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NSF-NATO Postdoctoral Fellowships in Science and Engineering (NSF-NATO)

Including Special Fellowship Opportunities for Scientists from NATO
Partner Countries

[*Program Solicitation*](#TOC)

NSF  00-145

 

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DIVISION OF GRADUATE EDUCATION\
DIRECTORATE FOR EDUCATION AND HUMAN RESOURCES

**DEADLINE: November 28, 2000**\
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  **NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION**

   The National Science Foundation promotes and advances scientific
progress in the United States by competitively awarding grants and
cooperative agreements for research and education in the sciences,
mathematics, and engineering.

   To get the latest information about program deadlines, to download
copies of NSF publications, and to access abstracts of awards, visit the
NSF Web Site at:

[http://www.nsf.gov](http://www.nsf.gov/)

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** ** **SUMMARY OF PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS**

GENERAL INFORMATION

**Program Title:** NSF-NATO Postdoctoral Fellowships in Science and
Engineering (NSF-NATO)

**Synopsis of Program:** On behalf of the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization (NATO), the National Science Foundation (NSF) invites
applications for 12-month postdoctoral research fellowships from
beginning scientists, mathematicians, and engineers. Approximately 5
fellowships will be offered to US scientists for research abroad and
approximately 13 awards will be made to US institutions that would like
to host scientists from NATO Partner countries (Albania, Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz
Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation,
Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, the former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan). Eligible fields of
research are: mathematics, engineering, computer and information
science, geosciences, the physical, biological, social, behavioral, and
economic sciences, the history and philosophy of science, and
interdisciplinary areas comprised of two or more of these fields.
Research in the teaching and learning of science, mathematics,
technology, and engineering is also eligible for support. Application
deadline is November 28, 2000. Awards will be announced March 30, 2001.

**Cognizant Program Officer(s):**

-   Dr. Sonia Ortega, Program Director, Education and Human Resources,
    Division of Graduate Education, 907N, telephone: 703-292-8697,
    e-mail: <nsf-nato@nsf.gov>.

-   Mrs. Carolyn Lyons Piper, Assistant Program Director, Education and
    Human Resources, Division of Graduate Education, 907N, telephone:
    703-292-8697, e-mail: <nsf-nato@nsf.gov>.

**Applicable Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number:**

-   47.076 \-\-- Education and Human Resources

ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

-   **Organization Limit:** US applicants may apply for scientific
    research at appropriate government and non-profit scientific
    institutions in NATO member or NATO Partner countries. NATO Partner
    country applicants may conduct research at US universities or
    scientific research laboratories.

-   **PI Eligibility Limit:** [US Scientists must:]{.underline} 1.) be
    US citizens, nationals or permanent residents as of November 28,
    2000; 2.) have been awarded a doctoral degree (Ph.D. or equivalent)
    on or after October 1, 1996 but normally no later than October 1,
    2001; and 3.) desire to conduct scientific research at appropriate
    government and non-profit scientific institutions, which are located
    in the NATO member or NATO Partner countries other than the United
    States. [NATO Partner Country Scientists:]{.underline} Applications
    for scientists from NATO Partner countries must be submitted by an
    eligible US host institution. Applicants must: 1.) identify a host
    sponsor (Principal Investigator); 2.) be citizens of a NATO Partner
    country; and 3.) have been awarded a doctoral degree (Ph.D. or
    equivalent) on or after October 1, 1996 but normally no later than
    October 1, 2001.

-   **Limit on Number of Applications:** One application per person or
    institutional department. Recipients of previous NSF-NATO
    Postdoctoral Fellowships are not eligible.

AWARD INFORMATION

-   **Anticipated Type of Award:** Fellowship

-   **Estimated Number of Awards:** Approximately 18

-   **Anticipated Funding Amount:** Approximately \$750,000 will be
    available.

APPLICATION PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

***A. Application Preparation Guidelines***

-   **Application Preparation Instructions:** Supplemental Preparation
    Guidelines

-   The program solicitation contains supplements to the standard Grant
    Proposal Guide (GPG) proposal preparation guidelines. Please see the
    full program solicitation for further information.

***B. Budgetary Information***

-   **Cost Sharing Requirements:** Cost Sharing is not required

-   **Indirect Cost (F&A) Limitations:** No indirect costs are allowed.

-   **Other Budgetary Limitations:** None

***C. Deadline/Target Dates***

-   **Letter of Intent Due Date(s):** None

-   **Preapplication Due Date(s):** None

-   **Full Application Due Date:** November 28, 2000

***D. FastLane Requirements***

-   **FastLane Submission:** Electronic application required via the NSF
    FastLane Postdoctoral Fellowships instructions no later than 5:00
    PM, local time of the submitter, November 28, 2000.

