Funding Opportunities at NSF Ken Chong Engineering Advisor, CMMI Program Director, Mechanics and Structures of Materials.

Funding Opportunities at Funding Opportunities at NSFNSF

Ken ChongKen ChongEngineering Advisor, Engineering Advisor, CMMICMMIProgram Director, Program Director, Mechanics and Mechanics and Structures of MaterialsStructures of Materials

OverviewOverview

Introduction to Funding at NSFIntroduction to Funding at NSF Types of FundingTypes of Funding

Unsolicited versus Solicited AwardsUnsolicited versus Solicited Awards Selected Engineering SolicitationsSelected Engineering Solicitations

Educational and Developmental AwardsEducational and Developmental Awards After the Award: SupplementsAfter the Award: Supplements Other funding OpportunitiesOther funding Opportunities

Funding at NSFFunding at NSF NSF provides funding via grants and NSF provides funding via grants and

cooperative agreements to more than 2,000 cooperative agreements to more than 2,000 colleges, universities, K-12 school systems, colleges, universities, K-12 school systems, businesses, informal science organizations businesses, informal science organizations and other research organizations throughout and other research organizations throughout the U.S.the U.S.

NSF receives and processes over 45,000 NSF receives and processes over 45,000 proposals per year proposals per year Approximately 11,000/yr are fundedApproximately 11,000/yr are funded

Engineering Directorate (ENG) received Engineering Directorate (ENG) received 9,427 proposals in FY 20069,427 proposals in FY 2006 1,737 were funded from 1,737 were funded from

18% Success Rate18% Success Rate

NSF 1.4%

Federal Basic Federal Basic Research, FY Research, FY

20062006 Total Federal Total Federal R&D, FY 2006R&D, FY 2006

Total U.S. R&D, FY 2006Total U.S. R&D, FY 2006~$300 Billion

NSFNSF$4.1 Billion

3%

$132.2 Billion

$26.9 Billion

NSF$3.5 Billion

13%

13% NSF$4.1 Billion

Types of FundingTypes of Funding

There are two major categories of There are two major categories of fundingfunding Unsolicited ProposalsUnsolicited Proposals Solicited Proposals Solicited Proposals

Most grants are awarded in ENG (and Most grants are awarded in ENG (and NSF) through means of unsolicited NSF) through means of unsolicited proposal programsproposal programs

Proposal and Awards Policies Proposal and Awards Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPP)and Procedures Guide (PAPP)

Covers all general regulations Covers all general regulations and procedures for and procedures for submission of proposals and submission of proposals and duties during awardsduties during awards Format, requirements, budget Format, requirements, budget

concernsconcerns Basic guidelines for all types Basic guidelines for all types

of proposalsof proposals Replaced GPG and GPMReplaced GPG and GPM New RegulationsNew Regulations

Font Sizes and Style Font Sizes and Style SpecifiedSpecified

Unsolicited ProposalsUnsolicited Proposals Announcement: See PAPP for Announcement: See PAPP for

DetailsDetails Core funding instrumentCore funding instrument Submitted to a particular programSubmitted to a particular program

Topics covered deal with various research areas Topics covered deal with various research areas covered covered

Generally awarded to one PI or a small group of Generally awarded to one PI or a small group of researchersresearchers

Collaborative Proposals: Collaborative Proposals: Tackle a larger problem via leveraging abilities and Tackle a larger problem via leveraging abilities and

equipment of various researchersequipment of various researchers Two or more proposals submitted together, still Two or more proposals submitted together, still

separate awards but made together for one ideaseparate awards but made together for one idea Award Size:Award Size:

Approximately $240-$300K for three yearsApproximately $240-$300K for three years Unsolicited Success Rate in ENGUnsolicited Success Rate in ENG

14% of submitted proposals awarded14% of submitted proposals awarded

Solicited ProposalsSolicited Proposals Submitted in response to specific research Submitted in response to specific research

initiatives and special thrust areas initiatives and special thrust areas Defined by NSF in response to needs and desires Defined by NSF in response to needs and desires

of the communities programs serve and the health of the communities programs serve and the health of science/engineering as a wholeof science/engineering as a whole

