Funding Mechanisms 2017 NSF DMR Young Investigator Workshop

Funding Mechanisms 2017 NSF DMR Young Investigator Workshop June 8 -9, 2017

NSF • The NSF Mission is – To promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense (NSF Act of 1950) • The NSF strategic goals are related to: – Discovery – advance frontiers of knowledge – Learning – cultivate an inclusive S&E workforce – Research infrastructure – investment in advanced instrumentation, cyberinfrastructure, tools, etc. – Stewardship – support excellence in S&E research and education NSF funds fundamental research and education in most areas of science, mathematics and engineering CMP PI Workshop 2016

NSF • We look for research proposals that – Are innovative and push the frontiers of knowledge – Contribute to national needs and priorities – Go beyond marginalia – Integrate well with educational goals – Involve research • We do not support (except as incidental to the research goals of the research) – Developmental efforts – Computer programming – Design of… – Commercialization CMP PI Workshop 2016

Types of Proposals • IIA and supplements • Exploratory Research » EAGER, RAPID • Initiatives (Solicitations) » CAREER, SUSCHEM, DMREF • Equipment » MRI’s • Centers and Institutes » MRSEC, STC, PREM • Facilities » NHMFL, CHESS, NIST, . . . CMP PI Workshop 2016

Individual Investigator Programs and Supplements CMP PI Workshop 2016

Individual Investigator Programs • Funding for individual research projects – DMR invests heavily in these activities » ~$150 M/yr (half the DMR funding) • Funding administered by programs – Discipline Specific Programs » Condensed Matter Physics, Condensed Matter and Materials Theory, Solid State and Materials Chemistry – Materials Specific Programs » Electronic and Photonic Materials, Metals and Metalic Nanostructures, Ceramics, Polymers and Biomaterials CMP PI Workshop 2016

Individual Investigator Programs • Single investigator awards are the norm – >95% of awards are single PI – Funding level $80 -200 K/yr » Check with individual programs for values – Typical Budget » » » » 1 month Summer Salary (2 for PUI’s) 1 -2 grad students (depending on tuition) Travel to meetings Equipment ($10 -20 K typical, ~$100 K max) M&S (gases, samples, LHe and LN 2, …) Tuition Indirect costs (~50 -60%) – Funding rate ~15 -25% (depending on program) CMP PI Workshop 2016

Individual Investigator Programs • Programs also support small (2 -3 PI’s) group projects – Faculty can be at same/different institutions • Subcontracts or collaborative grants – Funding level depends on project » Typically less per PI than single investigator awards – Funding rate ~5 -10% » Program must demonstrate synergy. » Packing more science into same 15 pages • 1/2 to 1/4 of space per PI • Need to justify why collaboration is a benefit • Many good single-PI efforts fail as collaborative proposals CMP PI Workshop 2016

Supplements • Once you have funding you can apply for supplements – Standard supplement – provides help in dealing with unexpected occurrences » Broken equipment, hike in LHe costs, … » Not for expanding scope of project. » Typically no more than 20% of award – REU Supplement » Support for UG’s participating in research – Facilitation Awards for Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities (FASED) – AGEP Supplement – Research Opportunity Awards (ROA’s) » focused activities (i. e. research in UG inst. ) CMP PI Workshop 2016

Other Methods CMP PI Workshop 2016

Grants for Rapid Response Research (RAPID) • RAPID is for proposals having a severe urgency with regard to availability of, or access to data, facilities or specialized equipment, including quick-response research on natural or anthropogenic disasters, or similar unanticipated events. • Budget consistent with project scope and existing programmatic activities (up to $200 K) • Require internal review with optional external input CMP PI Workshop 2016

EArly-concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER) • Exploratory work in its early stages on untested, but potentially transformative, research ideas or approaches. • Work may be considered “high-risk, high payoff” in the sense that it, for example, involves radically different approaches, applies new expertise or engages in novel disciplinary or interdisciplinary perspectives • Budget consistent with project scope and existing programmatic activities (up to $300 K for 2 years) • Program Officer approval needed • Requires internal review with optional external input CMP PI Workshop 2016

EArly-concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER) • The EAGER mechanism should not be used for projects that are appropriate for submission as “regular” (i. e. , non. EAGER) NSF proposals. • PI needs to convince appropriateness for EAGER submission vs “regular” NSF proposals Important Note • You can simply submit an EAGER • You shouldn’t do this • Contact the program officer first • It will save them and you a lot of time CMP PI Workshop 2016

Initiatives CMP PI Workshop 2016

Initiatives • Foundation wide priorities – Faculty Early Carrer Development Program (CAREER/PECASE) – Sustainable Chemistry, Engineering and Materials (Sus. Ch. EM) – Designing Materials to Revolutionize and Engineer the Future (DMREF) – Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) CMP PI Workshop 2016

CAREER Program • “A Foundation-wide activity that offers the National Science Foundation’s most prestigious awards in support of junior faculty who exemplify the role of teacher-scholars through outstanding research, excellent education and the integration of education and research within the context of the mission of their organizations. ” CMP PI Workshop 2016

CAREER Award • Funds the academic career development of new faculty (it is not a research award) • Is based on a development plan –”well argued specific proposal for activities that will build a firm foundation for a lifetime of integrated contributions to research and education” • Duration: 5 years • CMP $400, 000 -$720, 000 Average ~$610 K • Deadline: July each year CMP PI Workshop 2016

Equipment • Equipment up to $100 K can be requested on IIA proposals – Typically $10 -30 K • Larger equipment can be requested through the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) program. – Equipment in the range $100 K-$4 M – Two types of grants » Acquisition (multi-user instrumentation) » Development • More on this in the afternoon CMP PI Workshop 2016

Center and Institutes • Large (~$3 -5 M) multi-investigator interdisciplinary grants – Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers – Partnership for Research and Education in Materials – Science and Technology Centers • More on these in the afternoon • For new faculty – Source of Seed funding – Extensive facilities CMP PI Workshop 2016

Facilities • NSF supports several user facilities – National High Magnetic Field Lab – Cornell High Energy Synchrotron – Center for High Resolution Neutron Scattering at NIST – Chem. Mat CARS at the Advanced Photon Source • Access to advanced characterization facilities – Open to all – Simple proposal process • More on this in the afternoon. CMP PI Workshop 2016

Questions? CMP PI Workshop 2016

Initiatives • Foundation wide priorities – Faculty Early Carrer Development Program (CAREER/PECASE) – Sustainable Chemistry, Engineering and Materials (Sus. Ch. EM) » Provides partial funding for IIA proposals that address sustainability. » Proposals are evaluated in IIA programs – Designing Materials to Revolutionize and Engineer the Future (DMREF) » Supports collaborative proposals addressing the Materials Genome Initiative (MGI). CMP PI Workshop 2016