabilities Up to $175,000 over two years Up to $175,000 over two years Full proposals due Feb. 14, 2010 Full proposals due Feb. 14, 2010

NSF Merit Review Criteria Criteria include: Criteria include: What is the intellectual merit and quality of the proposed activity? What is the intellectual merit and quality of the proposed activity? What are the broader impacts of the proposed activity? What are the broader impacts of the proposed activity?

What is the intellectual merit of the proposed activity? Potential Considerations: Potential Considerations: How important is the proposed activity to advancing knowledge and understanding within its own field or across different fields? How important is the proposed activity to advancing knowledge and understanding within its own field or across different fields? How well qualified is the proposer (individual or team) to conduct the project? (If appropriate, the reviewer will comment on the quality of prior work.) How well qualified is the proposer (individual or team) to conduct the project? (If appropriate, the reviewer will comment on the quality of prior work.) To what extent does the proposed activity suggest and explore creative and original or potentially transformative concepts? To what extent does the proposed activity suggest and explore creative and original or potentially transformative concepts? How well conceived and organized is the proposed activity? How well conceived and organized is the proposed activity? Is there sufficient access to resources? Is there sufficient access to resources?

What are the broader impacts of the proposed activity? Potential Considerations: Potential Considerations: How well does the activity advance discovery and understanding while promoting teaching, training and learning? How well does the activity advance discovery and understanding while promoting teaching, training and learning? How well does the activity broaden the participation of underrepresented groups (e.g., gender, ethnicity, disability, geographic, etc.)? How well does the activity broaden the participation of underrepresented groups (e.g., gender, ethnicity, disability, geographic, etc.)? To what extent will it enhance the infrastructure for research and education, such as facilities, instrumentation, networks and partnerships? To what extent will it enhance the infrastructure for research and education, such as facilities, instrumentation, networks and partnerships? Will the results be disseminated broadly to enhance scientific and technological understanding? Will the results be disseminated broadly to enhance scientific and technological understanding? What may be the benefits of the proposed activity to society? What may be the benefits of the proposed activity to society?

Tips for Successful Proposal Writing Determine if your project is relevant to the program Determine if your project is relevant to the program Get in touch with the Program Director Get in touch with the Program Director Program Director: Program Director: –Review Panels –Award/decline recommendation –Post management of the awards (progress report) Follow the instructions posted by the agency Follow the instructions posted by the agency Format, sections, project plan Format, sections, project plan Agency’s Review Criteria (NSF Merit Review Criteria) Agency’s Review Criteria (NSF Merit Review Criteria) Priority Areas for the agency Priority Areas for the agency Respond to a solicitation Respond to a solicitation Deadlines (preproposal, letter of intent, full proposal) Deadlines (preproposal, letter of intent, full proposal) Additional review criteria and requirements Additional review criteria and requirements Read “successful” proposals of your colleagues Read “successful” proposals of your colleagues Have your proposal reviewed by collaborators or colleagues before submitting Have your proposal reviewed by collaborators or colleagues before submitting Do not submit on the day of the deadline Do not submit on the day of the deadline Volunteer to serve on a review panel Volunteer to serve on a review panel

Thanks for the invitation!