Each solicitation has its own requirements, Each solicitation has its own requirements, regulations, and submission dates specific to itregulations, and submission dates specific to it

Initiatives have varied goals:Initiatives have varied goals: Address timely specific problemsAddress timely specific problems Develop the careers of researchers and enhance Develop the careers of researchers and enhance

education of studentseducation of students Provide a means of enhancing the research Provide a means of enhancing the research

capabilities of institutionscapabilities of institutions etc.etc.

GRANTSMANSHIPGRANTSMANSHIP

"Broader Impact" - a good discussion of this in the following website. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2004/nsf04045/nsf04045.htm

don't send in multiple proposals.

TWELVE STEPS TO A WINNING RESEARCH PROPOSAL By George A. Hazelrigg, NSF

Example Engineering Example Engineering Solicitations: Research Solicitations: Research

InitiativesInitiatives

Active Nanostructures and Active Nanostructures and Nanosystems (ANN) Nanosystems (ANN)

Collaborative research and education in:Collaborative research and education in: Active nanostructuresActive nanostructures Nanosystems with improved functionality and new architecturesNanosystems with improved functionality and new architectures Hierarchical nanomanufacturingHierarchical nanomanufacturing Long-term societal and educational implications of scientific and Long-term societal and educational implications of scientific and

technological advances on the nanoscaletechnological advances on the nanoscale

Program goal: support fundamental research and Program goal: support fundamental research and catalyze synergistic science and engineering research catalyze synergistic science and engineering research and educationand education

Funded through the Nanoscale Exploratory Research Funded through the Nanoscale Exploratory Research (NER) and Nanoscale Interdiciplinary Research Teams (NER) and Nanoscale Interdiciplinary Research Teams (NIRT) programs(NIRT) programs

Deadline in November 2007Deadline in November 2007

Announcement: NSF 06-595 Announcement: NSF 06-595

Materials Use: Science and Materials Use: Science and Engineering and Society Engineering and Society (MUSES)(MUSES)

Aimed at soliciting new multidisciplinary activities Aimed at soliciting new multidisciplinary activities address complex issues related to materials use in address complex issues related to materials use in the environmentthe environment Involves researchers from the engineering, physical and life Involves researchers from the engineering, physical and life

sciences, economics, mathematics, social and behavioral sciences, economics, mathematics, social and behavioral sciences, and educationsciences, and education

Research stresses the fundamental understanding Research stresses the fundamental understanding of comprehensive materials flows that extend from of comprehensive materials flows that extend from natural resource materials extraction; through natural resource materials extraction; through processing and manufacturing, assembly, and processing and manufacturing, assembly, and distribution and consumer use; and on through distribution and consumer use; and on through recycling, disposal, and reuserecycling, disposal, and reuse

Deadline in February-March, look for new solicitationDeadline in February-March, look for new solicitation

George E. Brown, Jr. Network for George E. Brown, Jr. Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation Earthquake Engineering Simulation Research (NEESR)Research (NEESR) Research projects utilizing the NSF-supported George E. Research projects utilizing the NSF-supported George E.

Brown, Jr. Network for Engineering Simulation Research Brown, Jr. Network for Engineering Simulation Research Supports innovative research and education about the Supports innovative research and education about the

performance of structural, nonstructural, geotechnical, hydraulic, performance of structural, nonstructural, geotechnical, hydraulic, and other civil infrastructure systems during earthquake and other civil infrastructure systems during earthquake excitation or tsunamisexcitation or tsunamis

Advance experimental simulation techniques and instrumentation Advance experimental simulation techniques and instrumentation for NEES for future researchfor NEES for future research

Specific unique guidelines and regulations: Read Specific unique guidelines and regulations: Read solicitation carefully while preparing proposalsolicitation carefully while preparing proposal Five categories of submission: Individual Investigator, Small Five categories of submission: Individual Investigator, Small

