Writing a Competitive NSF
CAREER Proposal
Proposal Development Workshop
UT San Antonio
April 13, 2015
Lucy Deckard
Academic Research Funding Strategies, LLC
Ldeckard@academicresearchgrants.com
Copyright 2015 Academic Research Funding Strategies. All rights reserved
Your CD/memory stick contains
These slides
Handouts (one pdf file)
Additional resources
Annotated excerpts from successful CAREER
proposals
Articles
These files can be downloaded from
http://1drv.ms/1awRaTL
Academic Research Funding Strategies, LLC
Our goal:
To help your institution, faculty and staff to
develop the skills they need to compete
successfully for research funding.
http://academicresearchgrants.com
3
Lucy Deckard
Ldeckard@academicresearchgrants.com
979-693-0825
Founder and President, Academic Research Funding
Strategies, LLC (2010)
Nine years in research and proposal development at Texas
A&M University as associate director of two research
development and grant writing offices
BS/MS Materials Science and Engineering
Junior Faculty Initiative, CAREER, instrumentation, research,
education, Center-level proposals
NSF, NIH, DOE, DoD, DoED, IMLS, Foundations
Research Engineer (16 years in applied research, with
extensive proposal writing experience to NSF, DARPA, ONR,
AFOSR, ARO, DOE)
4
Overview
Getting started
NSF Faculty Early Career Development
Program (CAREER)
Before you start writing
Writing the proposal step-by-step (quickly)
If you don’t get funded this round
5
Getting Started
6
First, the big picture
Define Your Research and
Education Agendas
Long-term Goals,
Grand Challenge,
or Need You Are
Addressing
Preliminary/Prior
Work
CAREER Project
CAREER Project Goals and Outcomes
Further work
Establish a Long-Term Research Agenda
What big questions do you want to answer in the first 5
years? In the first 15 years?
Is your agenda in an exciting, high-impact area of
scholarship?
Is the topic separated enough from that of your advisor
to establish an independent career, but builds on your
grad work
Is it a topic you are passionate about?
Do have publications that will support this line of
research or do you have a plan for producing them?
Is your topic in an area that is currently funded by
agencies or likely to be funded soon?
9
Your Long-Term Education Agenda
What are your interests?
What challenges or opportunities will you address?
What fits your institution, department, students and
discipline?
What infrastructure do you already have at your
institution? For example,
Programs with teachers, K-12 students
Programs with pre-service teachers
Undergraduate research
Science camps for middle schoolers
Connections with Community Colleges
10
Grants Specifically for Early Career and Junior
Faculty
NSF CAREER
approx. 600 awards/year
Non-tenured, tenure track
All disciplines supported by NSF
Due late July
ONR Young Investigator
Approx. 20 awards/year
First tenure track appt started in the last 5 years
Disciplines of interest to Navy (see BAA)
Due March 4, 2015
AFOSR Young Investigator
Approx. 30 awards/year
PhD or equivalent in the last 5 years
Disciplines of interest to Air Force
Last due Sept.
11
Grants Specifically for Early Career and Junior
Faculty
DARPA Young Faculty Award
Approx. 30 - 40 awards
Untenured within 5 years of starting appt.
Last due January 2014; no new solicitation
DOE Early Career
Approx. 21 university awards last year (doesn’t count NL
awards)
Tenure track, untenured within 10 years of PhD
Pre-applications typ. due Sept.
NIH K99 R00
Approx. 114 awards
Postdoc with less than 5 years postdoc training
Due Feb, June, Oct.
