# Presentation: 680005

## Overview of the NSF Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS)

**www.nsf.gov**

**Kelsey Cook**
**Program Officer**
**Division of Chemistry**
**kcook@nsf.gov**

**Notes:**
I will talk about: 1. NSF’s vision/mission 2. 5 divisions of MPS 3. Merit Review process.

## Slide 2

## MPS Directorate

**Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences**

**Chemistry**

**Materials**
**Research**

**Mathematical**
**Sciences**

**Physics**

**Astronomy**

**Office of Multidisciplinary Activities**

**MPS Directorate**

## NSF Vision

- To enable America’s future through discovery, learning and innovation

- NSF Mission

-  Promote the progress of science;
-  Advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare;
-  Secure the national defense.

## NSF’s Strategic Goals

- Learning *– Cultivate a world-class, broadly inclusive science and engineering workforce, and expand the scientific literacy of all citizens*
- Research Infrastructure *– Build the Nation’s research capability through critical investments in advanced instrumentation, facilities, cyber infrastructure, and experimental tools*
- Stewardship *– Support excellence in science and engineering research and education through a capable and responsive organization*

**NSF’s Strategic Goals**

## Call for Reinvestment in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)

**Call for Reinvestment in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)**

**Increase US talent pool**
**Strengthen basic research**
**Develop, recruit, and retain the best/brightest**
**Ensure innovation in America**

**From fundamental discoveries to marketable technologies**
**Facilities and instrumentation**
**World class science and engineering workforce**
**Focus on physical sciences and engineering**
**Doubles NSF, DOE, NIST budget over 10 years**

- America “Creating Opportunities To Meaningfully Promote Excellence In Technology, Education, And Science” (COMPETES) Act (S.761, H.H.2272, Public Law 110-69, 8/9/07)

**Notes:**
1. Rising above the Gathering storm – Report by NAS -how US must invest in STEM to keep tech edge & remain globally competitive in global economy.ACI –President’s plan to double, over 10 years, funding for innovation-enabling research in STEM at NSF, DOE, NIST.

## Impact of Federal Investment in Basic Research

**Impact of Federal Investment in Basic Research**

_**http://www.ccrhq.org/Measure_for_Measure_Presentation_04-26-062.ppt**_

**We need to:  turn the crank faster and be higher profile**

## NSF Budget by Directorate 

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| FY 2009 Budget Request to Congress |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| (Dollars in Millions) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| NSF by Account |  | FY 2007 Actual | FY 2008 Estimate | FY 2009 Request | FY 2009 Request change over: |  |  |  |
|  |  |  |  |  | FY 2007 Actual |  | FY 2008 Estimate |  |
|  |  |  |  |  | Amount | Percent | Amount | Percent |
|   | BIO | $608.54 | $612.02 | $675.06 | $66.52 | 10.9% | $63.04 | 10.3% |
|   | CISE | 526.68 | 534.53 | 638.76 | 112.08 | 21.3% | 104.23 | 19.5% |
|   | ENG (less SBIR/STTR) | 521.33 | 527.50 | 632.33 | 111.00 | 21.3% | 104.83 | 19.9% |
|   |    SBIR/STTR | 108.67 | 109.37 | 127.00 | 18.33 | 16.9% | 17.63 | 16.1% |
|   | GEO | 745.85 | 752.66 | 848.67 | 102.82 | 13.8% | 96.01 | 12.8% |
|   | MPS | 1,150.73 | 1,167.31 | 1,402.67 | 251.94 | 21.9% | 235.36 | 20.2% |
|   | SBE | 214.54 | 215.13 | 233.48 | 18.94 | 8.8% | 18.35 | 8.5% |
|   | OCI | 182.42 | 185.33 | 220.08 | 37.66 | 20.6% | 34.75 | 18.8% |
|   | OISE | 40.36 | 41.34 | 47.44 | 7.08 | 17.6% | 6.10 | 14.8% |
|   | OPP | 438.43 | 442.54 | 490.97 | 52.54 | 12.0% | 48.43 | 10.9% |
|   | IA | 219.45 | 232.27 | 276.00 | 56.55 | 25.8% | 43.73 | 18.8% |
|   | U.S. Arctic Research Commission | 1.45 | 1.47 | 1.53 | 0.08 | 5.5% | 0.06 | 4.1% |
| Research & Related Activities |  | $4,758.44 | $4,821.47 | $5,593.99 | $835.55 | 17.6% | $772.52 | 16.0% |

