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National Science Foundation (NSF)Information Session

December 9, 2013

Grants Development Office23 Bacon Hall, Morris Conference Center

Staff Members: Kathy Meeker, Directorkathy.meeker@oneonta.edu; x2632

Tanja deMauro, Senior Grantswritertanja.demauro@oneonta.edu; x2434

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External Grant-Seeking Policy

All externally funded grants and contracts to SUNY Oneonta are fiscally administered by the Research Foundation for

SUNY (RF). The RF administers all funds provided by sponsors for performance of a specified scope of work or to

provide a specific product, service, or other deliverable. College policy requires that proposals to external funding

sources must be reviewed by the Grants Development Office (GDO) and approved by the College’s Authorized

Organizational Representative (AOR) prior to submission.

GDO &Sponsored Programs

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NSF Goals

• Develop the STEM/STEM-related workforce

• Advance science

• Broaden participation in STEM

• Educate a STEM-literate populace

• Build capacity in higher education

• Improve K-12 STEM education

• Encourage life-long learning

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Which Type of Proposal?

• Unsolicited research– Focus on basic research

– Appropriate directorate (organized by subject area) must be determined:• Biological Sciences (BIO)• Computer & Info Science Engineering (CISE)• Geosciences (GEO)• Math & Physical Sciences (MPS)• Social, Behavioral & Economic Sciences (SBE)• Others

• Cross-cutting programs

– Many geared specifically to undergraduate institutions

– Education & Human Resources directorate

– Usually only one deadline per year

• Deadlines vary• May require letter of inquiry or pre-proposal

• Contact a program officer• Best to begin EARLY – proposals are a process!

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Sample Program Grants

• Many focused upon U.S. STEM education

• Most appropriate for our institution type: primarily undergraduate institution (PUI)

• Selected solicitations:

– Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM)

– Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) [past awards]:category for non-PhD-granting institutions

– Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)

– Field Station & Marine Laboratory (FSML)

– Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program

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RUI Umbrella & Collaborative Proposals

• Research at Undergraduate Institutions (RUI)– Integrated into regular unsolicited proposals and some

cross-cutting program proposals

– Allows extra five-page statement of how award would impact the research environment at the PUI

– Intended to “level playing field” for PUIs

• Collaborative Proposal Model– Allows Co-PIs at different institutions to receive own award

– Allows both institutions to collect direct and indirect costs

– Alternative to subaward / Co-PI on one award

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NSF Proposal & Award Process & Timeline

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The NSF Grant Proposal Guide (GPG)

• Guides overall proposal development

• May be supplemented/supplanted by solicitation-specific

requirements

• Serves as guide to all of the many components of a proposal

– Biographical Sketches– Current & Pending Support– Data Management Plan– Facilities & Resources– Other supplemental

documentation…and more!

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But there is help!

GDO Services

•Initial discussion of ideas•Identification of appropriate solicitation/division/program•Narrative development and editing•Budgeting (including budget narrative)•Creation and formatting of additional documents•Routing and approvals•Institutional and external collaboration and support letters•Submission via

Contact us well in advance

(30-90 days before the deadline is ideal)

Meet with us to discuss even preliminary ideas

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Elements of Competitive NSF Proposals

ALL proposals must address NSF Merit Review Criteria:

Intellectual Merit

Potential of proposed project to advance knowledge within its field or across different fields

Broader Impact

Potential of proposed project to “benefit society & contribute to the achievement of specific, desired societal outcomes”

Does the proposed project:•Suggest and explore creative, original, or potentially transformative concepts?•Include a plan for carrying out activities that is well-reasoned, well-organized, and based on a sound rationale?•Involve an individual, team, or organization well qualified to conduct the proposed activities?•Include adequate resources (at home or through collaborations) to carry out the proposed activities?

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A Changing Landscape

• President’s 2014 budget restructures STEM Education programs in NSF (undergraduate and graduate),U.S. Department of Education (K-12), andSmithsonian Institution (informal)

• It is uncertain what will eventually be passed/enacted, HOWEVER:

– Several NSF programs have already been eliminated(STEP, TUES, CE-21, WIDER)

– Several others have been created(IUSE [due 2/4/14], CAUSE [as yet unannounced])

• The GDO will continue to utilize its resources to anticipate and respond to potential changes

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Improving UndergraduateSTEM Education (IUSE)

• NSF Workforce Priorities: “Prepare students to be leaders, teachers, and innovators in emerging and rapidly

changing STEM fields”

• Goal is to “address immediate challenges and opportunities facing undergraduate STEM education, as well as those that anticipate new structures and function of the undergraduate STEM learning and teaching enterprise”

• Projects must build on available evidence and theory, and generate evidence and build knowledge

Research-Based AND Research-Generating

• Very broad guidance, no budget limit, no duration limit (though budgets must be appropriate and a maximum length of three years is recommended)

• “Target date” for 2014 funding – February 4, 2014

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Grants Development Office

QUESTIONS?

Thank you!