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Resources for NSF
Acceptable fonts for NSF proposals are now:
- 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 (not all of the fonts above automatically meet this requirement, so be sure to check the vertical spacing of your selected font)
Also, note that smaller font sizes may be used for formulas, equations, figures, tables or digram captions, but be sure that everything is readable.
NEW: NSF's latest update of the Grant Proposal Guide was effective January 2009 - click here for Summary of Significant Changes
Twelve Steps to a Winning Research Proposal by George Hazelrigg
Advice on writing Proposals to the National Science Foundation, by Susan Finger, Carnegie Mellon University
Helpful NSF Webpages
NSF Award Search (go to "Search All Fields" tab to search by PI, keyword, institution, program, NSF directorate, etc.)
NSF Grant Proposal Guide (Jan. '08 - note especially changes in allowable fonts in Section II. B.)
Subscribe to NSF for e-mail updates
Information on the next NSF Regional Grants Conference and presentations from recent Regional Grants Conferences
NSF, A Guide for Proposal Writing
Presentations and Tutorials
OPD Presentation on NSF presented in Fall '07 Seminar
Presentation by Cliff Jacobs (NSF Program Manager) at UCAR Members Meeting (Oct. 9, 2007) - This presentation has lots of good data on funding rates, which is not easy to find.
Helpful recent talk by T. Pinkston, NSF CISE Program Director
NSF Regional Conferences and Workshops (scroll down to "Presentations from Recent Events" for links to presentations made at most recent NSF Grants Conference) - March 2009 conference materials now posted
Rutgers NSF CAREER workshop presentations:
- Overview of common problems of CAREER proposals and requirements (by Dr Michael Pazzani)
- Detailed description of CAREER proposal components and the review process (by Dr. Monica Mazurek)
- Discussion of the CAREER Educational Component (by Dr. Monica Devanas) - this includes a lot of information on programs specific to Rutgers, but also gives some nice examples of education activities that are generally applicable.
Useful Links and New Information on Specific Programs
Transformative Research Will Be a Core, Articulated NSF Value (National Science Board Release - pdf)
NSF Transformative Research - Change to the Intellectional Merit Review Criterion
Sept. 24, 2007: National Science Board approved a motion to enhance support of transformative research at the NSF. Additionally, the Board approved a change to the Intellectual Merit Review Criterion specified in Part I of the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide: the Grant Proposal Guide to specifically include review of the extent to which a proposal also suggests and explores potentially transformative concepts.
NSF, NIH Emphasize the Importance of Mentoring Postdocs
FAQs for Science and Technology Centers: Integrative Partnerships
http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2008/nsf08059/nsf08059.jsp?govDel=USNSF_25
NSF Human Capital Strategic Plan
http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2008/hcsp2008/nsf_humancapitalstrategicplan_0803.pdf
NSF posted April 16 the agency Human Capital Strategic Plan. For those writing proposals to NSF, where the integration of research and education remains a core objective along the K-12 to PhD continuum, this document provides valuable insights into NSF's thinking on how to best "Attract, develop and retain a diverse, world-class workforce that is continually learning and expanding its capacity to shape the agency's future... " This document provides an important resource for writing competitive proposals to NSF that have educational components, e.g., K-12 outreach, undergraduate research, or graduate level training, i.e., such as IGERT, REU, AGEP, CAREER, Centers, etc., and align with the NSF core review criteria, broader impacts, and transformative research requirements.
NSF DCL on Broader Impacts Proposal Requirements
http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2008/nsf08044/nsf08044.jsp
“We would like to call the community’s attention to several sections of all proposals that require the broader impacts criterion to be specifically addressed: the Project Summary, the Project Description, and the Results of Prior Support section.”
NSF CCLI Evaluation Planning Webinar: Background Resources
Online Evaluation Resource Library
http://oerl.sri.com/ccli_resources.html
· Workshop slides April 2, 2008 (PDF)
· Workshop slides April 3, 2008 (PDF)
· Suggested Checklist for Evaluation Plan
· Replay of CCLI Webinar 04/03/2008 (.wmv) - Available April 7, 2008
http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2008/nsf08546/nsf08546.htm
CCLI program seeks to improve the quality of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education for all undergraduate students.
