1. The NIST Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Program
Welcome to this webinar from the National Institute of Standards and Technology. My name is Susan Zeisler, Senior Academic Program manager, and I am pleased to be able to give you information on the NIST Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (or SURF) program.
This webinar will have three parts:
Background on NIST
Information on the SURF program itself – general information, research opportunities for students and requirement and guidance on the student part of the application
Guidance for the university sponsors/administrators who will be filling out the financial part of the application

2. NIST  Bird’s eye view
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is where Nobel Prize-winning science meets real-world engineering.
Courtesy HDR Architecture, Inc./Steve Hall © Hedrich Blessing
With an extremely broad research portfolio, world-class facilities, national networks, and an international reach, NIST works to support industry innovation – our central mission.
NIST, the National Institute of Standards and Technology is a non-regulatory agency of the DoC
The United States’ national measurement laboratory,
Established as the National Bureau of Standards in 1901, NIST is among the nation’s first physical science laboratories.
NIST is where Nobel Prize-winning science meets real-world engineering.
With very broad range of research areas, world-class facilities, national networks, and an international reach, NIST works to support industry innovation – our central mission.
G. Wheeler

3. NIST Laboratories Metrology Laboratories Technology Laboratories
Engineering Laboratory
Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology
Material
Measurement
Laboratory
Physical Measurement
Laboratory
Information Technology Laboratory
Communication
Technology Laboratory
NIST Center for Neutron Research
Driving innovation through
Measurement Science and Standards
Metrology Laboratories
Accelerating the adoption and deployment of advanced technology solutions
Technology Laboratories
Providing world class, unique, cutting-edge research facilities
National User Facilities

4. Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program (SURF)
SURF is a partnership, supported by NIST and the participating colleges/universities, for students majoring in science, mathematics and engineering
Eleven week fellowships are available in all the NIST laboratories, both in NIST Gaithersburg and NIST Boulder.
Students apply through their respective university; grants are awarded to the university.
Student stipend is $5500, plus housing and travel support
The 2014 SURF Program:
Gaithersburg: 179 participants
Boulder: 23 participants
NIST has benefited not only from former SURF students returning for graduate or postgraduate studies, but several are now permanent NIST staff members
The SURF program provides opportunities for undergraduate students to engage in world-class research at NIST’s unique research facilities. The eleven week program, operating since 1993, offers the chance to encourage and excite the interest of our nations’ next generation of scientists and engineers. Beginning with the Physics Laboratory in 1993, the program now encompasses all six laboratories at NIST, and at both campuses (Gaithersburg and Boulder)
Community of students – one place for housing for out of area students. Not only the research but contact with the other students, seminars (SURF and NIST), and students are very good at organizing after hours social activities…
Several former SURF students have returned to NIST during their graduate or postgraduate studies, and six former SURF students are now employees of NIST (five of whom are female, including one Hispanic).

5. Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program (SURF)
An Application consist of two parts:
(1) The student's university must submit a grant proposal with the required federal grant forms, along with a description about its academic program, a summary list of the student(s) being nominated, and a brief narrative about each nominated student. The full listing of required documents is found in the  FY 2015 Announcement of Federal Funding Opportunity, This notice contains the official program announcement with application due dates and all other requirements applicable to the 2015 program. Another copy of the announcement can be found on the Grants.gov site
(2) Students must provide copies of their transcripts, two letters of recommendation, a student application form, an application checklist, verification of citizenship or permanent residency, and a letter of intent or personal statement. The letter should contain information that helps the review committee make an informed decision about the student, such as why the student wants to participate in the SURF program and what areas of NIST research interest the student. Each student packet is included in the overall submission by the university. As per the FFO, we cannot accept individual student packets, only those included in the overall grants submission by the university or college.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: February 13, 2015
The application consists of two parts:
The university side to fill out the financial documents,
The student side with the checklist above.
The two parts must be submitted by the school in full.

6. Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program (SURF)
Student information:
Student stipend is $5500 for 11 weeks, housing and travel is also included
Gaithersburg program is from May 26, 2015 to August 7, (11 weeks)
Limited number of 9-week fellowships available (Mon 6/8/2015 – Fri 8/7/2015)
NOTE: All Gaithersburg students must attend through the final date in August
Boulder program is from May 18, 2015 through July 31, 2015 (11 weeks)
11 weeks mandatory, start date can vary for a limited number of students
Part of the package to be submitted by the student:
 Appropriate SURF Student application form (either Gaithersburg or Boulder)
 Resume (IMPORTANT: be sure to include any laboratory skills or computer languages, etc., you have)
 Personal statement of commitment to participate and description of prioritized research interests
 Two letters of recommendation
 Transcripts (unofficial copies acceptable)
 Verification of U.S. citizenship or permanent legal residence, (e.g. legible copy of birth certificate, passport, or green card)
 Appropriate Application Checklist (shown on following slide)
 Submit your completed Student Application Package to your school contact for inclusion with
the Institutional Application Package. DO NOT SEND YOUR STUDENT APPLICATION SEPARATELY.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: February 13, 2015
Individual students cannot apply to the SURF program. The college or university applies for any students who wish to be part of the program. The grant is to the school, not to the individual student.
As a student interest in applying for a SURF fellowship, you should get in touch with your school’s sponsored programs office and notify them of your interest.
What do I include in my personal statement? Is there a limited to the amount of space that I can use?
Our best advice is to take this seriously - we don't limit you to a paragraph or even one page. The personal statement is essentially an essay about you, why you are applying to the program, and why you think that you should be offered a fellowship. Use the letter to describe yourself and what you would like to do with your future. Often this letter can give the reviewer the extra bit of information that he or she needs to a final decision. The SURF directors also use this letter to match you with a summer project so make sure you tell us if there is an area that you are really interested in or the opposite. Keep in mind that students are often placed in specific projects because they have the needed skills for that project. Students often complete the program with a new perspective on a research field entirely different from what they had originally expressed interest in. In a few cases, these students have continued in the new field in graduate school. You may not know the exact area that you want to work in but you probably know what kind of classes you like and what you don't - use the letter to tell the reviewers. We have nine different laboratories here at NIST and often a person with one degree (or future degree) can work in more than one lab - another reason to keep your options open.

9. Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program (SURF)
Institution Information: (University or college)
Follow the guidelines found in the FY 2015 Announcement of Federal Funding Opportunity , notice. This contains the official program announcement with application due dates and all other requirements applicable to the 2015 program. Another copy of the announcement can be found on the Grants.gov site.
An application package includes:.
Financial documents, including SF-424, SF-424A, SF-424B, CD-511, SF-LLL
A word-processed document written by the applying college or university with
A description of the institution's education and research programs,
A summary list of the student(s) being nominated, and
A brief narrative about each nominated student
Packet of the required information for each student (application form, resume, 2 letters of recommendation, transcripts, personal statement of commitment and interests, verification of U.S. citizenship or legal residence, SURF Application Checklist) 
FULL APPLICATION DEADLINE: February 13, 2015
Please note that there will be an amendment to this FFO, to correct a misdirection found on page 7, which I will highlight when I describe to the university contacts about filling about the forms

10. Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program (SURF)
For Students:
Gaithersburg Applications – indicate area of interest in your Personal Statement
Boulder Applications – indicate six research opportunities (prioritized) on your student application form

11. NIST Gaithersburg: SURFING CNST – The Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology
Projects support nanotechnology from discovery to production by providing industry, academia, NIST, and other government agencies with access to world-class nanoscale measurement and fabrication methods and technology. Primary focus areas are: future electronics; nanofabrication and nanomanufacturing; and energy storage, transport, and conversion
Range of Research Activities: nanofabrication, atomic-scale characterization & manipulation, nanophotonics, nanomagnetics, nanoplasmonics, environmental TEM, nanoelectromechanical systems, thermoelectrics & photovoltaics, theory of nanostructures, and nanoscale control;
Relevant Academic Majors: physical sciences, engineering, materials science, physics, chemistry, biochemistry, mathematics, computer science
Selection Rate* (summer 2014): 41 applicants, 8 fellowships awarded (20%)
Please note that in most of our research “areas” that relevant academic major can span numerous areas, so please don’t limit yourself to a single area to be able to have more flexibility in placement, in reviewing the applications.