-   **FastLane Contact:**

-   Sheryl T. Balke-Smith, Program Analyst, Education and Human
    Resources, Division of Graduate Education, 907N, telephone:
    703-292-8630, e-mail: <sbalke@nsf.gov>.

APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

-   **Merit Review Criteria:** National Science Board approved criteria.
    Additional merit review considerations apply. Please see the full
    program solicitation for further information.

AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

-   **Award Conditions:** Additional award conditions apply. Please see
    the program solicitation for further information.

-   **Reporting Requirements:** Standard NSF Reporting Requirements
    apply.

 

[]{#TOC .anchor}*TABLE OF CONTENTS*

**SUMMARY OF PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS**

I.  INTRODUCTION

II. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

IV. AWARD INFORMATION

V.  APPLICATION PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

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A.  Application Preparation Instructions

B.  Budgetary Information

C.  Deadline/Target Dates

D.  FastLane Requirements

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VI. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

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A.  NSF Application Review Process

B.  Review Protocol and Associated Customer Service Standard

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VII. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

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A.  Notification of the Award

B.  Award Conditions

C.  Reporting Requirements

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VIII. CONTACTS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

IX. OTHER PROGRAMS OF INTEREST

X.  FIELDS OF SPECIALIZATION

I. INTRODUCTION

On behalf of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the National
Science Foundation (NSF) invites applications for 12-month postdoctoral
fellowships from or on behalf of beginning scientists, mathematicians,
and engineers. Women, underrepresented minorities, and persons with
disabilities are particularly encouraged to apply. These Fellowships
have the following goals:

-   to promote the progress of science and closer collaboration between
    scientists and engineers of NATO member and NATO Partner countries
    and scientists and engineers in the United States; and

-   to recognize the accomplishments to date of the beginning scientists
    and engineers and to provide an experience abroad which will
    increase professional competence.

Submission to this competition will be of two types:

-   applications submitted by US citizens, nationals, or permanent
    residents for postdoctoral research in other NATO member countries
    (Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece,
    Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway,
    Poland, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom) or NATO Partner
    countries; or,

-   applications submitted by US institutions on behalf of scientists or
    engineers from NATO Partner countries (Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan,
    Belarus, Bulgaria, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic,
    Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovak
    Republic, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, the former Yugoslav
    Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan) for postdoctoral
    research at the submitting institution.

II\. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Award of these fellowships will be made for work in mathematics,
engineering, computer and information science, geosciences, the
physical, biological, social, behavioral, and economic sciences, the
history and philosophy of science, and interdisciplinary areas comprised
of two or more of these fields. Research in the teaching and learning of
science, mathematics, technology, and engineering is also eligible for
support.

NSF-NATO does not normally support technical assistance, pilot plan
efforts, research requiring security classification, the development of
products for commercial marketing or market research for a particular
project or invention. Applicants working in clinical, education (except
research in the teaching and learning of science, mathematics,
technology and engineering) or business fields, or in history (except
the history or philosophy of science), social work or public health, and
individuals who propose to use the Fellowship to support residency
training or similar work that may lead to qualification or certification
in a clinical field are NOT eligible. These fellowships are not intended
to support the preparation of prior research results for publication or
the writing of textbooks as a primary objective.

Bioscience research with disease-related goals, including work on the
etiology, diagnosis, or treatment of physical or mental diseases,
abnormality, or malfunction in human beings or animals is normally not
supported. Animal models of such conditions, or the development or
testing of drugs or other procedures for their treatment also generally
are not eligible for support. However, research in bioengineering with
diagnosis or treatment-related goals, that applies engineering
principles to problems in biology and medicine while advancing
engineering knowledge is eligible for support. Bioengineering research
to aid persons with disabilities is also eligible.

NSF-NATO Fellowships are administered by the National Science
Foundation, an agency of the United States Government, at the request of
the US Department of State. Approximately 5 fellowships will be offered
to US scientists for research abroad and approximately 13 awards will be
made to US institutions that would like to host a scientist from a NATO
Partner country.

III\. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

**All Applicants:**

a\) must have been awarded a doctoral degree (Ph.D. or equivalent) on or
after October 1, 1996 but normally no later than October 1, 2001; and

b\) have not previously held an NSF-NATO Postdoctoral Fellowship.

**US Scientists:**

Must be US citizens, nationals, or permanent residents on or before
November 28, 2000.

