NSF Research NSF Research OpportunitiesOpportunities
For Social ScientistsFor Social ScientistsHarold Clarke
Ashbel Smith ProfessorUniversity of Texas at Dallas and
University of EssexFormer NSF Division Director, Social and Economic Sciences
NSF in a NutshellNSF in a Nutshell• Independent Agency
• Supports basic research
• Natural & Social Sciences
• Uses grant mechanism
• Discipline-based structure
• Cross-disciplinary mechanisms
• Mix of Permanent & Visiting Staff
Why You Might Want NSF Why You Might Want NSF FundingFunding
• Funds basic research• Funds both theory development &
data collection• Funds infrastructure development –
everything from submarines to software
• Provides summer salary support• Funds doctoral dissertation research• Program Development Opportunities
Social and Economic Social and Economic SciencesSciences
Behavioral and Cognitive Behavioral and Cognitive SciencesSciences
Office of the DirectorOffice of the Director
Science Resources StatisticsScience Resources Statistics
Directorate for Social, Directorate for Social, Behavioral & Economic Behavioral & Economic
SciencesSciences
OpportunitiesOpportunities
• Unsolicited competitions• Special initiatives (e.g., Democratization)• Rapid response research (RAPID)• Early concept grants for exploratory
research (EAGER)• CAREER grants• Doctoral dissertation improvement
grants
Social and Economic Sciences FY09 Program Allocations (~millions of dollars)
• Cross-Directorate Activities $3.8• Decision, Risk, & Management Sciences $7.5• Economics $25.8• Innovation and Organizational Sciences $3.4• Law and Social Science $5.1• Methodology, Measurement & Statistics $4.0• Political Science $9.9• Science and Society $8.9• Sociology $9.5
Directorate for Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences
Where to Start?Where to Start?
• www.nsf.gov• Check awards by program, keyword,
etc. www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/• Read solicitation carefully (if not
unsolicited competition)• Download Grant Proposal Guide• Contact Program Officer once you
have formed and organized your ideas
SES Target DatesSES Target Dates
January 15 & August 15Law and Social Science
Political Science
Sociology
January 16 & August 16Methodology, Measurement, and Statistics
January 18 & August 18Decision, Risk, & Management Sciences
Economics
February 1 & August 1Science and Society
February 2 & September 3Innovation and Organizational Sciences
Faculty Early Career Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Development (CAREER)
ProgramProgram• Untenured faculty (or comparable)• Single scholar award• $400,000, 5-years minimum award• Three proposals lifetime limit• July 1 deadline• High expectations
Rapid Response Research Rapid Response Research (RAPID)(RAPID)
• Research when data are ephemeral, e.g. study impact of stimulus package
• $200,000 maximum; 1 year• 5 page project description• Internal review only• Contact program officer first
Early Concept Grants for Early Concept Grants for Exploratory Research Exploratory Research
(EAGER)(EAGER)• Exploratory work on untested,
potentially transformative ideas• High-risk, high-potential payoff• $300,000 maximum; 2 years• Eight page description• Internal review only• Contact program officer first
Dear Colleague Letter Dear Colleague Letter Example: Integrating HSD Example: Integrating HSD
Goals into Core SBE Goals into Core SBE ProgramsPrograms
• Complexity Science • Large-scale Interdisciplinary
Research
• Infrastructure
Research & Education Communities
NSF Proposal
GeneratingDocument
ProgramOfficer
Analysis&
Recom-mendation
Proposal Process
DivisionDirectorConcur
Organization submits
viaFastLane
Minimum of 3
ReviewsRequired
Ad hoc
Panel
Both
Proposal Processing
Unit
NSF Program Officer
Returned as Inappropriate/Withdrawn
Organization
Award via DGA
Decline
4 months 30 days
Proposal Preparation Time
Proposal received by NSF Div. Dir. Concur Award
Review of Proposal P.O. Recommend
DGA Review & Processing of Award
Finding ReviewersFinding Reviewers
• Program Officer’s knowledge
• References listed in the proposal
• Google & online data bases
• Reviewer’s recommendations
• Investigator’s suggestions
Human Subjects
• No award for a project involving human subjects can be made without prior Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval of the research activity.
• IRB approval is not needed at the time of proposal submission.
Funding Decision ProcessFunding Decision Process
• Program Officer decision
• Feedback to PI
• If Your Proposal is Recommended…
• Scope of Work & Budget Discussions
• Division Director Concur (typically yes)
• Formal notification of Recommendation
Two Funding CriteriaTwo Funding Criteria
•Intellectual merit•Broader impacts•Both are Important –
intellectual merit is necessary but not sufficient
Intellectual MeritIntellectual Merit
• NSF funds basic research• NSF funds basic research• Intellectual merit means increasing
knowledge through developing and testing theories, gathering data relevant to theory testing, developing methods relevant to theory testing
• Leading-edge science
Broader ImpactsBroader Impacts
• Promote teaching, training and learning
• Broaden participation of underrepresented groups (e.g., gender, ethnicity, disability, geography)
• Enhance infrastructure for research and education, e.g., facilities, instrumentation
• Disseminate results broadly to bolster scientific and technological understanding
• Benefit society
Budget Tips
• Amounts– Reasonable for work – Realistic – Don’t
be greedy!– Well Justified -- Need established (Do
You Really Need 9 Trips to Paris?)– In-line with program guidelines
• Eligible costs– Personnel– Equipment – Travel– Other Direct Costs, Subawards– Facilities & Administrative Costs
Some Urban Legends Some Urban Legends about the NSFabout the NSF
• Only funds scholars at elite graduate institutions
• Only funds “famous” academics• Once declined, you are likely always to
be declined• Only funds “normal science”• Only funds American topics• Panels make funding decisions
Reasons for DeclinationsReasons for Declinations
• “Trust-me” proposal (I’m a bright person!)
• Expertise gaps• Too Expensive (Program budgets are
small!)• Incremental contribution• Competition, Competition….• Bad luck• Unhappy with Decision? You are not
alone!
NSF and the ARRA (Stimulus NSF and the ARRA (Stimulus Package)Package)
• NSF - Total Stimulus Package ~$3 billion
• SES - Total Stimulus Package ~$41 million
• Very closely monitored (priorities - CAREERS, 1st time investigators, review very well)
• ARRA ONE-SHOT! • Back to regular business in 2010
How SES Spent the ARRAHow SES Spent the ARRA $$
• SES initially given $27 million• Clarke-Scioli Experiment -
8 + 1 shares (DD strategic reserve)
• Can Small Programs Do More 1st Rate Science?
• Yes!• Additional Competitions as $
became available• e.g., Political Science - $4.5 million
AdviceAdvice
• Study Important Topics• Study Interesting Topics (Don't be
boring!)• Team up with smart people• Team up with creative people• Being interdisciplinary helps• Critically review your own proposal –
before you hit the ‘send’ button!
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