1. Funding Opportunities at the National Science Foundation Sally O’Connor Claudia Rankins NSF BIO/DBI NSF EHR/HRD GCAT Workshop July 2009 Morehouse College

2. Presentation Overview of NSF and BIO Overview of NSF and BIO Some Programs of Interest Some Programs of Interest The Review Process The Review Process Preparing Competitive Proposals Preparing Competitive Proposals

3. NSF in a Nutshell Established as an independent agency (NSF Act of 1950), governed by the National Science Board Established as an independent agency (NSF Act of 1950), governed by the National Science Board Organized into discipline-based Directorates and Offices; Special responsibilities: Antarctic Program, Science and Engineering Indicators, International Science Organized into discipline-based Directorates and Offices; Special responsibilities: Antarctic Program, Science and Engineering Indicators, International Science Budget: 6.065 billion (FY08) Budget: 6.065 billion (FY08) Makes ~11,000 new awards from >40,000 Makes ~11,000 new awards from >40,000 submissions with ~ 20-25% success rate Supports ~200,000 faculty, researchers, Supports ~200,000 faculty, researchers, fellows, students Uses rotators, visiting scientists, IPAs Uses rotators, visiting scientists, IPAs

4. Inspector General National Science Board Staff Offices Computer & Information Science & Engineering Engineering Geosciences Mathematical & Physical Sciences Social, Behavioral & Economic Sciences Education & Human Resources Budget, Finance & Award Management Information Resource Management Biological Sciences National Science Foundation Director Deputy Director

5. Population & Evolutionary Processes Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO) Dr. James Collins, Asst. Director Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO) Dr. James Collins, Asst. Director Information and Automation Resources Unit (IAR) Information and Automation Resources Unit (IAR) Division of Environmental Biology (DEB) Division of Environmental Biology (DEB) Ecological Biology Ecosystem Science Ecosystem Science Division of Integrative Organismal Systems (IOS) Division of Integrative Organismal Systems (IOS) Behavioral Systems Developmental Systems Developmental Systems Environmental & Structural Systems 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 Biomolecular Systems Cellular Systems Genes and Genome Systems Genes and Genome Systems Emerging Frontiers (EF) Plant Genome Research Program National Ecological Observatory Network Plant Genome Research Program National Ecological Observatory Network Systematic Biology & Biodiversity Inventories Functional & Regulatory Systems

6. Types of Proposal Submission  No deadlines (e.g. workshops, SGERs)  Deadlines  Solicited: Preliminary proposals or Letters of Intent Solicited vs. Unsolicited Solicited proposals have a published Program Solicitation / Program Announcement Unsolicited proposals are associated with regular research programs (check websites and GTP)  Target dates  Submission windows ________________________________________________________________________________________________

10. Where do you submit your ideas? http://www.nsf.gov Directorate  Division  Programs  Information on NSF contacts, award abstract, program description, deadlines Guide to Programs (GTP) Grant Proposal Guide (GPG, Jan 2009) Sign up for “My NSF” (now “NSF Updates”)

11. http://www.nsf.gov/mynsf/ Keeping Abreast of NSF Opportunities “My NSF” Custom News (set your own profile – weekly email update)

12. Programs of Interest o Education and training o Infrastructure o Research

13. Example Training Programs Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU Sites) Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU Sites) Undergraduate Research and Mentoring in the Biological Sciences (URM) Undergraduate Research and Mentoring in the Biological Sciences (URM) Interdisciplinary Training for Undergraduates in Biological and Mathematical Sciences (UBM) Historically Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate Program (HBCU UP) Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology (CREST)

14. Some Infrastructure Programs Course, Curriculum and Laboratory Improvement (CCLI) Advanced Technological Education (ATE) Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Biological Databases and Informatics (BDI) Biological Databases and Informatics (BDI) Field Stations and Marine Labs (FSML) Field Stations and Marine Labs (FSML)

15. Research Programs o Special Programs for broadening participation o Special faculty opportunities opportunities

16. Research Opportunity Awards (ROA) Funded as supplements to active NSF grants Funded as supplements to active NSF grants  Salary or stipend for undergraduate faculty  Travel to host lab and/or to attend a meeting  Research supplies Provide support for faculty from PUIs to participate in ongoing, NSF-funded research projects for limited periods, usually a summer Provide support for faculty from PUIs to participate in ongoing, NSF-funded research projects for limited periods, usually a summer Goal -- Provide research experience for faculty to enhance research at home institution and host lab, improve research & teaching Goal -- Provide research experience for faculty to enhance research at home institution and host lab, improve research & teaching Making connections with an NSF grantee: Making connections with an NSF grantee:  Network at scientific meetings  Consult NSF FastLane list of awards in relevant program  Contact NSF Program Director in your area of interest (Consult the NSF web site for contact information)

17.  Broaden the participation of scientists from under-represented groups  Assist faculty to become actively engaged in research as independent investigators  Targets scientists who are Beginning Investigators to jumpstart their career  Improve competitiveness for research funds; Acquire new skills/tools for contemporary research  Estimated Awards: 15 – 25, about $3 Million annually Research Initiation Grants (RIG) Solicitation 09-501 Target Date: 2 nd Monday in Jan

18. Research at Undergraduate Institutions (RUI)  Designed to support Research in Predominantly Undergraduate Institutions (PUI)  RUI is a mechanism, not a separate funding stream  ~ 10% of proposals submitted to BIO research programs are RUIs  “RUI” should be designated in the title of the proposal  Five page (max) “RUI impact statement” must accompany proposal  Check http://www.nsf.gov/home/crssprgm for announcement (NSF-wide)http://www.nsf.gov/home/crssprgm

19. Opportunities for Supplementing Ongoing Awards  Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) supports undergraduate researchers  Research Opportunity Award (ROA) for faculty at predominantly undergraduate institutions to participate in NSF-supported projects  Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) builds long term collaborative relationships between K-12 teachers of science and mathematics and the NSF research community  Research Apprenticeship for High School (RAHSS) supports HS student training in research

20. Where within NSF is research in my discipline supported? www.nsf.gov www.nsf.gov www.nsf.gov

21. Enter keywords

22. “crop soil”

23. NSF Funding Opportunities NSF Funding Opportunities American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) NEW Solicitation:  Academic Research Infrastructure (ARI)  Major Research Instrumentation (MRI)  Science Masters Program

24. Major Research Instrumentation (MRI)  Available funds: $2 million  Funding rate: approx 59%  No minimum for PUI  PhD granting: no cost share except for 100 top-funded schools

25. http://www.nsf.gov/mynsf/ Keeping Abreast of NSF Opportunities “NSF Updates” Custom News Set your own profile