Current Trends and Funding Opportunities in Biology and Related Sciences at NSF

1. Current Trends and Funding Opportunities in Biology and Related Sciences at NSF Matthew D. Kane Ecosystem Science Cluster Division of Environmental Biology National Science Foundation

2. U.S. President Science Advisor Office of Management and Budget Other boards, councils, etc. Office of Science and Technology Policy Science Advisor Major Departments Health and Human Services Commerce Agriculture Interior Transportation Defense Energy Independent Agencies National Aeronautic and Space Administration Environmental Protection Agency Nuclear Regulatory Commission Smithsonian Institution Other agencies

3. National Science Board Office of Inspector General • Office of the Director • Legislative & Public Affairs • Equal Opportunity Prog. • General Counsel • Integrative Activities • Polar Programs • Cyberinfrastructure • International Programs • Office of the Director • Legislative & Public Affairs • Equal Opportunity Prog. • General Counsel • Integrative actions • Polar Programs • Cyberinfrastructure • International Programs National Science Foundation Director Deputy Director • Directorates • Biological Sciences • Comp. & Info. Science & Engineering • Education & Human Resources • Engineering • Geosciences • Mathematical & Physical Sciences • Social, Behaviorial & Econ. Sciences • Offices • Budget, Finance & Award Management • Information & Resource Management • Directorates • Biological Sciences • Comp. & Info. Science & Engineering • Education & Human Resources • Engineering • Geosciences • Mathematical & Physical Sciences • Social, Behaviorial & Econ. Sciences • Offices • Budget, Finance & Award Management • Information & Resource Management

4. Distinctive Features of NSF • Emphasis on integrating research and education • Close interaction with universities • Rotator system: many program directors are on loan from universities, labs or industry • Reviews are advisory; program directors make funding decisions

5. Agenda • Budget and Funding Trends • Opportunities at All Levels • Core Programs & Solicitations • Proposal Preparation • Merit Review Criteria • Early career funding opportunities • Colloboration

6. Trends in Research $ by Agency, FY 1976-2009 in billions of constant FY 2008 dollars Source: AAAS

7. One Driver of science policy

8. Academic R&D as share of total R&D,by country/economy: Most recent year SOURCE: National Science Board, Science and Engineering Indicators 2006

9. Share of U.S. articles among most-cited articles, total S&E: 1992–2003 SOURCE: National Science Board, Science and Engineering Indicators 2006

10. President's Plan for Science and Innovation Total NSF Funding:FY 2009-FY 2017 (dollars in billions) % Over Previous FY Fiscal Year (FY)

11. Climate ChangeScience Dimensions of Biodiversity Metabolic Biochemistry Environmental Engineering for Sustainability Biological Oceanography Ecology & Ecosystems Genes and Genome Systems Office of Polar Programs Plant Genome Research Organism-Environment Interactions Geobiology Ecol. Infect. Disease RIG PEET Biodiversity Surveys & Inventories RCN Living Stocks IGERT Dissertation Improvement Databases

12. http://www.nsf.gov/

13. http://www.nsf.gov/dir/index.jsp?org=BIO

14. Grant Proposal Guide (GPG) NSF 11-1 • Provides guidance for preparation of proposals • Describes process -- and criteria --by which proposals will be reviewed • Describes process for withdrawals, returns and declinations • Describes the award process and procedures for requesting continued support • Identifies significant grant administrative highlights

15. Target dates No deadlines (e.g. workshops, SGERs) Deadlines Submission Windows Letters of Intent Preliminary proposals Types of Proposal Submission Solicited vs. Unsolicited • Unsolicited proposals are associated with • regular research programs • Solicited proposals have a published • Program Solicitation (Program Announcement)

16. “Unsolicited” Proposals • Next BIOLOGY Deadline: July 9, 2011 • Next BIOLOGICAL OCEANOGRAPHY Target Date: August 15, 2011

17. What to Look for in a Program Solicitation • goal of program • eligibility • special requirements

18. Some Current Solicitations Cyber-Enabled Discovery and Innovation Dimensions of Biodiversity Science and Technology Centers Macro-scale Biology Metabolomics for a Low Carbon Society

