NSF - Biological SciencesNSF - Biological SciencesMuriel Poston, Ph.D.Muriel Poston, Ph.D.mposton@nsf.govmposton@nsf.gov

National Science Foundation National Science Foundation 20052005

Major BIO Responsibilities

Long-Term Ecological Research Systematic Biology (Biodiversity) Evolutionary Biology Environmental Biology Plant Biology Bioinformatics Non-medical Microbial Biology

Biological Sciences Home Page

Population & Evolutionary Processes

Population & Evolutionary Processes

Directorate for Biological Sciences(BIO)

Mary Clutter, Assistant DirectorJoann Roskoski, Executive Officer

Directorate for Biological Sciences(BIO)

Mary Clutter, Assistant DirectorJoann Roskoski, Executive Officer

Information and Automation Resources Unit

(IAR)

Information and Automation Resources Unit

(IAR)

Division of Environmental

Biology(DEB)

Mike Willig, Division DirectorPenny Firth, Deputy Director

Division of Environmental

Biology(DEB)

Mike Willig, Division DirectorPenny Firth, Deputy Director

Ecological BiologyEcological Biology

EcosystemScience

EcosystemScience

Division of Integrative

Organismal Biology(IOB)

Tom Brady, Division DirectorJudy Verbeke, Deputy Director

Division of Integrative

Organismal Biology(IOB)

Tom Brady, Division DirectorJudy Verbeke, Deputy Director

BehavioralSystems

BehavioralSystems

Developmental Systems

Developmental Systems

Environmental &Structural Systems

Environmental &Structural Systems

ResearchResources

ResearchResources

HumanResources

HumanResources

Division ofBiological

Infrastructure(DBI)

Machi Dilworth, Division DirectorMuriel Poston, Deputy Director

Division ofBiological

Infrastructure(DBI)

Machi Dilworth, Division DirectorMuriel Poston, Deputy Director

Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences

(MCB)

Maryanna Henkart, Division DirectorJerry Cohen, Deputy Director

Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences

(MCB)

Maryanna Henkart, Division DirectorJerry Cohen, Deputy Director

BiomolecularSystems

BiomolecularSystems

Cellular SystemsCellular Systems

Genes and GenomeSystems

Genes and GenomeSystems

Emerging Frontiers (EF)

Plant GenomeResearch Program

Plant GenomeResearch Program

Systematic Biology &Biodiversity Inventories

Systematic Biology &Biodiversity Inventories

Functional & Regulatory Systems

Functional & Regulatory Systems

Current Issues and Challenges

Implement 21st Century Biology

Multidimensional Multidisciplinary Data driven Educationally oriented Internationally engaged

Current Issues and Challenges

Development of the next generation of scientists

Broadening Participation Infrastructure Enhance Federal Investment Internationalization of science

BIO Areas of EmphasisFY2005 Budget Request

NSF-wide Priority Areas Biocomplexity in the

Environment Nanoscale Science and

Engineering Mathematical Sciences Human and Social

Dynamics Increased award size and

duration

BIO Emphasis Areas 21st Century Biology Plant genomics Microbial biology Arabidopsis 2010 Project Broadening participation

Major Research Equipment and Facilities

National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON)

Division of Environmental Biology

Systematics Population Biology Biodiversity Surveys and Inventories Partnerships for Enhancing Expertise

in Taxonomy (PEET) Ecosystems Studies Ecology Long-term Ecological Research

Examples of Research Areas Supported Under DEB

DEB: Ecosystem Science

Biogeochemistry Decomposition of organic matter Belowground nutrient cycling and energy flow Primary productivity Radiatively active gas flux Element budgets on watershed, regional, continental,

or global scales; Relationships between diversity and ecosystem

function Ecosystem services Landscape dynamics

DEB: Ecological Biology

Dynamics and processes within particular habitats Food-web structure Landscape patterns and processes Paleoecology Biotic interactions, including mutualism, competition,

predation, and parasitism Mechanisms of coexistence and community

assembly Co-evolution Chemical ecology

DEB: Population and Evolutionary Processes

Population processes

Evolutionary ecology

Evolutionary genetics

Molecular population biology

DEB: Systematic Biology and Biodiversity Inventories

Taxonomy Classification Phylogenetics Expeditionary work to discovery,

document and describe plant, animal, and microbial diversity

Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grants

Announcement: NSF 02-173 Deadline: 3rd Friday in November, annually Contact: Dr. Mark Courtney, mcourtne@nsf.gov

Division of Environmental Biology and the Division of Integrative Organismal Biology

