Pepperdine University

Sponsored

National Science Foundation

Grant Writing Workshop

February 26, 2005

Directorate for Biological Sciences

Molecular and Cellular BiosciencesIntegrative Organismal BiologyBiological InfrastructureEnvironmental BiologyEmerging Frontiers

Directorate for Education and Human Resources

Undergraduate Education

Funding Opportunities in Biology at the

National Science Foundation

Population & Evolutionary Processes

Population & Evolutionary Processes

Directorate for Biological Sciences(BIO)

Directorate for Biological Sciences(BIO)

Information and Automation Resources Unit

(IAR)

Information and Automation Resources Unit

(IAR)

Division of Environmental

Biology(DEB)

Division of Environmental

Biology(DEB)

Ecological BiologyEcological Biology

EcosystemScience

EcosystemScience

Division of Integrative

Organismal Biology(IOB)

Division of Integrative

Organismal Biology(IOB)

BehavioralSystems

BehavioralSystems

Developmental Systems

Developmental Systems

Environmental &Structural Systems

Environmental &Structural Systems

ResearchResources

ResearchResources

HumanResources

HumanResources

Division ofBiological

Infrastructure(DBI)

Division ofBiological

Infrastructure(DBI)

Division of Molecular and

Cellular Biosciences

(MCB)

Division of Molecular and

Cellular Biosciences

(MCB)

BiomolecularSystems

BiomolecularSystems

Cellular SystemsCellular Systems

Genes and GenomeSystems

Genes and GenomeSystems

Emerging Frontiers (EF)

Plant GenomeResearch Program

Plant GenomeResearch Program

Systematic Biology &Biodiversity Inventories

Systematic Biology &Biodiversity Inventories

Functional & Regulatory Systems

Functional & Regulatory Systems

http://www.nsf.gov/mynsf/

Keeping Abreast of NSF Opportunities

My NSF News Service(set your own profile – weekly email update)

Division of Integrative Organismal Biology (IOB)

Behavioral Systems Cluster

Developmental Systems Cluster

Environmental & Structural Systems Cluster

Functional & Regulatory Systems Cluster

Emphasizes systems critical to the form, function,development, and evolution of organisms

Behavioral SystemsCluster (IOB)

The Behavioral Systems thematic area focuses on the development, function, mechanisms, and evolution of behavior, biological rhythms, and interactions between organisms including animals, plants, and microbes.

Developmental SystemsCluster (IOB)

The Developmental Systems thematic area focuses on the nature, control, and evolution of those processes that comprise the life cycle of organisms.

 

Environmental and StructuralSystems Cluster (IOB)

The Environmental & Structural Systems thematic area focuses on the function and evolution of organisms in their physiochemical and biotic environments.  

Functional and RegulatorySystems Cluster (IOB)

The Functional & Regulatory Systems thematic area focuses on fundamental physiological mechanisms and how they have evolved, with emphasis on organisms as integrated systems.

Division of Molecularand Cellular Biology (MCB)

Biomolecular Systems Cluster

Cellular Systems Cluster

Genes and Genomes Systems Cluster

Supports research and related activities that contribute to a fundamental understanding of life processes at the molecular, sub-cellular, and cellular levels

Biomolecular SystemsCluster (MCB)

The Biomolecular Systems Cluster emphasizes the structure, function, dynamics, interactions, and interconversions of biological molecules.

Cellular SystemsCluster (MCB)

The Cellular Systems Cluster focuses on the structure, function, and regulation of plant, animal and microbial cells, and their interactions with the environment and with one another.

Genes and GenomeSystems Cluster (MCB)

The Genes and Genome Systems Cluster supports studies on genomes and genetic mechanisms in all organisms, whether prokaryote, eukaryote, phage, or virus.

