Funding Opportunities
at NSF
Mark Courtney
Program Director
Division of Environmental Biology
Agenda
• ORGANIZATION
• FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
– Core Activities (ongoing)
– Emerging Frontiers
– Developing Expertise
– Increasing Diversity
– Instrumentation Resources
– New & Upcoming Opportunities
Pardon me, but could you tell us where the public trough is?
Executive Branch
Executive Office of the President
Office of
Management
and Budget
Science Advisor
OSTP
Major Departments
Agriculture
Health and
Human
Services
Defense
Energy
Interior
Other boards,
councils, etc.
Independent Agencies
NASA
Trans.
Homeland
Security
Commerce
Smith.
Institution
Nuclear
Regulatory
Commission
EPA
Other
agencies
Legislative Branch
NSF, NASA, NIST, OSTP Appropriations sub-Committees
House:
Science, State, Justice
and Commerce
Senate:
Commerce, Justice and
Science
NSF…
NSF …
- supplies most of the Federal support for basic research in
"non-medical biological sciences" at U.S. academic
institutions (ca. same for "environmental biology")
NSF
65%
Other
federal
spending
35%
National Science Board
Office of
Inspector
General
National Science Foundation
Director Deputy Director
Office of the Director
Directorates
• Legislative & Public
Affairs
• Biological Sciences
• Comp. & Info. Science & Engineering
• Education & Human Resources
• Engineering
• Geosciences
• Mathematical & Physical Sciences
• Social, Behaviorial & Econ. Sciences
• Equal Opportunity Prog.
• General Counsel
• Integrative Activities
actions
• Polar Programs
• Cyberinfrastructure
• International Programs
Offices
• Budget, Finance & Award
Management
• Information & Resource
Management
Agenda
• ORGANIZATION
• FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
– Core Activities (ongoing)
– Emerging Frontiers
– Developing Expertise
– Increasing Diversity
– Instrumentation Resources
– New & Upcoming Opportunities
Funding Opportunities
Where’s the treasure?
Please get to know your
friendly NSF home page…
http://www.nsf.gov
BIO Homepage
www.nsf.gov/bio
Proposal Policy Changes
• NSF’s new Proposal & Award Policies &
Procedures Guide is now in use
• Minimum font size: 10 pt
• Required fonts:
• Arial
• Helvetica
• Palatino
• Computer Modern
• Georgia
Publication Number: NSF 07-140
Agenda
• ORGANIZATION
• FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
– Core Activities (ongoing)
– Emerging Frontiers
– Developing Expertise
– Increasing Diversity
– Instrumentation Resources
– New & Upcoming Opportunities
Directorate for Biological
Sciences
Emerging Frontiers (EF)
Div. of
Biological
Infrastructure
(DBI)
Div. of
Environmental
Biology
(DEB)
Human
Resources
Ecological Biology
Behavioral
Systems
Biomolecular
Systems
Research
Resources
Ecosystem
Science
Developmental
Systems
Cellular Systems
Population &
Evolutionary Processes
Neural Systems
Genes and Genome
Systems
Plant Genome
Research Program
Systematic Biology &
Biodiversity Inventories
As of February 2007
Div. of Integrative
Organismal
Systems
(IOS)
Physiological
& Functional
Systems
Div. of Molecular &
Cellular
Biosciences
(MCB)
BIO Target dates for unsolicited
proposals
January 9 or 12
July 9 or 12
Agenda
• ORGANIZATION
• FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
– Core Activities (ongoing)
– Emerging Frontiers
– Developing Expertise
– Increasing Diversity
– Instrumentation Resources
– New & Upcoming Opportunities
Research Coordination
Networks (RCN)
• Encourage and foster interactions among
scientists
• Create new research directions or advance a field
• Support communication and coordination across
disciplinary, organizational, institutional, and
geographical boundaries
• $50,000-100,000 per year for up to 5 years
Proposal Target Date: Last Monday in June, annually
Contact: Gerald Wilkinson, biorcn@nsf.gov
Announcement: NSF 06-567
Ecology of Infectious
Diseases (EID)
Joint NSF and NIH initiative
Supports the development of predictive models and
the discovery of principles governing the
transmission dynamics of infectious disease
agents.
Deadline: 2nd Wed in December annually
Contact: Sam Scheiner, sscheine@nsf.gov
Award Web Page: http://nsf.gov/bio/pubs/awards/eid.htm
Announcement: NSF 07-513
Assembling the
Tree of Life Project (AToL)
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: AToL Working Group, BIO-AToL@nsf.gov
Announcement: NSF 07-535
The 2010 Project
To determine the function of all genes in
Arabidopsis thaliana
• 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
Contact: Bio2010@nsf.gov
Announcement: NSF 06-612
Microbial Genome
Sequencing
• Support high-throughput sequencing of the genomes
of microorganisms (including viruses, bacteria,
archaea, fungi, oomycetes and protists)
• In collaboration with the USDA
• Emphasis on: novel biological functions, ecosystem
roles, environmental effects, and genome evolution
Contact: Patrick Dennis, pdennis@nsf.gov
Announcement: NSF 07-513
Microbial Observatories and Microbial
Interactions and Processes (MOMIP)
• Develop a network of sites in different habitats to
study and understand microbial diversity over time
and across environmental gradients.