Must pass candidacy by the deadline

Funds research-related costs only

Recent changes: - increased upper limit to $12, 000 - allows travel to meetings

Division of Integrative Organismal Biology

Behavioral Systems Cluster Developmental Systems Cluster Environmental and Structural Systems

Cluster Functional and Regulatory Systems

Cluster

Research Areas Supported Under IOB

IOB: Behavioral Systems Cluster Thematic area focuses on the

development, function, mechanisms, and evolution of behavior, biological rhythms, and interactions between organisms including animals, plants, and microbes: social and reproductive behavior behavioral ecology and physiology neural and hormonal mechanisms of

behavior; immunology of behavior biological bases of learning, cognition, and

communication

IOB: Developmental Systems Cluster

Thematic area focuses on the nature, control, and evolution of those processes that comprise the life cycle of organisms mechanisms of gametogenesis, fertilization,

embryogenesis, differentiation, pattern formation, and morphogenesis

development, regeneration, and aging of the nervous system

genomic approaches, gene networks, integration of developmental gene pathways, and computational approaches are included. 

IOB: Environmental and Structural Systems Cluster

Thematic area focuses on the function and evolution of organisms in their physiochemical and biotic environments of physiological ecology, functional morphology, animal sensation and movement, molecular bases of tissue biomechanical

properties, environmental genomics. 

IOB: Functional and Regulatory Systems Cluster

Thematic area focuses on fundamental physiological mechanisms and how they have evolved, with emphasis on organisms as integrated systems. comparative physiology Neurophysiology mechanisms of solute transport comparative or evolutionary immunology Includes research at the genetic, genomic,

cellular, tissue, organ, system, and organismal levels of organization. 

Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences

Molecular Structure and Function Metabolic Biochemistry Cellular Organization Signal Transduction and Cellular

Regulation Mechanisms and Regulation of Gene

Expression Genetic Mechanisms

Examples of Research Areas Supported Under MCB

Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences

Biomolecular Systems Cluster

Cellular Systems Cluster

Gene and Genome System Cluster

Research Areas Supported Under MCB

MCB: Biomolecular Systems Cluster

Emphasizes the structure, function, dynamics, interactions, and interconversions of biological molecules includes integrating theoretical,

computational, and experimental approaches to the study of biological molecules and their functional complexes

mechanistic studies of the regulation and catalysis of enzymes and RNA

higher-order characterization of the biochemical processes

MCB: Cellular Systems Cluster

Emphasizes the structure, function, and regulation of plant, animal and microbial cells, and their interactions with the environment and with one another

Includes studies of the structure, function, and assembly of cellular elements, including eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell walls and envelopes

Includes intracellular and transmembrane signal transduction mechanisms and cell-cell signaling processes, including those that occur in biofilms

Includes Microbial Observatories and Microbial Interactions and Processes

Emphasizes genomes and genetic mechanisms in all organisms, whether prokaryote, eukaryote, phage, or virus

Includes structure, maintenance, expression, transfer, and stability of genetic information in DNA, RNA, and proteins and how those processes are regulated

Areas of interest include genome organization, molecular and cellular evolution, replication, recombination, repair, and vertical and lateral transmission of heritable information

Includes processes that mediate and regulate gene expression, such as chromatin structure, epigenetic phenomena, transcription, RNA processing, editing and degradation, and translation.

MCB: Gene and Genome Systems Cluster

Emerging Frontiers Virtual Division

An incubator for 21st century biology Multidisciplinary research and networking activities Synergy between disciplines New initiatives for later integration into core

programsCurrently includes: All NSF-wide Priority Areas Frontiers in Integrative Biological Research Tree of Life Microbial Genome Sequencing Project Ecology of Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration Networks

FIBR: Frontiers in Integrative Biological Research

Supports integrative research that addresses major questions in biology

Identify under-studied and unanswered questions Use innovative approaches Integrating science and research tools across disciplines

PRELIMINARY PROPOSAL DEADLINE (required for Full Research Proposal submission only): October 4, 2004

FULL RESEARCH PROPOSAL DEADLINE : February 2005

Read the Program Announcement for more information.