Division ofEnvironmental Biology (DEB)

Ecological Biology Cluster

Ecosystem Science Cluster

Population and Evolutionary Processes Cluster

Systematic Biology and Biodiversity Inventories Cluster

Supports fundamental research on populations, species, communities, and ecosystems

Ecological BiologyCluster (DEB)

The Ecological Biology Cluster supports research on natural and managed ecological systems, primarily in terrestrial, wetland, and freshwater habitats.

Ecosystem ScienceCluster (DEB)

The Ecosystem Science Cluster supports research on natural, managed, and disturbed ecosystems, including those in terrestrial, freshwater, and wetland (including salt marsh) environments.

Population and EvolutionaryProcesses Cluster (DEB)

The Population and Evolutionary Processes Cluster focuses on population properties that lead to variation within and among populations.

Systematic Biology and Biodiversity Inventories Cluster (DEB)

The Systematic Biology and Biodiversity Inventories Cluster supports the general science of systematics, whose three main missions are: to discover, describe, and inventory global species diversity; to analyze and synthesize the information derived from this global discovery effort into predictive classification systems that reflect the history of life; and to organize the information derived from this global program in efficiently retrievable forms that best meet the needs of science and society.

Division of BiologicalInfrastructure (DBI)

Research Experiences for Undergraduates Program (REU)

Undergraduate Mentoring in Environmental Biology (UMEB)

Multi-User Equipment Program (MUE) Program The Instrument Development for Biological Research

Program (IDBR)

supports varied activities that provide infrastructure for contemporary research in biology including research resources and human resources

Research Experiencesfor Undergraduates

The REU program provides opportunities for undergraduate students to experience hands-on participation in research or related scholarly activity. BIO provides support to grantees who involve students in either ongoing research (REU Supplements) or special training programs (REU Sites).

Undergraduate Mentoring inEnvironmental Biology

The UMEB program is designed to enable institutions to create innovative programs that will encourage undergraduate students, especially those from under-represented groups, to pursue a career in environmental biology. UMEB supports projects designed to engage undergraduate students in year-round research activities and to provide sustained mentoring support.

Multi-User Biological Equipment and Instrumentation Resources (MUE)

The MUE program provides support for the purchase of major items of instrumentation (funding ranging from $40,000 to $400,000) that will be shared by a number of investigators having actively-funded research projects in areas supported by the Directorate for Biological Sciences. It is expected that some of the identified users have active NSF support. The MUE program will give priority to proposals that involve multiple identified users with active NSF support. **RUI Proposals to MUE Program have fewer NSF support restrictions.

Instrument Development forBiological Research

The Instrument Development for Biological Research (IDBR) Program supports the development of novel or of substantially improved instrumentation likely to have a significant impact on the study of biological systems at any level. The development of new, or substantial improvement of existing, software for the operation of instruments, analysis of data, or the analysis of images is also supported where these have the effect of improving instrument performance.

Frontiers in Integrative Biological ResearchLarge-scale integrative projects - up to $5 Million for up to five years

Research Coordination NetworksResearch efforts across disciplinary, organizational, institutional, and geographical boundaries

Nanoscale Science & EngineeringExploitation of physical, chemical, and biological properties of systems in the range of 01. - 100 nanometers; nanobiosensors

Other Programs – See EF homepage

Emerging Frontiers(Cross Directorate)

What Other Funding OpportunitiesAre at NSF for Me?

Major ResearchInstrumentation Program

(Office of Integrative Activities)

The MRI Program assists in the acquisition or development of major research instrumentation by U.S. institutions that is, in general, too costly for support through other NSF programs. The maintenance and technical support associated with these instruments are also supported. Proposals may be for a single instrument, a large system of instruments, or multiple instruments that share a common research focus.