NSF International Science and Engineering Partnerships
A Priority for U.S. Foreign Policy and Our Nation's Innovation Enterprise
http://www.nsf.gov:80/pubs/2008/nsb084/index.jsp
NSF Innovation Through Institutional Integration FAQ's
http://www.nsf.gov:80/pubs/2008/nsf08027/nsf08027.jsp?govDel=USNSF_25
Postdoc Participation of Science, Engineering, and Health Doctorate Recipients, NSF March 2008
http://www.nsf.gov:80/statistics/infbrief/nsf08307/
NSF Division of Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation -- A Plan for Resource Allocation 2008
http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2008/nsf0833/nsf0833.jsp
NSF International Science and Engineering Partnerships
A Priority for U.S. Foreign Policy and Our Nation's Innovation Enterprise
http://www.nsf.gov:80/pubs/2008/nsb084/index.jsp
A National Action Plan for Addressing the Critical Needs of the U.S. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education by the National Science Foundation
http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2007/nsb07114/nsb07114.pdf
This action plan lays out a structure that will allow stakeholders from local, State, and Federal governments, as well as nongovernmental STEM education stakeholder groups, to work together to coordinate and enhance the Nation’s ability to produce a numerate and scientifically and technologically literate society and to increase and improve the current STEM education workforce. Strategies for producing the next generation of innovators are not explicitly addressed in this action plan and will require subsequent study. A coherent system of STEM education is essential to the Nation’s economy and well-being.
NSF Presentation On DR K-12 and REESE Programs
http://www.nsf.gov:80/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=500047
In early December, presentations were made at NSF on the REESE and DRK-12 programs. They were video taped and are available here for your information.
National Science Board/NSF Science and Engineering Indicators 2008
http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/seind08/; http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/indicators
R&D: Essential Foundation for U.S. Competitiveness in a Global Economy
http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/nsb0803/nsb0803.pdf
Every two years, the NSF presents its report to the president and Congress. It is the most comprehensive source of information on research and development conducted by universities, industry, the federal government and the international science and engineering enterprise. Both presentations focus on data in Indicators 2008 and NSF conclusions contained in its companion piece, Research and Development: Essential Foundation for U.S. Competitiveness in a Global Economy. The companion piece focuses on the important role of research and development and basic research supported by industry and the federal government in sustaining U. S. global competitiveness in high technology industries.
NSF 2008 Data On Elementary and Secondary Mathematics and Science Education
http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/seind08/pdf/c01.pdf
In chapter 1 of the above report NSB/NSF address student learning at the elementary and secondary level in mathematics and science, standards, teaching, professional development and other topics related to K-12 mathematics and science education.
Finding What Works: Strategies for Improving STEM Education
http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=111028
http://hub.mspnet.org/index.cfm
Examining the evidence for program outcomes on the agenda for participants in the Math and Science Partnership program, January 24, 2008.
Six Merit Review Facts from NSF
http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/meritreview/facts.jsp
FACT 1: NSF Program Officers make recommendations to fund or decline a proposal. DISCUSSION: External review panels do not make funding decisions. The analysis and evaluation of proposals by external reviewers provide information to NSF Program Officers in making their recommendations to award or decline a proposal.
Why You Should Volunteer to Serve as an NSF Reviewer
http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/meritreview/reviewer.jsp
In addition to providing a great service to NSF and the science and engineering community, reviewers benefit from reviewing and serving on panels. Reviewers gain first hand knowledge of the peer review process; learn about common problems with proposals; discover strategies to write strong proposals; and, through serving on a panel, meet colleagues and NSF program officers managing programs related to your interests.
What Does NSF Mean by “Transformative Research” Under the Intellectual Merit Review Criterion?
http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2007/in130/in130.jsp
The term "transformative research" is being used to describe a range of endeavors which promise extraordinary outcomes, such as: revolutionizing entire disciplines; creating entirely new fields; or disrupting accepted theories and perspectives — in other words, those endeavors which have the potential to change the way we address challenges in science, engineering, and innovation.
The NSF Mathematics Education Portfolio Brief
http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2005/nsf0503/nsf0503.pdf
The mathematics education portfolio review involved a panel of national experts in mathematics and mathematics education, external stakeholder groups who served as external review groups, and internal NSF staff with detailed knowledge of NSF’s work in mathematics education who served as internal review group.
REU Supplements for Evaluative Research Experiences
http://qemnetwork.qem.org/externalopps2008/reuevalguide.pdf
http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2007/nsf07569/nsf07569.htm
The Directorate for Education and Human Resources will consider supporting REU Supplements that provide evaluative research experiences for one or two undergraduates in any NSF research or education project that employs a professional evaluator. The purpose of this opportunity for supplemental funding is to offer undergraduate students exposure to the field of evaluation and to build their skills in evaluative research methods and study design. The student's research should focus on the broader impacts of the research or education project. The professional evaluator attached to the award should have primary responsibility for designing and coordinating the student's evaluative research experience. Investigators interested in this opportunity should contact the EHR REU program officer at (703) 292-5137 or reu.ehr@nsf.gov mailto:reu.ehr@nsf.gov before submitting a request for supplemental funding.
New NSF Survey Finds Six States Account for Nearly Half of State Agencies' R&D Expenditures
http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/infbrief/nsf08309
