Funding Opportunities at the National Science Foundation

Funding Opportunities at the National Science Foundation
Rita Teutonico, Ph.D. Deputy Division Director BIO/Molecular and Cellular Biosciences

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

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Divisions in BIO Directorate for Biological Sciences
Division of Biological Infrastructure (DBI) Human Resources Research Resources Plant Genome Research Program Division of Environmental Biology (DEB) Systematic Biology and Biodiversity Inventories Population and Evolutionary Processes Ecological Biology Ecosystem Science Division of Integrative Organismal Biology (IOB) Behavioral Systems Developmental Systems Functional and Regulatory Systems Environmental and Structural Systems Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences (MCB) Biomolecular Systems Cellular Systems Genes and Genome Systems Division of Emerging Frontiers

National Science Foundation Funding Opportunities
Where’s the treasure? Website:

Funding Opportunities
Ongoing Core Activities

Target dates for unsolicited proposals in DEB, IOB & MCB
January 9 to 12 July 9 to 12 Or next business day if date is a weekend or holiday

Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences

Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences (MCB)
Supports research and related activities that contribute to a fundamental understanding of life processes at the molecular, subcellular, and cellular levels Biomolecular Systems Cellular Systems Genes and Genome Systems

MCB Organized into 3 Clusters Genes and Genome Systems
Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences Cellular Systems Eve Barak Michael Mishkind John Rogers Jermelina Tupas Genes and Genome Systems Pat Dennis Susan Porter Ridley Rita Teutonico Joanne Tornow Biomolecular Systems Parag Chitnis Mona Norcum Kamal Shukla

MCB: Biomolecular Systems Cluster
Structure, function, dynamics, interactions, and interconversions of biological molecules Integrating theoretical, computational, and experimental approaches to the study of biological molecules and their functional complexes Mechanistic studies of the regulation and catalysis of enzymes and RNA Higher-order characterization of the biochemical processes

MCB: Cellular Systems Cluster
Structure, function, and regulation of plant, animal and microbial cells, and their interactions with the environment and with one another Studies of the structure, function, and assembly of cellular elements, including eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell walls and envelopes Intracellular and transmembrane signal transduction mechanisms and cell-cell signaling processes, including those that occur in biofilms

MCB: Gene and Genome Systems Cluster
Genomes and genetic mechanisms in all organisms, whether prokaryote, eukaryote, phage, or virus Structure, maintenance, expression, transfer, and stability of genetic information in DNA, RNA, and proteins and how those processes are regulated Genome organization, molecular and cellular evolution, replication, recombination, repair, and vertical and lateral transmission of heritable information Processes that mediate and regulate gene expression, such as chromatin structure, epigenetic phenomena, transcription, RNA processing, editing and degradation, and translation.

Division of Integrative Organismal Biology

Division of Integrative Organismal Biology (IOB)
Supports research aimed at understanding the living organism -- plant, animal, microbe --as a unit of biological organization Behavioral Systems Developmental Systems Environmental and Structural Systems Functional and Regulatory Systems

IOB Organized into 4 Clusters
Division of Integrative Organismal Biology Environmental and Structural Systems Robert Malchow Bill Winner Bill Zamer Functional and Regulatory Systems Dona Boggs Ione Hunt Von Herbing Steve Rodermel Developmental Systems Paul Farel Susan Lolle Judy Plesset Behavioral Systems Godfrey Bourne Gary Thompson Diane Witt Jerry Wolff

IOB: Behavioral Systems Cluster
Focuses on the development, function, mechanisms, and evolution of behavior, biological rhythms, and interactions between organisms including animals, plants, and microbes: social and reproductive behavior behavioral ecology and physiology neural and hormonal mechanisms of behavior; immunology of behavior biological bases of learning, cognition, and communication

IOB: Developmental Systems Cluster
Focuses on the nature, control, and evolution of those processes that comprise the life cycle of organisms mechanisms of gametogenesis, fertilization, embryogenesis, differentiation, pattern formation, and morphogenesis development, regeneration, and aging of the nervous system genomic approaches, gene networks, integration of developmental gene pathways, and computational approaches are included.