12
Grants Specifically for Early Career and Junior
Faculty
NIH Director’s Early Independence Award
Approx. 10
Received PhD or terminal degree within last 12 months or will
receive within the next 12 months
Due January
NIH Directors New Innovator Award
Approx. 50 funded
Within 10 years of PhD/terminal degree and have not received
an R01
Due October
Faculty Scholars Awards (HHMI, Gates, Simons Foundations) - NEW
Approx. 70 Funded
$100K - $500K/year for 5 years
Due July 28, 2015
13
Grants Specifically for Early Career and Junior
Faculty
Foundations and professional societies
American Chemical Society Doctoral New Investigator
Grants
American Diabetes Association Junior Faculty Development
Award
American Federation for Aging Research Grants for Junior
Faculty
Can be very targeted: e.g., Hogg Foundation Mental
Health Research Grants for Tenure-Track Assistant
Professors in Texas
See UC Berkeley website to search for more
14
NIH K Awards
Different programs for different stages in your
career
Generally for those in transition
See K-Kiosk and Career Award Wizard to see
what might fit you
Also “New/Early Investigator”
Category
Special category in standard grant
program
NIH, USDA
Not talking about these here
For All Career-Type Programs
Be sure you’re eligible
Understand the application requirements
Be sure you understand the agency and
program
Place your project in context
What are your long-term research plans?
What are your long-term education plans (if
applicable)?
Relate these plans to the interests of the agency
17
Basics of the NSF CAREER
The NSF Faculty Early Career
Development (CAREER) Program
Program Page
Solicitation
FAQs page
CAREER Contacts (by division)
Staggered due dates by directorate
BIO, CISE, EHR: July 21, 2015
ENG: July 22, 2015
GEO, MPS, SBE: July 23, 2015
CAREER Eligibility
Untenured (until Oct. 1)
Tenure track
Assistant Professor or equivalent
Have not applied for a CAREER more than
twice before
Propose to conduct research in an area that
NSF funds
No co-PIs or senior personnel allowed
20
CAREER in a Nutshell
5 years of funding
Minimum $400K total ($500K for ENG,
BIO and Polar Programs)
Must apply to a particular program within
a directorate – Key!
Different NSF divisions and directorates
use the CAREER program differently
21
What is NSF Trying to Accomplish with
CAREER?
Nurture the next generation of leading
researchers/educators
Change academic culture
Integrate education and research
Support diversity
Reach out to the larger community
Innovate in education
22
NSF’s Organization
Divided into directorates:
Biological Sciences (BIO)
Computer and Information Science and Eng (CISE)
Education and Human Resources (EHR)
Engineering (ENG)
Geosciences (GEO)
Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS)
Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE)
Office of Polar Programs (OPP)
Each directorate divided into divisions and
programs
23
NSF CAREER Proposals Submitted
From http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/outreach/grantsconf/career_june14.pdf
24
NSF CAREER Proposals Awarded
From http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/outreach/grantsconf/career_june14.pdf
25
NSF CAREER Success Rate
From http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/outreach/grantsconf/career_june14.pdf
Plan to Reapply!
Odds are you won’t get funded with your first
application
Your proposal should get stronger with each
application
Planning and intelligent persistence are key
27
Key Points for CAREER
Career Development Plan to “build a firm
foundation for a lifetime of integrated
contributions to research and education”
Research Plan
Integrated Education Plan
Plus
Description of how research and education are
integrated with each other
Results of Previous NSF support, if applicable
Department Head letter
28
Getting Started
29
Understand the Review Criteria
Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts equally
weighted
Is your research significant and innovative?
Do you have the skills and resources to carry out
the project?
Do you have the support of your department?
Are your research and education integrated?
Does your education plan go beyond what is
expected for all Assistant Professors?
Is your project likely to be successful ?
Do you address diversity, benefits to society?
30
Common Reasons for Not Funding
CAREER Proposals
“Research is either too ambitious or too
narrowly focused
Proposed methods do not address the stated
research goals
Educational component is either limited to
routine courses or is unrealistically
overambitious
Integration of research and education is weak
or uninspired”
Quoted from J. Tornow presentation at QEM Workshop
31
Selecting a Research Idea
What do you want to do?
Does it address important questions in your field?
Is it novel and cutting-edge?
Do you have the background and resources to accomplish
your goals?
If you’re moving into a new but related area, be sure to discuss
collaborations that will fill any gaps
Will it contribute to your career goals?
Will it contribute to your department’s and institution’s
goals?
32
Are You Ready to Apply?