Deadline Date: Fourth Thursday in January Annually Program Solicitation: NSF 05-515

Supports teacher-scholars who will become the academic leaders of the 21st century

Supports plans that effectively integrate research and education

BIO minimum of $100,000 / year for 5 years

Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER)

Deadline: late July(check web site for 2005 date)

Research at Undergraduate Institutions (RUI)

Supports research by faculty with active involvement of undergraduate students

Strengthens the research environment in departments that are oriented primarily toward undergraduate instruction

Integrates research and education at predominantly undergraduate institutions

Target Dates in January and July

Small-scale, exploratory, high-risk/high-impact

Contact the NSF program officer(s) most germane to the proposal topic before submitting an SGER proposal

Project description 2 to 5 pages, $200,000 budget maximum

Small Grants for Exploratory Research (SGER)

ADVANCE Program

For increasing the participation and advancement of women in academic science and engineering careers

Check http://www.nsf.gov for a description of the 2005 program.

Opportunity for Increasing Participation of

Underrepresented Groups

Opportunities for Supplementing Ongoing Awards

Research Experiences for Undergraduatessupports undergraduate researchers

Research Opportunity Award for faculty at predominantly undergraduate institutions to participate in NSF-supported projects

Research Experiences for Teachers builds long term collaborative relationships between K-12 teachers of science and mathematics and the NSF research community

Directorate for Education and

Human Resources (EHR)

Division of Educational System Reform (ESR)

Division of Elementary, Secondary, and Informal

Education (ESIE)

Division of Experimental Programs to Stimulate

Competitive Research (EPSCoR)

Division of Graduate Education (DGE)

Division of Human Resource Development (HRD)

Division of Research, Evaluation, and Communication

(REC)

Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE) (~$160M)

Objective:To invigorate and improve the quality of STEM undergraduate education obtained by all students at all types of institutions.

Tracks: Educational Materials Development (EMD) National Dissemination (ND) Assessment of Student Achievement (ASA) Adaptation and Implementation (A&I)

Course, Curriculum, and Laboratory Improvement (CCLI)

Directorate for Education and Human Resources

Division of Undergraduate Education

How Do I Get Started?

Getting Started

Take your best research ideas for which you have some preliminary data

Develop hypotheses and experiments to take the next step(s).

Consider feasibility in a 36 to 60 month window

Consider what assistance you will need given teaching and other time commitments

Prepare a plan of attack

Getting Started

Communicate with a program officerAssist in program selectionProvide advice about how to proceed

Examine prior NSF awards in similar areasVisit www.nsf.gov.Link to award information through

BIO Award SearchSearch by subject, institution, PI name

Grant Proposal Guide (GPG)

GUIDANCE AND REGULATIONS - Preparing and submitting proposals

DESCRIBES PROCESS - for declinations, returns withdrawals, and awards; significant grant administrative highlights.

NSF Decision-making for Unsolicited Proposals

INSTITUTION

AssignmentTo

Program

Merit Review Process

Program OfficerRecommendation

DivisionDirectorReview

Division ofGrants andAgreements

Mail reviews

Panel review

Proposal Submission via

Fastlane AWARD

DECLINE

Returned

Without Review

What does ‘Merit Review’ really mean?

NSF invests in the great ideas from capable people as determined by competitive merit review.

Merit Review Criteria

Criterion 1: What is the intellectual merit of the proposed activity?

Criterion 2: What are the broader impacts of the proposed activity?

Criterion 1: Intellectual Merit

Potential to advance knowledge and understanding within and across fields

Creativity and originality of ideas Conceptualization and organization Qualifications of investigators Access to resources Established expertise or expert collaborations

Criterion 2: Broader Impacts

Advancement of discovery and understanding while promoting teaching, training and learning

Participation of underrepresented groups Enhancement of infrastructure for research

and education Dissemination of results to enhance

scientific and technological understanding Benefits to society

How can I be successful in obtaining funding?

Tips for Success

Review proposals that have been fundedContact PI’s

Have more than one person read your proposal prior to submission Peers AND scientists not in your area.

If Rejected – Try AgainTalk with the Program OfficerPay attention to Reviewer’s comments Attend a Grant-writing workshop