**NATO Partner Country Scientists:**

Scientists from NATO Partner countries (Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Belarus, Bulgaria, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic,
Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovak
Republic, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, the former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan) must be working in their
home country or in another NATO Partner country at the time of
application. The FY 2001 competition is the last year citizens from the
Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary are eligible to apply under the NATO
Partner country fellowships. Applications to support a scientist from
NATO Partner countries may be subject to security review by the United
States Committee on Exchanges (COMEX) according to government policy.
This review may be necessary before the State Department will issue a
visa. The US host scientific advisor is responsible for obtaining
research permits and import/export documents, where applicable.

**Host Site Eligibility:**

US applicants may apply for scientific research at appropriate
government and non-profit scientific institutions in NATO  member
countries (Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany,
Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom) or NATO Partner
countries. NATO Partner country applicants must identify a specific US
scientific advisor holding a full-time position at a US institution to
serve as his/her sponsor. The US scientific advisor will be the
Principal Investigator (PI) on the fellowship application. The PI will
be responsible for assuring the completeness of the application
material. NATO Partner country scientists may conduct research at US
universities or scientific research laboratories.

IV\. AWARD INFORMATION

**TENURE LIMITATIONS**

A Fellow will have a full-time tenure of 12 months. Requests to divide
tenure between two institutions should be clearly described in the
application and will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

A recipient of a postdoctoral fellowship must begin tenure on or after
June 1, 2001 but normally not later than October 1, 2001. If unforeseen
circumstances delay completion of the Ph.D. degree requirement or the
expected start of tenure, a request for a delay of the start date will
be considered. A US applicant already working under another fellowship
abroad at the time of application may request a delay of the start date
in order to complete the previous fellowship as long as he/she remains
at the same institution abroad. An awardee who declines a fellowship
because he/she is unable to begin tenure by the specified time period
may re-apply to the program as long as he/she remains eligible. This
declination will not prejudice any subsequent application.

**STIPEND AND SPECIAL ALLOWANCE**

**All Fellows:**

The stipend is \$2,750 per month for 12 months for the Fellow. Fellows
are also provided with dependency allowances of \$200 per month for a
dependent spouse and for each of not more than two dependent children
for 12 months. The level of funding of NSF-NATO stipends for Fellows
will be determined based on the Fellow\'s status at the time of
application. Adjustment for individuals entitled to sabbatical leave pay
or whose employer wishes to supplement the stipend to match regular
salary will be considered. NSF-NATO funding in such instances will be
determined on a case-by-case basis.

In addition, the Fellow is provided with \$1,200 (\$100 for each month
of tenure) to aid in defraying costs of research and special travel such
as short visits to other laboratories or scientific meetings. This
special allowance is expendable at the Fellow\'s discretion and is
usually provided with the advance stipend and travel allowance.

All Fellows are entitled to the full stipend and special research
allowance provided by the fellowship.

**NATO Partner Country Scientists:**

Fellowship grants for NATO Partner country scientists are made to US
institutions and not directly to individuals. The host institution will
be responsible for the disbursement of all funds associated with a
fellowship award.

**TRAVEL ALLOWANCE**

A travel allowance to assist fellows to cover travel costs to their
fellowship institution and back will be provided as specified below. All
travel must be by US flag carriers if such service is available, even
though other carriers may be more convenient or less expensive.

**US Fellows:**

The total round-trip travel allowance for Fellows traveling overseas
will be: \$2,500 for the Fellow; \$2,500 for an accompanying spouse; and
\$1,000 each for up to two accompanying dependent children.

For Fellows traveling to Canada, the travel allowance will be: \$1,000
for the Fellow; \$1,000 for an accompanying spouse; and \$600 each for
up to two accompanying dependent children.

**NATO Partner Country Scientists:**

The total round trip allowance from the Fellow\'s place of residence in
the Partner country, at the time of application, to the US host
institution to begin tenure and later to return will be as follows:
\$3,000 for the Fellow; \$3,000 for an accompanying spouse; and \$1,200
each for up to two accompanying dependent children.

**INSTITUTIONAL ALLOWANCE**

The fellowship institution in NATO member or NATO Partner country, upon
its request, will receive \$1,200 (\$100 for each month of the Fellow\'s
resident tenure, i.e., 12 months). This allowance is paid on behalf of
the Fellow to assist the institution in meeting the cost of fees
chargeable to the Fellow and in providing the Fellow with space,
supplies and equipment. THE US HOST INSTITUTION DOES NOT RECEIVE AN
INSTITUTIONAL ALLOWANCE.  OVERHEAD EXPENSES ARE NOT  PROVIDED AS PART OF
THE FELLOWSHIP.

