D. Keith RoperEngineering Research Centers Program Leader

Network for Computational Nanotechnology Program Leader

Engineering Education and Centers Division, Engineering DirectorateNational Science Foundation

1

Winning Large NSF Proposals

ASEE Engineering Research Council Annual ConferenceBethesda, MD

Mon Mar 7 - Wed Mar 9, 2016

Disclaimer: The comments in this presentation are of the author, and do not necessary reflect those of the National Science Foundation (NSF)

Thanks to: D. Brzakovic, R. Gupta, C. Hemingway, P. Kharghonekar, S. Lim M. Molnar, R. Montelli, G. Muller-Parker, and K. Whang for contributions to the presentation

Sequester CO2

Energy from

fusion

Economic Solar

EnergyPrevent Nuclear Terror

Access to clean

H2O

Manage N2 cycle

Engineer Better

Medicines

AdvanceHealth

Informatics

Secure Cyberspace

Advance Personalized

Learning

Reverse engineer the brain

Engineer tools of scientific discovery

Enhance virtual reality

Improve Urban

Infrastructure

Transportation Communication

Energy

Health

Materials

Cognition

Grand Challenges for Engineering in the 21st Century

National Academy of Engineering2

2016 D.K. Roper

Societal Concerns

Urbanization:infrastructure

Population growth, aging

Global flows ofpeople, things,

knowledge, skills

Scarcity: food, water,

disease

Employment, wages

Accelerating pace of

technology

Inequality: income,

education

Environment:climate change,

sustainability

Economy

Information

Mobility

Humanity

Resources 3 2016 D.K. Roper

Funding Landscape

4

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

National R&D IntensityGross R&D investment as a percent of GDP

South Korea

Finland

Japan

Taiwan

Germany

U.S.

France

EU-28

China

UK

Source: OECD, Main Science and Technology Indicators, Feb 2015. 2015 AAAS

Federal support for R&D leveling State support declining U.S. lags globally in R&D

NSF: 24% of federal support for basic research in U.S. universities

State appropriations as % of public research universities total operation revenue

NCSES

Center-scale funded R&D Internationally

5NCSES

Center of Innovation (COI) Program Japan 1-10 9 18 2013

Center Country Annual Duration Number Launched($ million) (years)

Research Centres Program Ireland to 8 6 12 2012

Natl Research Programmes Switzerland to 3.3 6-7 14 1976

Mega Projects of Science Research China to 40 5 12 2006

DFG Research Centers Germany to 14 12 4 2001

Inst. Basic Science Research Centers S. Korea 8.5 10 50 2012

Research Centres of Excellence Singapore ? 3+ 5 2007

6

My Experience: Large NSF Proposals(as Program Director since 2012)

Engineering Research Centers (ERC) ProgramProgram Leader (2014- current) 19 ERCs, annually $71M, ~210 proposalsProgram Director (2012-2014) 3 ERCs, annually: $10M, ~ 20 proposals

Network for Computational Nanotechnology (NCN) ProgramProgram Leader (2014- current) 3 Centers, annually: $6M, ~3 proposalsProgram Director (2012-2014) 1 node, annually: $1.2M

Nanoscale Science and Engineering Centers (NSEC) ProgramProgram Director (2012-2015) 2 NSECS, annually: $8M

NSF Research Traineeship (NRT) ProgramProgram Director (2012-current) 3 NRTs, annually: $6M, ~30 proposals

Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation (EFRI) ProgramProgram Director (2013-2014) 9 EFRIs, annually: $18M, ~250 proposals

BRAIN: Accelerating Integrative Research Neural and Cognitive SystemsProgram Director (2013-current) 16 awards, annually: $13M ~180 proposals

Scaleable NanoManufacturing (SNM) ProgramProgram Director (2015-current) 7 awards, annually: $5M ~80 proposals

7

My Experience: Large NSF Proposals(as Researcher prior to 2012)

NSF Engineering Research Centers (ERC) Program ($70MM)Biotechnology Process ERC (1985-94) New Pneumovax VaccineBiotechnology Process ERC (1995-2004) 2 million lives/year

NSF STEM Talent Enrollment Expansion (STEP) Award ($2MM)Co-Principal Investigator Engineering enrollment up 59% Piloted EPA P3 Award Female eng. enrollment up 121%

NSF EPS ASSET II Award ($20MM)Senior Investigator 375 publications, 150 proceedings

NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Site ($289K)Senior Investigator 29 REU students; 38% to graduate school

NSF Nanotechnology Undergraduate Education (NUE) Program ($200K)Co-Principal Investigator Nanotechnology Minor; New Lab courses

Acknowledgments to: L. Preston, S. Rastegar, E. Misawa, R. Tankersley, K. Whang, K. Cooper, D. Wang, L. Griffith, C. Furse, D. Rhoads, M. Zou and participants on these programs and award.

