National Science Foundation Overview

Agenda Our Legacy: About NSF Our Work: Programs & The Merit Review Process Our Opportunities: Working at the NSF

Our Legacy: About NSF

NSF Vision ( ) A Nation that creates and exploits new concepts in science and engineering and provides global leadership in research and education. NSF-3 NSF Mission (1950) To promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity and welfare; to secure the national defense.

Legislation authorizes us to … Evaluate the status and needs of the various sciences and engineering and take into consideration the results of this evaluation in correlating our research and educational programs with other federal and non-federal programs. Provide a central clearinghouse for the collection, interpretation and analysis of data on scientific and technical resources in the United States, and provide a source of information for policy formulation by other federal agencies. Determine the total amount of federal money received by universities and appropriate organizations for the conduct of scientific and engineering research, including both basic and applied, and construction of facilities where such research is conducted, but excluding development, and report annually thereon to the President and the Congress.

Legislation authorizes us to … Provide information for policy formulation by other federal agencies Recommend the pursuit of policies for the promotion of basic S&E research and education innovation throughout the US Report to the President and Congress the total amount of federal money received by universities and other organizations Initiate S&E activities related to international cooperation, national security and the effects of scientific and technological applications upon society Support activities to increase the participation of women and minorities and others underrepresented in science and technology. Initiate and support specific scientific and engineering activities in connection with matters relating to international cooperation, national security and the effects of scientific and technological applications upon society.

Legislation authorizes us to … Initiate and support scientific and engineering research, including applied research, at academic and other nonprofit institutions and, at the direction of the President, support applied research at other organizations. Recommend and encourage the pursuit of national policies for the promotion of basic research and education in the sciences and engineering. Strengthen research and education innovation in the sciences and engineering, including independent research by individuals, throughout the United States. Support activities designed to increase the participation of women and minorities and others underrepresented in science and technology.

With an annual budget of about $7 billion, NSF funds approximately 25 % of all federally supported basic research conducted by U.S. colleges and universities. NSF Support for Basic Research at Academic Institutions: Share of Total Federal Support

NSF’s Strategic Goals Stimulate Innovation and Address Societal Needs through Research and Education Excel as a Federal Science Agency Transform the Frontiers of Science and Engineering.

Mathematical & Physical Sciences (MPS) Geosciences (GEO) Engineering (ENG) Computer & Information Science & Engineering (CISE) Biological Sciences (BIO) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) Director Deputy Director National Science Board (NSB) Office of Diversity & Inclusion Office of the General Counsel Office of Integrative Activities Office of International Science & Engineering Social, Behavioral & Economic Sciences (SBE) Education & Human Resources (EHR) Budget, Finance & Award Management (BFA) Information & Resource Management (IRM) NSF Organizational Chart Office of Legislative & Public Affairs

NSF Workforce Consists of approximately – 1,478 Federal employees (includes staff of the National Science Board Office and the Office of the Inspector General); – 178 Non-Federal Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) assignees coming from research institutions; – 450 contract workers. Unlike other science agencies, NSF does not maintain its own research laboratories.

Our Work: Programs & The Merit Review Process

13 What is a Program? A well-defined grant-giving function, usually with a well- defined budget Usually means an individual investigator grant program, but could also refer to a facilities program (e.g., National Radio Astronomy Observatory), a center program or fellowship program for students. Programs are the implementation arm of NSF.

What is NSF’s Merit Review Process? The review process ensures that proposals submitted to NSF are reviewed in a fair, transparent, and in-depth manner; NSF proposals receive an external review by experts; Program Officers make funding recommendations based on the input received from reviewers. NSF receives approximately 51,000 proposals each year for research, education and training projects, of which approximately 12,000 are funded.

Program Directors oversee the National Science Foundation’s “gold standard” merit review process. Program directors have the opportunity to be involved with a broad spectrum of national scientific programs and initiatives that ultimately increase intellectual awareness and enhance professional growth. What do Program Directors do?

NSF Merit Review Process

Merit Review Criteria Guiding Principles All NSF projects should be of the highest quality and have the potential to advance, if not transform, the frontiers of knowledge. NSF projects, in the aggregate, should contribute more broadly to achieving societal goals. Meaningful assessment and evaluation of NSF funded projects should be based on appropriate metrics, keeping in mind the likely correlation between the effect of broader impacts and the resources provided to implement projects.

Merit Review Criteria When evaluating NSF proposals, reviewers consider what the proposers want to do, why they want to do it, how they plan to do it, how they will know if they succeed, and what benefits would accrue if the project is successful. These issues apply both to the technical aspects of the proposal and the way in which the project may make broader contributions. To that end, reviewers are asked to evaluate all proposals against two criteria: Intellectual Merit: The Intellectual Merit criterion encompasses the potential to advance knowledge; and Broader Impacts: The Broader Impacts criterion encompasses the potential to benefit society and contribute to the achievement of specific, desired societal outcomes.

Five Review Elements The following elements are considered in the review for both Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts: 1. What is the potential for the proposed activity to: a. advance knowledge and understanding within its own field or across different fields (Intellectual Merit); and b. benefit society or advance desired societal outcomes (Broader Impacts)? 2. To what extent do the proposed activities suggest and explore creative, original, or potentially transformative concepts? 3. 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? 4. How well qualified is the individual, team, or institution to conduct the proposed activities? 5. Are there adequate resources available to the PI (either at the home institution or through collaborations) to carry out the proposed activities?

Working at NSF

Program Appointment Types Excepted Service (Temporary or Permanent) Intergovernmental Personnel Act Assignments (IPAs) Visiting Scientists, Engineers and Educators (VSEEs)

Science and Engineering Onboard Counts

To apply for Scientific/Engineering/Education positions at NSF Go to – Click on “Career Opportunities” then “Job Openings” – Then select “Scientific/Engineering/Education” – Select your Directorate of Choice from the dropdown menu, click on the green arrow, and open your desired position. – Program Directors may be appointed on a Federal Permanent or Federal Temporary basis, through the Visiting Scientist, Engineer, and Educator (VSEE) program or under the provisions of the Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA). Contact the relevant NSF program office Contact the Division of Human Resource Management Check For more information about rotator opportunities at NSF, please visit