**Notes:**
CISE = Computer & Info Sci & Eng, GEO = Geosciences, SBE = Social, Behav, & Economic Sci., OCI = Office of Cyberinfra, OISE = Office of International Sci & Eng., OPP = Office of Polar Programs, OIA = Office of Integrative Acitivities, USARC = US Artic Res Commission, 
NSF R&RA = Research and Related Activities, as apposed to S&E (Salaries & Expenses)

## MPS by Division 

| (Dollars in Millions) |  |  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  | FY 2007                                          Actual |  |  |    Change Over
   FY 2008 Estimate |  |
|   |  | FY 2008
Estimate | FY 2009
Request | Amount | Percent |
| Astronomical Sciences | $215.39 | $217.86 | $250.01 | $32.15 | 14.8% |
| Chemistry | 191.22 | 194.22 | 244.67 | 50.45 | 26.0% |
| Materials Research | 257.27 | 260.22 | 324.59 | 64.37 | 24.7% |
| Mathematical Sciences | 205.74 | 211.79 | 245.70 | 33.91 | 16.0% |
| Physics | 248.47 | 250.52 | 297.70 | 47.18 | 18.8% |
| Multidisciplinary Activities | 32.64 | 32.70 | 40.00 | 7.30 | 22.3% |
| Total, MPS | $1,150.73 | $1,167.31 | $1,402.67 | $235.36 | 20.2% |

## Ten-Year Funding History

**Ten-Year Funding History**

- $M

- (Request)

## Budget

**【****Unit: 100 million yuan****】**

**NSFC budget is increased at an annual rate of over 20%. **
**The total budget for 2008 is 5.4 billion yuan.**

## Top 5 Things to Know About MPS

**Most extensive and diverse scientific portfolio **
**Centered around the American Competitiveness Initiative (ACI): fundamental discovery to marketable technologies**
**Largest budget: $1.25B FY08**
**Develops & supports major facilities**
**Diverse approaches: smaller individual Principal Investigator (PI) grants to larger centers/institutes **

## Number of People Involved in MPS Activities

**FY 2007**

**FY 2008**

**FY 2009**

**Estimate**

**Estimate**

**Estimate**

**Senior Researchers**

**8,212**

**8,325**

**9,900 **

**Other Professionals**

**2,000**

**2,025**

**2,400**

**Post-Doctorates**

**2,171**

**2,200**

**2,600**

**Graduate Students**

**7,720**

**7,800**

**9,300**

**Undergraduate Students**

**6,091**

**6,150**

**7,300**

**K - 12 Students**

**615**

**625**

**750**

**K - 12 Teachers**

**478**

**485**

**550**

**Total Number of People**

**27,287**

**27,610**

**32,800**

**MPS spends at least $300 million annually on Graduate and Postdoctoral training!**

## Slide 14

**Notes:**
Workforce = workforce dev, I.e. education.     19 minutes for 1⁄4,  38 minutes for 1⁄2, 57 minutes for 3/4 , 75 minutes for total.  

## yrs

## Scientific Opportunities

- Physical sciences at the nanoscale
- Science beyond “Moore’s Law”
- Physics of the universe
- Complex systems (multi-scale, emergent phenomena)
- Fundamental mathematical and statistical science
- Sustainability (energy, environment, climate)
- Interface between the physical and life sciences
- Computational and ***Cyber-enabled Discovery and Innovation***
***CHE-DMR-DMS Solar Energy Initiative  (SOLAR)**** *

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**Notes:**
Moore’s Law - # of transistors that can be inexpensively placed on an integrated circuit  doubles approximately every two years.

## Slide 17

## MPS Funding Rate for Competitive Awards -

**MPS Funding Rate for Competitive Awards -**

**Competitive Research Grants**

**Notes:**
# of reasons – funding may not have scaled with proposal P and size of awards increased.

## Slide 19

## Distribution of Average Ratings

**(Individual Investigator CHE Programs -- FY 2006)**

**Keep trying**

## Slide 21

**Notes:**
CHESS - the Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source. NRAO – Nat’l Radio Ast Observatory. LIGO - Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory. NNIN - National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network. LHC – Large Hadron Collider. CHRNS - Center for High Resolution Neutron Scattering. 