• Establish or participate in an internet-accessible
knowledge network to disseminate the information.
• Now supports research projects that need not be sitebased, and that are smaller and/or shorter in
duration than MO projects.
Deadline: October 8, 2007
Contact: Matt Kane, mkane@nsf.gov
Announcement: NSF 05-600
Dynamics of Coupled Natural and
Human Systems (CNH)
• Joint program of three directorates:
Biological Sciences, Geosciences, and Social,
Behavioral, and Economic Sciences
• Focuses on complex interactions among
human and natural systems at diverse scales
• Topics are inherently interdisciplinary
Deadline: see announcement
Contact: Saran Twombly, stwombly@nsf.gov
Announcement: NSF 06-587
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
Agenda
• ORGANIZATION
• FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
– Core Activities (ongoing)
– Emerging Frontiers
– Developing Expertise
– Increasing Diversity
– Instrumentation Resources
– New & Upcoming 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 17, 2007
Contact: Mark Courtney, mcourtne@nsf.gov
Announcement: NSF 05-579
Partnerships for International
Research and Education (PIRE)
• Developed to meet the challenges of educating
future Ph.D. scientists and engineers
• Emphasizes international training
• Multi-institutional award
• $2 million over 5 years
Deadline: see announcement
Contact: Edward Murdy, emurdy@nsf.gov
Announcement: NSF 06-589
Partnerships for Enhancing
Expertise in Taxonomy (PEET)
• Training new generations of taxonomists
• Translate current expertise into electronic
databases
• Monographic research and computer
infrastructure
• Next competition, 2007
• Please see the announcement for more
details
Contact: Juan Carlos Morales, jmorales@nsf.gov
Announcement: NSF 07-519
Doctoral Dissertation
Improvement Grants (DDIG)
• Division of Environmental Biology (DEB)
and the Division of Integrative Organismal
Systems (IOS)
• Must pass candidacy by the deadline
• Funds research-related costs only
• Recent changes:
• increased upper limit to $12,000
• allow travel to meetings
Deadline: 3rd Friday in November, annually
Contact: Mark Courtney, mcourtne@nsf.gov
Announcement: NSF 05-607
Graduate Research Fellowships
• Awarded for graduate study leading to researchbased 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)
• $30,000 / yr for 3 years
Contact: Help@nsfgradfellows.org
Announcement: NSF 06-592
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
DEB Supplement Deadline: February 1st, annually
Contact: Main award’s NSF Program Director
Announcement: NSF 05-592
Research in
Undergraduate Institutions (RUI)
• Support high quality research by faculty with
active involvement of undergraduate students
• Strengthen the research environment in
academic departments that are oriented
primarily toward undergraduate instruction
Target Date: Same as core programs’
Contact: Michael Mishkind, mmishkin@nsf.gov
Announcement: NSF 00-144
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 NSFsupported investigators
Deadline: Proposals accepted anytime
Contact: Main award’s NSF Program Director
Announcement: NSF 05-548
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
Deadline: Proposals accepted anytime
Contact: Main award’s NSF Program Director
Announcement: NSF 05-524
Agenda
• ORGANIZATION
• FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
– Core Activities (ongoing)
– Emerging Frontiers
– Developing Expertise
– Increasing Diversity
– Instrumentation Resources
– New & Upcoming Opportunities
Minority Postdoctoral Research
Fellowships & Supporting Activities
• 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
Contact: Carter Kimsey, ckimsey@nsf.gov
Announcement: NSF 06-586
Undergraduate Research & Mentoring
in the Biological Sciences (URM)
• Research Mentoring Awards – proposals
should emphasize ways of enabling students from
under-represented groups to enter and remain in
environmental biology
• Travel Awards - awards to professional societies
to enable undergraduates from under-represented
groups to attend meetings
Preliminary proposal deadline: 3rd Tues in Sep
Contact: biourm@nsf.gov
Announcement: NSF 06-591
Research Assistantships for
High School Students (RAHSS)
• Supplements current NSF awards
• Fosters high school students’ interest in
pursuing the biological sciences
• Broadens participation
Deadline: Proposals accepted anytime
Contact: Main award’s NSF Program Director
Announcement: NSF 06-027
Agenda
• ORGANIZATION
• FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
– Core Activities (ongoing)
– Emerging Frontiers
– Developing Expertise
– Increasing Diversity
– Instrumentation Resources
– New & Upcoming Opportunities
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
• Cost sharing at a level of 30% of total eligible costs
is required
Deadline: 3rd Thursday in January, annually
Contact: Joan Frye, jfrye@nsf.gov
Announcement: NSF 07-510
Improvements in Facilities, Communications,
& Equipment for Research at Biological Field
Stations & Marine Laboratories (FSML)
• Off-campus facilities for R&E
• Preserving access to study areas & organisms
• Provide facilities & equipment in close
proximity to study areas
Deadline: March 7, 2008
Contact: Kandace Binkley, biofsml@nsf.gov
Announcement: NSF 05-550
Course, Curriculum,
& Laboratory Improvement (CCLI)
• Division of Undergraduate Education
• Changed substantially in FY 2006
Phase 1, Exploratory Projects - up to $150,000 ($200,000 when 4year and 2-year institutions collaborate) for 1 to 3 years;
Phase 2, Expansion Projects - up to $500,000 for 2 to 4 years;
Phase 3, Comprehensive Projects - up to $2,000,000 for 3 to 5
years.
