Web Seminar

November 8, 2018 3:00 PM  to 
November 8, 2018 4:00 PM
(Eastern Standard Time)

Save the Date

The National Science Foundation (NSF) invites anyone involved with NSF-supported work in the mathematical sciences to submit a short video (up to 3 minutes) that showcases the work in a way that is exciting and accessible to a broad audience. The NSF We Are Mathematics Video Competition aims to bring mathematics to life in a way that can help to break down barriers for those who may not otherwise understand what it means to do advanced mathematics or conduct research in the mathematical sciences.  A total of $12,000 in prize money will be awarded to winners across four different entry levels.

This informational webinar provides an overview of the competition and an opportunity for potential contestants to have their questions answered.

Please register for the webinar in advance at
https://nsf2.webex.com/nsf2/onstage/g.php?MTID=e729c5c0692aa6af65b2f679208db62a9

To help the organizers answer as many participant questions as possible during the webinar, please send any questions you have in advance to we-are-mathematics@nsf.gov

Meeting Type
Webcast

Contacts
We Are Mathematics competition, email: we-are-mathematics@nsf.gov

NSF Related Organizations
Division of Mathematical Sciences

Related Websites
We Are Mathematics Video Competition home page: http://wearemathematics2019.skild.com

https://www.nsf.gov/events/event_summ.jsp?cntn_id=296734&WT.mc_id=USNSF_13&WT.mc_ev=click

The unique high quality and long duration microgravity environment on the ISS National Lab provides an extraordinary research platform for experiments in the biological and medical sciences. Microgravity induces a vast array of changes in individual cells and model organisms ranging from viruses and microorganisms to humans, including global alterations in gene expression and 3-dimensional aggregation of cells into biofilms or tissue-like architectures that recapitulate the structure and function of organs. Moreover, studies of astronauts reveal a variety of space flight-induced health conditions, many of which may serve as accelerated models of ground-based ailments such as aging and trauma. Research into these and other effects of the space environment may advance our fundamental understanding of cell and tissue function, effective disease diagnosis and /or treatment, or improved health care delivery.

The following constitute a partial list of the distinct and unique advantages for conducting research in space at the interface of engineering and biomedical sciences:

Effects of microgravity:

• Altered gene expression results in phenotypic consequence, including changes in cellular immune function and microbial growth and virulence;
• Cell cultures show altered processes of cell growth, cell differentiation and cell communication, including increased pluripotency of stem cells;
• Scaffold-free tissue cultures grown in three dimensions have advanced the field of tissue engineering by facilitating diffusion of nutrients and oxygen into spheroids and enhancing the aggregation of cells by induction of differential cellular signaling pathways, achieving constructs larger than those engineered in conventional bioreactors or 2D cultures;
• Changes in body systems result in bone loss, immune dysfunction, vision changes, viral reactivation and loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength, among other systemic effects; and
• Advances in additive manufacturing and tissue engineering capabilities on orbit using biological and biocompatible materials to facilitate cellular self-organization and 3D tissue formation.

Radiation environment:

• Includes high energy protons and atomic nuclei of heavier elements.

Funding

To receive funding as an NSF-ISS-appropriate project, a flight experiment that utilizes the ISS National Lab should be proposed. If flight schedules change, investigators may modify proposed timelines, subject to review and approval by the CASIS Operations team.

This solicitation is not intended to be used for projects that can be accommodated within other NSF funding mechanisms. In addition, this solicitation is not intended to be used for projects that can be conducted in their entirety with ground-based research.

Collaborative proposals can also be submitted. In these cases, if the co-PIs are at different organizations and have complementary skills and facilities, then the use of the separately submitted collaborative proposal mechanism is allowed. See PAPPG Chapter II.D.3 for information about submission of a collaborative proposal from multiple organizations.

Prospective proposals will be subject to a feasibility review for operational feasibility, conducted by CASIS.