V. APPLICATION PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

**A. Application Preparation Instructions**

Applications submitted in response to this program solicitation should
be prepared and submitted in accordance with the general guidelines
contained in this solicitation.

A COMPLETE application must be submitted via FastLane Postdoctoral
Fellowship.

**All Applicants:**

**1. NSF-NATO Postdoctoral Fellow Cover Sheet**

The NSF-NATO Cover Sheet must be completed in accordance with the
FastLane Postdoctoral Research Fellowship  Application instructions.

**2. Abstract of Doctoral Dissertation (Limit: 1 Page)**

**3. Abstract of Proposed Plan of Research (Limit: 150 words)**

**4. Proposed Plan of Research (Limit: 2 Pages, including footnotes)**

The plan should be a relatively non-technical statement understandable
by non-specialist experts. This statement should BRIEFLY include the
applicant\'s 1) educational objectives and 2) long-range professional
goals. The applicant should describe in detail the activities expected
to be undertaken during tenure and should also comment on the
appropriateness of both the institution/country selected. Finally, the
applicant should indicate what plans have been made to date for the
projected tenure period.

**5. Curriculum Vitae (Limit: 3 Pages)**

This information MUST include (but is not limited to) the following
sections:

A\) **Education.** This section should list the applicant\'s educational
background beginning with undergraduate and including postdoctoral
training: Institution & Location; Degree; Year Conferred; Field of
Study.

B\) **Academic Honors.** This section should include fellowships,
scholarships, teaching assistantships, mentoring activities, and other
relevant positions held or awards received with dates and locations in
reverse chronological order.

C\) **Foreign Languages.** This section should indicate the proficiency
of the applicant, in the language of the country in which the Fellow
plans to conduct research.

D\) **Employment and Experience.** This section should begin with the
applicant\'s current position (e.g. full-time graduate student,
postdoctoral Fellow, lecturer, etc. and institution). Relevant
professional history should be provided in reverse chronological order.

E\) **Research Accomplishments.** This section should list any research
previously pursued, giving the title and reference of any published
works. List the titles of any unpublished work in process. Other
accomplishments may include, but are not limited to, patent and software
credits, papers presented at seminars, workshops, national or
international meetings, etc.

F\) **Other Accomplishments.** This section is optional and may include
relevant information that the applicant wishes to provide to the
reviewers.

6\. **Letter of Support from the Host Scientific Advisor and/or
Institution**

Provide a letter of support from the proposed scientific advisor and/or
institution acknowledging willingness to accept the applicant to conduct
the proposed research.

**REFERENCE LETTERS**

Four references are required. At least two of the four references should
be from persons with whom the applicant has worked in his/her major
field, including the thesis advisor if possible. List the thesis
advisor\'s name first on the application\'s Cover Page. Other referees
should be in closely allied fields. It is important to send referees a
copy of the proposed plan of research for their review and comment in
the reference report. If the host advisor is writing an institutional
support letter and he/she is also listed as a referee, a separate letter
addressing the criteria listed in the following paragraph must be
included.

Reference letters should CLEARLY include comments on the following:
mastery of fundamental knowledge in the applicant\'s field, design of
research projects, laboratory skills and technique, growth during period
observed, creativity, originality, self reliance and independence.

Before submitting the letters, referees should indicate whether they
wish their comments to be held in confidence and their identity as
authors of the letters not revealed. Otherwise, the Foundation may
provide the comments to the applicants (if requested) under the Privacy
Act of 1974.

**US Applicants Only:**

The applicant\'s permanent US residence address, including zip code,
must be given; institutional address may be used only if no other is
available. The permanent address will be used in all correspondence
concerning the fellowship application. The applicant is responsible for
notifying the program of any changes of the permanent address.

**NATO Partner Country Applicants Only:**

The US host institution is responsible for assuring the completeness of
application materials. The NATO Partner country scientist is responsible
for providing all the appropriate sections to be included in the
application.

**Cover Sheet for Application to the National Science Foundation (NSF
Form 1207)**

This information must be completed by the scientific advisor at the US
institution that is submitting the application on behalf of the NATO
Partner country scientist with FULLY signed certifications. (See
FastLane Requirements Section D.)

The NATO Partner country applicant\'s current address is the address
where the NATO Partner country scientist resides in the NATO Partner
country; permanent US address should be the host university address.