Do you have publications in or related to your
research topic?
How many years do you have until you go up
for tenure?
If applicable, do you have your lab set up and
do you have grad students?
If you need preliminary data, do you have it?
33
Do I Need Preliminary Data?
Expectations vary by discipline
How risky is your research idea?
Do you need preliminary data to demonstrate
feasibility?
How strong is your track record?
Do you need to demonstrate your mastery of the
methodology?
Are there potential showstoppers that could
be explored with some preliminary
experiments/calculations?
34
Have a High Risk/High Payoff Idea?
But you need funds to generate preliminary
data?
Explore NSF’s EAGER (Early-Concept Grants for
Exploratory Research)
Up to $300K for 2 years
Talk to Program Officer
May go on to submit a standard grant to a
core program or a CAREER
35
Before You Start Writing
36
Important!
Talk to your Department Head/Chair
Make sure she supports your research and
education goals
Discuss Department Head letter early
37
Determine which NSF Program to Apply To
Submitting to the wrong program can doom a
good proposal!
NSF web site (see video)
Check program goals
Search awarded CAREER projects
E-mail or call program director
Talk to senior researchers in your area
Interdisciplinary? Talk to program officers
38
Find your division
http://www.nsf.gov/staff/orglist.jsp
Find your program
Talk to Your NSF Program Director
Send a short email briefly describing your project
idea and asking for an appointment for a phone
discussion
Discuss your project with the Program Director
Listen carefully to the PD’s advice and comments
Hopefully this will be the start of a long relationship
43
Talking to the Program Officer
NSF CAREER vs. NSF Core Proposal
5 year project vs. 2 or 3 year project
$400K and up vs. $200K and up
No co-PIs vs. co-PIs allowed
Competing with other junior faculty only vs.
competing with investigators at all levels
CAREER most prestigious; PECASE eligible
45
The Secret to Planning a Strong
Education Component…
Approach it with same rigor as your research plan!
Important: The Education Component is
not community service; it is a project!
I sentence you to 12 hours
talking to 2nd graders about
quantum physics
Goals
Objectives
Approach
Outcomes
Impact
Choose one main project
Put lots of planning and effort into that
idea
Try to make it stand out
Think through the logistics
Tie into existing infrastructure if available
Seek help if you need it
Education Plan Tips
Identify the need you are addressing
Have clear goals and measurable objectives
Address diversity!
Have a strong assessment plan
Plan how you will disseminate your results
An innovative, focused education plan is better
than many standard activities
More Education Plan Tips
Be sure to include funding in the budget to support
your education activities
May need to look for other resources you can
leverage
Think about how you can enhance even standard
activities (e.g., mentoring your graduate students)
Including undergrads in research is expected
50
Typical Education Plans
Can target various populations
For example:
New or updated undergrad or grad courses using innovative
educational approaches
Undergraduate research experiences including innovative
elements
Recruiting activities with underrepresented students
Mentoring high school students in Science Fair projects
Participating in a science summer camp with middle school
students
Working with elementary teachers to incorporate elements of
your research into their curricula
Reaching out to stakeholders in the community
Communicating your research to the public in an innovative way
51
Don’t Reinvent the Wheel
Talk to education experts at your institution
Read the literature
Education Resources Information Center
MSPnet
STEPnet
Literature cited in the CAREER solicitation
National Center for Science and Engineering
Statistics (NCSES) – statistics supporting
need/motivation
(See Handout for more)
52
Leverage Infrastructure and Activities at Your
Institution
NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates Sites
Summer STEM camps for K-12 students
Connections to community colleges and/or high
schools
Student associations for underrepresented minority
(URM) STEM students (e.g., SACNAS, NSBE, SWE, etc.)
Centers for Teaching and Learning
What if You’re an Education Researcher?
You still need an education plan that’s distinct
from your research
Think about:
Ways to reach out beyond your normal
constituency
Innovative dissemination strategies
Ways to encourage and mentor the next generation
of education researchers or educators beyond what
is expected
What Groups are Underrepresented?
