0.4 How to obtain funding  (Page 2/3)

Slide 12: nsf support

Slide 13: funding opportunities at nsf

• Individual Programs
  • Research, education, center programs
• Priority Areas (Investment Areas for FY)
  • Cross-Programs and Cross-Directorates
• Cross Disciplinary Areas
  • Cross-Programs and Cross-Directorates
• Interagency Programs
  • NSF, and other government agencies

Slide 14: award (grant) types

• Individual Investigator Initiated Awards
• CAREER Awards
• Center Awards
• SBIR/STTR awards
• SGER awards
• Supplements
• Workshops, conferences

Slide 15: nsf disciplines and structure

• Biological Sciences (BIO)
• Computer and Information Sciences and Engineering (CISE)
• Education and Human Resources (EHR)
• Engineering (ENG)
  • Biomedical Engineering Program
• Geosciences (GEO)
• Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS)
• Social, Behavioral And Economic Sciences (SBE)
• Polar Programs
• Office of Cyberinfrastructure
• Office of International Science and Engineering
• Office of Integrative Affairs

Slide 16: nsf-wide investment areas (fy 06)

• Nanoscale Science and Engineering
• Biocomplexity in Environment
• Human and Social Dynamics
• Mathematical Sciences
• Cyberinfrastructure

Slide 17: nsf-wide investment areas (request for fy 07)

• Biocomplexity in Environment
• Climate Change Science Program
• Cyberinfrastructure
• Human and Social Dynamics
• International Polar Year
• Mathematical Sciences
• National Nanotechnology Initiative
• Networking Information Technology R and D

Slide 18: nsf merit review criteria

• Criteria include:
  • What is the intellectual merit and quality of the proposed activity?
  • What are the broader impacts of the proposed activity?

Slide 19: what is the intellectual merit of the proposed activity?

• Potential Considerations:
  • How important is the proposed activity to advancing knowledge and understanding within its own field or across different fields?
  • How well qualified is the proposer (individual or team) to conduct the project? (If appropriate, the reviewer will comment on the quality of prior work.)
  • To what extent does the proposed activity suggest and explore creative and original concepts?
  • How well conceived and organized is the proposed activity?
  • Is there sufficient access to resources?

Slide 20: what are the broader impacts of the proposed activity?

• Potential Considerations:
  • How well does the activity advance discovery and understanding while promoting teaching, training and learning?
  • How well does the activity broaden the participation of underrepresented groups (e.g., gender, ethnicity, disability, geographic, etc.)?
  • To what extent will it enhance the infrastructure for research and education, such as facilities, instrumentation, networks and partnerships?
  • Will the results be disseminated broadly to enhance scientific and technological understanding?
  • What may be the benefits of the proposed activity to society?

Slide 21: tips for successful proposal writing

• Determine if your project is relevant to the program
  • Get in touch with the Program Director
  • Program Director:
    • Review Panels
    • Award/decline recommendation
    • Post management of the awards (progress report)
• Follow the instructions posted by the agency
  • Format, sections, project plan
  • Agency’s Review Criteria (NSF Merit Review Criteria)
  • Priority Areas for the agency
• Respond to a solicitation
  • Deadlines (pre-proposal, letter of intent, full proposal)
  • Additional review criteria and requirements
• Read “successful” proposals of your colleagues
• Have your proposal reviewed by collaborators or colleagues before submitting
• Do not submit on the day of the deadline
• Volunteer to serve on a review panel