**Sponsor Statement from US Host Institution**

A statement of support from the US host scientific advisor (PI) is
required. Verification of resources being made available to the NATO
Partner country scientist (e.g., housing, supplementary travel,
equipment, and facilities to be provided by the host institution) should
be included in this statement. The scientific advisor should also
indicate why the NATO Partner country scientist would benefit from such
a research opportunity and what contribution this scientist is expected
to make. Any host institution financial commitment of support to the
NATO Partner country scientist should also be described. The scientific
advisor should seek input from whatever sources she/he deems
appropriate, and may attach to this statement any external references it
chooses.

Applicants are reminded to identify the program solicitation number (NSF
00-145) in the program solicitation block on the application Cover Sheet
(NSF Form 1207). Compliance with this requirement is critical to
determining the relevant application processing guidelines. Failure to
submit this information may delay processing.

**B. Budgetary Information**

Cost Sharing is not required in applications submitted under this
Program Solicitation.

**Indirect Cost (F&A) Limitations:** No indirect costs are allowed.

**Other Budgetary Limitations:** None

**C. Deadline/Target Dates**

Applications submitted in response to this solicitation must be
submitted by 5:00 PM, local time on the following date:\
 

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  November 28, 2000                                                    

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AWARDS ANNOUNCED: MARCH 30, 2001

**D. FastLane Requirements**

Applicants are required to prepare and submit all applications for this
Program Solicitation through the FastLane Postdoctoral Research
Fellowship system no later than 5:00 PM, local time of the submitter,
November 28, 2000.  Detailed instructions for application preparation
and submission via FastLane are available at:
https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/d11/D11Menu.htm. For FastLane user support,
call 1-800-673-6188.

*Submission of Signed Cover Sheets*. The signed copy of the application
Cover Sheet (NSF Form 1207) must be postmarked (or contain a legible
proof of mailing date assigned by the carrier) within five working days
following application submission and be forwarded to the following
address:

::: Definition-Term
National Science Foundation
:::

::: Definition-Term
DIS -- FastLane Cover Sheet
:::

::: Definition-Term
4201 Wilson Blvd.
:::

::: Definition-Term
Arlington, VA 22230
:::

VI\. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

**A. NSF Application Review Process**

Reviews of applications submitted to NSF are solicited from peers with
expertise in the substantive area of the proposed research or education
project. These reviewers are selected by Program Officers charged with
the oversight of the review process. NSF invites the applicant to
suggest at the time of submission, the names of appropriate or
inappropriate reviewers. Care is taken to ensure that reviewers have no
conflicts with the applicant. Special efforts are made to recruit
reviewers from non-academic institutions, minority-serving institutions,
or adjacent disciplines to that principally addressed in the
application.

Applications will be reviewed against the following general review
criteria established by the National Science Board. Following each
criterion are potential considerations that the reviewer may employ in
the evaluation. These are suggestions and not all will apply to any
given application. Each reviewer will be asked to address only those
that are relevant to the application and for which he/she is qualified
to make judgments.

> **What is the intellectual merit of the proposed activity?**\
> How important is the proposed activity to advancing knowledge and
> understanding within its own field or across different fields? How
> well qualified is the applicant to conduct the project? (If
> appropriate, the reviewer will comment on the quality of the prior
> work.) To what extent does the proposed activity suggest and explore
> creative and original concepts? How well conceived and organized is
> the proposed activity? Is there sufficient access to resources?
>
> **What are the broader impacts of the proposed activity?**\
> How well does the activity advance discovery and understanding while
> promoting teaching, training, and learning? How well does the proposed
> activity broaden the participation of underrepresented groups (e.g.,
> gender, ethnicity, disability, geographic, etc.)? To what extent will
> it enhance the infrastructure for research and education, such as
> facilities, instrumentation, networks, and partnerships? Will the
> results be disseminated broadly to enhance scientific and
> technological understanding? What may be the benefits of the proposed
> activity to society?

Applicants should address the following elements in their application to
provide reviewers with the information necessary to respond fully to
both of the above-described NSF merit review criteria. NSF staff will
give these elements careful consideration in making funding decisions.

> ***Integration of Research and Education***\
> One of the principal strategies in support of NSF\'s goals is to
> foster integration of research and education through the programs,
> projects, and activities it supports at academic and research
> institutions. These institutions provide abundant opportunities where
> individuals may concurrently assume responsibilities as researchers,
> educators, and students and where all can engage in joint efforts that
> infuse education with the excitement of discovery and enrich research
> through the diversity of learning perspectives.
>
> ***Integrating Diversity into NSF Programs, Projects, and
> Activities***\
> Broadening opportunities and enabling the participation of all
> citizens - women and men, underrepresented minorities, and persons
> with disabilities - is essential to the health and vitality of science
> and engineering. NSF is committed to this principle of diversity and
> deems it central to the programs, projects, and activities it
> considers and supports.
>
> **Additional Review Criteria**\
> The NSF-NATO Fellowships Program is a multidisciplinary activity
> managed by the NSF Directorate for Education and Human Resources. The
> review criteria for all applications include:\
>  

-   Applicant\'s scientific competence in science and engineering,
    including achievements to date, particularly as attested by academic
    records and letters of recommendation.