Group, Grand Challenge, Simulation Development, and Payload Group, Grand Challenge, Simulation Development, and Payload

Deadline for submission in late JanuaryDeadline for submission in late January

Contact Joy Pauschke, NEESR PD: Contact Joy Pauschke, NEESR PD: [email protected]@nsf.gov for for more informationmore information

Announcement: NSF 04-015Announcement: NSF 04-015

Explosives and Related Threats: Explosives and Related Threats: Frontiers in Prediction and Detection Frontiers in Prediction and Detection (EXP)(EXP) NSF-wide effort, in coordination with the efforts of NSF-wide effort, in coordination with the efforts of

other agencies in threat detection and mitigationother agencies in threat detection and mitigation Advance fundamental knowledge in new technologies for Advance fundamental knowledge in new technologies for

sensors and sensor networkssensors and sensor networks Research will lead to better detection of explosives and Research will lead to better detection of explosives and

related threats, including improvised explosive devices (IEDs) related threats, including improvised explosive devices (IEDs) Advances in the use of sensor data in control and decision Advances in the use of sensor data in control and decision

making, particularly in relation to the prediction and making, particularly in relation to the prediction and detection of explosives and related threats detection of explosives and related threats

Research on prediction and detection of biological, Research on prediction and detection of biological, toxic chemical, and nuclear weapons is excluded toxic chemical, and nuclear weapons is excluded from the scope of this solicitation from the scope of this solicitation

Small and large awards are provided to individual Small and large awards are provided to individual researchers and teamsresearchers and teams

Submission Deadline: March (look for new Submission Deadline: March (look for new solicitation in FY 08)solicitation in FY 08)

Announcement: NSF 07-528Announcement: NSF 07-528

Example Engineering Example Engineering Solicitations: Development and Solicitations: Development and

EducationEducation

Major Research Instrumentation Major Research Instrumentation

Acquisition Grants (MRI)Acquisition Grants (MRI) Announcement: NSF 07-510Announcement: NSF 07-510 The MRI program assists in the acquisition or development of The MRI program assists in the acquisition or development of

major research instrumentation major research instrumentation Supports purchase, upgrade, or development, of major state-of-the-art Supports purchase, upgrade, or development, of major state-of-the-art

instrumentation for research, research training, and integrated instrumentation for research, research training, and integrated research/education activities at organizationsresearch/education activities at organizations

Improve access to and increase use of modern research and research Improve access to and increase use of modern research and research training instrumentation to researchers and graduate and training instrumentation to researchers and graduate and undergraduate studentsundergraduate students

Enable academic departments or cross-departmental units to create Enable academic departments or cross-departmental units to create well-equipped learning environments that integrate research with well-equipped learning environments that integrate research with educationeducation

Foster the development of the next generation of instrumentation for Foster the development of the next generation of instrumentation for research and research trainingresearch and research training

Promote partnerships between academic researchers and private Promote partnerships between academic researchers and private sector instrument developerssector instrument developers

Proposals may be for: Proposals may be for: a single instrument, a single instrument, a large system of instrumentsa large system of instruments multiple instruments that share a common or specific research focusmultiple instruments that share a common or specific research focus

Proposal Deadline: Fourth Thursday in January, annuallyProposal Deadline: Fourth Thursday in January, annually

Integrative Graduate Education Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship and Research Traineeship (IGERT)(IGERT)

Announcement: NSF 07-Announcement: NSF 07-540540 Developed to meet the challenges of educating Developed to meet the challenges of educating

future Ph.D. scientists and engineers future Ph.D. scientists and engineers

Emphasizes multidisciplinary trainingEmphasizes multidisciplinary training Proposals must describe integrative, research-Proposals must describe integrative, research-

based, graduate education and training activities in based, graduate education and training activities in emerging areas of science and engineeringemerging areas of science and engineering

