Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitter’s local time):

     February 16, 2021

     November 10, 2021

     November 10, 2022

Synopsis of Program:

The purpose of this interagency program solicitation is to support the development of transformative high-risk, high-reward advances in computer and information science, engineering, mathematics, statistics, behavioral and/or cognitive research to address pressing questions in the biomedical and public health communities. Transformations hinge on scientific and engineering innovations by interdisciplinary teams that develop novel methods to intuitively and intelligently collect, sense, connect, analyze and interpret data from individuals, devices and systems to enable discovery and optimize health. Solutions to these complex biomedical or public health problems demand the formation of interdisciplinary teams that are ready to address these issues, while advancing fundamental science and engineering.

Proposals may only be submitted by the following:

• Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) – Two- and four-year IHEs (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members. Special Instructions for International Branch Campuses of US IHEs: If the proposal includes funding to be provided to an international branch campus of a US institution of higher education (including through use of subawards and consultant arrangements), the proposer must explain the benefit(s) to the project of performance at the international branch campus, and justify why the project activities cannot be performed at the US campus.
• Non-profit, non-academic organizations: Independent museums, observatories, research labs, professional societies and similar organizations in the U.S. associated with educational or research activities.

For more information about the award or eligibility, please visit the grant page.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention hereby notify Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) (PD(s)/PI(s)) holding specific types of research grants (activity codes listed above) that funds are available for administrative supplements to enhance the diversity of the research workforce by recruiting and supporting students, postdoctorates, and eligible investigators from diverse backgrounds, including those from groups that have been shown to be underrepresented in health-related research. This supplement opportunity is also available to PD(s)/PI(s) of research grants who are or become disabled and need additional support to accommodate their disability in order to continue to work on the research project.  Administrative supplements must support work within the scope of the original project.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is designed specifically for applicants proposing research that does not involve leading an independent clinical trial, a clinical trial feasibility study, or an ancillary clinical trial. Applicants to this FOA are permitted to propose research experience in a clinical trial led by a mentor or co-mentor. 

Due dates vary by awarding IC

Applicants are encouraged to apply early to allow adequate time to make any corrections to errors found in the application during the submission process by the due date.

Expiration Date: May 8, 2023

For more information about the application process or the award itself, please visit the award page.

In support of NASA’s ocean-focused research, the Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP)/Science Mission Directorate (SMD) Research Ocean Biology and Biogeochemistry (OCEAN) activity is established to strengthen and develop the research capacity and infrastructure of Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) in areas of strategic importance and value to NASA’s mission and national priorities. Overall, OCEAN awards seek to improve understanding of the structure and function of global aquatic ecosystems, their interactions with the atmosphere, terrestrial and cryospheric systems, and the ocean’s role in the cycling of the major biogeochemical elements. This is done by enhancing the capability of institutions to participate in funding opportunities, such as Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES), and to support the Agency’s advancement of science to achieve a deep scientific understanding of our planet. Proposals are sought from MSIs that will respond to one of two objectives that address the OCEAN goal. The goal and objectives of OCEAN awards are as follows: Goal 1: Quantitative Analyses of Vulnerability and Shifts of Aquatic Biology and/or Ecosystems in Response to Climate Change. Objective 1.1: Quantitative remote sensing analyses of impacts and/or vulnerability of aquatic ecosystems to climate variability and change. Objective 1.2: Improve understanding of carbon cycle processes and feedbacks in aquatic critical zones that are particularly vulnerable to environmental changes. Proposals shall also include support for MSI undergraduate/graduate student direct involvement in the proposed research for the duration of the project. All proposed activities shall address the requirements outlined in this appendix and in the broader EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES IN NASA STEM 2021 (EONS-2021) at https://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/viewrepositorydocument/cmdocumentid=790184/solicitationId=%7BEA5D86D9-5039-0BD8-B437-D19C5816F6D3%7D/viewSolicitationDocument=1/Engagement%20Opportunities%20in%20NASA%20STEM%20(EONS)%202021_Final_v3.pd