Winning Large NSF Proposals: A Recipe :)

IngredientsEssentials: cup vegetable oil cup flour1 small onion, chopped (1 cup)1 small green bell pepper, chopped (1 cup)3 stalks celery, chopped (1 cup)1 28-oz. can diced tomatoes2 cups fresh or frozen green beans3 carrots, sliced (2 cups)1 parsnip, diced (1 cup)1 Tbs. ground cumin1 Tbs. paprika1 Tbs. dried oregano tsp. cayenne pepper

Optional:1 cup fresh or frozen sliced okra, optional2 tablespoons almond butter (randomly delicious)salt to taste

Directions:1. Stir together oil and flour in Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot until smooth. Cook over high heat 10 minutes, or until roux turns a dark caramel color, stirring constantly.

2. Add onion, bell pepper, and celery, and cook 5 minutes, or until vegetables are softened. Stir in all remaining ingredients and 4 cups water. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook 40 minutes, or until carrots are tender. Serve over rice.

www.mccormick.com

Vegetarian tImes

Large NSF Proposals: A Recipe :)

www.mccormick.com

1. Choose the Dinner Party- Guests & Timing

2. Plan the Event3. Balance the Menu4. Prepare the Proposal

~

1. Dinner Party: Guests & Timing

Industry/Univ. Cooperative Research Ctr (I/UCRC)ENG/IIP: R. Montelli, rmontell@nsf.gov parners per site per site

Engineering Research Center (ERC)ENG/EEC: K. Roper, kroper@nsf.gov

NSF Research Traineeships (NRT)EHR/DGE: R. Tankersley, rtankers@nsf.gov

Science and Technology Center (STC)OIA: D. Brzakovic, dbrzakov@nsf.gov

Network for Computational Nanotechnol. (NCN)ENG/EEC: K. Roper, kroper@nsf.gov

Neural & Cognitive Systems (NCS)CISE/IIS: K. Whang, kwhang@nsf.gov

Science of Learning Collaborative Network (SLC)SBE/BCS: S. Lim, slim@nsf.gov

5+5

NSF Program Ann. Budget($ millions)

Duration(years)

Cycle(years)

Emerging Frontiers in Research & Eng. (EFRI)ENG/EFRI: S. Rastegar, srastega@nsf.gov

5+5

5

4.25

2-3

2

Awards/Proposals

4/259

4/170

5

3

0.6

0.5

1

1

8/na

9/na

3

3

0.25

0.27

1

1

13/na

16/na

5

5/5/5

0.7

0.15/0.1/0.05

5

1

3/10

3/4/5

Match your Proposal to a Program

mailto:rmontell@nsf.gov

1. Dinner Party: Guests & TimingExample: STC Characteristics

Center Mode whole > sum of parts Value Added : Portfolio of integrated projects Exploit opportunities requiring scope, scale, flexibility, duration, equipment

and facilities of a Center Bold yet achievable Frontier investigations across and/or within disciplines

(Transformative, Grand Challenges) Legacy Promote organizational linkages capitalizing on cyberinfrastructure Partnerships

Integrative learning and discovery for (U.S.) students Broad set of career paths

Engage and develop nations talent, including groups underrepresented in STEM research and education Diverse STEM workforce

Foster science/engineering in service to society Knowledge Transfer, new research areas, instrumentation, technologies

IndustryIndustry Advisory Board (IAB)

Center Sites

Universities

Pooled Member $s

Investment of Indirects

Shared Project Portfolio

Cooperatively defined, selected

Governed by NSFI/UCRC Agreement** Royalty free

nonexclusive accessto IP by members

Addressesprecompetitiveneeds shared by IAB

Leverages & builds universitystrengths

Value derived from portfolio

ResearchProjects

Requires trust be built in the model, and between all partners in the center.

NSF, Agencies, Foundations Funded

Contract Research Master Agreements

Ideas, people

Ideas, people

Ope

ratin

g co

sts

Example: I/UCRC Pre--competitive Research Portfolio: cooperatively defined & funded on shared value

Match your Proposal to a Programwww.nsf.gov/funding

Keywordsearch

SpecialPrograms

ProgramAreas

Match your Proposal to a

Program

Use the Program Description to find:

Cognizant NSF Program Director contact information

Proposal due dates

Scope and emphasis areas

Current awards made through program

2. Plan the EventHeed Timelines: Proposal & Award Process

2. Plan the EventTimelines: Center Proposals

3. Balance the MenuAttend to Proposal Review Criteria

Intellectual Merit (~12-13 pages)

Advancement and contribution of knowled