Typically African Americans, Hispanics, Native
Americans, U.S. Pacific Islanders
Women if underrepresented in the discipline
Often first-generation college students
Usually not:
International students
Asian Americans
Recruit Your Collaborators
CAREER does not allow co-PIs or senior
personnel
But you can have a collaborator
Can pay for equipment access
Can help support a collaborator’s student
Use collaborators to fill a gap in your expertise
or capabilities
For example, educational collaborator, collaborator
from a different discipline, collaborator with
facilities/equipment you need
56
Contact Your Office of Sponsored
Projects
Let them know you plan to submit a CAREER
They can often help you with:
Scheduling and approvals
Budgets
Fastlane
Sometimes with review criteria and text
Submission
57
Task
Person
Responsible
Deadline
Schedule with Lots of Intermediate Deadlines
First draft of Project Description complete
ACK!
Second draft of Project Description
complete
Third draft of Project Description
complete
Send to internal reviewers/mentors
Receive feedback from reviewers/mentors
Revise Project Description – Draft 4
complete
Close-to-final draft of Project Description
Final draft ready for check
Upload final draft
Submit
2 days before due
Warning: Stuff happens!
Writing Your CAREER Proposal
60
Grantsmanship
Things to
Keep in
Mind
Put Yourself in the Shoes of the
Reviewer!
62
63
64
Grantsmanship Tips
Use figures, flow charts, tables, bullet lists,
etc.
Use heading and subheadings to help
reviewers locate the information
Bold, italics and underlining (used
judiciously) can help reviewers find
important points
No tiny fonts or illegible figure labels
Captions explain the point of your figure
65
Writing Your Proposal Step-by-Step
NSF CAREER Proposal Elements
Project Summary (1 page)
Project Description (15 pages)
References Cited
Supplementary Documents
Letters of collaboration
DH/Chair Letter
Data Management Plan
Postdoc Mentoring Plan (if applicable)
Biosketch (2 pages)
Current & Pending Form
Budget
Budget Justification (3 pages)
Facilities and Equipment
67
Format
Follow NSF’s Grant Proposal Guide
http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/policydocs/pappguide/nsf15001/gpg_index.jsp
Section IIB – Fonts, etc.
http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/policydocs/pappguide/nsf15001/gpg_2.jsp#IIB
1” margins all around
Pages numbered by sections
Allowed fonts:
Arial, Courier New, or Palatino Linotype at a font size
of 10 points or larger
Times New Roman at a font size of 11 points or larger
Computer Modern family of fonts at a font size of 11
points or larger
AND
No more than 6 lines of text within a vertical space of
1 inch
68
Project Summary
This may be the only thing the reviewer will
read
State your goals/objectives/ hypotheses
clearly
Value of your project (research and education)
must be clear and compelling!
Written in 3rd person
Typically written last
4600 Characters (~1 page)
69
New: Project Summary Structure
Three boxes, uploaded separately
Overview
Intellectual Merit
Broader Impacts
Aggregate of all three boxes cannot exceed
4,600 characters
Overview Section
Objectives
Methods to be employed
Description of activity that will result if the
proposal is funded
Intellectual Merit
Intellectual Merit: The intellectual Merit criterion
encompasses the potential to advance knowledge
(new)
Previous:
How well does your project advance knowledge and
understanding ?
How creative, original or potentially transformative
are the concepts?
How well conceived and organized is the proposed
activity, and will you have sufficient resources?
How well qualified is the proposer to conduct the
project?
72
Broader Impacts
Broader Impacts: The Broader Impacts criterion
encompasses the potential to benefit society and
contribute to the achievement of specific, desired
societal outcomes. (new)
Previous:
How well does the project advance discovery while
promoting teaching, training and learning?
To what extent will it enhance infrastructure for
research and education?
How well will it broaden participation of
underrepresented groups?
Will the results be broadly disseminated?
What are the benefits to society?