See the CASIS guidelines for further details on these reviews at https://www.iss-casis.org/research-on-the-iss/solicitations/NSF-CBET-CMMI. The solicitation seeks to increase use of the ISS National Lab for flight research projects in the field of biomedical engineering. Costs such as preparatory work, including but not limited to design of experimental prototypes and numerical simulations, data acquisition, and post-flight data analysis, can be included in the budget. Ideal proposals will describe a commercial, civil, or academic project to achieve research or technology development objectives that will directly impact fundamental studies on cellular engineering, tissue engineering, and models of physiological systems, including (but not limited to):

• Scaffolds/matrices
• Cell-cell, cell-matrix interactions
• Cellular immunotherapies
• Tissue biomanufacturing
• Hybrid systems for modeling of physiological or pathophysiological processes
• Computational models of physiological or pathophysiological systems that are validated based on experiments conducted on the ISS
• Mechanobiology related to phenotype expression

Prospective proposers should read the payload synopses and technical data on the CASIS website at https://www.iss-casis.org/research-on-the-iss/solicitations/NSF-CBET-CMMI to understand the basic capabilities of the offered payload facilities and instrumentation. NSF will offer grants to research proposals that develop fundamental and translational research and CASIS will assist grantees in translating ground-based experiments and technologies into the space-appropriate hardware offered in this solicitation where possible. An ideal proposal will demonstrate investigator’s knowledge of the significant challenges and importance of the proposed research and how ISS utilization will allow their research goals to be achieved. All proposers should read this online material to clearly understand the hardware platform and capabilities on the ISS.

CASIS also encourages prospective proposers to learn about the availability and capability of flight hardware and integration services by directly communicating with the implementation partner and the CASIS Operations team (NSFCASIS@iss-casis.org).

Prospective proposers also should read the CASIS guidelines at https://www.iss-casis.org/research-on-the-iss/solicitations/tissue-engineering-2017.

Proposals that do not follow the CASIS guidelines will be deemed non-responsive to this solicitation and subject to return without review (RWR).

Program Solicitation
NSF 19-509

https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2019/nsf19509/nsf19509.htm?WT.mc_id=USNSF_25&WT.mc_ev=click

SBE Postdoctoral Research Fellowships (SPRF)

Full Proposal Deadline Date: November 20, 2018

Program Guidelines: NSF 18-584

The Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE) offers Postdoctoral Research Fellowships to encourage independence early in the Fellow’s career through supporting his or her research and training goals. The research and training plan of each Fellowship must address important scientific questions within the scope of the SBE Directorate and the specific guidelines in this solicitation. The SPRF program offers two tracks: (I) Fundamental Research in the SBE Sciences (SPRF-FR) …
More at https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=504810&WT.mc_id=USNSF_39&WT.mc_ev=click

Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases (EEID)

Full Proposal Deadline Date: November 21, 2018

Program Guidelines: NSF 18-581

The multi-agency Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases program supports research on the ecological, evolutionary, and social principles and processes that influence the transmission dynamics of infectious diseases. The central theme of submitted projects must be quantitative or computational understanding of pathogen transmission dynamics. The intent is discovery of principles of infectious disease transmission and testing mathematical or computational models that elucidate infectious …
More at https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5269&WT.mc_id=USNSF_39&WT.mc_ev=click

EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement Program: Track-2 Focused EPSCoR Collaborations (RII Track-2 FEC)

Letter of Intent Deadline Date: November 26, 2018

Program Guidelines: NSF 18-589

The Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) is designed to fulfill the mandate of the National Science Foundation (NSF) to promote scientific progress nationwide. A jurisdiction is eligible to participate in EPSCoR programs if its level of NSF research support is equal to or less than 0.75 percent of the total NSF research and related activities budget for the most recent three-year period. Through this program, NSF establishes partnerships with government, higher …
More at https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=505263&WT.mc_id=USNSF_39&WT.mc_ev=click

Major Research Instrumentation Program (MRI): Limited Submission Opportunity

Internal Limited Submission Deadline to the Office of Research Administration: Friday, November 16, 2018

NSF Proposal Submission Window: January 1, 2019 – January 22, 2019

The Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program serves to increase access to multi-user scientific and engineering instrumentation for research and research training in our Nation’s institutions of higher education and not-for-profit scientific/engineering research organizations. An MRI award supports the acquisition or development of a multi-user research instrument that is, in general, too costly and/or not appropriate for support through other NSF programs.