**Advanced Technology Solar Telescope (ATST)**
**Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory (DUSEL)**
**Coherent X-ray Light Source**
**Giant Segmented Mirror Telescope (GSMT)**
**Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST)**
**Square Kilometer Array (SKA)**

## Facilities in Development & Under Construction

***Facilities under Construction:***** **
**ALMA: Atacama Large Millimeter Array, site construction**
**IceCube: Neutrino telescope, operations initiated**
**LIGO: Laser-Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory**
**LHC: Large Hadron Collider, coming online soon**
***Design and Development:***** **
**DUSEL: will begin formally in FY 2008.**
**GSMT: $5M R&D**
**LSST: $2-3M R&D**
**ATST: In “readiness” stage**
***Other Projects:***** **
**Light source: planning to convene panel on NSF role.**
**ILC: International Linear Collider**

**Notes:**
ALMA - Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array. IceCube – neutrino telescope buried in cubic kilometer of ice in SouthPole.  ILC – International Linear Collider 

## 82

**Inorganic,**** **

**Bioinorganic &**** **

**Organometallic**** **

**Chemistry**** **

**Analytical &**** **

**Surface**** **

**Chemistry**** **

**Chemistry**** **

**Facilities and**** **

**Centers**

- 21/48

***Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry***
***  ******Organic Dynamics***
***  ******Organic Synthesis***

***Integrated Chemical Activities  ***
*** ******Chemical Instrumentation Programs***
*** ******Research Experience for Undergraduates ***
*** ******American Competitiveness in Chemistry Fellows***
*** ******(Discovery Corp Fellows)***
*** ******(Undergraduate Research Centers)***
*** ******Centers for Chemical Innovation (formerly Chemical Bonding Centers)***

***Physical Chemistry***
***  ******Theoretical and Computational Chem.***
***  ******Experimental Physical Chemistry***

***Analytical and Surface Chemistry***

***Inorganic, Bioinorganic, and Organometallic Chemistry***

- Frontier
- Programs

- Instrumentation

- Education

- Centers

- Other

- Collaboratives

***Making***

***Measuring/Modeling***

## Slide 25

## American Competitiveness in Chemistry Fellowship

- Two-year post-doctoral fellowship opportunity that seeks to build ties between academic, industrial, and/or national laboratory, and/or Chemistry Division-funded center researchers, and as a vehicle for broadening participation in chemistry.
- First four ACC-F grants were awarded August 2008 to post-doctoral students from:
- University of California-Irvine
- South Dakota State University
- University of Arizona
- University of Washington

## Centers for Chemical Innovation:

- Grand Challenge Research

**Phase 1: $0.5M/y * 3y**
**Build top research and innovation team**
**Achieve preliminary results**
**Demonstrate effectiveness**
**Develop public engagement plan**
**Develop management strategies**

**Phase 2: $3-5M/y * 5y, renewable to 10 y**
**Focus on transformational research**
**Increase public understanding of chemical research**
**Management to promote agility**

- Karen Goldberg, U. Washington
- CENTC brings together a group of sixteen investigators from across the United States to work on the development of efficient, inexpensive and environmentally friendly methods of synthesizing organic material by way of activation of strong bonds.  Projects focus on green chemical, petroleum, pharmaceutical, and material production and thus, have a significant potential to increase US competitiveness.

- Harry Gray, Cal. Tech
- The Powering the Planet Center for Chemical Innovation (CCI Solar) focuses on one of the outstanding problems in 21st Century science – the efficient and economical conversion of solar energy into stored chemical fuels.  Through this CCI, the NSF has established a partnership with the scientific community to develop the fundamental enabling chemistry that will ultimately deliver clean fuels produced from the sun.