-   Applicant\'s potential for continued professional growth as
    demonstrated in the proposed plan of research from the standpoint of
    its appropriateness to the background and professional goals of the
    applicant and its feasibility within the time constraints imposed by
    tenure.

-   Applicant\'s potential for furthering international collaboration in
    science including the factors that influenced the applicant\'s
    selection of host institution and scientific advisor and the
    likelihood that the proposed plan of research might result in the
    establishment of a professional, working relationship between the
    applicant, foreign scientists and US host scientist.

> In situations where English is not the primary language, consideration
> may be given to how communication is to be managed. Likewise
> consideration will be given to the English language proficiency of the
> NATO Partner country scientist. These are suggestions and not all will
> apply to any given application. Each reviewer will be asked to address
> only those that are relevant to the application and for which he/she
> is qualified to make judgments.

A summary rating and accompanying narrative will be completed and signed
by each reviewer. In all cases, reviews are treated as confidential
documents. Verbatim copies of reviews, excluding the names of the
reviewers, are mailed to the Applicant and US host Principal
Investigator by the Program Director. In addition, the applicant will
receive an explanation of the decision to award or decline funding.

**B. Review Protocol and Associated Customer Service Standard**

All applications are carefully reviewed by at least three other persons
outside NSF who are experts in the particular field represented by the
application. Applications submitted in response to this solicitation
will be reviewed by Panel Review.

Reviewers will be asked to formulate a recommendation to either support
or decline each application. The Program Officer assigned to manage the
application\'s review will consider the advice of reviewers and will
formulate a recommendation.  In most cases, applicants will be contacted
by the Program Officer after his or her recommendation to award or
decline funding has been approved by the Division Director. This
informal notification is not a guarantee of an eventual award.

NSF will be able to tell applicants whether their applications have been
declined or recommended for funding within six months for 95 percent of
applications. The time interval begins on the application deadline or
target date or from the date of receipt, if deadlines or target dates
are not used by the program. The interval ends when the Division
Director accepts the Program Officer\'s recommendation.

In all cases, after programmatic approval has been obtained, the
applications recommended for funding will be forwarded to the Division
of Grants and Agreements for review of business, financial, and policy
implications and the processing and issuance of a grant or other
agreement. Applicants are cautioned that only a Grants and Agreements
Officer may make commitments, obligations or awards on behalf of NSF or
authorize the expenditure of funds. No commitment on the part of NSF
should be inferred from technical or budgetary discussions with a NSF
Program Officer. An applicant or organization that makes financial or
personnel commitments in the absence of a grant or cooperative agreement
signed by the NSF Grants and Agreements Officer does so at their own
risk.

VII\. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

A. Notification of the Award

Notification of the award is made to *the submitting applicant or
organization* by a Grants Officer in the Division of Grants and
Agreements. Applicants or organizations whose applications are declined
will be advised as promptly as possible by the cognizant NSF Program
Division administering the program. Verbatim copies of reviews, not
including the identity of the reviewer, will be provided automatically
to the Principal Investigator. (See section VI. A, for additional
information on the review process.)

B. Award Conditions

An NSF award consists of: (1) the award letter, which includes any
special provisions applicable to the award and any numbered amendments
thereto; (2) the budget, which indicates the amounts, by categories of
expense, on which NSF has based its support (or otherwise communicates
any specific approvals or disapprovals of proposed expenditures); (3)
the application referenced in the award letter; (4) the applicable award
conditions, and (5) any NSF brochure, program guide, announcement or
other NSF issuance that may be incorporated by reference in the award
letter.

**C. Reporting Requirements**

Within 90 days after the expiration of an award, the Fellow is required
to submit a final project report. Approximately 30 days before
expiration, NSF will send a notice to remind the Fellow and US host PI
of the requirement to file the final project report. Failure to provide
final technical reports delays NSF review and processing of pending
applications for that Fellow or PI. Fellows and PIs should examine the
formats of the required reports in advance to assure availability of
required data.

NSF has implemented an electronic project reporting system, available
through FastLane. This system permits electronic submission and updating
of project reports, including information on: project participants
(individual and organizational); activities and findings; publications;
and other specific products and contributions. Fellows and US host PIs
will not be required to re-enter information previously provided, either
with an application or in earlier updates using the electronic system.

