1. PEER INFORMATION DAY 28 October 2014 Jordan-US Research Collaboration:
Amman, Jordan
Jordan-US Research Collaboration:
Overview of NSF and USAID
Lara Campbell & Arthur Fitzmaurice
International Science & Engineering
US National Science Foundation
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2. What is NSF? US National Science Foundation (NSF)
Independent federal agency
Created by Congress in 1950 “to promote the progress of science...”
Annual budget of ~$7.2 billion (FY 2014)
Projects selected based on merit through peer review; ~12,000 projects per year
Several thousand international projects per year

3. NSF Funding
Supports DOMESTIC (at US institutions), BASIC research with a “bottom up” approach
Most funding through technical directorates:
ENG = engineering
BIO = biological sciences
GEO = geosciences
MPS = math and physical sciences
CISE = computer & information science & engineering
SBE = social and behavioral sciences
EHR = education and human resources
ENG
CISE
BIO
EHR
GEO
SBE
MPS

4. International NSF Strategic Plan
Why does NSF encourage international cooperation?
Advance the FRONTIERS of Science and Engineering
ACCESS to unique expertise, facilities, and phenomena
LEVERAGE limited resources
EXCHANGE insights and techniques
Prepare a GLOBALLY-ENGAGED U.S. S&E workforce
NURTURE capable young researchers with strong networks overseas
DEVELOP a global perspective
FACILITATE mobility and brain circulation
Try to work with the brightest minds around the world
Bottom up funding on almost any topic of basic research

5. World of R&D 2013 From NSF S&E Indicators 2013
Other countries may contribute less funding to R&D, but may do so more strategically.

6. NSF Funding for International Activities
Most international research and education activities are funded by NSF disciplinary programs:
As part of regular awards
As supplements to regular awards
Some specific international programs
Fund US researchers to work internationally, but only fund the US partner

7. Core Values for International Engagement
Intellectual partnerships and clear mutual benefit
U.S. students and junior researchers engaged internationally
Networks that link expertise and resources
In our work within NSF, across the US and around the globe ISE operates with three core values.
We support true intellectual partnerships by requiring U.S. researchers to engage counterpart researchers abroad.
We seek inclusion of students and junior in collaboration efforts to create a multiplier effect that will help build the kind of global research and education networks that are necessary to advancing U.S. science and engineering.
We support connections that increase the impact of each activity. 7

8. NSF-Funded US Research in Jordan
Since 2004:
9 Archaeology
10 Social Sciences (law, political science, cultural anthropology, etc.)
2 Linguistics
5 Ecosystems / Water Resources
5 Engineering (1 Civil, 2 Energy, 2 Materials)
3 Computer Science
6 Geosciences
4 Research for US Students in Jordan
Level of cooperation varies…
7 Workshops (usually very collaborative)
10 Dissertation Improvement (often not very collaborative)
44 total

9. NSF International Grants for US PIs
Developing an Internationally Engaged Workforce
International Research Experiences for Students (IRES)
Graduate Research Opportunities Worldwide (GROW)
(Pan-American) Advanced Studies Institutes ((P)ASI)
These are programs to advise your US collaborators to apply to.
We have programs aimed at developing an internationally engaged Science and Engineering Workforce, including those aimed at undergraduates, graduate students, and Post-docs.
I should mention that we are in the process of trying to consolidate some of these programs to build on the OISE experience and incorporate an international dimension more broadly throughout the Directorates.
The International Research Experiences for Students program is a three-year grant which provides a group research experience abroad for undergrad and/or graduate students.
The East Asia Pacific Summer Institutes program provides a venue for U.S. grad students to craft individual research plans – a mini proposal – to work with a specific partner in one of 7 participating countries. The list of countries is limited because the hosts are paying some in-country costs for participants and involved in the running of the program
PASI: The Pan-American Advanced Studies Institutes (PASI) Program is a jointly supported initiative between the Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Science Foundation (NSF). Pan-American Advanced Studies Institutes are short courses ranging in length from ten to twenty-one days, involving lectures, demonstrations, research seminars, and discussions at the advanced graduate, post-doctoral, and junior faculty level.