## Undergraduate Research Collaboratives(URC)

**Three competitions (’04,’05, ’06) resulted in 5 full awards, each ~ $2.7M/5 years. **
**2004- CASPiE (Center for Authentic Science Practice in Education)- centered at Purdue University (Gabriella Weaver) with a consortium of 2- and 4-year institutions in Indiana and Illinois. Includes remote instrumentation network.**
**2005- REEL (Research Experiences for Enhanced Learning)- centered at Ohio State University (Prabir Dutta) with a consortium of all (~14) of the public universities in Ohio plus Columbus Community College.  Impact ~15,000 students.**
**2005- Northern Plains URC (NPURC, Mary Berry)- centered at South Dakota University- regional cluster incl. community and tribal colleges.**
**2006- University of Texas-URC (Mary Rankin)- A New Model for Teaching through Research.  Integrates 1st and 2nd year laboratory program (~ 25% of UT intro chemistry students/50% minority students) with ongoing chemistry and biochemistry research programs at UT, Austin- a “vertical” collaboration model within a large R1.**
**2006- Community Colleges of Chicago URC (Tom Higgins)- To determine factors that encourage 2YC students to continue in science via traditional student/mentor research, team research, and partnering with 4 y institutions for summer research.**

## International Collaborations in Chemistry  (ICC)

- ICC Features:
- Joint review by NSF and the partner country agency of a single proposal, with a joint recommendation.
- Funding for U.S. researchers from NSF, funding for partners from appropriate country agency (similar level of activity).
- Encourages meaningful participation of graduate students, postdoctoral research associates and junior investigators to develop a diverse, globally-engaged, U.S. science and engineering workforce.

- FY 2006
** **60 inquiries submitted
-  30 proposals submitted
-  5 proposals funded
- FY 2007
** **105 inquiries submitted
-  65 proposals submitted
-  17 proposals funded
- FY 2008
-  130 pre-proposals submitted
-  60 proposals submitted
-  16 proposals funded (8 DFG, 5 EPSRC, 3 NSFC)

- FY 2006
- NSF Investment: $2.1 M
- FY 2007
- NSF Investment: $6.0 M
- FY 2008
- NSF Investment: $6.8 M

## Chemical Biology

- Duties of his position include:
- Shared program officer between CHE and MCB
- Facilitate the review of proposals at the interface
- Interact with the community
- Serve as a model for future positions between CHE and other divisions
- Workshop on chemical biology planned for 2009 – to discuss leading edge, future trends, proposal review mechanism, funding opportunities, potential new initiatives, and education

- Dr. Wilfredo (Freddy) Colon joined the Division of Chemistry (CHE) and the Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences (MCB) in the Directorate for Biological Sciences as a shared program officer in January 2008.

**“****Chemical Biology at the U.S. National Science Foundation” to be published August 18, 2008, in the journal of *****Nature Chemical Biology*****.  Author: Wilfredo Colon**

## The Divisions of Chemistry, Materials Research and Mathematical Sciences are planning a collaborative solar energy initiative solicitation.  

- The Divisions of Chemistry, Materials Research and Mathematical Sciences are planning a collaborative solar energy initiative solicitation.
- The purpose of the anticipated solar energy initiative is to support interdisciplinary efforts by groups of researchers to address the scientific challenges of highly efficient harvesting, conversion and storage of solar energy.

## Astronomical Sciences (AST)

**Astronomy and Astrophysics Grants**
**Extragalactic Astronomy and Cosmology**
**Galactic Astronomy**
**Planetary Astronomy**
**Stellar Astronomy and Astrophysics**
**Education and Special Programs**
**Electromagnetic Spectrum Management**
**Advanced Technologies and Instrumentation**
**Major Research Instrumentation**
**University Radio Observatories**
**Program for Research and Education with Small Telescopes**
**Astronomy and Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellowships**

## AST Centers and Facilities

**Optical/Infrared Facilities**
**Gemini Observatories**
**National Optical Astronomy Observatory **
**National Solar Observatory**
**Radio Facilities**
**National Radio Astronomy Observatory**
**Very Large Array, New Mexico**
**Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope, West Virginia**
**Very Long Baseline Array (U.S. & Possessions)**
**Atacama Large Millimeter Array (Chile)**
**National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center**
**Arecibo Radio Telescope, Puerto Rico**

## Materials Research (DMR)

**Advanced Materials and Processing Cluster**
**Metals, Ceramics and Electronic Materials**
**Base Science Cluster**
**Condensed Matter Physics**
**Solid-Sate Chemistry and Polymers**
**Materials Research and Technology Enabling Cluster**
**Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers **
**Materials Theory**
**National Facilities and Instrumentation **
**Office of Special Programs**