73
Project Summary
Example: Handout #4
Project Summary from Jairo Sinova’s successful
CAREER awarded 2006
Clear goals stated early
New knowledge to be generated
PI’s collaborations, qualifications
Broader impacts contain specifics
74
Project Description (15 pages)
Flexible Structure
Typical Outline
Introduction, overview, objectives, significance
Background (SOA and lit review)
Preliminary Results/Prior Work
Experimental Plan/Research Plan/Methodology
Education Plan
Broader Impacts
Timeline
75
The Project Description: Getting Started
Reviewer’s Attention Level
14
12
Get to the
exciting
Concise background
stuff here! Strong,
that provides context
Unique Intro
10
8
Generic Intro
6
4
2
0
Long, unconnected
Zzzzzzz
background
Get to the
exciting stuff
here!
First
Paragraph
Put Your Project in Context
Preliminary Work Funded project 1
Further work
Project Goals/Specific Aims
 Outcomes
The Big Question or
The Big Need
What is the kernel of your great idea?
What you will accomplish
The approach you will use
The problem you’re addressing
New tools or resources you’ll bring to the
problem
Put it up front!
Project Description
Introduction, overview, objectives,
significance
Background (SOA and lit review)
Preliminary Results/Prior Work
Experimental Plan/Research
Plan/Methodology
Education Plan
Broader Impacts
Timeline
79
Introduction and Overview
Provide reviewers with an outline of your proposed
project which you will fill in later (1 – 2 pages)
80
Tell Your Project Story
The Need/Motivation
Goals
Gaps in Knowledge
New Knowledge
Hypotheses
Research Questions
Approach
Objectives
How it’s Different
Significance
Outcomes
Impact
81
After the Intro & Overview
Reviewer should be intrigued and excited
Should have a basic understanding of your
project and why it’s important
Should be convinced that this research is a great
idea
Will just be looking for details to confirm you
can do what you say you’ll do
(see Handout)
Project Description
Introduction, overview, objectives,
significance
Background (SOA and lit review)
Preliminary Results/Prior Work
Experimental Plan/Research
Plan/Methodology
Education Plan
Broader Impacts
Timeline
83
Background
What is the current state of knowledge and
how does this relate to your project?
What are the holes in knowledge and how
will your research fill them?
Cite important work but don’t provide a
comprehensive literature review covering
the entire history of the subject
Keep relating discussion to your project
Typical length: 3 – 4 pages
84
Project Description
Introduction, overview, objectives,
significance
Background (SOA and lit review)
Preliminary Results/Prior Work
Experimental Plan/Research
Plan/Methodology
Education Plan
Broader Impacts
Timeline
85
Preliminary Results/Prior Work
Sometimes folded in with Background, but be
careful!
Summarize up front the significance of your
data as it relates to your project (see Handout
#6)
Beware getting bogged down in too many
details
Be clear who did the work – beware passive
voice and the royal “we”
86
Project Description
Introduction, overview, objectives,
significance
Background (SOA and lit review)
Preliminary Results/Prior Work
Experimental Plan/Research
Plan/Methodology
Education Plan
Broader Impacts
Timeline
87
This is where things get complex!
Have a clear structure
For example…
Project Goals
Objectives
Research
Questions/Hypotheses
Phases
Tasks
Subtasks
Research Plan
Give a concise overview before launching into
details.
What are the objectives?
What are the required tasks?
What will be your overall approach?
What are the roles of your collaborators?
(see Handout #7)
90
Research Plan
How will you accomplish your goals, step by
step?
Need enough details to convince reviewers you
have a well-developed plan that is likely to
succeed
But don’t drown reviewers in non-essential
details
More details needed for the first 2 or 3 years
Discuss how you will deal with any potential
showstoppers
91
Research Plan
If you need special resources (access to an
instrument, a special cell line, etc.) explain how
you will get them
Be clear what role your collaborators will play
Name them and briefly describe their qualifications
Refer reviewers to letters of collaboration
92
Example Flow Charts
Task 1:
description
Output of task 1
Task 2:
description
Task 3:
description
Output of
Task 2
Output of Task
3
Task 4: description of how it all
comes together in this task
Project Outcomes
Common Mistakes
Rambling discussion of the problem and
possible approaches to solving it with no clear
structure
Vague description of objectives
Don’t say “We will explore phenomenon x”
Say “We will measure x, y and z” or “We will
determine if y and z affect x”
Too applied with no theoretical framework (esp.
engineering)
We will develop a widget (e.g., new sensor, new
material)
Project Description
Introduction, overview, objectives,
significance
Background (SOA and lit review)
Preliminary Results/Prior Work
Experimental Plan/Research
Plan/Methodology
Education Plan
Broader Impacts
Timeline
95
Education Plan
What are your goals and objectives?