In support of NASA’s ocean-focused research, the Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP)/Science Mission Directorate (SMD) Research Ocean Biology and Biogeochemistry (OCEAN) activity is established to strengthen and develop the research capacity and infrastructure of Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) in areas of strategic importance and value to NASA’s mission and national priorities. Overall, OCEAN awards seek to improve understanding of the structure and function of global aquatic ecosystems, their interactions with the atmosphere, terrestrial and cryospheric systems, and the ocean’s role in the cycling of the major biogeochemical elements. This is done by enhancing the capability of institutions to participate in funding opportunities, such as Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES), and to support the Agency’s advancement of science to achieve a deep scientific understanding of our planet. Proposals are sought from MSIs that will respond to one of two objectives that address the OCEAN goal. The goal and objectives of OCEAN awards are as follows:

Goal 1: Quantitative Analyses of Vulnerability and Shifts of Aquatic Biology and/or Ecosystems in Response to Climate Change. 

Objective 1.1: Quantitative remote sensing analyses of impacts and/or vulnerability of aquatic ecosystems to climate variability and change. 

Objective 1.2: Improve understanding of carbon cycle processes and feedbacks in aquatic critical zones that are particularly vulnerable to environmental changes. 

Proposals shall also include support for MSI undergraduate/graduate student direct involvement in the proposed research for the duration of the project.

For more information about the program or about eligibility, please visit the grant page.

Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitter’s local time):
February 16, 2021

Synopsis of Program:
The ERC program is placing greater emphasis on high-risk/high-payoff research, larger societal impact, convergent research approaches, engagement of stakeholder communities, and adoption of team science in team formation, in response to the 2017 NASEM study recommendation. The ERC program intends to support planning activities leading to convergent research team formation and capacity building within the engineering community. This planning grant solicitation is designed to foster and facilitate the engineering community’s thinking about how to form convergent research collaborations. To participate in a forthcoming ERC competition, one is not required to submit a planning grant proposal nor to receive a planning grant.

Any proposal submitted in response to this solicitation should be submitted in accordance with the revised NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) (NSF 20-1), which is effective for proposals submitted, or due, on or after June 1, 2020.

Anticipated Type of Award: Standard Grant
Estimated Number of Awards: 20
The number of awards is dependent upon the proposals received and the degree to which proposals meet the solicitation goals, NSF merit review criteria, and
solicitation-specific review criteria. The planning grant is for one year and the proposed budget for each planning grant should not exceed $100,000.
Anticipated Funding Amount: $2,000,000

For more information about eligibility and proposal requirements, please visit the NSF page.

Letter of Intent Due Date(s) (required) (due by 5 p.m. submitter’s local time):

     November 03, 2020

     August 02, 2021

     First Monday in August, Annually Thereafter

Letters of Intent are only required for Adaptation and Partnership tracks. Submitting a letter of intent automatically allows you to submit a full proposal. Work on the full proposal should have started well before the letter of intent deadline.

Preliminary Proposal Due Date(s) (required) (due by 5 p.m. submitter’s local time):

     April 22, 2021

     Fourth Thursday in April, Annually Thereafter

IT-Preliminary proposal Target Date – preliminary proposals are only required for institutions of higher education that want to submit a full Institutional Transformation proposal. IT-preliminary proposals are accepted before and after the target date.

Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitter’s local time):

     February 04, 2021

     November 03, 2021

     First Wednesday in November, Annually Thereafter

Partnership and Adaptation full proposal deadline – if you submitted a letter of intent then you can submit the full proposal. Work on the full proposal should have started well before the letter of intent deadline.

Full Proposal Target Date(s):

     August 07, 2020

     First Friday in August, Annually Thereafter

Catalyst proposals – Catalyst proposals are accepted before and after the target date. Please contact the program office before submitting a proposal to discuss timing for submission.

     October 07, 2021

     First Thursday in October, Annually Thereafter

Institutional Transformation proposals – only IHEs encouraged by NSF after review of an IT-Preliminary proposal should submit a full IT proposal – IT proposals are accepted before and after the target date.