Program Announcement: NSF 04-596

Full proposal Deadline: February 16, 2005

Research Coordination Networks in Biological Sciences

Foster communication and promote collaboration among scientists with common interests from broad backgrounds and across geographically, disciplinary, and organizational boundaries

Create new research directions

Program Announcement: NSF-04-567

Deadline: June 25, 2004; TBA for 2005

Division of Biological Infrastructure

Examples of Research Areas Supported Under DBI

Postdoctoral Fellowships Program Research Experiences for Undergraduates Sites Undergraduate Mentorship in Environmental Biology Collaborative Research at Undergraduate Institutions Biological Field Stations and Marine Laboratories Instrument Development for Biological Research Multi-user Biological Equipment and Instrumentation Biological Databases and Informatics Living Stock Collections Biological Research Collections

Plant Genome Research Program

Overall Program Goals Support research on the structure, organization and

function of plant genomes, elucidate fundamental biological processes

Accelerate the acquisition and utilization of new knowledge and innovative technologies

Focus is on plants of economic importance and plant processes of potential economic value.

FY’04-’05 Program (NSF 04-510) Virtual Center Awards in Plant Genome Research Individual and Small Group Awards in Plant Genome

Research

Multi-User Biological Equipment

and Instrumentation Resources (MUE)

provides support for the purchase of major items

requests can be from $40,000 to $400,000.

single items of biological equipment or several pieces of equipment with a related purpose

must be shared by 3 to 7 investigators with actively-funded NSF research projects.

Program Announcement: NSF 05-534 Deadline: 1st Wednesday in July, annually

Major Research Instrumentation Program

NSF wide program, BIO managed review

Designed to improve the condition of scientific and engineering equipment and facilities for research and research training

Awards for instrumentation will range from $100,000 to $2 million.

Deadline: 3rd Thursday in January, annuallyProgram Announcement: NSF-05-515

Field Stations & Marine Labs Program

Successful projects have: Demonstrated infrastructure need High potential biological impact Broad user base Educational outreach

Read the Program Announcement for more information.

Program Announcement: NSF 05-550

April 26, 2005

Biological Research Collections

Collection Enhancement

Computerization of specimen-related data

Curation and Collection Management research

Program solicitation NSF 04-571

Biological Databases and Informatics

To encourage support of new approaches to the management of biological knowledge that render the collection, maintenance, dissemination and query of the data and information therein of greater utility to the scientific community.

Read the Program Announcement for more information.

Program Announcement: NSF 05-???

C-RUI: Cross-disciplinary Research at Undergraduate Institutions

Supports research efforts involving faculty from different fields

Targeted at cross-disciplinary research projects that require contribution of from more than one disciplinary area

Focused on undergraduate students from predominantly undergraduate institutions

Anticipated funding for program - $2 million; up to 8 awardsRead the Program Announcement for more information.

Program Announcement: NSF 04-536

Research Experiences for Undergraduates

effective for attracting and retaining undergraduates in careers in mathematics,

science and engineering

incorporates active research experience

REU sites: NSF 04-584

REU supplements to PIs with existing awards

Sites Deadline: Aug. 17, 2004

Supplement Deadline: Contact your Program Officer for details.

Undergraduate Mentoring in Environmental Biology

institutional awards to give students research experience in environmental biology - broadly defined

proposals should emphasize factors that enable underrepresented groups to enter and remain in environmental biology

major emphasis on direct student participation in research during the academic year and summer, with students remaining in program for > 1 year

Program Announcement: NSF 05-558Preliminary proposal Deadline: May 18th 2005

Full proposal Deadline: October 17th 2005

Postdoctoral Fellowship Programs

Awards for research and training

Applicants choose sponsoring scientist and provide research/training plan

Two year awards Minority Postdoctoral Fellowships

Program announcement NSF 00-139; Deadline: First Monday in December

Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Interdisciplinary Informatics Program Announcement NSF 04-539 Deadline: April 11th, 2005

Award Supplement Opportunities

Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) Research Experiences for Undergraduates

(REU) Research Opportunity Awards (ROA) Research Assistantships for Minority High

School Students (RAMHSS) Facilitation Award for Scientists and Engineers

with Disabilities

1-year supplement to current NSF Awards

help build long term collaborative relationships between K-12 teachers of science and mathematics and the NSF research community

encourages researchers to form partnerships with teachers at inner city schools and less well- endowed school districts

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE FOR TEACHERS

Consult with the Program Director of your particular NSF award.Dear Colleague Letter: NSF 05-524

Research Opportunity Award

Supplementary funding through ongoing NSF research grants to allow faculty at predominantly undergraduate institutions or secondary schools to participate in research activities under the aegis of NSF-supported investigators

details located within the RUI program announcement

Consult with the Program Director of your particular NSF award.Dear Colleague Letter: NSF 05-548

Research Assistantships for Minority High School Students (RAMHSS)

involves high school minority students in research

provides funding supplements to PIs supported by NSF

occurs throughout the academic year and summer

Contact the Program Officer in the appropriate program for details.

