NSF

Question 1

2 distinguishing characteristics of NSF

Answer 1

1) the only federal agency whose mission includes support for all fields of fundamental science and engineering (except medical sciences)
2) funding source for approximately 25% of all federally supported basic research conducted by America’s colleges and universities

Question 2

NSF’s Strategic Plan FY18-22

Answer 2

Building the Future: Investing in Discovery and Innovation

GOALS:
> Expand knowledge in science, engineering and learning
> Advance the capability of the Nation to meet current and future challenges
> Enhance NSF’s performance of its mission

Question 3

NSF Organization - What are the 7 Directorates?

Answer 3

1) Biological Sciences
2) Computer and Information Sciences & Engineering
3) Engineering
4) Geosciences
5) Mathematical and Physical Sciences
6) Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences
7) Education and Human Resources

Question 4

Transformative Research

Answer 4

It’s through transformative research that NSF hopes to accomplish the goals laid out in its strategic plan.

Transformative research involves ideas, discoveries or tools that radically change our understanding of an important existing scientific or engineering concept or educational practice or leads to the creation of a new paradigm or field of science, engineering, or education.

Question 5

NSF Review & Award Cycle - What are the 3 Phases?

Answer 5

> Phase 1 - Proposal preparation and submission (90 days)

> Phase 2 - Proposal review and processing (6 months)

> Phase 3 - Award processing (30 days)

Question 6

Top 4 reasons a NSF proposal is returned without review

Answer 6

1) duplicate of, or substantially similar to, a proposal already under consideration or already funded
2) does not meet NSF proposal prep requirements
3) missed deadline
4) does not contain each of the required sections of the proposal

Question 7

What are the 4 steps of NSF’s Phase 2 (Proposal Review & Processing)?

Answer 7

1) Reviewers selected
2) Peer Review
3) Program Officer Review and Recommendation
4) Division Director Review

Question 8

NSF Merit Review Criteria (x2)

Answer 8

Intellectual Merit - to what extent does the proposed activity suggest and explore creative, original and potentially transformative concepts?

Broader Impact - to what extend does the proposal have potential to benefit society and contribute to specific and desired outcomes?

Question 9

Mechanisms for announcing NSF Funding Opps

Answer 9

Program Description (PD) - encourages submission to a specific program of interest, posted to directorate/division website.

Program Announcement (PA) - describes the NSF program of interest.

Program Solicitation (PS) - more formal version of PA, usually allows submission for a limited time

Dear Colleague Letters (DCL) - notice of special competitions or supplemental funding opps

Question 10

NSF Proposal Sections

Answer 10

• Cover Sheet
• Project Summary
• Table of Contents
• Project Description
• References Cited
• Biographical Sketches
• Budget and Budget Justification
• Current and Pending Support
• Facilities, Equipment and Other Resources
• Special Information and Supplementary Documents
  
  • Postdoctoral Mentoring Plan (if applicable)
  • Data Management Plan
• Single Copy Documents
  * Collaborators & Other Affiliations

Question 11

NSF Project Summary Requirements

Answer 11

• Limited to 1 page
• Must include:
  1) Overview - activity, objectives, methods
  2) Intellectual Merit - potential to advance knowledge
  3) Broader Impacts - potential to benefit society and contribute to specific societal outcomes

Question 12

NSF Project Description Requirements

Answer 12

• Limited to 15 pages
• Clear SOW, workplan, relationship or work to present knowledge in field, relationship to work in progress by the PI, description of work to be completed by subs
• Must include 2 sections -
  1) Broader impacts
  2) Results from prior NSF support (for all PIs and Co-Is)

Question 13

NSF Biosketch

Answer 13

• limited to 2 pages
• fillable form or SciENcv only
• Includes: professional preparation, appointments, products, synergistic activities

Question 14

NSF Budget Requirements

Answer 14

> Budget just no more than 5 pages

> 2-month salary rule: salary compensation for senior personnel limited to no more than 2 months of their regular salary in any one year, across all NSF funded awards.

• Organization defines the year, includes in budget just.
• If anticipated greater than 2 months required, budget just. used to explain

Question 15

NSF Proposal Types

Answer 15

• Standard
• Rapid Response Research Proposal
• Early Concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER)
• Research Advanced by Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering (RAISE)
• Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI)
• Ideas Lab
• Facilitation Awards for Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities (FASED)
• Conference Proposals
• Equipment Proposals
• Travel Proposals
• Center Proposals
• Research Infrastructure Proposals

Question 16

Rapid Response Research Proposal

Answer 16

NSF

Used when there is a severe urgency with regard to availability of, or access to, data, facilities or special equipment, or for quick-response research on natural or anthropogenic disasters or similar unanticipated events.

$200k up to 1 year

Question 17

Early Concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER)

Answer 17

Used to support exploratory work in its early stages on untested, but potentially transformative, research ideas or approaches. This work may be considered especially “high risk – high payoff.”

Question 18

Research Advanced by Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering (RAISE)

Answer 18

Used to support bold, interdisciplinary projects that:

• require substantial funding from more than one program or discipline;
• promise transformational advances;
• have the potential for discoveries that reside at the interfaces of discipline boundaries that may not be recognized through traditional review.