What motivates your plan?
What is the state of knowledge about this
issue, the proposed approach, etc. (cite
educational literature!)
Do you have any preliminary results or prior
related experience?
How will you assess whether you are
successful?
How will you disseminate your results?
96
Education Plan
Assessment
Have clear, measurable objectives
Explain how you will assess whether you met these
objectives
Formative: How are we doing and can we improve?
Summative: At the end, did we meet our objectives?
Dissemination
How will other educators benefit from what you’ve
learned or developed?
Will you make products of your efforts available for
others to use?
See example Education Outline in Handout #8.
97
Education Plan
Scope and length of section
Depends on the mission of your institution
Research Intensive: typically around 3 - 4
pages
Predominantly undergrad or community
college: can be longer
98
Project Description
Introduction, overview, objectives,
significance
Background (SOA and lit review)
Preliminary Results/Prior Work
Experimental Plan/Research
Plan/Methodology
Education Plan
Broader Impacts
Timeline
99
Broader Impacts
Broader impacts of the science
How will other fields benefit?
What new science will be enabled
How will society benefit?
Broader impacts of your education plan
How will your project improve education?
How will your project enhance diversity?
How will you reach beyond the ivory tower?
How will society/stakeholders benefit?
Project Description
Introduction, overview, objectives,
significance
Background (SOA and lit review)
Preliminary Results/Prior Work
Experimental Plan/Research
Plan/Methodology
Education Plan
Broader Impacts
Timeline
101
Schedule and Milestones
What do you expect to have accomplished
after 6 months? After 1 year? After 18
months? Etc.
Provides easy-to-find synopsis of your
approach for reviewers
Demonstrates that your project is properly
scoped
Shows that your project is well thought out
Example Flow Charts and Schedules
Year 1
Objective 1: Development of the hoosits
Integration and calibration
Optimization of frumpits measurement methodology
Objective 2: Assess XYZ
XYZ spectroscopy
MOA microscopy
ABC testing
Pandax studies
Objective 3: Integrate hoosits with XYZ
Instrument integration
Instrument testing
Demonstration
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
Year 5
Results of Prior NSF Support
Required if had any NSF support in last 5 years
Include one most applicable project
Describe overview, intellectual merit, broader
impacts
Cite all products that came out of the project
See GPG for all the rules
End of Project Description
(15 pages)
Other Required Components
References Cited
Separate section
No page limit
Follow GPG rules
If available online, include url
Websites may be included in references cited
but not in body of the text
Be sure to cite important works and works of
likely reviewers
107
Collaboration Letters – New!
One-sentence statement (in new solicitation)
“If the proposal submitted by Dr. [insert the full name
of the Principal Investigator] entitled [insert the
proposal title] is selected for funding by the NSF, it is
my intent to collaborate and/or commit resources as
detailed in the Project Description.”
Rest of info on collaboration should be
contained in the Project Description
No letters of support or recommendation
allowed
108
Budget
Typical budget a little over $80K per year
(except BIO), including indirect costs
Typically covers
Research Intensive Universities: PI’s salary for one summer
month and a graduate student
Funds to support your educational component
Travel to conferences, etc. (include students)
Materials and supplies
Maybe funds for undergraduate researchers (hourly pay)
Start early on your budget!
109
Budget Justification
Important document
Many reviewers look at this to see what
your real priorities are
Provides an additional up to 3 pages to help
justify your project
110
Department Head Letter
Reviewers really look at these!