MRI provides support to acquire critical research instrumentation without which advances in fundamental science and engineering research may not otherwise occur. MRI also provides support to develop next-generation research instruments that open new opportunities to advance the frontiers in science and engineering research. Additionally, an MRI award is expected to enhance research training of students who will become the next generation of instrument users, designers and builders.

An MRI proposal may request up to $4 million for either acquisition or development of a research instrument. Beginning with the FY 2018 competition, each performing organization may submit in revised “Tracks” as defined below, with no more than two submissions in Track 1 and no more than one submission in Track 2.

• Track 1: Track 1 MRI proposals are those that request funds from NSF greater than or equal to $100,000¹ and less than $1,000,000.
• Track 2: Track 2 MRI proposals are those that request funds from NSF greater than or equal to $1,000,000 up to and including $4,000,000.

Consistent with the America COMPETES Act of 2007 (Public Law 110-69), cost sharing of precisely 30% of the total project cost is required for Ph.D.-granting institutions of higher education and for non-degree-granting organizations. Non-Ph.D.-granting institutions of higher education are exempt from the cost-sharing requirement and cannot include it. National Science Board policy prohibits voluntary committed cost sharing.

Please see the solicitation text for organizational definitions used by the MRI program.

The MRI Program especially seeks broad representation of PIs in its award portfolio, including  women, underrepresented minorities and persons with disabilities. Since demographic diversity may be greater among early-career researchers the MRI program also encourages proposals with early-career PIs and proposals that benefit early-career researchers.

Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization:

Each performing organization is now limited to a maximum of three (3) proposals in revised “Tracks” as defined below, with no more than two (2) submissions in Track 1 and no more than one (1) submission in Track 2.

Any MRI proposal may request support for either the acquisition or development of a research instrument.

–          Track 1: Track 1 MRI proposals are those that request funds from NSF greater than or equal to $100,000¹ and less than $1,000,000.

–          Track 2: Track 2 MRI proposals are those that request funds from NSF greater than or equal to $1,000,000 up to and including $4,000,000.

For full program details visit NSF’s MRI webpage or the solicitation 18-513.

For details regarding The University of Akron’s limited submission process, visit the ORA Limited Submission webpage.

Dear Colleagues:

SCOPE

The Division of Earth Sciences (EAR) in the Directorate for Geosciences (GEO) of the National Science Foundation is pleased to announce a collaborative research opportunity with Taiwan that will allow U.S. and Taiwan researchers to submit a joint proposal that will undergo the NSF review process. The Department of Natural Sciences and Sustainable Development (DNSSD) of the Ministry of Science and Technology in Taiwan (MOST¹) serves as NSF’s partner in the collaboration. The research area is in the disciplinary subjects covered by the NSF/GEO/EAR programs in the Disciplinary Programs Section.

NSF/GEO/EAR DISCIPLINARY PROGRAMS SECTION

• Geobiology and Low-Temperature Geochemistry (NSF 15-559)
• Geomorphology and Land Use Dynamics (NSF 15-560)
• Geophysics (NSF 17-554)
• Hydrologic Sciences (NSF 15-558)
• Petrology and Geochemistry (NSF 17-547)
• Sedimentary Geology and Paleobiology (NSF 17-536)
• Tectonics (NSF 17-555)

This document provides guidelines for the preparation, submission, review, and award of NSF/GEO/EAR-MOST/DNSSD joint proposals. During this two-year phase (fiscal years 2019 and 2020), NSF/GEO/EAR and MOST/DNSSD will evaluate the outcomes (number of proposals, success rates, and participation) of the collaboration.