## Centers and Institutes

**Science and Technology Centers**
**Nanoscale Science and Engineering Centers**
**Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers**
**International Materials Institutes**
**Partnerships for Research and Education in Materials**

##  DMR Facilities

**National High Magnetic Field Laboratory**
**Cornell High-Energy Synchrotron Source**
**Synchrotron Radiation Center**
**Center for High-Resolution Neutron Scattering**
**National Nanofrabrication Infrastructure Network**

## Materials World Network

**Funds the US researchers in an International Collaboration**
**Foreign researchers are funded by their respective agencies**
**Countries and Agencies involved**
**Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Ethiopia, European Commission, European Science Foundation, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Senegal, Singapore, Slovak Republic, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Trinidad & Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom, Ukraine, and Zimbabwe**

## Mathematical Sciences (DMS)

- “Core business”: single investigator and group proposals through targeted solicitations
-       Covers the entire mathematical spectrum
- Institutes: 5 NSF-initiated, support for 3 others
- Visitors to long term programs, workshops
- Workforce:  responding to a major challenge.
- Enhancing the Mathematical Sciences Workforce in the 21st Century (EMSW21) training grants
- Postdoctoral fellowships
- Research for Undergraduates

**Advancing the**
**     ****Frontier**
**         ****74%**

**Workforce**
**      ****16%**

**Institutes/**
**Centers**
**    ****10%**

## Mathematical Sciences

**Analysis**
**Applied Mathematics**
**Algebra, Number Theory, Combinatorics, and Foundations**
**Computational Mathematics**
**Geometric Analysis and Topology**
**Statistics and Probability**
**Infrastructure**

## Mathematical Sciences Institutes

**Mathematical Sciences Research Institute (MSRI) – Berkeley, CA**
**Institute for Mathematics and Its Applications (IMA) – U of Minnesota**
**Institute for Pure and Applied Mathematics (IPAM) – UCLA**
**Statistical and Applied Mathematical Sciences Institute (SAMSI) – Duke U, NC State U, U North Carolina, NISS**
**Mathematical Biosciences Institute (MBI) – Ohio State U**
**Partial support provided for:**
**	****American Institute of Mathematics (AIM)**
**	****Institute for Advanced Study (IAS)**

## Conferences, Workshops, and Special Meetings in the Mathematical Sciences

**Support of “regular” conferences and workshops**
**Support of “special meetings”**
**Longer or larger-scale activities**
**Examples: Special research years or semesters, multi-institutional regional meetings, “summer” or “winter” schools**
**Awards: $50-$150K per year up to 3 years**
**Next Deadlines: October 18, 2005, August 24, 2006**
**Solicitation: NSF 05-540**

## Physics (PHY)

_**Facilities**_**:****  **
**LHC, LIGO, IceCube, NSCL, CESR**
_**Programs**_**:**
**Atomic, Molecular, Optical, and Plasma Physics**
**Biological Physics**
**Elementary Particle Physics**
**Gravitational Physics**
**Nuclear Physics**
**Particle and Nuclear Astrophysics**
**Physics at the Information Frontier**
**Physics Frontiers Centers**
**Theoretical Physics**
**Education and Interdisciplinary Programs**

## Physics Frontiers Centers

- Kavli Center for Cosmological Physics – Chicago - Meyer

- Center for the Study of the Origin and Structure of Matter
- 		    Hampton - Baker

- FOCUS:  Frontiers in Optical Coherent and Ultrafast Science
- 		Michigan/Texas - Bucksbaum

- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics – UCSD - Onuchic

**Notes:**
Physics Frontiers Centers

## Physics Frontiers Centers (cont’d)

**Physics Frontiers Centers (cont’d)**

- Center for Ultracold Atoms – MIT/Harvard - Kleppner

- JILA (Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics)
- – Colorado/NIST - Wieman

- Center for Magnetic Self-Organization in Laboratory
- 	and Astrophysical Plasmas – Wisconsin - Prager

