The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is seeking applications for funding innovative doctoral dissertation research that is relevant to preventing and controlling crime, and ensuring the fair and impartial administration of criminal justice in the United States.
This program furthers the Department’s mission by increasing the pool of researchers who are engaged in providing science-based solutions to problems relevant to criminal and juvenile justice policy and practice in the United States. This integrates into a single solicitation for two previously separate fellowship solicitations in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and Social and Behavior Sciences (SBS). This solicitation incorporates the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide by reference. The OJP Grant Application Resource Guide provides guidance to applicants on how to prepare and submit applications for funding to OJP. If this solicitation expressly modifies any provision in the OJP Grant Application Resource Guide, the applicant is to follow the guidelines in this solicitation as to that provision.
The Graduate Research Fellowship (GRF) program provides grants to accredited academic institutions to support outstanding doctoral students whose dissertation research is relevant to criminal justice. Applicant academic institutions are eligible to apply if the student is currently enrolled in a PhD program and their proposed dissertation research has demonstrable relevance to preventing and controlling crime and/or ensuring the fair and impartial administration of criminal justice in the United States. Awards are anticipated to be made to successful applicant institutions in the form of grants to cover fellowships for the sponsored doctoral students. Awards are made for up to 3 years of support usable over a 5-year period. For each year of support, NIJ provides the institution with $35,000 for Salary and Fringe, up to $12,000 in Cost of Education Allowance, and up to $3,000 in Research Expenses.
The Department of Energy Office of Science (SC) program in Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR) hereby announces its interest in making research data and artificial intelligence (AI) models findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable (FAIR1) to facilitate the development of new AI applications in SC’s congressionally authorized mission space, which includes the advancement of AI research and development. In particular, ASCR is interested in supporting FAIR benchmark data for AI; and FAIR frameworks for relating data and AI models
For this FOA, AI is inclusive of, for example, machine learning (ML), deep learning (DL), neural networks (NN), computer vision, and natural language processing (NLP). Data, in this context, are the digital artifacts used to generate AI models and/or employed in combination with AI models during inference. An AI model is an inference method that can be used to perform a “task,” such as prediction, diagnosis, or classification. The model is developed using training data or other knowledge. An AI task is the inference activity performed by an artificially intelligent system.
Tools for training AI models on data are readily available and widely used. What is lacking, however, is a theoretical framework for understanding relationships between data and models. For example, given a specific data set and problem, we lack rigorous methods for identifying the best model, hyper-parameters, and training method to use. Given a specific data set and problem, which additional data would be helpful to include in the training set? What information about a dataset can be deduced from a model trained on the data? What attributes of the data can be reverse engineered from a model? What can we learn about model robustness and transfer learning by looking at relationships between data and models?
The primary focus of this FOA topic is to advance our understanding of the relationship between data and models by exploring relationships among them through the development of FAIR frameworks for relating data and models. Such frameworks should provide capabilities that advance our understanding of AI, provide new insights to help researchers with applications of AI techniques, and provide an environment where novel approaches to AI can be explored.
Proposed frameworks may focus on specific disciplines or sub-disciplines currently supported by SC’s programs in ASCR, Biological and Environmental Research (BER), Basic Energy Sciences (BES), Fusion Energy Sciences (FES), High Energy Physics (HEP), Nuclear Physics (NP), or may focus on particular aspects or sub-areas within AI.
The US Military Academy (USMA) at West Point’s mission is “to educate, train, and inspire the Corps of Cadets so that each graduate is a commissioned leader of character committed to the values of Duty, Honor, Country and prepared for a career of professional excellence and service to the Nation as an officer in the United States Army.” USMA executes research to enhance the education of cadets, develop the faculty professionally, and address important issues facing the Army and the Nation. In addition, the Academy conducts research and analysis in emerging fields that may realize novel or vastly improved Army capabilities.
At West Point, research is organized and administered through centers and institutes, most of which reside within academic departments. These centers and institutes, affiliated with each other through the Academy Research Council (ARC), coordinated and supported by the Academic Research Division (ARD), provide the infrastructure necessary to tackle the nation’s and the world’s most challenging problems. Our research centers and institutes bring context to the classroom, are central to our vibrant and pioneering faculty, and are one way West Point connects to the Army and to the Nation. In addition to applied research, there are centers and institutes at West Point that focus on other aspects of the USMA mission.
The USMA BAA identifies topics of interest to the USMA departments, directorates, and research centers and institutes. These groups focus on executing in-house research programs, with a significant emphasis on collaborative research with other organizations. The groups fund a modest amount of extramural research in certain specific areas, and those areas are described in this BAA.