12. NIST Gaithersburg: SURFING EL – Engineering Laboratory
Projects promote the development and dissemination of advanced manufacturing and construction technologies, guidelines, and services to the U.S. manufacturing and construction industries
Range of Research Activities: innovative fire protection, sustainable manufacturing; model-based engineering enterprise; intelligent manufacturing (automation, robotics, and equipment); additive manufacturing; net zero energy buildings; integrated and automated construction processes; building materials and systems; economic impacts; and disaster-resilient structures and communities;
Relevant Academic Majors: engineering including fire science, materials science, physics, chemistry, mathematics,
statistics, computer science, and economics (electrical engineers should apply to PML)
Selection Rate* (summer 2014): 125 applicants, 45 fellowships awarded (36%)

13. NIST Gaithersburg: SURFING ITL/CTL – Information Technology Laboratory/Communications Technology Laboratory
Projects provide hands-on experience in computational science, applied mathematics, statistics, software testing, computer security, information access and networking.
Range of Research Activities: human computer interaction, computer network modeling, pervasive computing, multimedia computing, information security, biometrics for computer access and security, cryptography, computer forensics, statistics, software measurement science, software quality testing, digital data retrieval and preservation, bioinformatics, mathematical modeling, and image analysis;
Relevant Academic Majors: computer science, mathematics, statistics
Selection Rate* (summer 2014): 79 applicants, 26 fellowships awarded (35%)  

14. NIST Gaithersburg: SURFING MML/NCNR – Material Measurement Laboratory/NIST Center for Neutron Research
Applicants can choose from two SURF concentrations:
Materials Science – Projects focus on synthesis, measurements, and computational/theory/modeling of innovative materials and devices
Range of Research Activities: ceramics, metallurgy, polymers, condensed matter science, biomaterials, semiconductors, metals, nanoscale materials and measurements (includes activities at the NCNR)
Relevant Academic Majors: materials science, chemistry, biochemistry, physics, physical sciences, mathematics, computer science, engineering, biological sciences
Selection Rate* (summer 2014): 114 applicants, 46 fellowships awarded (40 %)
Chemical and Biochemical Sciences – Projects address the nation’s needs for measurements, standards, technology development, and reference data in the areas broadly encompassed by chemistry, biotechnology, and chemical engineering.
Range of Research Activities: from fundamental work in the composition, structure, properties, and processes of chemical, biological, environmental, and nanomaterials to the development and dissemination of certified reference materials, critically evaluated data, and advanced chemical and biochemical measurement paradigms
Relevant Academic Majors: chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology, chemical engineering, computer science, environmental science, and to a lesser extent materials science, physics, mathematics, and other areas of engineering
Selection Rate* (summer 2014): 91 applicants, 17 fellowships awarded (20 %)

15. NIST Gaithersburg: SURFING PML – Physical Measurement Laboratory
Applicants can choose from two SURF concentrations:
Physics – Projects provide hands-on research experience in physics fields of atomic, molecular, optical, radiation, chemical and condensed matter physics.
Range of research activities: atomic and molecular effects in spectroscopy, surface effects, collision, dynamics, and chemistry; radioactivity in environmental sensing, industrial dosimetry, and physical therapy, laser cooling and trapping; UV/optical/infrared light in detector development, tweezers and quantum optics; QED effects on atomic structure.
Relevant Academic Majors: physics, computer science, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, mathematics, nanoscience
Selection Rate* (Summer 2014): 66 applicants, 35 fellowships awarded (53%)
Electrical Engineering – Projects involved developing new electronic devices and metrology to serve US industry’s need for improved and standardized measurement.
Range of research activities: Electrical engineering and control of systems applications for power-efficient electronics, reliability, high power and smart grid, CMOS and nanoelectonrics, dimensional metrology, and nano-interconnects. Also cross-disciplinary electronics application such as large area electronics (including solar cells), molecular/organized electronics, bioelectronics, MEMS, and quantum-based devices related to electrical and mass standards.
Relevant Academic Majors: biochemistry, chemistry, computer science, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, material science, mathematics, nanoscience, and physics.
Selection Rate* (summer 2014): 56 application 45 fellowships awarded (80%)