IOB: Environmental and Structural Systems Cluster
Focuses on the function and evolution of organisms in their physiochemical and biotic environments physiological ecology, functional morphology, animal sensation and movement, molecular bases of tissue biomechanical properties, environmental genomics.

IOB: Functional and Regulatory Systems Cluster
Focuses on fundamental physiological mechanisms and how they have evolved, with emphasis on organisms as integrated systems. Comparative Physiology Neurophysiology Mechanisms of solute transport Comparative or Evolutionary Immunology Includes research at the genetic, genomic, cellular, tissue, organ, system, and organismal levels of organization.

Division of Environmental Biology

DEB Organized into 4 Clusters
Division of Environmental Biology Ecological Biology Alan Tessier Catherine Gehring Susan Mazer Jess Zimmerman Ecosystem Science Henry Gholz Mark Walbridge Martyn Caldwell Population and Evolutionary Processes Mark Courtney Sam Scheiner John Damuth Saran Twombly Systematic Biology and Biodiversity Inventories James Rodman Judith Skog Chuck Lydeard Juan Carlos Morales

Continuation of Core Panels in DEB
DEB is accepting proposals as usual in the core areas: Biodiversity Surveys and Inventories (BS&I) Ecological Biology Ecosystem Science Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) Long-Term Research in Environmental Biology (LTREB) Population And Evolutionary Processes (PEP) Systematic Biology

Opportunities for Promoting Understanding through Synthesis
OPUS Encourage and provide the means to produce integrated analysis and interpretation of a body of research by an individual or team of investigators. Provide an account that chronicles how stages of research led to cohesive understanding. Generate a new level of insight that points to new directions in research. 6.5 months salary and fringe benefits for primary PI; up to $25,000 non-PI salary costs, over 2 years. Target Dates: Jan 9th and July 9th annually Contact: Mark Courtney, Announcement: NSF

Enhancing Expertise In Taxonomy
Partnerships For Enhancing Expertise In Taxonomy Announcement: NSF Training new generations of taxonomists Translate current expertise into electronic databases Monographic research and computer infrastructure Next competition, March 2007 Please see the announcement for more details. Contact: James Rodman,

Division of Biological Infrastructure

DBI Organized into 3 Clusters and a Program
Division of Biological Infrastructure (DBI) Division Director (Machi F. Dilworth) Deputy Division Director (Judy Skog) Division Secretary Administrative Officer Financial Administrative Officer Lead Program Assistant Rotator Permanent Training Cluster 2 Program Directors (Carter Kimsey, Sally O’Connor) Science Assistant Program Assistants Plant Genome Research Program 3 Program Directors (Jane Silverthorne, Diane Jofuku Okamuro, Anita Klein) Science Assistant Financial Administrative Officer Program Assistant Research Resources Cluster 4 Program Directors (Manfred Zorn, Elizabeth Blood, Vacant, Christopher Greer) Science Assistants Program Assistants Instrumentation Related Activities Cluster 3 Program Directors (Gerald Selzer,Richard McCourt, Helen Hansma) Science Assistant Program Assistant 9/6/05

Continuation of Core Panels in DBI
DBI is accepting proposals as usual in the core areas: Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biological Informatics Starter Grants for Postdoctoral Fellows in Microbial Biology Undergraduate Mentoring in Environmental Biology Biological Databases and Informatics Biological Research Collections Improvements in Facilities, Communications and Equipment at Biological Field Stations and Marine Laboratories Instrument Development for Biological Research Living Stock Collections

Postdoctoral Research Fellowships
Biological Informatics Address important scientific questions in biology Include a strong linkage between computer, information, computational science and biology Develop computational, statistical, and other tools in the collection, organization, dissemination, and use of information to solve problems in biology Deadline: April 10, 2006 Contact: Carter Kimsey, Announcement: NSF

Minority Postdoctoral Research Fellowships
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 Deadline: December 5, 2005 Contact: Carter Kimsey, Announcement: NSF

Plant Genome Research Program (PGRP)
Started as part of the National Plant Genome Initiative (NPGI) in 1998 Major focus is on plants of agricultural importance and plant processes of potential agronomic value Research areas include structural genomics, functional genomics, bioinformatics, databases and tool development Training and outreach activities are built into all projects Rapid release and sharing of all data and tools is required

