National Science Foundation
Directorate for Education & Human Resources
Division of Graduate Education
Directorate for Biological Sciences
Directorate for Computer & Information Science & Engineering
Directorate for Engineering
Directorate for Geosciences
Directorate for Mathematical & Physical Sciences
Directorate for Social, Behavioral & Economic Sciences
Office of International and Integrative Activities
Letter of Intent Due Date(s) (optional) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time):
March 25, 2015
Applies to both tracks
December 22, 2015
Applies to both tracks
Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time):
May 06, 2015
Applies to both tracks
February 22, 2016
Applies to both tracks
IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND REVISION NOTES
This solicitation extends and broadens the scope of the NSF Research Traineeship (NRT) program launched in 2014. Proposals are invited in two tracks: the Traineeship Track (maximum 5 years, $3.0 million), dedicated to the education of STEM graduate students through an innovative, evidence-based traineeship approach in high-priority interdisciplinary research areas; and the Innovations in Graduate Education (IGE) Track (2–3 years, up to $300,000–$500,000) dedicated solely to piloting, testing, and evaluating bold, new graduate-education approaches, models, and activities and to generate the knowledge required for their customization, implementation, and scaling. This solicitation is active for two years, and future NRT solicitations are anticipated.
A letter of intent is recommended for both tracks.
Important Information
Any proposal submitted in response to this solicitation should be submitted in accordance with the revised NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) (NSF 15-1), which is effective for proposals submitted, or due, on or after December 26, 2014. The PAPPG is consistent with, and, implements the new Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance) (2 CFR § 200).
SUMMARY OF PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
General Information
Program Title:
National Science Foundation Research Traineeship Program (NRT)
Synopsis of Program:
The NSF Research Traineeship (NRT) program is designed to encourage the development and implementation of bold, new, potentially transformative, and scalable models for STEM graduate education training. The NRT program seeks proposals that ensure that graduate students in research-based master’s and doctoral degree programs develop the skills, knowledge, and competencies needed to pursue a range of STEM careers. The NRT program includes two tracks: the Traineeship Track and the Innovations in Graduate Education (IGE) Track. The Traineeship Track is dedicated to effective training of STEM graduate students in high priority interdisciplinary research areas, through the use of a comprehensive traineeship model that is innovative, evidence-based, aligned with changing workforce and research needs, and scalable. For this solicitation the Traineeship Track has one priority interdisciplinary research theme — Data-Enabled Science and Engineering (DESE); proposals are encouraged also on any non-DESE interdisciplinary research theme that is a national priority. The IGE Track is dedicated solely to piloting, testing, and evaluating novel, innovative, and potentially transformative approaches to graduate education, both disciplinary and interdisciplinary, to generate the knowledge required for their customization, implementation, and broader adoption. Whereas the Traineeship Track promotes building on the current knowledge base to more effectively train STEM graduate students, the IGE Track supports test-bed projects with high potential to enrich, improve, and extend the knowledge base with attention to transferability and innovation. For both tracks, strategic collaborations with the private sector, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), government agencies, national laboratories, field stations, teaching and learning centers, museums, and academic partners are encouraged.
Cognizant Program Officer(s):
Please note that the following information is current at the time of publishing. See program website for any updates to the points of contact.
Richard Boone, telephone: (703) 292-4344, email: rboone@nsf.gov
Claire Hemingway, telephone: (703) 292-7135, email: chemingw@nsf.gov
Richard Tankersley, telephone: (703) 292-8696, email: rtankers@nsf.gov
Applicable Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s):
47.041 --- Engineering
47.049 --- Mathematical and Physical Sciences
47.050 --- Geosciences
47.070 --- Computer and Information Science and Engineering
47.074 --- Biological Sciences
47.075 --- Social Behavioral and Economic Sciences
47.076 --- Education and Human Resources
47.079 --- International and Integrative Activities (IIA)
Award Information
Anticipated Type of Award: Standard Grant
Estimated Number of Awards: 24 to 30
Anticipated Funding Amount: $37,880,793
The estimated number of awards under this solicitation is pending availability of FY 2015 and 2016 funds.
