N S F IGERT Creating Transformational Interdisciplinary Graduate Education and Research Traineeships North Carolina State University Office of Research and Graduate Studies Proposal Development Unit Sharlene Simon Nov. 15, 2007

Caveat: Information in this presentation is based on the 2007 NSF solicitation. NSF may make significant changes to the 2008 IGERT solicitation, anticipated to be released in January, The “America Competes Act” issued earlier this year calls for expansion of the IGERT to stimulate high-risk, high-reward research.

IGERT Statistics # of pre-proposals received: 400 to 500 # of pre-proposals received: 400 to 500 # full proposals invited: approx. 100 (20-25%) # full proposals invited: approx. 100 (20-25%) Number of awards: approx. 20 new & renewal Number of awards: approx. 20 new & renewal Funding rate: 4 to 5% Funding rate: 4 to 5%

Funding & Submission Restrictions Total available: $12M Total available: $12M Up to $3M per award over 5 years Up to $3M per award over 5 years $400K in 1 st year/up to $600K in Yr 2-5 $400K in 1 st year/up to $600K in Yr 2-5 Additional $200K for start-up in Year 1 Additional $200K for start-up in Year 1 Add’l $200K (Yr 2-5) for up to 10 proposals w/strong international component Add’l $200K (Yr 2-5) for up to 10 proposals w/strong international component

Funding & Submission Restrictions Limit of 4 pre-proposals from NC State Limit of 4 pre-proposals from NC State Limit of 3 full proposals from NC State (must be invited by NSF) Limit of 3 full proposals from NC State (must be invited by NSF) May be PI or co-PI on only one proposal submission. A PI or co-PI may serve as non-senior personnel on other proposals. May be PI or co-PI on only one proposal submission. A PI or co-PI may serve as non-senior personnel on other proposals. Indirect cost (F&A) limited to 8% of allowable direct costs. Indirect cost (F&A) limited to 8% of allowable direct costs.

IGERT Program Goal # 1 Meet the challenges of educating U.S. Ph.D. scientists and engineers (citizens or permanent residents) who will pursue careers in research and education: Meet the challenges of educating U.S. Ph.D. scientists and engineers (citizens or permanent residents) who will pursue careers in research and education:  with interdisciplinary backgrounds  deep knowledge in chosen disciplines  technical, professional, and personal skills to be leaders and creative agents for change be leaders and creative agents for change throughout their careers. throughout their careers.

IGERT Program Goal # 2 The program is intended to catalyze a cultural change in graduate education for students, faculty, and institutions: The program is intended to catalyze a cultural change in graduate education for students, faculty, and institutions:  by establishing innovative new models for graduate education and training and graduate education and training and  providing a fertile environment for collaborative research that transcends collaborative research that transcends traditional disciplinary boundaries. traditional disciplinary boundaries.

IGERT Program Goal # 3 IGERT is also intended to: IGERT is also intended to:  facilitate diversity in student participation and preparation preparation  contribute to a world-class, broadly inclusive, and globally engaged science and and globally engaged science and engineering workforce. engineering workforce.

Participating NSF Directorates Biological Sciences (BIO) Biological Sciences (BIO) Computer & Information Science and Engineering (CISE) Computer & Information Science and Engineering (CISE) Education and Human Resources (EHR) Education and Human Resources (EHR) Engineering (ENG) Engineering (ENG) Geosciences (GEO) Geosciences (GEO) Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS) Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS) Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (BSE) Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (BSE) Office of Polar Programs (OPP) Office of Polar Programs (OPP) Office of Integrative Activities (OIA) Office of Integrative Activities (OIA) Office of Cyberinfrastructure (OCI) Office of Cyberinfrastructure (OCI) Office of International Science and Engineering (OISE) Office of International Science and Engineering (OISE)

IGERT Expectations Organized around interdisciplinary theme Organized around interdisciplinary theme PI is Program Director – essential participant in both educational and research activities PI is Program Director – essential participant in both educational and research activities Involve diverse group of faculty and other investigators Involve diverse group of faculty and other investigators Faculty offer expertise in teaching and/or research Faculty offer expertise in teaching and/or research Full integration of teaching and research with strong interactions between faculty and students. Full integration of teaching and research with strong interactions between faculty and students. Collaborative efforts within and across departments and institutions Collaborative efforts within and across departments and institutions

IGERT Expectations (cont) Opportunity to experiment with new innovative approaches to graduate education. Opportunity to experiment with new innovative approaches to graduate education. Provide students with experience relevant to both academic and non-academic careers. Provide students with experience relevant to both academic and non-academic careers. Offer students an international perspective through strongly integrated, collaborative research experience and/or fieldwork at foreign institutions and sites. Offer students an international perspective through strongly integrated, collaborative research experience and/or fieldwork at foreign institutions and sites. Equip students to understand scientific, technical, business, social, ethical and policy issues to confront challenging problems of the future. Equip students to understand scientific, technical, business, social, ethical and policy issues to confront challenging problems of the future.

