Category Archives: Science and Engineering

NSF-approved Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending Support Formats

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A Notice From the National Science Foundation:

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.

Biographical Sketch Resources

Current and Pending Support Resources

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.

Regards, National Science Foundation

Department of Defense Orthotics and Prosthetics Outcomes Research Program

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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.


Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Institutional Research Training Grant (Parent T32)

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The National Institutes of Health (NIH) will award Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Institutional Research Training Grants (T32) to eligible, domestic institutions to enhance pre-doctoral and post-doctoral research training, including short term research training, and help ensure that a diverse and highly trained workforce is available to meet the needs of the Nation’s biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research agenda.

Research training programs are expected to incorporate didactic, research, and career development elements to prepare trainees for careers that will have a significant impact on the health-related research needs of the Nation. Programs proposing only short-term predoctoral research training should not apply to this announcement, but rather to the Kirschstein-NRSA Short-Term Institutional Research Training Grant Program (T35) exclusively reserved for predoctoral, short-term research training.

Air Force Fiscal Year 2021 Young Investigator Research Program (YIP)

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The Fiscal Year 2021 Air Force Young Investigator Research Program (YIP) intends to support early in career scientists and engineers who have received PhD or equivalent degrees by April 1, 2013 or later showing exceptional ability and promise for conducting basic research. The program objective is to foster creative basic research in science and engineering; enhance early career development of outstanding young investigators; and increase opportunities for the young investigator to recognize the Air Force mission and related challenges in science and engineering.

Individual awards are made to US institutions of higher education, industrial laboratories, or non-profit research organizations where the principal investigator (PI) is employed on a full-time basis and holds a regular position. YIP PIs must be a US citizen, national, or permanent resident. Researchers working at a Federally Funded Research and Development Center or DoD Laboratory are not eligible for this competition.

Most YIP awards are funded up to $150,000 per year for three years, for a total of $450,000. Each three year budget must not exceed $150,000; regardless if the total budget is $450,000. Exceptional proposals will be considered individually for higher funding levels and/or longer duration. More information can be found by clicking on the Learn More button below.

DoD FY21 Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP)

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The Department of Defense (DoD announces the Fiscal Year 2021 Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP).

DURIP is designed to improve the capabilities of accredited United States (US) institutions of higher education to conduct research and to educate scientists and engineers in areas important to national defense, by providing funds for the acquisition of research equipment or instrumentation. For-profit organizations are not eligible for DURIP funding. We refer to eligible institutions of higher education as universities in the rest of this announcement.

DURIP is part of the University Research Initiative (URI).

This program will be supplemented by additional funding provided by the Defense Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (DEPSCoR). Additional awards may be made to principal investigators in DEPSCoR eligible states as defined in 10 U.S.C. 2358, as amended by Pub. L. 115 91, div. A, title II, sec. 219.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Applicants should be alert for any amendments that may modify the announcement. Amendments to the original funding opportunity announcement (FOA) will be posted to the Grants.gov Webpage.

The DURIP Announcement has been amended. Amendment 2 corrects section D.5.f. on page 21 to reflect that Bibliography and References Cited are included in the page count. This amendment supersedes previous versions of this FOA. Click on the box below and navigate to the “Related Documents” tab for the full program announcement.