Should make it clear that your head/chair knows what
you are proposing
Include required language regarding your eligibility (see
solicitation)
Should discuss support for education and research plan
(can include your start-up package, logistical support,
etc.)
Discuss how you will be mentored in research and
education
Explain how your project will support goals of the
department (see example in Handout #9)
Up to 2 pages long
111
Additional Forms
NSF format 2-page biosketch
Section II.C.f(i) – Biosketch format (2 pages)
http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/policydocs/pappguide/nsf13001/gpg_2.jsp#IIC2f
Follow this religiously!
Non-compliant biosketches are a common reason for return
without review.
Current & Pending form – all external funding or
pending proposals
Facilities and Instrumentation – use this to
reassure reviewers that you have access to
needed facilities
112
Additional Forms
Data Management Plan (max 2 pages)
What data will you generate?
How will you make it available to others?
How will you store it? (Check with your library)
See
http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/policydocs/pappguide/nsf13001/gpg_2.jsp#I
IC2j
Postdoc Mentoring Plan (max 1 page)
Required if postdoc on budget
How will you mentor your postdoc and provide professional
development?
See
http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/policydocs/pappguide/nsf13001/gpg_2.jsp#I
IC2j
113
You’ve finished a draft!
Ask others to read it and give you feedback
Is it clear? Is it compelling? Did they see any
technical weaknesses that should be
addressed?
Include time for revisions
114
Submitting Your Proposal
Uploaded into Fastlane (check the file after it is
uploaded!)
Follow the requirements of our institution (check
with Office of Sponsored Projects or equivalent)
Routing and Approval
Quality Check
Uploading
Submittal (must be done by an institutional
representative)
Include suggestions for reviewers
Try to submit at least a day before the deadline
115
The Review Process
Varies by Division
Most combination
Ad hoc (mail) reviews (usually 3)
Panel (may be CAREER panel, or may be a
general panel)
Reviewers rate all proposals
Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor
Provide recommendation
Fund, High Priority; Fund if Possible; Do Not
Fund
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Program Officer
Makes a list of proposals would like to fund
based on
Recommendations of reviewers
Portfolio of funded projects
Interests of Program
Types of institutions
Works down the list until runs out of money
Sometimes figures out ways to squeeze out a
little more money to fund an extra project
This process can take a while
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If you get funded
Celebrate!
Use this grant as a foundation for more funding
Communicate with your Program Director
Publish
Graduate students
Work to make your education component a success
Think about supplements
Research Experiences for Undergraduates
Faculty Opportunity Award, etc.
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If you don’t get funded…
Read the reviews
Get mad/depressed
Remember that even the most prominent
scientists have a drawer full of declined
proposals
Put the reviews in a drawer for a few days
Read the reviews again carefully
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Analyzing the Reviews
Did the reviewers have particular concerns
that you can address?
Were the reviewers confused or unclear
about your project?
Were the reviewers unimpressed by the
significance or novelty of your research idea?
Were the reviewers generally favorable, with
no clear issues brought up?
Did the project topic not fit the program?
Be careful about chasing one comment by
one reviewer – look at the Panel Summary
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Call the Program Officer
Be nice!
Ask for clarification of reviewer comments
Ask for advice
Should you resubmit?
Should you apply to a different program?
What would strengthen your proposal?
121
Make Your Decision
Resubmit a CAREER next year to the same
program
Use next year to revamp your project, generate
preliminary data, etc. and resubmit the following
year
Resubmit a CAREER to a different program next
year
Revamp the project and submit to a core program
Revamp the proposal and submit to a different
agency
Start again with an entirely new idea
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Preparing to Resubmit
Continue working on your ideas
Each iteration of your proposal should be more
developed and if possible have more preliminary
data
This means your education ideas also
Volunteer to be a reviewer
Don’t have to be funded by NSF
See what makes a successful proposal
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No Matter What
Your next proposal will be better than your
last
You have gotten to know an NSF Program
Officer
You have learned from the experience and
developed new skills
Good luck!
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Questions?
125