Deadline: Phase 2 & 3: January 10, 2008
Contact: Terry Woodin, twoodin@nsf.gov
Announcement: NSF 07-543
Agenda
• ORGANIZATION
• FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
– Core Activities (ongoing)
– Emerging Frontiers
– Developing Expertise
– Increasing Diversity
– Instrumentation Resources
– New & Upcoming Opportunities
Research Initiation Grants (RIG) &
Career Advancement Awards (CAA)
to Broaden Participation in the Biological Sciences
• Increase the number and competitiveness of underrepresented
groups in biology and scientists at minority-serving institutions.
• For faculty at any college or university.
• Proposed activities must facilitate broadening participation by
underrepresented groups in biology.
• RIG - beginning investigators - for activities (e.g. preliminary
data or developing collaborations), in order to formulate
competitive grant applications.
• CAA – established scientists – to enhance career development
and competitiveness (e.g., acquiring new tools, skills).
Deadline: 2nd Monday in January, annually
Contact: W. Carl Taylor, wtaylor@nsf.gov
Announcement: NSF 07-560
Human & Social Dynamics (HSD)
• Multidisciplinary research teams
• Focuses on understanding the drivers and
consequences of organizational, cultural,
and societal change
• FY 2008 emphasis areas not yet announced
Contact: Rita Teutonico, rteutoni@nsf.gov
Announcement: NSF 06-604
Interdisciplinary Training for Undergraduates
in Biological and Mathematical Sciences (UBM)
• Enhance undergraduate training at the
intersection of the biological and mathematical
sciences
• Involve interdisciplinary teams of
undergraduates in genuine research projects
• Strengthen research and education capacity,
infrastructure, and culture of the institution
Contact: Sam Scheiner, sscheine@nsf.gov
Announcement: NSF 07-539
Science and Society (S&S)
Impacts of Biology on Society
Examine the relationships among science,
engineering, technology, and society.
– Ethics and Values
– History and Philosophy
– Social Studies
– Policy Studies
Proposal Target Dates: February 1 and August 1, annually
Contact: Frederick Kronz, fkronz@nsf.gov
Announcement:
NSF 06-039 Impacts of Bio on Society
NSF 05-588 Science & Society
OPUS
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 insight that points to new directions in research.
• 6.5 mths salary and fringe benefits for primary PI; up to
$25,000 non-PI salary costs, over 2 years.
Deadlines: January 9 and July 9, annually
Contact: Mark Courtney, mcourtne@nsf.gov
Announcement: NSF 06-568
Environmental Genomics
(EnGen)
• To enhance the development of fundamental knowledge and
strengthen the capacity to apply genomics-enabled methods in
research on organisms in their natural environments.
• Research foci should be appropriate to the themes of interest or
purviews of the Directorates for Biological Sciences (BIO) and
Geosciences (GEO).
• If related to polar species or polar ecosystems, proposals should
be responsive to the themes and goals of the International Polar
Year (IPY), and submitted to the NSF IPY solicitation
Contact: engen@nsf.gov
Announcement: NSF 06-611
International Polar Year
(IPY) 2007-2008
• An intense scientific campaign to explore new
frontiers in polar science, improve our
understanding of the critical role of the polar
regions in global processes, and educate the public
about the polar regions
Contact: Office of Polar Programs
Announcement: NSF 07-536
Planetary Biodiversity
Inventories (PBI)
• To accelerate the discovery & study of
the world’ biodiversity.
• World wide, species-level systematic
inventory of a major group of
organisms.
Deadline: January 12, 2008
Contact:Patrick Herendeen, pherende@nsf.gov
Announcement: NSF 06-500
Plant Science
Cyberinfrastructure (PSCIC)
• New program
• Create a cyberinfrastructure collaborative for
plant science that will enable new conceptual
advances through integrative, computational
thinking
• Scientists from various disciplines will work
collaboratively on teams
Contact: Christopher Greer, pscic@nsf.gov
Announcement: NSF 06-594
Advancing Theory in Biology
(ATB)
• Develop new conceptualizations and
theoretical approaches to identify
fundamental principles that traverse
levels of biological complexity
• Awards up to $250,000 per year for 3
years
Proposal Deadline: July 3, 2007
Contact: Saran Twombly, BioTheory@nsf.gov
Announcement: NSF 07-556
National Ecological
Observatory Network (NEON)
• A major research infrastructure activity
• Continent-wide network of observatories
• State-of-the-art infrastructure will support
interdisciplinary, integrated research
• Award announcement is forthcoming
Contact: Elizabeth Blood, eblood@nsf.gov
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