Category Archives: Announcements

NSF Addressing Systems Challenges through Engineering Teams (ASCENT)

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Program Solicitation: NSF 20-511

Letter of Intent Due Date (required): January 7, 2020

Full Proposal Deadline: February 19, 2020

Program Synopsis:

The Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems Division (ECCS) supports enabling and transformative engineering research at the nano, micro, and macro scales that fuels progress in engineering system applications with high societal impact. This includes fundamental engineering research underlying advanced devices and components and their seamless penetration in power, controls, networking, communications or cyber systems. The research is envisioned to be empowered by cutting-edge computation, synthesis, evaluation, and analysis technologies and is to result in significant impact for a variety of application domains in healthcare, homeland security, disaster mitigation, telecommunications, energy, environment, transportation, manufacturing, and other systems-related areas. ECCS also supports new and emerging research areas encompassing 5G and Beyond Spectrum and Wireless Technologies, Quantum Information Science, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Big Data.

ECCS, through its ASCENT program, offers its engineering community the opportunity to address research issues and answer engineering challenges associated with complex systems and networks that are not achievable by a single principal investigator or by short-term projects and can only be achieved by interdisciplinary research teams. ECCS envisions a connected portfolio of transformative and integrative projects that create synergistic links by investigators across its three ECCS clusters: Communications, Circuits, and Sensing-Systems (CCSS), Electronics, Photonics and Magnetic Devices (EPMD), and Energy, Power, Control, and Networks (EPCN), yielding novel ways of addressing challenges of engineering systems and networks. ECCS seeks proposals that are bold and ground-breaking, transcend the perspectives and approaches typical of disciplinary research efforts, and lead to disruptive technologies and methods or enable significant improvement in quality of life.

ASCENT supports fundamental research projects involving at least three collaborating PIs and co-PIs, up to four years in duration, with a total budget between $1 million and $1.5 million.

  • ASCENT supports fundamental research projects involving at least three collaborating PIs and co-PIs, up to four years in duration, with a total budget between $1 million and $1.5 million.
  • ASCENT proposals must highlight the engineering leadership focus of the proposal within the scope of ECCS programs.
  • ASCENT proposals must articulate a fundamental research problem with compelling intellectual challenge and significant societal impact. The topic at the heart of the proposal must lie within the scope of at least one of the three ECCS clusters (CCSS, EPMD, EPCN). Research proposals spanning multiple clusters are highly encouraged.
  • ASCENT proposals must demonstrate the need for a concerted research effort by an integrated and interdisciplinary team, and strongly justify the interdisciplinary nature of the proposed work. They should include a timeline for research activities, with a strong justification of the explicit mechanisms for frequent communication between team members and effective assessment to achieve proposed goals.

NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) and Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) Supplemental Funding in Computer and Information Science and Engineering

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The National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) invites grantees with active CISE awards to submit requests for Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Supplements, following the guidelines in the REU Sites and Supplements solicitation (NSF 19-582). CISE also invites grantees with active CISE awards to submit requests for Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) Supplements, following the guidelines in the RET in Engineering and Computer Science: Supplements and Sites solicitation (NSF 19-575). Requests will be considered as they are received. CISE strongly encourages the submission of requests before March 30, 2020; the potential for funding requests after this date may be limited.

REU Supplements

REU supplements help undergraduate students engage in meaningful research experiences in pursuit of their educational and career goals. To be eligible for this opportunity, a student must be a US citizen or permanent resident of the US. CISE encourages submission of REU supplemental funding requests that specifically afford US veterans an opportunity to engage in meaningful research experiences.

RET Supplements

RET supplements help K-12 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) teachers engage in meaningful research experiences and translate the knowledge gained into their teaching practices. The focus of their research should be in CISE disciplines rather than on education or curriculum development. Teachers who receive funding from an RET supplement must be currently teaching a STEM subject at their schools. CISE is particularly interested in RET supplements that target K-12 computer science teachers. Since a major goal of a RET activity is to create a bond between the K-12 schools and the host college or university, recruitment of RET teachers should focus on schools or school districts reasonably close to the host institutions.

