Overview of NSF

and the Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO)

Overview of NSF and the Directorate for

Biological Sciences (BIO)

Tom Brady

Division Director Integrative Organismal Biology

October 21-22, 2005

Tom Brady

Division Director Integrative Organismal Biology

October 21-22, 2005

www.nsf.govwww.nsf.gov

The National Science Foundation (NSF)

• Is an Independent Agency of the Federal Government

• Was established in 1950 to promote and advance scientific progress in the United States by sponsoring scientific research and by supporting selected activities in science and engineering

• Does not conduct research itself.

NationalAeronautic and Space

Administration

EnvironmentalProtection

Agency

Smithsonian Institution

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Other agencies

Commerce

Science Advisor

Other boards, councils, etc.

U.S. President

Independent Agencies

Major Departments

Science AdvisorOffice of Science and

Technology Policy

Office of Management and Budget

Agriculture Health and Human Services

Interior Homeland Security

Defense Energy

NSF MissionNSF Act of 1950

• To promote scientific progress • To advance national health, prosperity and welfare

• To secure national defense

• Supports education and trainingat all levels

• Promotes public understanding of science, engineering and math

• Ensures a world-class science, engineering and technology workforce

for the U.S.

National Science Foundation

Social, Behavioral,

and Economic Sciences

National Science FoundationNational Science Foundation

Inspector GeneralNational Science Board

Director

Deputy Director

Staff Offices

Computer & Computer & Info. ScienceInfo. Science

& Engineering & Engineering

EngineeringEngineering Geosciences

MathematicalMathematical& Physical& Physical SciencesSciences

Education & Human Resources

Budget, Finance & Award Management

Information Resource

Management

Biological Sciences

Growth in NSF Budget FY 2000-2006 (millions)

Who receives awards?

• Universities and colleges

• Academic consortia

• Nonprofit institutions

• Small businesses

• University and industry collaborations

• National research centers

• International research and education efforts

• Welcomes proposals from all qualified scientists and engineers

• Strongly encourages women, members of groups underrepresented in science and engineering, and persons with disabilities to compete fully in NSF programs

National Science Foundation

• Strengthen Core Disciplinary Research

• Provide broadly accessible cyberinfrastructure and other world class facilities

• Broaden participation in the science and engineering workforce

NSF FY 2006 Budget Priorities

Directorate for the Directorate for the Biological SciencesBiological Sciences

Population & Evolutionary Processes

Population & Evolutionary Processes

Directorate for Biological Sciences(BIO)

Directorate for Biological Sciences(BIO)

Information and Automation Resources Unit

(IAR)

Information and Automation Resources Unit

(IAR)

Division of Environmental

Biology(DEB)

Division of Environmental

Biology(DEB)

Ecological BiologyEcological Biology

EcosystemScience

EcosystemScience

Division of Integrative

Organismal Biology(IOB)

Division of Integrative

Organismal Biology(IOB)

BehavioralSystems

BehavioralSystems

Developmental Systems

Developmental Systems

Environmental &Structural Systems

Environmental &Structural Systems

ResearchResources

ResearchResources

HumanResources

HumanResources

Division ofBiological

Infrastructure(DBI)

Division ofBiological

Infrastructure(DBI)

Division of Molecular and

Cellular Biosciences

(MCB)

Division of Molecular and

Cellular Biosciences

(MCB)

BiomolecularSystems

BiomolecularSystems

Cellular SystemsCellular Systems

Genes and GenomeSystems

Genes and GenomeSystems

Effective September 2004

Emerging Frontiers (EF)

Plant GenomeResearch Program

Plant GenomeResearch Program

Systematic Biology &Biodiversity Inventories

Systematic Biology &Biodiversity Inventories

Functional & Regulatory Systems

Functional & Regulatory Systems

Major BIO Responsibilities

• Long-term Ecological Research

• Systematic Biology; Biodiversity

• Evolutionary Biology

• Environmental Biology

• Plant Biology

• Microbial Biology (not medical)

• Bioinformatics

Molecular and Cellular Biosciences

• Genes and Genome Systems

• Biomolecular Systems

• Cellular Systems

BIO Core Areas

Integrative Organismal Biology

• Behavioral Systems

• Developmental Systems

• Environmental and Structural Systems

• Functional and Regulatory Systems

BIO Core Areas

Environmental Biology

• Ecological Biology

• Ecosystem Science

• Population & Evolutionary Processes

• Systematic Biology & Biodiversity Inventories

BIO Core Areas

Target Dates for Unsolicited Proposals in Core Areas

• January 10-12

• July 10-12

Biological Infrastructure

• Human Resources

– Postdoctoral Fellowships

– Research Experiences for Undergraduates Sites (REU Sites)

– Undergraduate Mentorship in Environmental Biology (UMEB)

– Collaborative Research in Undergraduate Institutions (C-RUI)

Biological Infrastructure

• Research Resources

– Field Stations and Marine Labs

– Instrument Development

– Multi-user Equipment & Instrumentation

– Biological Databases & Informatics

– Living Stock Collections

– Biological Research Collections

Plant Genome Research Program

• Supports research on the structure, organization and function of plant genomes; elucidates fundamental biological processes.

• Accelerates acquisition and utilization of new knowledge and innovative technologies.

• Focuses on plants of economic importance and plant processes of potential economic value.

National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON)

• NEON will be a national network of observatories located continent-wide, providing research platforms for integrated studies in field biology

• Each observatory will have state-of-the-art infrastructure to support interdisciplinary, integrated research.

• NEON is in early stages of development.

NSF-wide Opportunities

• Research in Undergraduate Institutions (RUI)

• Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER)

• Small Grants for Exploratory Research (SGER)

• Integrative Graduate Education & Research Traineeships (IGERT)

• Major Research Instrumentation

Faculty Early Career Development

(CAREER)

• Supports teacher-scholars committed to the integration of research and education.

• Proposals present research plans that integrate research and education.

• BIO minimum award of $100,000 per year for 5 years.

• Deadline annually in July (New Program Solicitation will be released soon.)

Ongoing Funding Opportunities

• Arabidopsis 2010 Project

• Microbial Genome Sequencing

• Microbial Observatories & Microbial Interactions and Processes

• Ecology of Infectious Diseases

• Frontiers in Integrative Biological Research (FIBR)

• Assembling the Tree of Life

• Research Coordination Networks

NSF FY 2006 Priority Areas

• Biocomplexity in the Environment

• Nanoscale Science and

Engineering

• Mathematical Sciences

• Human and Social Dynamics

New BIO Program Solicitation

Research Initiation Grants (RPG)

and

Career Advancement Awards (CAA)

for

Broadening Participation

Research Initiation Grants (RIG)

Career Advancement Awards (CAA)

• Broadening Participation – Especially faculty from underrepresented groups or minority serving institutions

• RIG – New Investigators

• CAA – May have previously been PI

• $150k - 24 months, $25k equipment

For More Information

http://www.nsf.gov