- Joint Institute for Nuclear Astrophysics – Notre Dame - Wiescher

## Physics Division Facilities

- LIGO (Caltech) gravity wave observatory
- NSCL (Michigan State) radioactive ion beams
- CESR e+e- Collider (Cornell) *phaseout path*
- U.S. LHC [ATLAS, CMS] (CERN) *1st beam 2007, physics 2008*
- Others in construction or planning stages: IceCube, LIGO, ERL, DUSEL

**Major facilities ops 35% of budget**

***Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory***

***Large Hadron Collider ATLAS Detector***

**Notes:**
DUSEL will be in and abandoned Au mine Homestake, SD. NSCL - National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory. CESR - Cornell Electron Storage Ring accelerator 

## Office of Multidisciplinary Activities

**Roles:**
**Supports excellence and creativity of the MPS community more effectively**
**Works as an investment capital resource and partner to MPS Divisions to support joint ventures across organizational boundaries**
**Facilitates support of research and education projects not readily accommodated by existing MPS structures**

## Office of Multidisciplinary Activities

**Characteristics:**
**Not a traditional ‘program’ function**
**Does not receive/evaluate external proposals**
**Co-invests with MPS Divisions, other NSF Directorates, and external partners**
**Advice/guidance from MPS Division Directors**
**One year budget basis – no continuing commitments**

##  NSF Merit Review Process

**By Mail and/or Panel**
**Confidential**
**Anonymous**

## Intellectual Merit

**Designing experiments**
**Conducting experiments**
**Interpreting results**
**Assessing value**

## NSF’s Review Criteria

**Intellectual Merit **
- How important is the proposed activity to advancing knowledge and understanding within its own field or across different fields?
- How well qualified is the proposer (individual or team) to conduct the project?
- 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?

## Broader Impacts

**Communication**
**Education**
**Underrepresented Groups**
**Industry**
**Environment**
**National security**
**Health**
**Quality of life**

## NSF’s Review Criteria

**Broader Impact**
- 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?
- 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?
- http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2002/nsf022/bicexamples.pdf

## Secrets for Success 

**New and original ideas**
**Sound, succinct, detailed focused plan **
**Preliminary data and/or feasibility calculation**
**Relevant experience**
**Clarity concerning future direction**
**Well-articulated broader impacts**

## Understanding Grantsmanship 

**Locate appropriate Program Officer by searching Fastlane for similar awards; note scope of work, range of funding, broader impacts**
**Talk to Program Officer, send one paragraph on both review criteria (intellectual merit and broader impacts) and get feedback**
**Read Grant Proposal Guide and abide by rules**
**Read successful proposals**
**Have others read your proposal, preferably others like the likely reviewers**
**Suggest reviewers to use or not to use.  OK to request a previous reviewer or ask to not use a previous reviewer.**
**We strive to complete >70% of the proposals in 6 months**
**Volunteer as a reviewer, panelist, program officer (**_**[www.nsf.gov/chem](http://www.nsf.gov/chem)**__**)**_
**Utilize Graduate Research Fellowship program (Div. Grad. Ed.)**
**Pay attention to deadlines, windows**
**New CHE windows:  July and November**

## Understanding the Drivers

**Program Officers strive to balance their portfolios with respect to:**
**topical areas of research**
**risk**
**responsive to President’s priorities (OSTP)**
**responsive to current budget request and NSF strategic plan (OMB)**
**supports the MPS initiatives**
**geographic, demographic, institution-type diversity**
**supports the Division Director’s priorities**

## NSF Proposals

-   Get to know your program officer(s)
-   Contact the program officer(s) to discuss your project, and learn of relevant, ***current*** opportunities
-   Know and follow the ***current*** Grant Proposal Guide (GPG) - it changes!
-   Know the audience for your proposal’s review - it is a competition!
-   ***Explicitly*** address Intellectual Merit and Broader Impact in both the Project Summary *and* Project Description!

## NSF Proposals

-  Match and justify the budget to the scope of the proposed work - ask for what you need!
-   Be familiar with projects that have succeeded - Award Abstracts at
- http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch
-   Special programs exist which are of interest for Primarily Undergraduate Institutions (PUIs), e.g., Research at Undergraduate Institutions (RUI) and Research Opportunity Awards (ROA)

## Look Us Up

-    For information on a particular division and program, go to the following web address and pick a Division:
- http://www.nsf.gov/home/mps/
-     See “MPS Directory and Staff” on MPS home page