Useful URLs - Bookmark!!

NSF Home Page: http://www.nsf.gov

Search NSF Awards:http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/

Search NSF Documents On-Line:http://www.nsf.gov/publications/ods/

FastLane Home Page:https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/fastlane.jsp

NSF Custom News Service:http://www.nsf.gov/mynsf/

Grant Proposal Guide (GPG):http://www.nsf.gov/pubsys/ods/getpub.cfm?ods_key=nsf0423

Guide to Programs:http://www.nsf.gov/ pubsys/ods/getpub.cfm?ods_key=nsf04009

Directorate for Education and Human Resources

Math and SciencePartnership (MSP)

Division of Elementary,Secondary and Informal

Education (ESIE)

Division of UndergraduateEducation (DUE)

Division of GraduateEducation (DGE)

Division of HumanResource Development

(HRD)

Division of Research,Evaluation and

Communication (REC)

Experimental Program toStimulate CompetitiveResearch (EPSCoR)

Division of Elementary, Secondary and Informal Education (ESIE)

Centers for Learning and Teaching (CLT) Informal Science Education (ISE) Information Technology Experiences for Students and

Teachers (ITEST) Instructional Materials Development (IMD) Nanoscale Science and Engineering Education (NSEE) Presidential Awards Teacher Professional Continuum (TPC) Advanced Technological Education (ATE)

Informal Science Education (ISE)

Promotes the public interest, understanding, and engagement in STEM informal opportunities. Television, films, and radio shows Exhibits and educational programs at museums,

science and technology centers, etc. Educational activities through community and youth-

based programs One-year to five-year projects $50,000 to $3 M

Advanced Technological Education (ATE)

Promotes improvement in undergraduate technological education: (joint program with ESIE & DUE)

Curriculum development Preparation of college faculty and secondary school

teachers Professional development for faculty and teachers Research relating to technician education

Emphasis on two-year colleges Education of technicians for high-technology fields Promotes articulation between two-year and four-year

institutions

Division of UndergraduateEducation (DUE)

Workforce Development Advanced Technological Education (ATE) Computer Science, Engineering & Mathematics

Scholarships (CSEMS) Federal Cyber Service: Scholarship for Service

(SFS) Robert Noyce Scholarship Program STEM Talent Expansion Program (STEP) Teacher Professional Continuum (TPC) 

Division of UndergraduateEducation (DUE)

Curriculum, Laboratory & Instructional Development

Course, Curriculum & Laboratory Improvement (CCLI)

National STEM Education Digital Library (NSDL) NSF Director's Award for Distinguished Teaching

Scholars (DTS)

CCLI Program Solicitation: The CCLI program has changed substantially for FY

2006. The program has increased its emphasis on projects

that build on prior work and contribute to the knowledge base of undergraduate STEM education research and practice.

Projects should contribute to building a community of scholars who work in related areas of undergraduate education.

The revised program requires proposals to explicitly identify a set of measurable outcomes that will be used in the project management and evaluation.

CCLI Program Solicitation: The program will accept three types of proposals

representing different phases of development: Phase 1, Exploratory Projects with a total budget

up to $150,000 ($200,000 when four-year colleges and universities collaborate with two-year colleges) for 1 to 3 years;

Phase 2, Expansion Projects with a total budget up to $500,000 for 2 to 4 years;

Phase 3, Comprehensive Projects with a total budget up to $2,000,000 for 3 to 5 years.

CCLI Program Solicitation: To provide a framework for projects to maximize their

effectiveness on improving undergraduate STEM education, the program identified five components of a cyclic model of knowledge production and the improvement of practice. The program will accept proposals that may combine one, several, or all of the following components: Conducting research on undergraduate STEM

teaching and learning; Creating learning materials and teaching

strategies; Developing faculty expertise; Implementing educational innovations; Assessing learning and evaluating innovations.

NSF Merit Review Criteria

Criteria include:

What is the intellectual merit and quality of the proposed activity?

What are the broader impacts of the proposed activity?

Ad hoc/ mail review or Panel Service

Gives you insight into the review process

Allows you to see fundable research proposals

Great service to the community

Ad hoc/ mail review or Panel Service

Gives you insight into the review process

Allows you to see fundable research proposals

Great service to the community

Nat

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Net

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A continent-wide research tool consisting of geographically distributed regional observatories, networked via state of the art communications

A virtual lab for research to obtain a predictive understanding of the environment

Collectively, a network of networked environmental research facilities and instruments

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