How to Obtain NSF GrantsHow to Obtain NSF Grants

Review of Proposal Review of Proposal PiecesPieces

A workshop providing information on the process of applying A workshop providing information on the process of applying for external research awards.for external research awards.

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Pieces of an NSF ProposalPieces of an NSF Proposal

Cover sheet (you input RFP, co-PIs) Certification page (automatic) Recommended Reviewers (optional)PI Demographics (automatic) Project Summary (There are rules…)

Intellectual Merit, Broader Impacts (both MUST be addressed)

Table of Contents (automatic)

Pieces of an NSF Proposal: Pieces of an NSF Proposal: Part 2Part 2

Project Description 15 pages, single-spaced, font style (5 are acceptable)

and size specified in the Grant Proposal Guide

What goes here? Read the Solicitation!! Project Goals and Objectives

Hypotheses to test (“hypothesis-driven science”) Significance to the discipline Relation to PIs longer-term goals and previous

work Relation to state of knowledge of the field

Pieces of an NSF Proposal: Pieces of an NSF Proposal: Part 3Part 3

Project Description, continued: Research methodologies Clear statement of work to be undertaken Relation to PIs longer-term goals and previous

work Previous NSF-supported work (required if you

have been PI on RELEVANT NSF grants)NSF Award No., duration, funds awardedBRIEF statement of project activities and results (one

short paragraph unless it’s relevant to your proposed project…)

Publications/presentations (*can be in References Cited)

Pieces of an NSF Proposal: Pieces of an NSF Proposal: Back PagesBack Pages

References Cited (ONLY what’s cited!*) Biographical Sketches (2 page) Budget with budget justification Current and pending support (all sources) Facilities, Equipment, and Other

Resources Supplemental Documents (if allowed, w/

PD permit)*including publications/presentations from Results from Previous NSF

Support

Biographical Sketches: NSFBiographical Sketches: NSF

Maximum of 2 pages - tailor to project! Education

UG Inst. Major Degree and YearGrad Inst. Major Degree and YearPost Doc I. Area Inclusive dates

Professional Appointments Up to 5 project- related publications Up to 5 other publications Synergistic activities Recent Collaborators, All Advisors, All Advisees

Project Summary TipsProject Summary Tips

Brief and to the point - sort of like a paper abstract… Intellectual merit and Broader Impacts - must be

addressed, or returned w/o review! (Best approach: two paragraphs…)

Project Objectives Fit to program goals General plan for research with design/method No jargon or abbreviations No summaries of previous work Should be understandable to a general scientific

audience If you get an award, this is what gets used in reports to

Congress, so nothing “cute”…

NSF Project Review Criteria:NSF Project Review Criteria:Two Required Parts of Project SummaryTwo Required Parts of Project Summary

Intellectual MeritImportance of project to advancing knowledgeQualifications of proposer and teamCreativity and originalityOrganization, resources, likelihood of success

Broader Impacts Advancing discovery coupled with

education/trainingAttending to underrepresented groupsEnhancing infrastructure and social networks

(nationally and internationally)Disseminating knowledge and benefiting society

What Goes In a Budget?What Goes In a Budget?

All costs related to activities on the project: Personnel (w/ fringe benefits, tuition, etc.) Equipment Travel (usually national, can be

international (extra requirements…)) Participant Support Costs Materials & Supplies; Publication Costs Subawards Indirect Costs Justification

SAMPLE BUDGET

Grant PersonnelGrant Personnel

Salaries + Fringe (+ insurance)Principal Investigators; Co-PIs; Senior

PersonnelUndergraduate / Graduate Students tuitionTechnicians, Programmers, Non-clerical

staffConsultantsClerical Staff are usually not allowed.

Direct CostsDirect Costs

Equipment (cost sharing may be required)However, Cost sharing should be avoided if possible.

Travel Participant Support Costs

Conferences/WorkshopsHuman Subjects

Materials & Supplies; Publication CostsSubawards/Subaccounts Office Supplies are typically not allowed. Grant Personnel

Indirect CostsIndirect Costs

Also called F&A (Facilities & Administration) or Overhead

The rate applies to MTDC or Modified Total Direct Costs:

MTDC= Direct costs – tuition – equipment- subcontract amounts

Represents costs of space, copiers, research office personnel, and other available university supplies and services

Type and location of research can affect IDC rate.Affiliate, off campus research

Check the agency guidelines for any stipulations about indirect costs.

Budget Justification/NarrativeBudget Justification/Narrative

Expectation to justify requestsRequirement to address compliance

issues including cost accounting standards and effort

Chance to provide extra details or explain atypical requests

Extra opportunity to explain details of projectSAMPLE BUDGET JUSTIFICATION

Justifying Resource RequestsJustifying Resource Requests

PersonnelDescribe what role each person will perform

on the project: Try to avoid implying a university cost share.Use language like: One month of salary is

requested for the PI who will oversee all aspects of the project.

If no funding is requested, describe a role: The Co-PI will serve as a mentor to the graduate students.

Avoid overly specific time/effort estimates.

Justifying Resource RequestsJustifying Resource Requests

Supply a brief summary of why the resources are essential to the projectWhy you need the equipment, supplies, etc.How the travel will benefit the project

(especially important for international requests)

What types of materials are needed (cannot include routine office supplies)

Publications costs and tuition need little/no explanation

Avoiding Accounting ProblemsAvoiding Accounting Problems

Compliance issues: cost accounting standards for computers, office supplies, clerical help.

It is critical to explain why the request is: essential to the project and beyond the scope of what the university typically provides to its faculty members.