Proposals must represent a true intellectual collaboration between the U.S. and Taiwan researchers with clear benefits to the research. Proposers are advised that all documents submitted to NSF may be shared with MOST/DNSSD to coordinate the implementation of the joint collaboration.

PROPOSAL PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION

• Prior to submission, NSF proposers may contact the cognizant EAR program officer to discuss the research focus of the international project.
• The NSF proposal must be submitted to the appropriate EAR Disciplinary Programs Section program by the U.S. organization in accordance with the individual EAR program solicitation. The Taiwan partner submits a parallel proposal to MOST/DNSSD via its submission system.
• Proposals to NSF must be submitted via FastLane, or Research.gov in accordance with the proposal preparation guidelines specified in the Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide or via Grants.gov in accordance with proposal preparation guidelines specified in the NSF Grants.gov Application Guide.
• The proposal title should be prefaced with “GEMT:”
• The project description must describe the nature of the collaboration and the role of the Taiwan partners.
• Taiwan researchers must not be listed as co-PIs on the NSF Cover Sheet. The NSF proposal should include the biographical sketches of all senior personnel, including the Taiwan partners, and be formatted in accordance with the standard NSF biographical sketch requirements. Collaborators and other Affiliations Information of the Taiwan partners must follow the same format required by the PAPPG but be included as “Additional Single Copy Documents”.
• The budgets submitted to NSF must include only the funding requested by the U.S. organization. The NSF proposal also should include a PDF copy of the MOST/DNSSD budget as a supplementary document.
• The NSF budget justification must clearly differentiate between the U.S. and Taiwan proposal budgets; proposals that request duplicative funding may be returned without review.

MERIT REVIEW

• NSF/GEO/EAR-MOST/DNSSD proposals will be reviewed alongside all other standard proposals received in the same funding round and will not undergo a separate or special review process.
• Proposals will be reviewed in accordance with NSF’s merit review criteria of intellectual merit and the broader impacts of the proposed activity. A description of the NSF merit review process is provided on the NSF merit review website at: https://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/merit_review/.
• NSF/GEO/EAR will be responsible for implementing the merit review process. Unattributed reviews may be shared with MOST/DNSSD.

FUNDING DECISIONS

• Funding recommendations will be discussed with MOST/DNSSD. Each agency will use its standard internal policies and procedures to determine whether a proposal will be awarded or declined. All funding decisions are subject to the availability of funds. It is important to note that there are no separate NSF funds available for these efforts.
• If a decision is made to fund a proposal, the U.S. organization(s) will be supported by NSF and the Taiwan organization(s) will be supported by MOST/DNSSD.
• All proposers will be advised whether their proposals have been recommended for funding or declined by the appropriate funding agency. U.S. proposers will receive from NSF copies of the reviewers’ unattributed comments and, where applicable, a panel summary. Should a proposal be declined for funding, proposers should refer to the respective agency resubmission policies.
• Because the participating agencies have different funding cycles, it is possible that some projects may have delayed start dates until funds become available.

POSTAWARD CONSIDERATIONS

• Awardees will comply with the award conditions and reporting requirements of the agency from which they receive funding.
• Grantees will be required to include appropriate acknowledgement of NSF and MOST support in reports and/or publications of work performed under the awards. An example of such an acknowledgement would be: “This material is based on work supported by NSF under Award No. [grantee enters award number], in partnership with the Ministry of Science and Technology in Taiwan.”
• No-cost extensions and supplemental funding requests will be considered using standard procedures. Requests for changes in the objectives or scope of the funded project will be discussed with MOST/DNSSD.

Dr. William E. Easterling,
Assistant Director, Directorate for Geosciences
National Science Foundation