19. Proposal Preparation

20. The Proposal Cycle Funded! Declined & Revise What next? Write Try again Conceptualize

21. Consider the Following: • Start early – give yourself enough time • Read the PA and follow rules in GPG • Get feedback on your proposal from your colleagues • Proposals should be cogent, appropriate, and justified • Study reviews carefully (award or declination) • Anticipate criticisms • If declined - call your Program Director after reading your reviews • If awarded - follow up on reporting and find out about supplemental funding

22. The NSF Merit Review Process

23. NSF invests in the best ideas from the most capable people, determined by competitivemerit review. Merit Review Criteria • What is the intellectual merit of the proposed activity? • What are the broader impacts of the proposed activity?

24. Proposal Review Criterion:Intellectual Merit • Potential to advancing knowledge and understanding within and across fields • Qualifications of investigators • Creativity and originality • Conceptualization and organization • Access to resources

25. Proposal Review Criterion: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 Any proposal that does NOT address these criteria in the Project Summary – will be RETURNED WITHOUT REVIEW.

26. NSF Proposal & Award Process & Timeline Returned As Inappropriate/Withdrawn NSF Proposal Generating Document Minimum of 3 Reviews Required Award Via DGA Organization submits via: FastLane Program Officer Analysis & Recom. Mail Division Director Concur Panel Both NSF Program Officer Organization Research & Education Communities Decline Proposal Receipt at NSF DD Concur Award 90 Days 6 Months 30Days Proposal Receipt to Division Director Concurrence of Program Officer Recommendation DGA Review & Processing of Award Proposal Preparation Time Proposal Processing Unit

27. What Makes a Proposal Competitive? Likely high impact New and original ideas Critical approach Sound scientific rationale Succinct, focused project plan Knowledge of subject area or published, relevant work Experience in essential methodology Realistic amount of work Sufficient detail

28. Something transformative . . .

29. NSF Sources of Reviewers • program officer’s knowledge of what is being done and who’s doing what in the research & education area • references listed in proposal • reviewer name on file • recent technical programs from professional societies • recent authors in Scientific and Engineering journals • S&E Abstracts by computer search • reviewer recommendations • investigator’s suggestions

30. National Science Foundation Funding Opportunities Where’s the treasure? Website: http://www.nsf.gov

31. For Graduate Students • Graduate Research Fellowship Program • 3-year Fellowships, NSF 10-604 • BIO, Divisions of DEB and IOS • Dissertation Improvement Grants • NSF 08-564 (3rd Friday in November) • International (OISE) • Dissertation Enhancement Projects • For research at a foreign site • NSF 04-036

32. Postdoctoral Opportunities • Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology (PRFB) • Broadening Participation of Under-represented groups in Biology • Intersections of Biology and Math and Physical Sciences • NSF 10-587 • Office of Polar Programs (OPP) • Check their web page for latest

33. Postdoctoral Opportunities • National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS) • (http://www.nceas.ucsb.edu) • National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent) • (http://www.nescent.org) • National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis (http://www.nimbios.org)

34. Early-career Investigators • Research Initiation Grants (RIG) • To promote broader participation • For new faculty • NSF 09-501

35. CAREER Awards • For pre-tenure teacher-scholars • Integration of research with education • NSF-wide • BIO minimum of $500,000 for 5 years • Check eligibility criteria • NSF 08-557

36. For Everyone • RAPID (Grants for Rapid Response Research) • Severe urgency with regard to availability of, or access to, data, facilities, etc. • One year, up to $200,000 • 2-5 pages, internal review

37. For Everyone • EAGER (EArly-concept Grants for Exploratory Research) • Testing novel ideas & approaches • Ventures into transformative areas • Important new methodology • 1-2 years, up to $300,000 • 5-8 pages, internal review

38. Supplementary Funding • Research Assistantships for High School Students (RAHSS) • Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) • Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) • Research Opportunity Award (ROA)

39. Read the Solicitations and Manuals (GPG = NSF 11-1) • There are diverse funding opportunities at NSF. • Change happens. Seek current information. • Call or email – we are here to help.

40. NSF Needs You! Program Officers Division Directors Ad hoc Reviewers Advisory Panelists