1. National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Site Program

2. Overview of Today’s Info Session Overview of the REU Site program Components of an NSF application package What’s in your folder? Helpful tips & insights from funded proposals

3. What is the Research Experiences for Undergraduates Site Program? Purpose: To provide educational experiences for undergraduates through active participation in research in any area funded by NSF Structure: Cohort-style program composed of 8-10 students per year. Can be a summer or academic year program OR a combination of both. Typical duration of awards is three years. Content: Sites must have a well-defined common focus to enable a cohort experience. Also, the Site should reflect UTC’s unique interests and capabilities and partnerships with any partnering organizations. Benefits to UTC: Sites can be an excellent recruitment tool targeting both community college transfer students and graduate students NSF anticipates making up to 180 new awards!

4. Profile of REU Site Student Participants NSF is particularly interested in using this program to increase the number of women, underrepresented minorities, and persons with disabilities in STEM research NSF also encourages projects to consider students who are veterans of the US Armed Services Must be US citizens, US nationals, or permanent residents of the US. Historically, student participants have been junior- or senior-level undergrads that have already committed to a STEM major. But, NSF also welcomes projects that is structured to involve students that may be at an earlier stage in their academic experience (e.g., developing a partnership with community colleges). A significant fraction of the students must come from outside of UTC. And, at least half must be recruited from academic institutions where research opportunities in STEM are limited (including two-year colleges). Eligibility extends from high school graduates who have been accepted to an institution (full- or part-time) to senior-level undergraduates. Transfer students are also accepted during the intervening summer.

5. REU Site: The Basics of the Budget TIP: Make an appointment with your OPSP Grant Specialist early to create a working draft of the budget.  The typical funding amount is $70,000 - $120,000 per year  Project costs must be predominately for student support (stipends, housing, meals, travel, lab use fees, etc.)  Funds requested in categories outside of participant support costs must be modest and reasonable. Many NSF units consider up to one month of salary of the PI, or distributed among the PI and other research mentors, to be appropriate.  Students can NOT be charged an application fee  Tuition costs can NOT be included in the budget (and offering academic credit is not required)  Student stipends for summer REU sites are expected to be ≈$500/student/week, and should be paid on a regular/incremental basis. NSF does NOT want students paid a lump sum at the end.  Total project costs (direct & indirect) are expected not to exceed $1,200/student/week  Any expense directly related to entertainment, amusement, diversion or social activities is NOT an allowable expense.

6. Anatomy of an NSF Application Package Items Completed in Fastlane Cover Sheet – contains program solicitation #, PI contact info, title, amount requested, etc. Project Summary – Three text boxes: Overview, Intellectual Merit, and Broader Impacts. Total character limit for all three sections is 4600 Table of Contents – Automatically generated Budget Forms – Must be manually entered List of Suggested Reviewers (optional) Items Uploaded to Fastlane Project Description – 15 pages, numbered with 1-inch margins References Cited – no page limit, numbered Biosketch – for PI, Co-PI, & Senior Personnel. Limited to two pages per person Budget Justification – 3 pages Current & Pending Support – list this project as pending Facilities, Equipment, & Other Resources Data Management Plan – 2 pages Letters of Commitment – limited to 5 signed letters for this program Make sure you give OPSP access to view, edit, & submit your proposal in Fastlane!

7. Resource Materials What is in your folder? REU Site Program Guidelines Power Point Notes Project Description Template Project Timeline Fastlane Components with references to the GPG Budget Spreadsheet Sample Budget Justification Facilities, Equipment, & Other Resources Template Biosketch Template Biosketch Instructions excerpted from the GPG Data Management Plan Template Current & Pending Support Template

8. Insights &Tips: Ways to increase your chances of getting funded Read the guidelines Review funded proposals Talk about your project plan with the Program Contact at NSF for your specific content area Get an External Review Ramp up your research – ensure that it “advances the field” Make use of all that UTC & Chattanooga has to offer o Graduate School o New Library o Career & Student Employment Center o City/Environment o External Partners Don’t leave out the details o Housing o Parking o ID Cards o Website for Recruitment, Application, and Informational Purposes http://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/reu_search.jsp http://www.utc.edu/mathematics/reu/index.php

9. Questions?