How to Apply

PIs are encouraged to refer to the REU program solicitation (NSF 19-582) and the RET program solicitation (NSF 19-575) for detailed information concerning submission requirements. As described above and in those solicitations, each REU or RET supplemental funding request should include the following information:

  • A description of the research to be performed by the student or K-12 teacher, and how the student or teacher will benefit from the overall REU or RET experience;
  • The PI’s prior experience, if any, supervising REU students or working with K-12 teachers, including papers published and student placements, along with the status of prior REU or RET supplements received on the corresponding award;
  • A description of the mentoring that the student or teacher will receive as part of the REU or RET experience;
  • The relationship of the REU or RET supplemental funding request to the original award;
  • A description of the process for recruiting the students and/or teachers (including those from underrepresented groups) and the criteria for selecting the students and/or teachers; or if a student or teacher has been pre-selected, a brief bio-sketch of the student or teacher;
  • A statement acknowledging that all students to be funded will be US citizens or permanent residents; and
  • Specifics about the REU or RET request — duration, stipend rates, period of REU or RET experience, and travel justification (if any).

No particular format is required for presenting the above information, but numbered sections that address items 1 through 6 in the Summary of Proposed Work section are preferred, with item 7 addressed in the Budget Justification.

Since a supplemental funding request is handled by the cognizant NSF program officer who oversees the active award for which the request is submitted, grantees should contact the cognizant NSF program officers of their awards if they have questions or need additional information.

NIH Innovative Programs to Enhance Research Training (IPERT) (R25)

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The NIH Research Education Program (R25) supports research educational activities that complement other formal training programs in the mission areas of the NIH Institutes and Centers. The over-arching goals of the NIH R25 program are to: (1) complement and/or enhance the training of a workforce to meet the nation’s biomedical, behavioral and clinical research needs; (2) encourage individuals from diverse backgrounds, including those from groups underrepresented in the biomedical and behavioral sciences, to pursue further studies or careers in research; (3) help recruit individuals with specific specialty or disciplinary backgrounds to research careers in biomedical, behavioral and clinical sciences; and (4) foster a better understanding of biomedical, behavioral and clinical research and its implications.

The goal of the Innovative Programs to Enhance Research Training (IPERT) initiative is to enable the scientific community to develop and implement innovative educational activities to equip diverse cohorts of participants with technical, operational or professional skills required for careers in the biomedical research workforce, by effectively integrating the required core elements described below:

  • Courses for Skills Development: For example, support for short courses designed to develop technical (e.g., appropriate methods, technologies, and quantitative/computational approaches), operational (e.g., independent knowledge acquisition, rigorous experimental design, and interpretation of data) and/or professional (e.g., management, leadership, communication, and teamwork) skills necessary to conduct rigorous and reproducible research, and to transition successfully into careers in the biomedical research workforce. These courses could be in-person or provided electronically. Dissemination of educational materials and outreach activities to benefit individuals from a variety of backgrounds are required components of the program.
  • Mentoring Activities: For example, activities designed to provide career information, advice, and support to research-oriented undergraduates, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, or independent faculty in biomedical fields. The activities should provide participants with a perspective on the biomedical research training pathway and tools for overcoming challenges, navigating career transition points, and successfully transitioning into careers in the biomedical research workforce.

The recent NIGMS Strategic Plans emphasize that (1) research training is a responsibility shared by the NIH, academic institutions, faculty, and trainees; (2) research training must focus on student development, rather than simply the selection of talent; (3) breadth and flexibility enable research training to keep pace with the opportunities and demands of contemporary science and provide the foundation for a variety of scientific career paths; and (4) diversity is an indispensable component of research training excellence and must be advanced across the entire research enterprise.