Question 19

Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI)

Answer 19

GOALI type proposals are for projects that include collaborations between academia and industry in an effort to address critical industry needs and enable breakthrough technologies

Although an industry researcher must listed as a Co-PI , the industry partner cannot request funding– the funding is for the academic institution and related activities

GOALI type proposals must be submitted to an active opportunity or as a supplement to an existing award

Question 20

Ideas Lab

Answer 20

Ideas Lab type proposals are another type that focus on transformative research

They aim to solve intractable problems and transform research paradigms

A call for participants will be issued by NSF for this proposal type

Ideas Lab type proposals require minimal documents including a 2 page description, biosketch and C&P

These are submitted as pre-proposals in Fastlane – they are not yet able to be submitted in Research.gov but will be soon

Question 21

Facilitation Awards for Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities (FASED)

Answer 21

FASED type proposals are used in an effort to reduce barriers to participation in research for those needing special equipment and/or assistance

FASED funding requests are made in conjunction with regular proposals or may be done as a supplemental funding request

Details about the specific nature and purpose or need for the equipment or assistance are required

Question 22

Conference Proposals

Answer 22

Support conferences that bring experts in special areas of science and engineering together.

Should be submitted at least one year prior to conference

Merit review criteria apply

Special requirements for Project Description including statement of need, recent meetings, organizers, location, and other details

Question 23

Equipment Proposals

Answer 23

For specialized equipment for individual investigators, departments, or internal or external collaborators.

Only one PI can be designated for these and they have special requirements for the Project Description

Equipment proposals do compete with research and education proposals

Question 24

Travel Proposals

Answer 24

Funding for scientific meetings

Question 25

Center Proposal (NSF)

Answer 25

Centers focus on integrative learning, the frontiers of knowledge, and investing in a diverse set of partner organizations and individuals. Centers must contribute to NSF’s strategic plan Proposals and funding are typically for up to 10 years in duration PIs need to contact the PO prior to submitting And these proposal types are subject to a mid-award external merit review

Question 26

Research Infrastructure Proposal

Answer 26

These are used to fund construction and operation of major equipment and facilities PIs should contact the PO prior to submission Merit review process applies

Question 27

NSF Requires Prior Approval When...

Answer 27

- There is a change to scope - There are significant changes, delays, or events of unusual interest - Change of PI or add or change of co-PI - Add or change of a subcontractor - Transfer grant from one organization to another

Question 28

NSF Technical Reporting Requirements

Answer 28

- Annual Project Reports - Final Project Report - Project Outcomes Report for the General Public (POR)

Question 29

NSF requires 5 standards to be in place and maintained at grantee institution in order for an award to be issued

Answer 29

- COI Policy - Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) - Financial Management Systems Standards - Property Management Standards - Procurement Standards

Question 30

Used to support exploratory work in its early stages on untested, but potentially transformative, research ideas or approaches. “High-risk, high-payoff”

Answer 30

NSF’s “Early concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER)” Up to $300k, 2 years in duration

Question 31

Used to support bold, interdisciplinary projects that: - require substantial funding from more than one program or discipline - promise transformational advances - have the potential for discoveries that reside at the interfaces of discipline boundaries that may but be recognized through traditional review

Answer 31

NSF’s “Research Advanced by Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering (RAISE) Up to $1M, 5 years in duration

Question 32

Seeks to stimulate collaboration between academic research institutions and industry. Research should further scientific and engineering foundations to enable future breakthrough technologies with the potential to address critical industry needs

Answer 32

NSF’s “Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI)” Industry partner cannot request funding.

Question 33

Seeks to support the development and implementation of creative and innovative project ideas that have the potential to transform research paradigms and/or solve intractable problems.

Answer 33

NSF’s “ideas Lab” Minimal docs required - 2 page max project description, bio sketch, current & pending

Question 34

Through this program NSF seeks to reduce barriers to participation in research by providing special equipment and assistance under awards. Encourages persons with disabilities to pursue careers in science and engineering by stimulating the development and demonstration of special equipment that facilitates research work.

Answer 34

NSF’s “Facilitation Awards for Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities (FASED)”

Question 35

Supports conferences that bring experts in special areas of science and engineering together.

Answer 35

NSF’s “Conference Proposal” Proposals must be submitted at least 1 hear prior Merit review only

Question 36

Used to find centers where diverse organisms and individuals can focus on integrative learning, the frontiers of knowledge.

Answer 36

NSF’s “Center Proposal” Up to 10 years in duration Subject to mid-award external merit review

Question 37

For construction and operation of major research equipment and facilities

Answer 37

NSF’s “Research Infrastructure Proposal”

Question 38

3 NSF goals

Answer 38

1) expand knowledge in science, engineering and learning 2) advance capabilities of nation to meet current and future challenges 3) enhance NSFs performance if it’s mission - attract, retain, empowers a talented and diverse workforce and improve agency operations

Question 39

of NSF Directorates

Answer 39

7 - each sets own priorities in research and funding - biological sciences - computer and information sciences + engineering - engineering - geosciences - math and physical sciences - social, behavioral, economic sciences - education and HR

Question 40

NSF program officers - who are they? - what do they do?

Answer 40

- PO works for NSF but usually on sabbatical from university/NFE; they rotate - subject matter expert in technical and programmatic areas (phase 2) - conduct merit review - recommend or deny proposal for funding based on peer review and merit review

Question 41

NSF division director - who are they? - what do they do?

Answer 41

- NSF execs - not rotating - responsible for long range planning and ensuring NSF hits strategic goals and objectives - responsible for ensuring integrity of peer and merit review - send proposals to phase 3 / biz review after considering peer review and merit review by PO and own review

Question 42

NSF grants and agreements officers - who are they? - what do they do?

Answer 42

- phase 3 of NSF review - review proposals received by division director - recommend proposals for funding, finalize award and send to institution - can also reject proposals even in phase 3

Question 43

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