NRT Traineeship Track Awards (10 anticipated) are expected to be up to five years in duration with a budget up to $3,000,000.
NRT IGE Track Awards (14-20 anticipated) are expected to be up to 2-3 years in duration with a budget between $300,000 and $500,000.
Eligibility Information
Who May Submit Proposals:
Proposals may only be submitted by the following:
Organizational Limit:
Proposals may be submitted only by the following:
Universities and Colleges – Universities and colleges accredited in, and having a campus located in, the U.S. acting on behalf of their faculty members and that award a research-based master’s degree and/or a doctoral degree in a STEM discipline supported by the National Science Foundation may submit to the Traineeship Track.
For the Innovations in Graduate Education Track, the categories of proposers eligible to submit proposals to the National Science Foundation are identified in the Grant Proposal Guide, Chapter 1, Section E.
Who May Serve as PI:
The PI of a Traineeship Track proposal must be on the faculty of the submitting institution.
Innovations in Graduate Education Track: There are no restrictions or limits.
Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization: 3
Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization: 2 for the Traineeship Track, 1 for the Innovations in Graduate Education Track
Each institution may submit two Traineeship Track proposals and one Innovations in Graduate Education Track proposals. If an institution submits only one Traineeship Track proposal, it can be on either DESE or another theme. If an institution submits two Traineeship Track proposals, at least one must be a DESE proposal. In either case (DESE or non-DESE), the traineeship theme of a Traineeship Track proposal must be interdisciplinary.
Limit on Number of Proposals per PI or Co-PI: 1
An individual may serve as Lead Principal Investigator (PI) or Co-PI on only one proposal submitted to the NRT program.
Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions
A. Proposal Preparation Instructions
Letters of Intent: Submission of Letters of Intent is optional. Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information.
Preliminary Proposal Submission: Not required
Full Proposals:
Full Proposals submitted via FastLane: NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide, Part I: Grant Proposal Guide (GPG) Guidelines apply. The complete text of the GPG is available electronically on the NSF website at: http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=gpg.
Full Proposals submitted via Grants.gov: NSF Grants.gov Application Guide: A Guide for the Preparation and Submission of NSF Applications via Grants.gov Guidelines apply (Note: The NSF Grants.gov Application Guide is available on the Grants.gov website and on the NSF website at: http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=grantsgovguide).
B. Budgetary Information
Cost Sharing Requirements: Inclusion of voluntary committed cost sharing is prohibited.
Indirect Cost (F&A) Limitations: Not Applicable
Other Budgetary Limitations: Not Applicable
C. Due Dates
Letter of Intent Due Date(s) (optional) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time):
March 25, 2015
Applies to both tracks
December 22, 2015
Applies to both tracks
Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time):
May 06, 2015
Applies to both tracks
February 22, 2016
Applies to both tracks
Proposal Review Information Criteria
Merit Review Criteria: National Science Board approved criteria. Additional merit review considerations apply. Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information.
Award Administration Information
Award Conditions: Standard NSF award conditions apply.
Reporting Requirements: Standard NSF reporting requirements apply.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Summary of Program Requirements
Introduction
Program Description
Award Information
Eligibility Information
Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions
Proposal Preparation Instructions
Budgetary Information
Due Dates
FastLane/Grants.gov Requirements
NSF Proposal Processing and Review Procedures
Merit Review Principles and Criteria
Review and Selection Process
Award Administration Information
Notification of the Award
Award Conditions
Reporting Requirements
Agency Contacts
Other Information
I. INTRODUCTION
Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) graduate education is poised to undergo a major transformation. The drivers for change include recent major national reports that have examined the state of STEM graduate education[1], the accelerating pace of science and engineering discoveries and technological innovations, national STEM workforce trends, the growing internationalization of science and engineering, and the unrealized potential to align graduate education practices and mod