Transcript N S F IGERT - Nc State University

N S F IGERT
Creating Transformational
Interdisciplinary Graduate Education
and Research Traineeships
North Carolina State University
Office of Research and Graduate Studies
Proposal Development Unit
Sharlene Simon
Nov. 15, 2007
Caveat:
Information in this presentation is based
on the 2007 NSF solicitation. NSF may
make significant changes to the 2008
IGERT solicitation, anticipated to be
released in January, 2008. The “America
Competes Act” issued earlier this year calls
for expansion of the IGERT to stimulate
high-risk, high-reward research.
IGERT Statistics
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# of pre-proposals received: 400 to 500
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# full proposals invited: approx. 100 (20-25%)
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Number of awards: approx. 20 new & renewal
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Funding rate: 4 to 5%
Funding & Submission Restrictions
Total available: $12M
 Up to $3M per award over 5 years
 $400K in 1st year/up to $600K in Yr 2-5
 Additional $200K for start-up in Year 1
 Add’l $200K (Yr 2-5) for up to 10
proposals w/strong international
component
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Funding & Submission Restrictions
Limit of 4 pre-proposals from NC State
 Limit of 3 full proposals from NC State
(must be invited by NSF)
 May be PI or co-PI on only one proposal
submission. A PI or co-PI may serve as
non-senior personnel on other proposals.
 Indirect cost (F&A) limited to 8% of
allowable direct costs.
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IGERT Program Goal # 1
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Meet the challenges of educating U.S. Ph.D.
scientists and engineers (citizens or permanent
residents) who will pursue careers in research
and education:
 with interdisciplinary backgrounds
 deep knowledge in chosen disciplines
 technical, professional, and personal skills to
be leaders and creative agents for change
throughout their careers.
IGERT Program Goal # 2
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The program is intended to catalyze a cultural
change in graduate education for students,
faculty, and institutions:
 by establishing innovative new models for
graduate education and training and
 providing a fertile environment for
collaborative research that transcends
traditional disciplinary boundaries.
IGERT Program Goal # 3
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IGERT is also intended to:
 facilitate diversity in student participation and
preparation
 contribute to a world-class, broadly inclusive,
and globally engaged science and
engineering workforce.
Participating NSF Directorates
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Biological Sciences (BIO)
Computer & Information Science and Engineering (CISE)
Education and Human Resources (EHR)
Engineering (ENG)
Geosciences (GEO)
Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS)
Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (BSE)
Office of Polar Programs (OPP)
Office of Integrative Activities (OIA)
Office of Cyberinfrastructure (OCI)
Office of International Science and Engineering (OISE)
IGERT Expectations
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Organized around interdisciplinary theme
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PI is Program Director – essential participant in both
educational and research activities
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Involve diverse group of faculty and other investigators
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Faculty offer expertise in teaching and/or research
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Full integration of teaching and research with strong
interactions between faculty and students.
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Collaborative efforts within and across departments and
institutions
IGERT Expectations
(cont)
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Opportunity to experiment with new innovative
approaches to graduate education.
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Provide students with experience relevant to both
academic and non-academic careers.
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Offer students an international perspective through
strongly integrated, collaborative research experience
and/or fieldwork at foreign institutions and sites.
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Equip students to understand scientific, technical,
business, social, ethical and policy issues to confront
challenging problems of the future.
IGERT Expectations
(cont.)
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Clearly defined program strategy for recruitment,
mentoring, retention and graduation of U.S. grad
students
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Include efforts to expand participation of
underrepresented groups (geographic, rural, disabled,
female, and racial/ethnic identified).
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Methodology for formative assessments by individuals
internal and external to NC State.
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Program plan for on-going improvements
Significant Data Required
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For previous 3 academic years for every
participating department:
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Number of women, minorities, disabled, and
other students who applied, were accepted,
matriculated, withdrew, received Ph.D., and are
currently enrolled.
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Employer & current position held of those who
received Ph.D. in past 3 years.
Reviewers look for…
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Project is graduate research training based, not
an investigator-focused research proposal
Diversity of participating faculty
Strong diversity plan/real partnerships for
recruiting URM students
Participating depts. have evidence of strong
recruitment and retention history
Quality of proposed research efforts and relation
to interdisciplinary theme is clear
“Issues” identified by reviewers…
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Looks like research strung together…not
coherent, integrated education, research &
training of students
No clear commitment to institutionalize the new
courses/certificate/etc.
Don’t see how students from XX discipline will
have adequate foundation to conduct research
in collaboration with YY discipline.
Better fit with (NIH, EPA, NASA, etc), not NSF
Responsible code of conduct training not strong
No opportunity for students to be leaders
“Issues” identified by reviewers…
No evidence faculty have been successful in
mentoring graduate students from
underrepresented groups.
 Assessment of project performance in meeting
objectives and expanding knowledge base in
STEM education doesn’t have relevant
benchmarks
 International experience focused only on
research – what will student learn about the
city/country/people from XYZ?
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“Issues” identified by reviewers…
What happens to the well-paid IGERT recruits
after their IGERT funding runs out? (Usually two
years of IGERT)
 Is it ethical to dramatically reduce salary of
senior, experienced graduate students as they
move to other funding sources (i.e. dept.
assistantships) while paying newly recruited
IGERT ptps $30K year?
 IGERT advisory council too large (11 ptps)
 IGERT advisory council doesn’t have enough
representation (9 ptps)
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Summary Thoughts
Be clear how students from different disciplines
will gain a common foundation.
 Remember in pre-proposal – must present
proposed education and research training
activities, recruitment plan, assessment, and
evidence of previous mentoring success.
 Engage diversity partners early – assure they
gain from the relationship in a way that is
meaningful to them.
 Limited submission (internal) review requires a
written proposal and MAY require an oral
presentation.
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Summary Thoughts
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Bill Winner, former IGERT coordinating
council member and Professor, Forestry
and Environmental Resources at NC State
advises:
 “Respond
to reviewer comments
when they make sense; don’t chase
their comments to the point that the
proposal/project is no longer your
own.”
Summary Thoughts
If you want assistance from the Proposal
Development Unit, make your request
early.
 However, PDU proposal developers will
not get involved with a project until AFTER
the internal limited submission review is
completed to avoid appearance of a
conflict of interest.
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Proposal Development Unit (PDU)
Website:
www.ncsu.edu/research/pdu
 Staff:
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Christopher Brown, Asst. VC for Research Development
Bonnie Aldridge, Program Assistant
Carol Ashcraft, Research Resources/Limited Submission
Jaine Place, Research Proposal Development
Pradip Pramanik, Research Proposal Development
Sharlene Simon, Research Proposal Development
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