Office of Research & Sponsored Programs
Limited Submission Competition for CSULB Applications to
National Science Foundation
2015-2016 Research Traineeship Program (NRT)
Project Description:
The NSF Research Traineeship (NRT) program is designed to encourage the
development and implementation of bold, new, and potentially transformative models for
STEM graduate education training. The NRT program seeks proposals that ensure that
graduate students in research-based master’s and doctoral degree programs develop the
skills, knowledge, and competencies needed to pursue a range of STEM careers. The
NRT program includes two tracks: the Traineeship Track and the Innovations in Graduate
Education (IGE) Track.
The Traineeship Track is dedicated to effective training of STEM graduate students in
high priority interdisciplinary research areas, through the use of a comprehensive
traineeship model that is innovative, evidence-based, and aligned with changing
workforce and research needs. For FY2016, there are four priority areas: (1) DataEnabled Science and Engineering (DESE), (2) Understanding the Brain (UtB), (3)
Innovations at the Nexus of Food, Energy, and Water Systems (INFEWS), and (4) any
other interdisciplinary research theme of national priority. The priority research areas for
the FY2017 competition will be (1) UtB, (2) INFEWS, and (3) any other interdisciplinary
research theme of national priority.
The IGE Track focuses on test-bed projects aimed at piloting, testing, and validating
innovative and potentially transformative approaches to graduate education. IGE projects
are intended to generate the knowledge required for their customization, implementation,
and broader adoption. While the Traineeship Track promotes building on the current
knowledge base to develop comprehensive programs to effectively train STEM graduate
students, the IGE Track supports testing of novel models or activities with high potential
to enrich and extend the knowledge base on effective graduate education approaches.
Eligibility:
The NRT program includes two tracks: the Traineeship Track and the Innovations in
Graduate Education (IGE) Track. The IGE Track focuses on test-bed projects aimed at
piloting, testing, and validating innovative and potentially transformative approaches to
graduate education. The Traineeship Track is dedicated to effective training of STEM
graduate students in high priority interdisciplinary research areas.
CSULB can submit (and potentially receive awards for) two Traineeship Track proposals
and two IGE Track proposals. An individual may serve as Lead Principal Investigator
(PI) or Co-PI on only one proposal submitted to the NRT program per annual
competition.
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Website: The NSF Research Traineeship (NRT) program solicitation website provides
detailed proposal preparation and submission instructions, etc. Guidelines can be found
at: Solicitation, Grants.gov. Program contact is Claire Hemingway, 703/292-7135.
Email: chemingw@nsf.gov
Internal Competition Application Instructions:
STEP 1:
Notice of intent: Submit a notice of intent to ORSP by Monday, November 2, 2015.
Please make sure that you indicate that the proposal is for NSF Research Traineeship
(NRT) ACQUISITION in “Funding Source” field.
STEP 2:
Applications for internal review: Submit your pre-proposal application for the
internal competition by 4:30 pm, Monday, November 16, 2015, as an email
attachment to jacqueline.wilvers@csulb.edu in ORSP. Include “NRT-PI’s name” in the
subject line of the email message. Prepare applications in 12-point font, single-spaced,
0.5” margins. Applications should include:
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Cover page with proposal title, full contact information (College, Dept, phone,
email) for the PI.
Declaration of whether the proposal is for the traineeship track or the innovations
in graduate education (IGE) track.
1-2 page proposal description that addresses the NRT program goals.
1-2 page CV describing the qualifications of PI and any co-PI's that relate to the
competitiveness of the proposal.
STEP 3:
Internal review of submitted pre-proposals will be completed by a committee composed
of the University Research Advisory Committee of the respective Colleges seeking
funding. The PI’s will be informed of the committee’s decision by November 23, 2015.
STEP 4:
Undergo internal clearance through Cayuse and prepare and submit proposal through
NSF Fastlane. If you have any questions about this procedure, please contact Simon Kim
(562) 985-8147 or email jacqueline.wilvers@csulb.edu.
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Deadlines:
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Notice of intent due to ORSP by November 2, 2015.
Pre-proposal applications for internal review due 4:30 pm, November 16,
2015 to jacqueline.wilvers@csulb.edu in ORSP.
Applicants notified of committee’s decision by November 23, 2015
Letter of intent to NSF by December 9, 2015.
Completed submission to NSF through Fastlane. Deadline is February 9,
2016.
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