VIII\. CONTACTS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

General inquiries should be made to the NSF-NATO Postdoctoral
Fellowships in Science and Engineering  Program:

-   Dr. Sonia Ortega, Program Director, Education and Human Resources,
    Division of Graduate Education, 907N, telephone: 703-292-8697,
    e-mail: <nsf-nato@nsf.gov>.

-   Mrs. Carolyn Lyons Piper, Assistant Program Director, Education and
    Human Resources, Division of Graduate Education, 907N, telephone:
    703-292-8697, e-mail: <nsf-nato@nsf.gov>.

For questions related to the use of FastLane, contact Sheryl T.
Balke-Smith, Program Analyst, Education and Human Resources, Division of
Graduate Education, 907N, telephone: 703-292-8630, e-mail:
<sbalke@nsf.gov>.

IX\. OTHER PROGRAMS OF INTEREST

The NSF Guide to Programs is a compilation of funding for research and
education in science, mathematics, and engineering. The NSF Guide to
Programs is available electronically at
<http://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/getpub?gp>. General descriptions of NSF
programs, research areas, and eligibility information for proposal
submission are provided in each chapter.

Many NSF programs offer announcements or solicitations concerning
specific proposal requirements. To obtain additional information about
these requirements, contact the appropriate NSF program offices listed
in Appendix A of the GPG. Any changes in NSF\'s fiscal year programs
occurring after press time for the Guide to Programs will be announced
in the NSF [E-Bulletin](http://www.nsf.gov/home/ebulletin), which is
updated daily on the NSF web site at
<http://www.nsf.gov/home/ebulletin>, and in individual program
announcements/solicitations. Subscribers can also sign up for NSF\'s
[Custom News Service](http://www.nsf.gov/home/cns/start.htm)
(<http://www.nsf.gov/home/cns/start.htm>) to be notified of new funding
opportunities that become available.