10. International Research Experience for Students
IRES:
Develop a more globally engaged S&E workforce
Supports small group of students for focused research experience overseas
Graduate and/or undergraduate students
$250,000 maximum budget for up to three years

11. Graduate Research Opportunities Worldwide
GROW offers opportunities for 3-12 month international research collaborations to NSF Graduate Research Fellows
15 Current Partners
Australia, Brazil, Chile, Denmark, Finland, France, India, Ireland, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Sweden and Switzerland
Expanding partnerships for future
Let me know where you wish GRF students could study.

12. NSF International Grants for US PIs
Research Funding
Partnerships for International Research and Education (PIRE)
Catalyzing New International Collaborations (CNIC)
International supplements for existing NSF grants
Best tool is funding from a technical directorate
PIRE: Goal is to support high quality projects in which advances in research and education could not occur without international collaboration.
SAVI: Teams of NSF-funded investigators in the U.S. are eligible to apply.

13. Partnerships for International Research and Education
PIRE
ISE-managed flagship research program
Frontier research that leverages unique, complementary expertise of US & international partners
Extensive overseas research opportunities for US students / early career researchers
5-year awards; average award $4.8M
~50 active awards across all NSF disciplines
New solicitation just released
Pre-proposals due Oct. 21, 2014
Biennial competition

14. Catalyzing New International Collaborations
CNIC supports initiation of new international collaboration
Planning Visits
Initial data gathering activities
Proof-of-concept experiments
Single or multiple research visits
Workshops
Maximum 1 year, $10K-$75K
Intended outcome: Proposal to NSF Research Directorate
Solicitation is currently under revision
Currently suspended – rethinking the solicitation but the funds to support collaboration will still be there

15. International Supplements

16. Keys to Success in ISE Funding
Top-notch science question
Demonstrate how the collaboration enhances the research
Involve U.S. students, junior researchers
Prepare, mentor, and assess
Pay them: travel, living costs, stipends
Meaningful attention to diversity
Include bio-sketch of key collaborator(s)
Include letter(s) of support from collaborator(s)
Work with others in your institution
Know and observe special rules
Fly America Act
Visa regulations
Research permits
Consult ISE program officer early in process

17. International Funds for Jordanian Research
Newton’s List - aggregate of current international funding opportunities
newtonslist.crdfglobal.org/
Fulbright eca.state.gov/fulbright/
Visiting Scholars
Huburt Humphrey Program (professionals)
Foreign Student Program
Office of Naval (ONR) Global onr.navy.mil/en/Science-Technology/ONR-Global/funding-opportunities.aspx
PEER (USAID)

18. USAID US Agency for International Development
the lead U.S. Government agency that works to end extreme global poverty and enable resilient, democratic societies to realize their potential.
Established in 1961
Annual budget ~$22 Billion
Works in ~100 countries
Provides development assistance to foreign governments, NGOs, etc.

19. USAID Goals Promote broadly shared economic prosperity
Strengthen democracy and good governance
Protect human rights
Improve global health
Advance food security and agriculture
Improve environmental sustainability
Further education
Help societies prevent and recover from conflicts
Provide humanitarian assistance in the wake of natural and man-made disasters.

20. USAID’s Global Development Lab
Discover, test, and scale breakthrough solutions to development challenges
Increase the application of science, technology, innovation and partnerships to achieve, sustain and extend the Agency’s development impact.
Works with a wide range of partners
Initiated PEER Program

21. USAID Priorities in Jordan
Essential public services
Sustainable agriculture and water management
Education
Reproductive health and family planning
Economic growth and trade
Democracy, human rights & governance
Gender Equality & women’s empowerment

22. USAID – NSF Overlap USAID = development NSF = basic research
Science and engineering are essential to solving development challenges
Collaboration can move basic research -> solutions to key development challenges:
Management and development of scarce resources such as water and energy, education, food security, economic growth….

23. For Further Information
Thank You!