Encourage gain the breadth of skills, strengths, and Encourage gain the breadth of skills, strengths, and understanding for interdisciplinary work while still understanding for interdisciplinary work while still permitting well grounded training in a major field permitting well grounded training in a major field

Provides $2 million over 5 years to institutionProvides $2 million over 5 years to institution• Contact: Carol Van Hartesveldt: Contact: Carol Van Hartesveldt: [email protected]@nsf.gov

Research in Undergraduate Research in Undergraduate InstitutionsInstitutions (RUI)

• Support high quality research by faculty with active involvement of undergraduate students

• Strengthen the research environment in academic departments that are oriented primarily toward undergraduate instruction

• Submission Deadlines: Same as Unsolicited Award Dates

Announcement: NSF 05-592

http://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/getpub?nsf00144

Faculty Early Career Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Development (CAREER) ProgramProgram Announcement: NSF 05-579Announcement: NSF 05-579 Foundation-wide activity that offers the NSF’s most Foundation-wide activity that offers the NSF’s most

prestigious awards for new faculty membersprestigious awards for new faculty members

Recognizes and supports the early career-development Recognizes and supports the early career-development activities of those teacher-scholars who are most likely to activities of those teacher-scholars who are most likely to become the academic leaders of the 21st centurybecome the academic leaders of the 21st century

Awardees selected on the basis of creative, career-Awardees selected on the basis of creative, career-development plans that integrate research and educationdevelopment plans that integrate research and education Five year research and education plan, minimum budget of Five year research and education plan, minimum budget of

$400,000$400,000

Full Proposal Deadline Date: Late July each yearFull Proposal Deadline Date: Late July each year

Other Solicited/Special Funding Other Solicited/Special Funding OpportunitiesOpportunities

Grant Opportunities for Academic Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI) Liaison with Industry (GOALI) Announcement: NSF 07-522Announcement: NSF 07-522 This program provides funding meant to stimulate This program provides funding meant to stimulate

interactions and staff exchange between interactions and staff exchange between universities and industry universities and industry Fundamental research generally is performed in academe Fundamental research generally is performed in academe

in parallel with more applied research in industryin parallel with more applied research in industry

Encourage the development of creative modes of Encourage the development of creative modes of collaborative interactions with industry through:collaborative interactions with industry through: Industry-University Collaborative ProjectsIndustry-University Collaborative Projects Faculty and Students in Industry: Faculty and Students in Industry:

Faculty-in-IndustryFaculty-in-Industry Post Doctoral Industrial FellowshipsPost Doctoral Industrial Fellowships Graduate Student Industrial FellowshipsGraduate Student Industrial Fellowships Undergraduate Industrial FellowshipsUndergraduate Industrial Fellowships

Industry Engineers and Scientists in Academe Industry Engineers and Scientists in Academe Industry Presence on CampusIndustry Presence on Campus Industry-Based Graduate AssistantshipIndustry-Based Graduate Assistantship

Proposals are submitted according to the deadlines for Proposals are submitted according to the deadlines for Unsolicited ProposalsUnsolicited Proposals

Small Grants for Exploratory Small Grants for Exploratory Research (SGER) Research (SGER) Announcement: See PAPP for informationAnnouncement: See PAPP for information

Proposals for small-scale, exploratory, high-Proposals for small-scale, exploratory, high-risk research in the fields of science, risk research in the fields of science, engineering, and education normally engineering, and education normally supported by the NSF supported by the NSF

Also used to support fundamental science and Also used to support fundamental science and engineering projects whose results may engineering projects whose results may enable mitigation, preparation, response, and enable mitigation, preparation, response, and recovery from catastrophic events recovery from catastrophic events Collection of Perishable Data (e.g. Aftermath of Collection of Perishable Data (e.g. Aftermath of

Hurricane Katrina)Hurricane Katrina)

Contact cognizant Program Officer to discuss Contact cognizant Program Officer to discuss fundingfunding SGER awards cannot exceed $200,000 for a period of two SGER awards cannot exceed $200,000 for a period of two

yearsyears Most are for smaller amounts and/or for shorter durationsMost are for smaller amounts and/or for shorter durations