IGERT Expectations (cont.) Clearly defined program strategy for recruitment, mentoring, retention and graduation of U.S. grad students Clearly defined program strategy for recruitment, mentoring, retention and graduation of U.S. grad students Include efforts to expand participation of underrepresented groups (geographic, rural, disabled, female, and racial/ethnic identified). Include efforts to expand participation of underrepresented groups (geographic, rural, disabled, female, and racial/ethnic identified). Methodology for formative assessments by individuals internal and external to NC State. Methodology for formative assessments by individuals internal and external to NC State. Program plan for on-going improvements Program plan for on-going improvements

Significant Data Required For previous 3 academic years for every participating department: For previous 3 academic years for every participating department: Number of women, minorities, disabled, and other students who applied, were accepted, matriculated, withdrew, received Ph.D., and are currently enrolled. Number of women, minorities, disabled, and other students who applied, were accepted, matriculated, withdrew, received Ph.D., and are currently enrolled. Employer & current position held of those who received Ph.D. in past 3 years. Employer & current position held of those who received Ph.D. in past 3 years.

Reviewers look for… Project is graduate research training based, not an investigator-focused research proposal Project is graduate research training based, not an investigator-focused research proposal Diversity of participating faculty Diversity of participating faculty Strong diversity plan/real partnerships for recruiting URM students Strong diversity plan/real partnerships for recruiting URM students Participating depts. have evidence of strong recruitment and retention history Participating depts. have evidence of strong recruitment and retention history Quality of proposed research efforts and relation to interdisciplinary theme is clear Quality of proposed research efforts and relation to interdisciplinary theme is clear

“Issues” identified by reviewers… Looks like research strung together…not coherent, integrated education, research & training of students Looks like research strung together…not coherent, integrated education, research & training of students No clear commitment to institutionalize the new courses/certificate/etc. No clear commitment to institutionalize the new courses/certificate/etc. Don’t see how students from XX discipline will have adequate foundation to conduct research in collaboration with YY discipline. Don’t see how students from XX discipline will have adequate foundation to conduct research in collaboration with YY discipline. Better fit with (NIH, EPA, NASA, etc), not NSF Better fit with (NIH, EPA, NASA, etc), not NSF Responsible code of conduct training not strong Responsible code of conduct training not strong No opportunity for students to be leaders No opportunity for students to be leaders

“Issues” identified by reviewers… No evidence faculty have been successful in mentoring graduate students from underrepresented groups. No evidence faculty have been successful in mentoring graduate students from underrepresented groups. Assessment of project performance in meeting objectives and expanding knowledge base in STEM education doesn’t have relevant benchmarks Assessment of project performance in meeting objectives and expanding knowledge base in STEM education doesn’t have relevant benchmarks International experience focused only on research – what will student learn about the city/country/people from XYZ? International experience focused only on research – what will student learn about the city/country/people from XYZ?

“Issues” identified by reviewers… What happens to the well-paid IGERT recruits after their IGERT funding runs out? (Usually two years of IGERT) What happens to the well-paid IGERT recruits after their IGERT funding runs out? (Usually two years of IGERT) Is it ethical to dramatically reduce salary of senior, experienced graduate students as they move to other funding sources (i.e. dept. assistantships) while paying newly recruited IGERT ptps $30K year? Is it ethical to dramatically reduce salary of senior, experienced graduate students as they move to other funding sources (i.e. dept. assistantships) while paying newly recruited IGERT ptps $30K year? IGERT advisory council too large (11 ptps) IGERT advisory council too large (11 ptps) IGERT advisory council doesn’t have enough representation (9 ptps) IGERT advisory council doesn’t have enough representation (9 ptps)

Summary Thoughts Be clear how students from different disciplines will gain a common foundation. Be clear how students from different disciplines will gain a common foundation. Remember in pre-proposal – must present proposed education and research training activities, recruitment plan, assessment, and evidence of previous mentoring success. Remember in pre-proposal – must present proposed education and research training activities, recruitment plan, assessment, and evidence of previous mentoring success. Engage diversity partners early – assure they gain from the relationship in a way that is meaningful to them. Engage diversity partners early – assure they gain from the relationship in a way that is meaningful to them. Limited submission (internal) review requires a written proposal and MAY require an oral presentation. Limited submission (internal) review requires a written proposal and MAY require an oral presentation.

Summary Thoughts Bill Winner, former IGERT coordinating council member and Professor, Forestry and Environmental Resources at NC State advises: Bill Winner, former IGERT coordinating council member and Professor, Forestry and Environmental Resources at NC State advises: “Respond to reviewer comments when they make sense; don’t chase their comments to the point that the proposal/project is no longer your own.” “Respond to reviewer comments when they make sense; don’t chase their comments to the point that the proposal/project is no longer your own.”

Summary Thoughts If you want assistance from the Proposal Development Unit, make your request early. If you want assistance from the Proposal Development Unit, make your request early. However, PDU proposal developers will not get involved with a project until AFTER the internal limited submission review is completed to avoid appearance of a conflict of interest. However, PDU proposal developers will not get involved with a project until AFTER the internal limited submission review is completed to avoid appearance of a conflict of interest.

Proposal Development Unit (PDU) Website: Website: Staff: Staff: Christopher Brown, Asst. VC for Research Development Bonnie Aldridge, Program Assistant Carol Ashcraft, Research Resources/Limited Submission Jaine Place, Research Proposal Development Pradip Pramanik, Research Proposal Development Sharlene Simon, Research Proposal Development