Synopsis of Program:

The NSF ADVANCE program contributes to the National Science Foundation’s goal of a more diverse and capable science and engineering workforce.¹ In this solicitation, the NSF ADVANCE program seeks to build on prior NSF ADVANCE work and other research and literature concerning gender, racial, and ethnic equity. The NSF ADVANCE program goal is to broaden the implementation of evidence-based systemic change strategies that promote equity for STEM² faculty in academic workplaces and the academic profession. The NSF ADVANCE program provides grants to enhance the systemic factors that support equity and inclusion and to mitigate the systemic factors that create inequities in the academic profession and workplaces. Systemic (or organizational) inequities may exist in areas such as policy and practice as well as in organizational culture and climate. For example, practices in academic departments that result in the inequitable allocation of service or teaching assignments may impede research productivity, delay advancement, and create a culture of differential treatment and rewards. Similarly, policies and procedures that do not mitigate implicit bias in hiring, tenure, and promotion decisions could lead to women and racial and ethnic minorities being evaluated less favorably, perpetuating historical under-participation in STEM academic careers and contributing to an academic climate that is not inclusive.

All NSF ADVANCE proposals are expected to use intersectional approaches in the design of systemic change strategies in recognition that gender, race and ethnicity do not exist in isolation from each other and from other categories of social identity. The solicitation includes four funding tracks: Institutional Transformation (IT), Adaptation, Partnership, and Catalyst, in support of the NSF ADVANCE program goal to broaden the implementation of systemic strategies that promote equity for STEM faculty in academic workplaces and the academic profession.

• The Institutional Transformation (IT) track is designed to support the development, implementation, and evaluation of innovative systemic change strategies that promote gender equity for STEM faculty within an institution of higher education.
• The Adaptation track is designed to support the work to adapt, implement, and evaluate evidence-based systemic change strategies that have been shown to promote gender equity for STEM faculty in academic workplaces and the academic profession. Adaptation projects can either: 1) support the adaptation of evidence-based systemic change strategies to promote equity for STEM faculty within an institution of higher education; or 2) facilitate national or regional STEM disciplinary transformation by adapting evidence-based systemic change strategies to non-profit, non-academic organizations.
• The Partnership track is designed to support the work to facilitate the broader adaptation of gender equity and systemic change strategies. Partnership projects are expected to result in national or regional transformation in STEM academic workplaces and the academic profession and demonstrate significant reach. Partnership projects can focus on the transformation of institutions and organizations and/or the transformation within one or more STEM disciplines.
• The Catalyst track is designed to broaden the types of IHEs that are able to undertake data collection and institutional self-assessment work to identify systemic gender inequities impacting their STEM faculty so that these can be addressed by the institution.

Anticipated Type of Award: Standard Grant or Continuing Grant or Cooperative Agreement

Estimated Number of Awards: 18 to 36

The total number of awards to be made under this solicitation is estimated to be between 18 and 36 over two fiscal years.

In each year, NSF expects to make approximately:

• six Adaptation awards up to $1,000,000 for three-year long projects
• six Partnership awards up to $1,000,000 for up to five-year long projects
• four Catalyst awards up to $300K for two years

NSF anticipates that two to four of the twelve Adaptation and Partnerships projects may qualify for an additional $250,000 for collaborating with a project initiated with NSF funding as described in the project description. Additionally, in FY 2021, the program anticipates making up to two Institutional Transformation awards for up to $3,000,000 for five-years. All award amounts include both direct and indirect costs.

Anticipated Funding Amount: $29,000,000

Pending availability of funds, NSF anticipates having up to $29,000,000 available over a period of two fiscal years for support of the NSF ADVANCE portfolio. It is expected that up to $15,000,000 will be available for the FY 2021 competition and approximately $14,000,000 will be available for proposals for the FY 2022 competition.

For more information regarding eligibility and requirements, please visit the NSF page.