Small Grants for Exploratory Small Grants for Exploratory Research (SGER) (continued)Research (SGER) (continued)

SGER Funding is granted for:SGER Funding is granted for: preliminary work on untested and novel ideaspreliminary work on untested and novel ideas ventures into emerging and potentially ventures into emerging and potentially

transformative research ideas; transformative research ideas; application of new expertise or new approaches application of new expertise or new approaches

to "established" research topicsto "established" research topics having a severe urgency with regard to having a severe urgency with regard to

availability of, or access to data, facilities or availability of, or access to data, facilities or specialized equipment, including quick-response specialized equipment, including quick-response research on natural or anthropogenic disasters research on natural or anthropogenic disasters and similar unanticipated eventsand similar unanticipated events

efforts of similar character likely to catalyze efforts of similar character likely to catalyze rapid and innovative advancesrapid and innovative advances

Workshop ProposalsWorkshop Proposals Workshop proposals funded and Workshop proposals funded and

encouraged to advise NSF Program encouraged to advise NSF Program Directors on appropriate emphasis areas Directors on appropriate emphasis areas for programs for programs

Can be a valuable mechanism not only for Can be a valuable mechanism not only for establishing research program agenda, but establishing research program agenda, but also for informing potential PIs regarding also for informing potential PIs regarding program prioritiesprogram priorities

Are accepted throughout the fiscal year at Are accepted throughout the fiscal year at the discretion of the cognizant PDthe discretion of the cognizant PD Contact PD for more informationContact PD for more information

After the Award: SupplementsAfter the Award: Supplements

Research Experiences forResearch Experiences forUndergraduates Undergraduates (REU) (REU) Announcement:Announcement: NSF 07-569NSF 07-569

Funding provided for REU Sites or REU Funding provided for REU Sites or REU supplements to PIs with existing awardssupplements to PIs with existing awards

Incorporates active research experienceIncorporates active research experience Intended to attract and retain undergraduates in Intended to attract and retain undergraduates in

mathematics, science and engineering through mathematics, science and engineering through research experiencesresearch experiences One REU supplement per Parent GrantOne REU supplement per Parent Grant Inclusion of Underrepresented groupsInclusion of Underrepresented groups

A second REU student could be awarded if a student is from A second REU student could be awarded if a student is from these groupsthese groups

Deadlines for submission vary with Directorate, Deadlines for submission vary with Directorate, DivisionDivision

Research ExperiencesResearch Experiencesfor Teachers (RET) for Teachers (RET) Announcement: NSF Announcement: NSF

07-55707-557

Supplements to current NSF AwardsSupplements to current NSF Awards

Helps build long term collaborative Helps build long term collaborative relationships between K-12 teachers of relationships between K-12 teachers of science and mathematics and the NSF science and mathematics and the NSF research communityresearch community

Encourages researchers to form Encourages researchers to form partnerships with teachers for K-12 partnerships with teachers for K-12 OutreachOutreach

Consult with cognizant PD of award for Consult with cognizant PD of award for funding opportunitiesfunding opportunities

International Research and International Research and Education in Engineering (IREE) Education in Engineering (IREE) Announcement: NSF 06-026Announcement: NSF 06-026

Awarded in conjunction with the Office of Awarded in conjunction with the Office of International Science and Engineering (OISE)International Science and Engineering (OISE)

Provide supplemental funding to current Provide supplemental funding to current awardees to support international travel by early-awardees to support international travel by early-career researchers in the United States career researchers in the United States Can fund an extended-stay visit to one or more foreign Can fund an extended-stay visit to one or more foreign

institutions/laboratories, including industrial institutions/laboratories, including industrial laboratorieslaboratories

Enable international research experience and Enable international research experience and perspective, and to enable closer research perspective, and to enable closer research interaction between U.S. institutions and their interaction between U.S. institutions and their foreign counterpartsforeign counterparts

Deadline for submission: end of MayDeadline for submission: end of May