1. How to Succeed with NSF: September 14, 2018
Tips for Targeting, Writing, and Packaging a Successful Proposal
September 14, 2018
Presenter: Deborah Hernandez, Sr. Director, Research Development
Division of Research and Innovation

2. Workshop Objectives
Review NSF’s Research Focus & Programmatic Structure
Explore Funding Opportunities, Mechanisms, & Strategies
Explain Proposal Evaluation/Review Criteria & Process
Discuss How to Assemble a Competitive Proposal

3. Research Focus & Programmatic Structure
Where does the National Science Foundation fit into the Federal Funding Landscape?
Independent Federal Agency whose mission is to keep the U.S. at the leading edge of discovery by supporting research and education in all fields of fundamental science and engineering, except for the medical sciences.
Organized into 7 disciplinary Directorates, each with multiple Divisions/Offices and Programs
In FY17 NSF accounted for $5.7 billion of federal research obligations. This ranks NSF 4th overall among federal sources of funding (8.5%) but they rank 2nd in their support of basic research - $4.9 billion.

4. Funding Opportunities & Strategies
How do I find and evaluate NSF funding opportunities?
NSF website and all standard search engines
Read the program pages, dear colleague letters, abstracts
Check solicitation for $, number to be funded, restrictions
Talk with the Program Officer
What types of proposal mechanisms does NSF offer?
Offers non-collaborative and collaborative proposal types
Funds almost everything as a grant
Special mechanisms: RAPID, EAGER, GOALI, RAISE, Conference, Equipment, Travel, Center, etc. defined in the NSF Proposal Guide:

5. NSF Proposal Evaluation Criteria & Process
Two Standard Merit Review Criteria
Intellectual Merit: The potential to advance knowledge and understanding within one’s own field or across different fields. Must convey merit of the potential contribution as well as merit of the proposed approach.
Broader Impacts: The potential to benefit society and help achieve specific, desired societal outcomes. Impacts may be economic, environmental, or educational; may improve research and education infrastructure; or may provide opportunities for underrepresented groups.
Review Process
Generally use ad hoc panel of scientists in program field who provide individual reviews
Reviews given to the Program Officer who determines what to fund

6. Assembling a Competitive Proposal
Required documents
Science:
1-Page Summary with 3 sections: Overview, Intellectual Merit & Broader Impacts
15 page Research Plan & References
Data Management Plan
Investigator & Institutional Capacity:
Investigator Biosketch
Investigator Current/Pending Support
Facilities, Equipment, and Other Resources
Letters of Commitment from Unfunded Collaborators
Financial/Other:
Budget and Narrative Budget Justification
Post-doc mentoring plan (only if applicable)
Investigator Collaborators Spreadsheet

7. NSF Proposals – 1-page summary
Overview – A stand-alone summary of the planned work. It should:
Summarize the scientific or technological challenge you seek to address
Present your project goal and specific objectives
Identify key components of your proposed approach/methods
Intellectual Merit – This is your potential to advance knowledge and understanding in an impactful way. Address the merit or significance of the topic, and the merit of your proposed approach/methods. Consider:
What will my research add to what we already know?
How will my research enhance or enable new directions in my field or in other related fields
What is new or novel about my approach and why is it likely to work?
Broader Impacts – Summarize plans to extend the impact of your research in ways that will benefit larger societal goals related to such things as broadening participation in the sciences, enhancing public health or safety, advancing economic competitiveness, etc.

8. NSF Proposals – Project Description
15 pages with no specified format beyond 3 required sections: intellectual merit, broader impacts, and results from prior NSF support
Suggested Format:
Introduction – ½ page that defines your topic by identifying the main scientific challenges you will address, specifically states your goals and objectives (or hypothesis and research questions), and highlights new ideas/novel approach and the expected impact of your work on the current state of science.
Background/Significance—1-3 pages that provides a synopsis of recent findings in the area and summarizes what we do and don’t know. If appropriate, identify existing barriers to advances in your area that you will address through this project.
This is your literature heavy section and should provide reviewers with a clear understanding of why your proposed work and approach will result in an important contribution to science.

9. NSF Proposals – Project Description
Research Plan (8+ pages) is your forward-looking, technical description of planned activities and timeline.
Identify WHAT will you do, HOW will you do it, and WHEN you will do it. You may choose to set this up with objectives and tasks, clearly identifying tasks that are sequential versus concurrent and identifying key decision points based on expected task outcomes.
Explain WHY your proposed strategy/method is appropriate. This section should logically flow from your background/significance section.
Use appropriate graphics. Consider providing a summary timetable to provide a graphic snapshot of the entire project.
Results from Prior NSF Support, Broader Impacts, and Intellectual Merit

10. NSF Proposals – Data Management Plan
Data Management Plan (2 pages) demonstrates how you will conform with NSF’s policy on dissemination and sharing of research results. Five (5) required sections. ***Some Directorates have separate instructions, so always check.
the types of data, samples, physical collections, software, curriculum materials, and other materials to be produced in the course of the project;
the standards to be used for data and metadata format and content (where existing standards are absent or deemed inadequate, this should be documented along with any proposed solutions or remedies);
policies for access and sharing including provisions for appropriate protection of privacy, confidentiality, security, intellectual property, or other rights or requirements;
policies and provisions for re-use, re-distribution, and the production of derivatives; and
plans for archiving data, samples, and other research products, and for preservation of access to them.

11. NSF Proposals – Investigator Documents
Biosketch – 2 pages and 4 sections
Professional Preparation
Appointments
Products
Synergistic Activities
Current/Pending Support
Collaborators Spreadsheet

12. Questions?
You can reach me at x2648 or via
You can reach Mary at x4911 or via
Research Development Webpage