Through this funding announcement, NIGMS intends to encourage innovative biomedical research education activities designed to keep pace with the rapid evolution of the research enterprise that is increasingly complex, interdisciplinary, and collaborative. As the scientific enterprise has expanded, there is greater variation in the backgrounds of people participating, approaches taken to investigate research questions, and the range of the careers in the biomedical research workforce that Ph.D. recipients are pursuing. There is also an increasing recognition of the need to enhance reproducibility of biomedical research results through scientific rigor and transparency and to reinforce the principles of the responsible conduct of research. This FOA is intended to enable the scientific community to develop and implement innovative activities that will provide high-quality skills development, mentoring, and outreach to equip diverse cohorts of participants with technical, operational or professional skills required for careers in the biomedical research workforce.

The IPERT activities must be open to the broader biomedical community and not be restricted to individuals from a single department, program or institution. NIGMS encourages applications that are intended for individuals in a variety of biomedical fields; however, if a scientific area is described, it must be within the NIGMS mission.

For additional information please see PAR-19-383.

Limited Submission Opportunity – National Science Foundation Major Research Instrumentation Program (MRI)

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NSF Major Research Instrumentation Program (MRI): Limited Submission Opportunity

Internal Notification of Interest Deadline to the Office of Research Administration: Friday, October 18, 2019, 5:00 pm.

NSF Proposal Submission Window: January 1, 2020 – January 21, 2020

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 $100,000 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.

Cost sharing 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 cost-sharing and cannot provide it. National Science Board policy is that voluntary committed cost sharing is prohibited. When required, cost-sharing must be precisely 30%.

Limit on the 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.

For full details on this program, please visit the NSF MRI webpage and the NSF MRI Solicitation, 18-513.

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

If you are interested in submitting a NSF MRI proposal, please visit the ORA Limited Submission webpage and complete step 1: Notification of Interest, by the deadline above.

  • Individuals interested in applying to a limited submission program must submit a Notification of Interest no later than 5pm on the internal deadline. To submit this notification applicants must email limitedsubmissions@uakron.edu with the subject line of the email formatted as follows: “Last name, First name; Limited Submission Notification of Interest”. Notifications will be emailed, and applicants will either be approved to apply or will be prompted to provide a white paper.
  • If ORA receives internal notices of interest in excess of the NSF limit on the number of proposals per organization, an internal competition will be necessary and additional information will be sent to those who submitted a notice of interest.

Third Frontier Research Incentives Request for Proposals

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Program Overview

Section 381.250 (Research Incentive Third Frontier) of Amended House Bill Number 166 of the 133rd Ohio General Assembly authorizes the Chancellor of High Education to use appropriated funds under this section to advance collaborative research at institutions of higher education and support programs and initiatives specifically identified in this section. Research areas, programs and initiatives eligible for funding pursuant to this Request for Proposal (RFP) include:

  • Research Areas:
  1. Research regarding the reduction of infant mortality
  2. Research regarding opiate addiction issues in Ohio
  3. 3. Research and programming regarding the advancement of cybersecurity initiatives in Ohio
  • Program and Initiatives
  1. Ohio Manufacturing and Innovation Center
  2. I-CORPS@Ohio program
  3. Ohio Innovation Exchange

Important Dates:

  • Request for proposals released – September 18, 2019
  • Proposal submission window – September 18, 2019 – October 18, 2019
  • Proposal review begins – October 19, 2019
  • Notificaions of awarded proposals – beginning November 18, 2019

The Request for Proposal period is now open. The Third Frontier Research Incentive Request for proposal can be accessed at https://www.ohiohighered.org/grants-rfps. 

Please note, Section 381.250 of house bill 166 also includes as focus areas “Research regarding the improvement of water quality” and “Research regarding spinal cord injury.” The request for proposal process for Improvement of Water Quality will administered by the Ohio Sea Grant program at The Ohio State University Ohioseagrant.osu.edu. The Water Quality Request for Proposals is expected to be released by September 30, 2019. The request for proposal process for Spinal Cord Injury will be administered through the Oho Department of Higher Education later in 2019.