Graduate Student Funding Opportunities at (mostly) NSF Mark Courtney, Ph.D Adjunct, Department of Biology New Mexico State University Las Cruces, NM 24 September 2008

Pardon me, but could you tell us where the public trough is? Funding Opportunities

Origins of NSF “The Government should accept new responsibilities for promoting the flow of scientific knowledge and the development of scientific talent in our youth.” –Science, The Endless Frontier, : Congress Approves, Truman Vetoes: Agencies created in the meantime 1950: Compromise Bill Approved & Signed by Truman

NSF Act of 1950 “ To promote the progress of science…” NSB (24) and 1 Director, appointed by the President Encourage & develop a national policy for the promotion of basic research and education in the math, physical, medical,biological, engineering and other sciences Initiate & support basic scientific research in the sciences Evaluate the science research programs undertaken by agencies of the Federal government Provide information for S&E policy formation

NSF in a Nutshell Independent Federal Agency Supports basic research & education Uses grant mechanism Low overhead; highly automated Discipline-based structure Cross-disciplinary mechanisms Use of Rotators/IPAs National Science Board

NSF…

Population & Evolutionary Processes Directorate for Biological Sciences Div. of Environmental Biology (DEB) Div. of Environmental Biology (DEB) Ecological Biology Ecosystem Science Ecosystem Science Div. of Integrative Organismal Systems (IOS) Div. of Integrative Organismal Systems (IOS) Behavioral Systems Developmental Systems Developmental Systems Neural Systems Research Resources Research Resources Human Resources Div. of Biological Infrastructure (DBI) Div. of Biological Infrastructure (DBI) Div. of Molecular & Cellular Biosciences (MCB ) Div. of Molecular & Cellular Biosciences (MCB ) Biomolecular Systems Biomolecular Systems Cellular Systems Genes and Genome Systems Genes and Genome Systems As of February 2007 Emerging Frontiers (EF) Plant Genome Research Program Plant Genome Research Program Systematic Biology & Biodiversity Inventories Physiological & Functional Systems Physiological & Functional Systems

Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) Supports teacher-scholars Supports plans that effectively integrate research and education BIO minimum of $500,000 for 5 years Check eligibility criteria

Postdoctoral Research Fellowships CEDAR, GEM, and SHINE Postdoctoral Research (Atmospheric Sciences) Mathematical Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellowships Minority Postdoctoral Research Fellowships and Supporting Activities NSF Astronomy and Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellowships NSF Earth Sciences Postdoctoral Fellowships NSF-SIA/NRI Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Fellow Supplements to NSF Centers in Nanoelectronics Postdoctoral Fellowships in Polar Regions Research Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology

Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grants (DDIG – BIO) Doctoral Dissertation Enhancement Projects (DDEP – OISE) Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants (DDRI – SBE) DOCTORAL DISSERTATION GRANTS CHECK WITH RELEVANT PROGRAM OFFICER !!

Contact: Graduate Research Fellowships Awarded for graduate study leading to research- based masters or doctoral degrees Science, mathematics, and engineering Intended for students at or near the beginning of their graduate study Handled through the Div. of Graduate Education (Education Directorate) $30,000 / yr for 3 years

Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) Developed to meet the challenges of educating future Ph.D. scientists and engineers Emphasizes multidisciplinary training Institutional award $2 million over 5 years

Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) REU Sites or REU supplements to PIs with existing awards Intended to attract and retain undergraduates in mathematics, science and engineering Incorporates active research experience

Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) Supplements to current NSF Awards Helps build long term collaborative relationships between K-12 teachers of science and mathematics and the NSF research community Encourages researchers to form partnerships with teachers

Minority Postdoctoral Research Fellowships & Supporting Activities Supports training and research in the areas of biology and social, behavioral, and economic sciences Offers travel grants for graduate students to visit prospective sponsors Provides starter research grants for Fellows NSF hosts an annual meeting of Fellows and their mentors

Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grants (DDIG) Division of Environmental Biology and the Division of Integrative Organismal Biology (Behavioral Systems only) Must pass candidacy by the deadline (third Friday in November) Funds research-related costs only (no indirect costs) Recent changes: increased upper limit to $15,000 allows travel to meetings

Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grants (DDIG) SUCCESS RATES FACULTY-LEVEL PROPOSALS: 5 – 15 % DDIGs: 25 – 30 %

Key Documents FY 2009 NSF Budget Request – Grant Proposal Guide ( gpg081 ) – key=gpghttp:// key=gpg Science and Engineering Indicators – When in doubt –

LINKS TO FUNDING FOR (mostly) GRADUATE EDUCATION Student Aid on the Web Graduate Fellowships (at Students.gov) Specialized Information for Graduate Students (NSF) Resources for writing successful funding applications (APA)

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

Questions? Mark Courtney, Ph.D Adjunct, Department of Biology New Mexico State University Las Cruces, NM 24 September 2008