Plants Supported Arabidopsis Apple Barley Brassica Cotton Grape
Lettuce Maize Medicago Oat Pepper Pine Poplar Potato Rice Soybean Sorghum Tobacco Tomato Wheat

Resources Supported Genome maps (genetic, physical)
Sequences (genomic, EST, cDNA) Mutant collections Antibody collections Microarrays Databases (PlantGDB, Gramene, GDR, SGN, Populus Genome Portal) Tools (TILLING, MPSS)

FY06 Program Changes The proposal submission deadline has been changed to a target date Only one proposal will be accepted from an investigator as a principal investigator or a co-principal investigator in response to the new Program Solicitation There are new proposal categories designed to encourage individual and small groups of investigators to apply !

Developing Country Collaborations In Plant Genome Research (DCC-PGR)
Dear Colleague Letter NSF http:// Supplements of up to $100k for up to 2 years to existing awards DCC-PGR activities may also be integrated into FY2006 proposals to PGRP

Suspended for Budgetary Reasons
Multi-User Biological Equipment and Instrumentation Resources Provides support for the purchase of major items Requests can be $40,000 to $400,000 Single items of biological equipment or several pieces of equipment with a related purpose Must be shared by 3 to 7 investigators with actively-funded NSF research projects  30% of the total acquisition cost must be shared by the PI’s institution Suspended for Budgetary Reasons Deadline: 1st Monday in October, annually Announcement: NSF

Funding Opportunities Cross-BIO Opportunites

Undergraduate Mentoring in Environmental Biology (UMEB)
Research Mentoring Awards - proposals should emphasize factors that enable students from under-represented groups to enter and remain in environmental biology Travel Awards - awards to professional societies to enable them to bring undergraduates from under-represented groups to meetings Preliminary proposal required Contact: Sally O’Connor Announcement: NSF

Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grants (DDIG)
Division of Environmental Biology and Integrative Organismal Biology (Behavioral Systems only) Must pass candidacy by the deadline Funds research-related costs only Recent changes: increased upper limit to $12,000 allows travel to meetings Deadline: 3rd Friday in November, annually Contact: Dr. Mark Courtney, Announcement: NSF

Research Initiation Grants (RIG) Career Advancement Awards (CAA)
and Career Advancement Awards (CAA) Increase number and competitiveness of underrepresented groups in biology as well as scientists at minority-serving institutions. Proposed activities must facilitate broadening participation by underrepresented groups in biology. RIG - beginning investigators – activities leading to competitive grant applications (e.g. preliminary data or developing collaborations) CAA – established scientists – to enhance career development and competitiveness (e.g., acquiring new tools, skills). Target Dates: Jan 12th and July 12th annually Contact: Announcement: NSF

Emerging Frontiers

National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent)
Foster greater conceptual synthesis in biological evolution Bring together researchers and educators, extant data and information technology resources. Develop new tools and cross-disciplinary standards for management of biological information, support data analysis capabilities, and host and curate databases. Workshops, sabbaticals, postdoctorals

NEON National Ecological Observatory Network
NEON infrastructure can address technical issues of: Scale Complexity Interacting Drivers Biological Processes Grand Challenges (NRC 2003) Invasive Species Biodiversity, species composition, and ecosystem functioning Ecological aspects of biogeochemical cycles Ecological implications of climate change Ecology and evolution of infectious disease Ecological Consequences of Land use and habitat alteration Advances for ecology Knowledge Discovery Sensing Forecasting Collaboratory Educational tools Decision Support Contact: Liz Blood

The 2010 Project To determine the function of all genes in Arabidopsis thaliana Announcement: NSF Determine the function of all genes in Arabidopsis thaliana by the year 2010 Conduct creative and innovative research in order to determine the function of a network of genes Development of critical research tools for Arabidopsis functional genomics Target Date: Jan 23, 2006 Contact:

Frontiers in Integrative Biological Research (FIBR)
Goals: To identify major questions in biology, develop integrative approaches, and integrate scientific concepts and research tools both from within and outside of the biological sciences Awards made up to $5 Million for up to 5 years. Preliminary proposals due: October 3, 2005 Contact: Chris Greer, Announcement: NSF

