NSF Programs for Faculty Scripps Research Institute April 30, 2009 George Kenyon NSF Division of Chemistry

NSF Structure Biological Sciences Biological Sciences Biological Sciences Biological Sciences Computer & Information Science & Engineering Computer & Information Science & Engineering Computer & Information Science & Engineering Computer & Information Science & Engineering Cyberinfrastructure Cyberinfrastructure Cyberinfrastructure Education and Human Resources Education and Human Resources Education and Human Resources Education and Human Resources Engineering Engineering Engineering Environmental Research & Education Environmental Research & Education Environmental Research & Education Environmental Research & Education Geosciences Geosciences Geosciences International Science & Engineering International Science & Engineering International Science & Engineering International Science & Engineering Mathematical & Physical Sciences Mathematical & Physical Sciences Mathematical & Physical Sciences Mathematical & Physical Sciences Social, Behavioral & Economic Sciences Social, Behavioral & Economic Sciences Social, Behavioral & Economic Sciences Social, Behavioral & Economic Sciences Crosscutting and NSF-wide Crosscutting and NSF-wide Crosscutting and NSF-wide Crosscutting and NSF-wide

Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences Division of Chemistry Division of Chemistry Division of Materials Research Division of Materials Research Division of Mathematical Sciences Division of Mathematical Sciences Division of Physics Division of Physics Division of Astronomical Sciences Office of Multidisciplinary Activities Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences

Organic & Macromolecular Chemistry Organic Dynamics Organic Synthesis Division of Chemistry Chemical Instrumentation Program Physical Chemistry Theoretical & Computational Chemistry Experimental Physical Chemistry Analytical & Surface Chemistry Integrated Chemistry Activities Inorganic, Bioinorganic, & Organometallic Chemistry

Funding Strategies I Program Announcements (recurring, regular deadlines) Program Announcements (recurring, regular deadlines) Program Announcements (occasional or semi- permanent) Program Announcements (occasional or semi- permanent) Programs (individual investigator proposals) Programs (individual investigator proposals)

Funding Strategies II Consult the NSF website and Guide to Programs to locate a likely program (“Home” for your project). Make use of “Search Awards” capability to locate abstracts of proposals with comparable objectives. Contact the Program Director to determine if your project is appropriate.

What to Look for in a Program Announcement Goal of program Goal of program Eligibility Eligibility Special requirements Special requirements Read the Program Announcement Carefully Pay special attention to: If you have questions, contact the Program Officer

Opportunities for Primarily Undergraduate Institutions RUI: Research at Undergraduate Institutions, NSF-wide REU: training programs for undergraduates ROA: Research Opportunity Awards URC: Undergraduate Research Collaboratives (Centers) For instrumentation: -Course, Curriculum, and Laboratory Improvement -Major Research Instrumentation program (MRI) -Regular (divisional) instrumentation programs

RUI Mechanism in NSF Research Divisions  Designed to support Research in Undergraduate Institutions.  RUI is a mechanism, not a separate funding stream.  “RUI” should be designated in the title of the proposal.  Five page (maximum) “RUI impact statement” must accompany proposal.

Research Opportunity Awards (ROA) Provide support for faculty from PUIs to participate in ongoing, NSF-funded research projects for limited periods, usually a summer. Provide support for faculty from PUIs to participate in ongoing, NSF-funded research projects for limited periods, usually a summer. Provide research experience for faculty to enhance research at home institution and host lab, to improve research & teaching. Provide research experience for faculty to enhance research at home institution and host lab, to improve research & teaching. Funded as supplements to active NSF grants Funded as supplements to active NSF grants Salary or stipend for undergraduate faculty Salary or stipend for undergraduate faculty Travel to host lab and/or to attend meetings Travel to host lab and/or to attend meetings Research supplies Research supplies Making connections with an NSF grantee: Making connections with an NSF grantee: Consult NSF FastLane list of awards in relevant program Consult NSF FastLane list of awards in relevant program Contact NSF Program Director in your area of interest Contact NSF Program Director in your area of interest

Major Research Instrumentation (MRI)  Foundation-wide activity (NSF cross-cutting)  Emphasis must be on research  NSF overall - FY04: $109 M, FY05: $89 M, FY06: $88M  Chemistry Division: FY04 and FY05: $12.2 M, FY06: $9.3M (in FY05 $7.2 M (59%) and in FY06 $4.1 M (44%) went to PUIs)

A Good Proposal A good proposal is a good idea, well expressed, with a clear indication of methods for pursuing the idea, evaluating the findings, and making them known to all who need to know. A Competitive Proposal is… All of the above Appropriate for the Program Responsive to the Program Announcement

The Best Way to Learn is to Serve as a Reviewer !