The USMA BAA seeks proposals from institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, state and local governments, foreign organizations, foreign public entities, and for-profit organizations (i.e., large and small businesses) for research based on the following campaigns: Socio-Cultural; Information Technology; Ballistics, Weapons, and Protections; Energy and Sustainability; Materials, Measurements, and Facilities; Unmanned Systems and Space; Human Support Systems; and Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Quantum Technologies.
Proposals are sought for cutting-edge innovative research that could produce discoveries with a significant impact to enable new and improved Army technologies and related operational capabilities and related technologies. The specific research areas and topics of interest described in this document should be viewed as suggestive, rather than limiting.
Dear Colleagues: We are pleased to announce the availability of both NSF-approved formats for the Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending Support sections of National Science Foundation (NSF) proposals that fall under the revised Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) (NSF 20-1) (see the February 6, 2020 webinar for complete details on all revisions to the PAPPG).
Although use of an NSF-approved format for submission of these proposal sections is not required until implementation of the revised PAPPG (NSF 20-1) on June 1, 2020, NSF is encouraging proposers to begin using the NSF-approved formats now. NSF values the feedback from the research community, and we would like to hear about your experience with the new NSF-approved formats. Information about how to provide feedback is included below.
Use of an NSF-approved format aims to reduce administrative burden and improve efficiencies by providing proposers with a compliant and reusable way to maintain this information for subsequent proposal submissions to NSF, while also ensuring that the information is submitted in a standard and searchable composition.
NSF-approved Formats
SciENcv: NSF has partnered with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to use SciENcv: Science Experts Network Curriculum Vitae as an NSF-approved format for use in preparation of both the Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending Support sections of an NSF proposal. SciENcv will produce an NSF-compliant PDF version of the documents which proposers can save and submit as part of their proposals via FastLane, Research.gov or Grants.gov. Additional information about the NSF-approved SciENcv formats is available on the NSF biographical sketch and current and pending support websites.
The SciENcv tool integrates with ORCID, enabling proposers to populate their Biographical Sketches by importing data directly from their ORCID records rather than having to manually enter all the required information. Additionally, Biographical Sketch data maintained in SciENcv can be quickly and easily updated on an ongoing basis for subsequent proposal submissions.
NSF Fillable PDF: NSF is also providing a fillable PDF as an NSF-approved format for use to prepare both the Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending Support sections of an NSF proposal. Proposers can download the respective fillable PDF form from the NSF biographical sketch and current and pending support websites and then submit the completed forms as part of their proposals via FastLane, Research.gov or Grants.gov. Note that the NSF fillable PDF for the Biographical Sketch does not integrate with ORCID.
It is important to note that beginning June 1, 2020, proposers will be required to use one of the NSF-approved formats for both the Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending Support sections of NSF proposals. Proposals submitted via FastLane, Research.gov and Grants.gov will be compliance checked to ensure that the documents were prepared in accordance with this new policy.
Although not required for proposal submission until June 1, 2020, we hope that you will start using the NSF-approved formats for Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending Support as soon as possible. If you have any feedback that would help us make improvements to the two formats in the future, please let us know. Feedback may be submitted by email to policy@nsf.gov or via the Research.gov Feedback page (select “Biographical Sketch” or “Current & Pending Support” under the Site Area dropdown menu).
To assist the community about these new requirements and to start using SciENcv now, NSF and NIH are planning to conduct a joint webinar that will include a walk-through of how to prepare the Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending Support documents in SciENcv. Information will be provided as soon as it is available, and we encourage you to sign up for notifications.
We also invite you to participate in the next NSF Electronic Research Administration (ERA) Forum on May 14, 2020 at 1:00PM – 2:30PM EDT where we will discuss the NSF-approved format requirements, as well as the new capability to prepare and submit separately submitted collaborative proposals in Research.gov. To sign up for ERA Forum notifications including registration availability for the May 14 event, please send a blank email to NSF-ERA-FORUM-subscribe-request@listserv.nsf.gov and you will be automatically enrolled.
The following training resources are now available, and NSF will continue to keep the community informed as additional resources are released.
FAQs addressing policy questions related to the PAPPG (NSF 20-1) clarifications to the current and pending support coverage, as well as questions regarding use of an NSF-approved format for current and pending support
Questions? Policy-related questions should be directed to policy@nsf.gov. If you have technical or IT system-related questions, please contact the NSF Help Desk at 1-800-673-6188 (7:00 AM – 9:00 PM ET; Monday – Friday except federal holidays) or via fastlane@nsf.gov.