Contact: James Rodman, jrodman@nsf.gov
Assembling The Tree of Life Project (AToL) Announcement: NSF Constructing a universal Tree of Life for all 1.7 million named species of organisms on earth Capitalizes on new computational and genomic technologies Encompasses all microbes, fungi, protists, animals and plants Contact: James Rodman,

Ecology of Infectious Diseases
(EID) Joint NSF and NIH initiative Study how large-scale environmental events alter the risks of emergence of viral, parasitic, or bacterial diseases Deadline: February 10, 2006 Contact: Sam Scheiner, Announcement: NSF

Mathematical Biology Research
Interdisciplinary Training for Undergraduates in Biological and Mathematical Sciences (UBM) NSF – Deadline: March 29, 2006 Quantitative Environmental and Integrative Biology (QEIB) NSF – Target Dates: Jan 9 and July 9 Contact: Sam Scheiner, NSF ; NSF

Human Interactions Dynamics of Coupled Natural and Human Systems (CNH)
complex interactions among human and natural systems quantitative, interdisciplinary analyses NSF Deadline: To Be Determined Human and Social Dynamics (HSD) understanding the dynamics of human action and development interdisciplinary NSF Deadline: Anticipated for Fall 2006 Deadlines: To Be Determined Contact: Tom Baerwald, NSF ; NSF

Cross-Foundation Opportunities

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 Deadline: July 18, 2006 Contact: Dr. Mark Courtney, Announcement: NSF

Research Coordination Networks (RCN)
Goal: To encourage interactions among scientists to create new research directions or advance a field Awards will range from $50,000 to $100,000 per year for up to 5 years Target Date: last Monday in June Contact: Alan Tessier Announcement: NSF

ADVANCE Goal: Increasing the participation and advancement of women in academic science and engineering careers Creative strategies are sought from both men and women Institutional Transformation Awards Leadership Awards Partnerships for Adaptation, Implementation, and Dissemination Awards Partnerships Deadline: January 27, 2006 Contact: Alice Hogan Announcement: NSF

Major Research Instrumentation Program (MRI)
Designed to improve the condition of scientific and engineering equipment and facilities for research and research training Awards for instrumentation will range from $100,000 to $2 million Deadline: 4th Thursday in January, annually Contact: Dragana Brzakovic Announcement: NSF

Course, Curriculum, and Laboratory Improvement (CCLI)
Division of Undergraduate Education Recently revised solicitation emphasizes projects that build community of scholars and knowledge base of undergraduate STEM education research and practice Three types of proposals: Phase 1: Exploratory Projects Phase 2: Expansion Projects Phase 3: Comprehensive Projects Discourages proposals that seek replacement instrumentation without a well-conceived plan for enhancing learning Deadline: January 24, 2006 For Phase 2 and 3 proposals Announcement: NSF

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) Deadline: November 2, 2005 Questions? Write to Announcement: NSF

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 $3 million over 5 years Deadline: Pre-proposals February 2006; Full proposals by invitation only Contact: Carol van Hartesveldt, Announcement: NSF

Supplementary Funding

Research Opportunity Award
(ROA) Supplementary funding through ongoing NSF research grants Allows faculty at predominantly undergraduate institutions to participate in research activities under the aegis of NSF-supported investigators Consult with the Program Director of your particular NSF award. Announcement: NSF

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 Consult with the Program Director of your particular NSF award. Announcement: NSF

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 Consult with the Program Director of your particular NSF award. Announcement: NSF

International Opportunities
Office of International Science and Engineering (OISE) Planning Visits and Workshops Global Scientists and Engineers Partnerships for International Research and Education OISE encourages applicants to include an international component in proposals submitted to the research directorates. Consult with the Program Director of your particular NSF award. Announcement: NSF

Navigating NSF Online

New Website Design!