16. Boulder SURF Research Opportunities for 2015
Applied Chemicals and Materials Division
647-1 Development of Practical Alternative Fuels Vapor Generation and Analysis in Forensic Sciences Your Risk from Brominated Fire Retardants Peptide-Enabled Nanomaterials for Energy and Environmental Applications Locating Engineered Nanoparticles for Nanomedicine Experimental Determination of Chemical Equilibrium Constants Physical measurements of microbes on resonating platforms
Public Safety Communications Research Division
671-1 Next-Generation First Responder Next-Generation Public Safety User Interfaces Bridging Land Mobile Radio and LTE Public Safety Systems Mission-Critical Communications Over Broadband Technologies
RF Technology Division
672-1 Development of a Metrology-Grade Wi-Fi Network High-Speed Measurements for 5G Wireless Channel Measurements at 28 GHz and 83 GHz Electromagnetic Response of Nanoparticles in Microfluidic Channels Novel High-Throughput Measurement for Telecommunications
Quantum Electronics and Photonics Division
686-1 Single-Photon Sources and Detectors Spatial Light Modulation Standards for Optical Coherence Tomography A Super-Continuum Solar Simulator for Characterization of Novel Solar Cells

17. Boulder SURF Research Opportunities for 2015 (cont’)
Electromagnetics Division
687-1 Graphene Beyond the Microscale Microwave Near-Field Imaging of Low-Dimensional Nanoscale Electronics Tissue Mimics to Validate MRI Biomarkers of Brain Disease/Trauma Spintronics and Nanomagnetics Microsystems for Bio-Imaging and Metrology Micro-Engineered MRI Contrast Agents  
Time and Frequency Division
688-1 Optical Atomic Clocks
688-2 Quantum Information Processing with Ion Arrays in Penning Ion Traps Data Analysis for Time Transfer Using GPS Receivers Exploring Opto-Mechanical Oscillators Atomic Clock Technology Optical Frequency Combs for Finding Exoplanets Development of Compact Atomic Clocks Based on Laser-Cooled Atoms
688-8 Atomic Clock Characterization
688-9 Microfabricated Atomic Magnetometers for Non-Invasive Brain Imaging

20. Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program (SURF)
Summary: Applications consist of two parts:
(1) The student's university must submit a grant proposal that provides details about its academic program and must nominate one or more students.
(2) Students must provide copies of their transcripts, two letters of recommendation, and a letter of intent or personal statement. The letter should contain information that helps the review committee make an informed decision about the student, such as why the student wants to participate in the SURF program in Gaithersburg, Maryland and what areas of NIST research interest the student.
The FY 2015 Announcement of Federal Funding Opportunity  notice contains the official program announcement with application due dates and all other requirements applicable to the 2014 program. Another copy of the announcement can be found on the Grants.gov site
You may either apply for the SURF program using a paper submission or via an online Grants.gov submission process.
Users of Grants.gov will be able to download a copy of the application package, complete it offline, and then upload and submit the application package and associated proposal information via the Grants.gov website. Applicants using the electronic submission process should follow the Application Instructions provided at Grants.gov when submitting a response to this funding opportunity. Applicants are encouraged to start early and not wait to the approaching due date before logging on and reviewing the instructions for submitting an application through Grants.gov . For those that want to use the paper submission process, you may download the application via this website. Applicant institutions must submit one (1) signed original.

21. Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program (SURF)
Application Deadline: February 13, 2015
TO BE PROVIDED BY INSTITUTION:
SF 424 (Rev. 10/05) - Application for Federal Assistance
SF 424A (Rev. 7/97) - Budget Information
SF 424B (Rev. 7/97) - Assurances
CD 511 (Rev. 1/05) - Certification Regarding Debarment….
SF LLL (Rev. 7/97) - Disclosure of Lobbying Activities, as applicable
(1) Description of the Institution's educational and research programs and
(2) a summary list of the student(s) being nominated
To BE PROVIDED BY EACH STUDENT (include in Institution package):
Student Application Form (including info about citizenship/legal resident)
Resume
2 Letters of Recommendation
Transcripts (Unofficial copies are acceptable)
Personal statement of commitment to participate and description of prioritized research
interests
Verification of U.S. citizenship or permanent legal residence (e.g. copy of birth certificate,
passport, or green card)
Student SURF Application Checklist
Users of Grants.gov will be able to download a copy of the application package, complete it offline, and then upload and submit the application package and associated proposal information via the Grants.gov website. Applicants using the electronic submission process should follow the Application Instructions provided at Grants.gov when submitting a response to this funding opportunity. Applicants are encouraged to start early and not wait to the approaching due date before logging on and reviewing the instructions for submitting an application through Grants.gov . For those that want to use the paper submission process, you may download the application via this website. Applicant institutions must submit one (1) signed original.

22. 1. Type of Submission: check “Application”
2. Type of Application: check “New”
3. leave blank
4. We don’t use this field; however, feel free to put in your own “Applicant Identifier” that you would like to use for your records.
5. leave blank
6. leave blank
7. leave blank
8. Enter in the requested information about your university or college.

23. Enter appropriate numbers in 8.b and 8.c.
Leave 3-7 blank
Enter appropriate numbers in 8.b and 8.c.
1. Type of Submission: check “Application”
2. Type of Application: check “New”
3. leave blank
4. We don’t use this field; however, feel free to put in your own “Applicant Identifier” that you would like to use for your records.
5. leave blank
6. leave blank
7. leave blank
8. Enter in the requested information about your university or college.
Enter text
Enter text
Enter number
Enter text
Enter text

24. Enter up to three types

25. Item 15 must specify SURF Boulder or
SURF Gaithersburg depending on where the application should be directed
List your school’s city, county, state

26. or http://nationalatlas.gov/printable/congress.html
a good web resource to find your Congressional district - or
Enter code

27. x x Same value as 6.k (Column 1) on SF-424A
Signature required for hard copy submissions; for electronic submissions, this is automatically generated
Insert from SF 424A, line 6k.
Same value as 6.k (Column 1) on SF-424A
Same value as 6.k (Column 2) on SF-424A
Same value as 6.k (Column 3) on SF-424A x
18. Estimated Funding – number for a. Federal, b. Applicant, and g. TOTAL should match the numbers on SF-424A. Federal = SF-424A 6.k (1), Applicant = SF-424A 6.k (2), and TOTAL = SF-424A 6.k (5)
19. Is Application Subject to Review By State Under Executive Order Process? – check “c.
Program is not covered by E.O ”
20. Provide an answer
21. Fill out the information for the Authorized Representative for your college or university. If you are applying by paper, the Authorized Representative must sign and date it. If applying through Grants.gov, the form will be electronically signed and dated. x
Insert text
Insert text
Insert text
Insert number
Insert text

28. 11.620
NIST SURF program
Example 1: one student

29.
0.00

31. Example 2: two students

35. On the Federal Assistance SF-424B form – “ASSURANCES - NON-CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMS”
– the only thing that needs to be completed is the bottom of the second page – Authorized Official must sign it, put his/her title, put the school’s official name under Applicant Organization, and date it.