The FY20 Defense Appropriation Act provides $15 million to the Department of Defense Orthotics and Prosthetics Outcomes Research Program (OPORP) to support research on outcomes-based best practices through analysis of the merits of prosthetic and orthotic device options currently available, not on the development of new or the improvement of existing technology as directed by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, the Defense Health Agency J9, Research and Development Directorate manages the Defense Health Program (DHP) Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) appropriation. The managing agent for the anticipated Program Announcement/Funding Opportunity is the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) at the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC).
The FY20 OPORP Program Announcements and General Application Instructions for the following award mechanisms are posted on the Grants.gov website. Pre-application and application deadlines will be available when the Program Announcements are released. OPORP supports research that evaluates orthoses and/or prostheses using patient-centric outcomes relevant to Service Members and Veterans with limb loss and/or limb impairment. The intent of this research is to generate clinically useful evidence that will enhance and optimize patient outcomes. Applications submitted to the FY20 OPORP must address at least one of the following Focus Areas:
Orthoses or Prostheses Form: Optimize patient outcomes through the analysis and characterization of variables related to the form of currently available clinical options such as device size, shape, material, and/or configurations.
Orthoses or Prostheses Fit: Optimize patient outcomes related to human-device interface through the analysis of variables in currently available clinical options that facilitate fit-related metrics such as comfort and/or usability.
Orthoses or Prostheses Function: Optimize patient outcomes through the analysis of variables related to currently available device function such as device control, sensors, and passive or active response with respect to activities of daily living and other real-world activities.
Clinical Research Award – Letter of Intent due June 10, 2020
Independent investigators at all academic levels (or equivalent):
Supports research that evaluates orthoses and/or prostheses using patient-centric outcomes relevant to Service Members, Veterans, and other individuals with limb loss and/or limb impairment.
Supported research is intended to generate clinically useful evidence with potential to enhance and optimize patient outcomes.
Multidisciplinary collaboration among academics, industry, patient advocacy, the military Services, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and/or other Federal Government agencies is highly encouraged.
Applications submitted to the FY20 OPORP CRA must address one or more of the FY20 OPORP Focus Areas.
Preclinical studies using animals are not allowed.
Clinical trials are not allowed.
The FY20 CRA offers two funding levels:
Funding Level 1:Maximum funding of $350,000 for total costs (direct plus indirect costs). Maximum period of performance is 2 years.
Funding Level 2: Maximum funding of $2,000,000 for total costs (direct plus indirect costs). Maximum period of performance is 4 years.
Clinical Trial Award – Letter of Intent due June 10, 2020
Independent investigators at all academic levels (or equivalent:
Supports implementation of clinical trials with the potential to have a significant impact on improving the health and well-being of Service Members, Veterans, and other individuals living with limb loss and/or limb impairment.
Supports clinical trials that evaluate orthoses and/or prostheses using patient-centric outcomes for the purpose of generating clinically useful evidence to enhance and optimize patient outcomes.
Multidisciplinary collaborations among academia, industry, patient advocacy, the Military Services, VA, and/or other Federal Government agencies is highly encouraged.
Applications submitted to the FY20 OPORP CTA must address one or more of the FY20 OPORP Focus Areas.
Preclinical research is not allowed.
The FY20 CTA offers two funding levels:
Funding Level 1
Funding Level 1 supports pilot clinical trials which are exploratory and involve limited human exposure with the potential to make significant advancement toward clinical translation. Preliminary data are allowed but not required. Maximum funding of $350,000 for total costs (direct plus indirect costs). Maximum period of performance is 2 years
Funding Level 2 supports clinical trials with the potential to make significant advancement toward clinical translation. Preliminary data relevant to the proposed clinical trial are required. Maximum funding of $4,000,000 for total costs (direct plus indirect costs). Maximum period of performance is 4 years.
A pre-application is required and must be submitted through the electronic Biomedical Research Application Portal (eBRAP) prior to the pre-application deadline. All applications must conform to the final Program Announcements and General Application Instructions available for electronic downloading from the Grants.gov website. The application package containing the required forms for each award mechanism will also be found on Grants.gov. A listing of all CDMRP and other USAMRDC extramural funding opportunities can be obtained on the Grants.gov website by performing a basic search using CFDA Number 12.420.
For email notification when Program Announcements are released, subscribe to program-specific news and updates under “Email Subscriptions” on the eBRAP homepage. For more information about the OPORP or other CDMRP-administered programs, please visit the CDMRP website.