X. FIELDS OF SPECIALIZATION

**1. LIFE SCIENCES**

**BIOLOGY**

101 Animal physiology

102 Biochemistry and biophysics

103 Biotechnology

104 Cell biology and physiology, microbiology

105 Developmental biology and zoology

106 Ecosystems, landscapes and environment

107 Molecular biology and genetics, virology

108 Neurosciences, cognition and psychology

109 Plant biology: botany, physiology and pathology

110 Population biology and genetics, evolution

111 Biology (other)

**2. MATHEMATICS, PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY**

**MATHEMATICS**

201 Algebra and number theory

202 Analysis

203 Biomathematics

204 Computational mathematics and numerical analysis

205 Discrete Mathematics

206 Geometry and topology

207 Logic and foundations of mathematics

208 Mechanics and mathematical physics

209 Optimization and control theory

210 Probability

211 Mathematics (other)

**PHYSICS**

221 Acoustics

222 Atomic and molecular physics

223 Condensed matter physics

224 Electromagnetism, plasmas and electric discharges

225 Elementary particles and fields

226 Fluid dynamics

227 General physics

228 Mathematical physics

229 Nuclear physics

230 Optics

231 Statistical physics

232 Physics (other)

**ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS**

241 Astronomy

242 Astrophysics

243 Cosmology

244 Space and Planetary Physics

245 Astronomy and astrophysics (other)

200 Physical and Mathematical Sciences (non-specific)

**3. CHEMISTRY MATERIALS**

**CHEMISTRY**

302 Analytical biochemistry

303 Analytical chemistry

304 Bio-inorganic chemistry

305 Bio-organic chemistry

306 Catalysis

307 Computational chemistry

308 Electro chemistry

309 Inorganic chemistry

311 Organic chemistry

312 Physical chemistry

313 Polymer chemistry

314 Solid-state chemistry

315 Theoretical chemistry

316 Chemistry (other)

**MATERIALS SCIENCES**

321 Ceramics, inorganic materials

322 Corrosion, chemical degradation

323 Electrical, magnetic and optical properties

324 Mechanical and thermal properties

325 Metals and alloys

326 Polymers

327 Structure, composition and properties

328 Materials science (other)

300 Chemistry and Materials (non-specific)

**4. EARTH SCIENCES**

**SOLID EARTH**

401 Engineering geology

402 Geochemistry

403 Geology

404 Geomorphology

405 Geophysics

406 Hydrology and hydrogeology

407 Mineralogy and petrology

408 Paleontology and paleobotany

409 Remote sensing and detection

410 Sedimentology and stratigraphy

411 Soil science

412 Solid earth (other)

**ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE**

421 Aerology

422 Climatology

423 Meteorology

424 Radiometeorology

425 Atmospheric science (other)

**OCEANOGRAPHY**

431 Air-sea interaction

432 Biological oceanography

433 Chemical oceanography

434 Hydrography

435 Physical oceanography

436 Oceanography (other)

**5. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES**

501 Air

502 Disasters

503 Ecosystems

504 Environmental change

505 Environmental chemistry

506 Environmental policy

508 Noise

509 Soil

510 Waste

511 Water

512 Environmental sciences (other)

500 Environmental Sciences (non-specific)

**6. APPLIED SCIENCES AND ENGINEERING**

**ENGINEERING**

601 Aeronautical and astronautical engineering

603 Bioengineering

604 Biomedical engineering

605 Ceramic engineering

606 Chemical engineering

607 Civil engineering

608 Electrical engineering

609 Energy

610 Engineering mechanics

611 Hydraulics

612 Industrial engineering

613 Mechanical engineering

614 Metallurgical engineering

615 Mining engineering

616 Nuclear engineering

617 Petroleum engineering

618 Sanitary engineering

619 Engineering (other)

**COMPUTER SCIENCE**

621 Artificial intelligence and knowledge-based systems

622 Computer databases and banks

623 Human-computer interaction

624 Operating systems and networks

625 Software and requirements engineering

626 Theory and mathematics of computing

627 Computer science (other)

**SYSTEMS SCIENCE**

631 Automatic control

632 Operational research

633 Systems analysis

634 Systems engineering

635 Systems science (other)

**INFORMATION SCIENCE**

641 Communications

643 Information science (other)

600 Diverse Applied Sciences (non-specific)

**7. SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES**

**SOCIAL SCIENCES**

701 Economic and social history

702 Economics (Bus. Admin. NOT eligible)

703 Education

704 Environmental planning

705 Human geography

707 Linguistics

708 Management and business studies

709 Political Science and international relations

710 Science and technology policy

711 Social administration

712 Social anthropology

713 Social psychology

714 Socio-legal studies

715 Sociology (Social Work NOT eligible)

716 Social science (other)

**BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES**

721 Archeology

722 Developmental science

723 Ergonomics and human engineering

724 Human factors

725 Organizational science

726 Personality

727 Psychology

728 Psychometrics

729 Behavioral science (other)

999 Not Listed (Specify)\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

ABOUT THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

The National Science Foundation (NSF) funds research and education in
most fields of science and engineering. Awardees are wholly responsible
for conducting their project activities and preparing the results for
publication. Thus, the Foundation does not assume responsibility for
such findings or their interpretation.

NSF welcomes proposals from all qualified scientists, engineers and
educators. The Foundation strongly encourages women, minorities and
persons with disabilities to compete fully in its programs. In
accordance with Federal statutes, regulations and NSF policies, no
person on grounds of race, color, age, sex, national origin or
disability shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the
benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or
activity receiving financial assistance from NSF (unless otherwise
specified in the eligibility requirements for a particular program).

Facilitation Awards for Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities
(FASED) provide funding for special assistance or equipment to enable
persons with disabilities (investigators and other staff, including
student research assistants) to work on NSF-supported projects. See the
program solicitation for further information.

The National Science Foundation has Telephonic Device for the Deaf (TDD)
and Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) capabilities that enable
individuals with hearing impairments to communicate with the Foundation
about NSF programs, employment or general information. TDD may be
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about how to improve the clarity of this document or other NSF-published
materials, please contact us at <plainlanguage@nsf.gov>.

PRIVACY ACT AND PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENTS

The information requested on proposal forms and project reports is
solicited under the authority of the National Science Foundation Act of
1950, as amended. The information on proposal forms will be used in
connection with the selection of qualified proposals; project reports
submitted by awardees will be used for program evaluation and reporting
within the Executive Branch and to Congress. The information requested
may be disclosed to qualified reviewers and staff assistants as part of
the proposal review process; to applicant institutions/grantees to
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about Principal Investigators may be added to the Reviewer file and used
to select potential candidates to serve as peer reviewers or advisory
committee members. See Systems of Records, NSF-50, \"Principal
Investigator/Proposal File and Associated Records,\" 63 Federal Register
267 (January 5, 1998), and NSF-51, \"Reviewer/Proposal File and
Associated Records,\" 63 Federal Register 268 (January 5, 1998).
Submission of the information is voluntary. Failure to provide full and
complete information, however, may reduce the possibility of receiving
an award.

Pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.5(b), an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a
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