The National Science Foundation’s proposal review process Helpful tips for getting your proposals funded

The process  Request from program manager  Confidentiality paperwork  Assignment of proposals  Panel meeting  Discussion  Voting  Final tally  Request from program manager  Confidentiality paperwork  Assignment of proposals  Panel meeting  Discussion  Voting  Final tally

Panel discussion  Intellectual merit  Broader impacts  Budget  Facilities  Work plan  Results of prior NSF support  Intellectual merit  Broader impacts  Budget  Facilities  Work plan  Results of prior NSF support

Six Key Tips  hypothesis driven research  “the first page”  proof of concept  broader impacts  When you aren’t funded…  Get to know your program manager  hypothesis driven research  “the first page”  proof of concept  broader impacts  When you aren’t funded…  Get to know your program manager

Page One-summarize proposal  Importance of phenomenon to be investigated  Specific aspect of phenomenon that is uncertain and its relevance  Hypothesis that you plan to test  Basic work plan  Importance of phenomenon to be investigated  Specific aspect of phenomenon that is uncertain and its relevance  Hypothesis that you plan to test  Basic work plan

Overall Proposal Structure  First page  Background - restate the hypothesis at some point  Work plan - specific tasks and methods  Expected results and perspectives (win-win)  Intellectual merit and broader impacts  First page  Background - restate the hypothesis at some point  Work plan - specific tasks and methods  Expected results and perspectives (win-win)  Intellectual merit and broader impacts

Summary  Know your program manager  Sell your proposal on the first page  Hypothesis driven research  Demonstrate proof of concept  Demonstrate detailed plan and feasibility of work  Know your program manager  Sell your proposal on the first page  Hypothesis driven research  Demonstrate proof of concept  Demonstrate detailed plan and feasibility of work