Visit the BIO Webpage

Search for documents

Other Quick Links

FastLane Supplementary requests, and most other requests, now done through Fastlane Access information about pending proposals through the “Proposals, Awards & Status” hyperlink

The NSF Merit Review Process

NSF Merit Review Criteria
NSB Approved Criteria include: Intellectual Merit Broader Impacts of the Proposed Effort

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

Proposal Review Criterion: Broader Impact
Advances discovery while promoting teaching, training and learning Broadens the participation of underrepresented groups (e.g., gender, ethnicity, disability, geographic, etc.) Enhances the infrastructure for research and education, such as facilities, instrumentation, networks and partnerships Results disseminated broadly Potential benefits to society

What to Look for in a Program Announcement
goal of program eligibility special requirements

Grant Proposal Guide (GPG)
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

NSF Sources of Reviewers
Program Officer’s knowledge of what is being done and who’s doing what in the research area References listed in proposal Recent technical programs from professional societies Recent authors in Scientific and Engineering journals Reviewer recommendations Investigator’s suggestions Volunteers to Program Officer

What Makes a Proposal Competitive?
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, and indicating the broader impacts of the activity A Competitive Proposal is… All of the above Appropriate for the Program Responsive to the Program Announcement

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

Do’s and Don’ts Talk to your Program Officer
Less verbiage, more readability Anticipate objections or criticisms Justify your budget Don’t be greedy Follow the rules Give yourself plenty of time Study reviews carefully

Do’s and Don’ts 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

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

IGERT: Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship Program
Innovative research based graduate education Organized around an interdisciplinary research theme Provide a framework for integrating research and education and promoting collaborations across departments and institutions Involve a diverse group of faculty members Students gain a breadth of skills and understanding to work in interdisciplinary environments while being grounded with knowledge of disciplinary field ProgramAnnouncement: Preproposal: February 2006; Proposal: Aug. 2006

Evaluating Efforts to Increase Participation of Under-Represented Minorities
Native American (American Indian/Alaskan native) Pacific Islander (Hawaii, Guam, Samoa) African-American Hispanic Female Disabled Diversity enriches the educational experience. It promotes personal growth & a healthy society. It strengthens communities and the workplace. It enhances economic competitiveness. Diversity enriches the educational experience. We learn from those whose experiences, beliefs, and perspectives are different from our own, and these lessons can be taught best in a richly diverse intellectual and social environment. It promotes personal growth—and a healthy society. Diversity challenges stereotyped preconceptions; it encourages critical thinking; and it helps students learn to communicate effectively with people of varied backgrounds. It strengthens communities and the workplace. Education within a diverse setting prepares students to become good citizens in an increasingly complex, pluralistic society; it fosters mutual respect and teamwork; and it helps build communities whose members are judged by the quality of their character and their contributions. It enhances America's economic competitiveness. Sustaining the nationís prosperity in the 21st century will require us to make effective use of the talents and abilities of all our citizens, in work settings that bring together individuals from diverse backgrounds and cultures. ACE

Diversity Cultural Change: flexible work arrangements, prioritization, recognition of diversity efforts: rewards Responsiveness to situation: concern for retention as well as recruitment Creating Opportunities at all levels (student, faculty, etc.) Recruitment Efforts (improving the numbers): linkages to other groups Recognition of Problem (identification of under-represented groups, awareness)

Diversity-specific criteria from solicitation
Strategies for recruitment, mentoring, retention & graduation of students from under-represented groups: development of new approaches in IT to engage members of under-represented groups; collaborations with students &/or faculty who are members of under-represented groups or affiliated with minority-serving institutions (MSI's), including letters of commitment or endorsement; campus visits/presentations at MSI's;

Diversity-specific criteria from solicitation (cont’d)
regular publication of bulletins/newsletters to enhance cross-cultural/gender communication; monitoring of graduate student retention. Detailed recruitment & assessment plans. Strategies for promoting student & faculty diversity as an integral part of the project. Partnerships with AGEP, LSAMP, HBCU-UP and CREST.

Best Practices Psychological, practical & financial support for students; reward systems. Comprehensive student development strategies, including oral & written communication skills. Detailed mentoring plans. Participation in diversity-focused conferences, workshops, & field activities.

Best Practices (cont’d)
Coordination of recruitment/retention programs across schools/departments. Coordination of academic support services across schools/departments. Integration of diversity goals/objectives into the regular operation & management of departments/ institutions.

Best Practices (cont’d)
Training opportunities for faculty on effective mentoring, recruitment, & the value of a diverse academic community. Faculty reward system for diversity-related activities. Collection/analysis of grad student data for strategic planning purposes.

Funding Opportunities at the National Science Foundation

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