NSF Merit Review Process NSF Merit Review Process By Mail and/or Panel By Mail and/or Panel Confidential Confidential Anonymous Anonymous

Proposal Review Criteria Intellectual merit Intellectual merit Broader impacts Broader impacts

Intellectual Merit Designing experiments Designing experiments Conducting experiments Conducting experiments Interpreting results Interpreting results Assessing value Assessing value

Broader Impacts Communication Communication Education Education Industry Industry Environment Environment National security National security Health Health Quality of life Quality of life

The Best Way to Learn is to Serve as a Reviewer !

Writing Useful Reviews Intellectual merit and broader impact Intellectual merit and broader impact Context and motivation Context and motivation Implementation Implementation Value Value Infrastructure Infrastructure Sufficient detail to inform Program Officer’s recommendation Sufficient detail to inform Program Officer’s recommendation

Interpreting Reviews Rating: Excellent Science looks good to me. Grad students will learn a lot. Fund it.

Program Decision Factors Controlling Quality Controlling Quality Intellectual Merit Intellectual Merit Broader Impacts Broader Impacts Balancing Priorities Balancing Priorities Taking Risks Taking Risks

Secrets for Success New and original ideas New and original ideas Sound, succinct, focused plan Sound, succinct, focused plan Relevant experience Relevant experience Clarity concerning future direction Clarity concerning future direction Well-articulated broader impacts Well-articulated broader impacts

A Declination How to Gain from the Experience The success rate for most CHE programs is ~25%. The success rate for most CHE programs is ~25%. Read the written Reviews and the Panel Summary. Read the written Reviews and the Panel Summary. Call the Program Director for guidance and interpretation. Call the Program Director for guidance and interpretation.

Education & Special Projects Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) Undergraduate Research Collaboratives (URC) Undergraduate Research Collaboratives (URC) Research Opportunity Awards (ROA) Research Opportunity Awards (ROA)

Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) (REU) program supports active research participation by undergraduate students (must be US citizens). Involves students in meaningful ways in ongoing research programs. Two mechanisms for support of student research: REU Supplements and REU Sites ~$75,000/yr for 3 years (for 9-10 students/yr) is typical for REU Sites.

NSF Needs YOU! Reviewers and panelists Reviewers and panelists Workshop participants and organizers Workshop participants and organizers Rotators Rotators

NSF Rotator Program Bring scientific expertise into NSF Bring scientific expertise into NSF Build ties to academic community Build ties to academic community Have an impact Have an impact Continue professional development Continue professional development

Consider being a Rotator “Being an NSF Rotator and being exposed to a blizzard of ideas and ways to think about a research project was a mind-stretching experience that seriously influenced how I thereafter did chemistry. I left NSF less parochial, and much more adventuresome about entering new research subjects.” Royce W. Murray

Keep in touch…. NSF Web page NSF Web page NSF Chemistry web page NSF Chemistry web page NSF Custom News Service NSF Custom News Service NSF list to Chemistry Community NSF list to Chemistry Community

NSF Home Page: Search NSF Awards: FastLane Home Page: NSF Custom News Service: Grant Proposal Guide (GPG) Guide to Programs Useful Websites and URLs

Contact Info George L. Kenyon

Instrumentation Research grants Research grants In FY04, no cost sharing on equipment required for research grants In FY04, no cost sharing on equipment required for research grants CRIF ID and CRIF-MU New solicitation CRIF ID and CRIF-MU New solicitation MRI MRI

Multi-User Instrumentation CRIF: Departmental Multi-User CRIF: Departmental Multi-User NSF NSF Cost sharing on requests over $100K Cost sharing on requests over $100K Deadline in June/July Deadline in June/July MRI (NSF-wide) MRI (NSF-wide) Different cost-sharing rules Different cost-sharing rules Deadline in January Deadline in January

A Declination How to Gain from the Experience The success rate for most CHE programs is ~25%. The success rate for most CHE programs is ~25%. Read the written Reviews and the Panel Summary. Read the written Reviews and the Panel Summary. Call the Program Director for guidance and interpretation. Call the Program Director for guidance and interpretation.

NSF Funding Profile (FY 2002) Administration & Management 5% Education & Training 18% Research Facilities 19% Research Projects 58% Total = $4,796 M