36. Not optional, must be filled out
and signed

37. Optional form, only if applicable

38. Apply on-line to grants.gov OR Submit mail applications to:
Gaithersburg:
Dr. Brandi Toliver
NIST – SURF Gaithersburg
100 Bureau Drive, Stop 1090
(Bldg 101/ Rm A219 – important for FedEx, UPS, type delivery)
Gaithersburg, MD
Boulder:
Ms. Cindy Kotary
NIST – SURF Boulder
(Bldg 1/Rm 4006B – Important for FedEx, UPS, type delivery)
325 Broadway, Stop
Boulder, CO
Boulder: Offers will be made beginning around February 25. Because we use a waiting list, successful applicants must accept or decline within 7 days of receiving an offer.
Gaithersburg:
Notice: NIST will disburse funds to college and university awardees via the Automated Standard Application for Payments (ASAP) system.

39. Questions should be directed to the following contact persons:
Programmatic and technical questions For SURF Boulder:
Joseph Magee
Phone: (303)
Fax: (303)
For SURF Gaithersburg:
Anita Sweigert
Phone: (301)
Fax: (301)
Electronic application submission Christopher Hunton
Phone: (301)
Fax: (301) or
Grants.gov
Phone:
Grants rules and regulations Scott McNichol
Phone:
Questions should be directed to the following contact persons:
Programmatic and technical questions
For SURF Boulder: Joseph Magee
Phone: (303)
Fax: (303)
For SURF Gaithersburg: Brandi Toliver
Phone: (301)
Fax: (301)
Electronic application submission: Christopher Hunton
Phone: (301)
Fax: (301) or
Grants.gov
Phone:
Grants rules and regulations: Scott McNichol
Phone:

40. Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program (SURF)
Link to “Wave of the Future: In Their Own Words”, a video about the NIST SURF program

41. Other Student Opportunities
Student Employment and Internships
PATHWAYS Program
Internships
Recent Graduates Program
Professional Research Experience Program (PREP)
Tours
Tours of selected NIST Facilities
For additional information on Student employment:
Other programs/opportunities: NIST also offers opportunities for Student Employment and Internships:
Student Volunteer Program – provides exposure to STEM fields
Tours: Tours of selected NIST facilities- includes guided tours geared towards 8th-9th grades, 10-12th grades, and undergraduate groups

42. Additional Opportunities for University Interaction
Guest Researchers
NIST Domestic Guest Researcher Program -
NIST Foreign Guest Researcher Program –
User Facilities
Access to the NIST Center for Neutron Research (NCNR) for non-proprietary research is provided at no cost through a peer review process. Proprietary research can be performed with full cost recovery (
The Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology (CNST) Nanofabrication Facility is a fee-based shared-use facility accessible through a straightforward proposal process designed to get users up and running in weeks (visit 
Guest Researchers:
Well over 50% of the guest researchers who come to NIST come from universities; out of our approximately NIST Associates per year, our university interactions represent a vital resource to accomplish our mission at NIST
Facility Users: many of these also come largely from universities
NCNR
CNST
IPA - Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) , which facilitates “cooperation through the temporary assignment of skilled personnel between the federal government, state and local governments, institutions of higher education, federally funded research and development centers maintained by the National Science Foundation, Indian tribal governments, and other nonprofit organizations for limited periods without loss of employee rights and benefits.”

43. Grant Opportunities through NIST
Measurement, Science, and Engineering Research Grants*
Open solicitation for proposals from U.S. universities and organizations to support research on advanced measurement science
Opportunities to address measurement science needs in areas such as: material measurement; physical measurement; engineering; fire research; information technology; neutron research; nanoscale science and technology; standards services; and law enforcement standards.
*2015 FFO expected to be finalized for release by February 2015
Measurement, Science, and Engineering Research Grants
HBCU: Spelman College ( ), $63,000 in 2012.
Development and Characterization of a Standard Reference Material for Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatographic Data
Includes support for students spending time in NIST laboratories working on the project
Precision Measurement Grants—Support researchers in U.S. colleges and universities for experimental and theoretical studies of fundamental physical phenomena. Abbreviated Proposal Due: February 5, 2013, Finalists will be selected by approximately: March 26, 2013, Full Proposals Due: May 7, 2013.

44. Cobalt atoms on substrate of copper atoms
Questions?