National Science Foundation Research and Education Opportunities in the Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems 2008 Engineering Research Council (ERC) Workshop and Forum Sponsored by: The American Society for Engineering Education Arlington, VA March 16-18, 2008 Director Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems Division Directorate for Engineering National Science Foundation Tel: (703) 292-8339 E-mail: uvarshne@nsf.gov 1
National Science Foundation Created: 1950 Federal Agency: Independent Total Budget FY 2008: $6.065 B Director and Deputy Director: Presidential Appointees Employees: 1200» Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA): 1/3» Federal Service Appointments: 2/3 Supports: Basic Research and Education Grant mechanism: Merit-based Peer Review 2
NSF Mission & Vision Mission: To promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity and welfare; to secure the national defense Vision: Advancing discovery, innovation and education beyond the frontiers of current knowledge, and empowering future generations in science and engineering 3
Strategic Outcome Goals Discovery: Foster research that will advance the frontiers of knowledge, emphasizing areas of greatest opportunity and potential benefit and establishing the nation as a global leader in fundamental and transformational science and engineering. 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, cyberinfrastructure and experimental tools. Stewardship: Support excellence in science and engineering research and education through a capable and responsive organization. 4
Organizational Structure National Science Board Director Dr. Arden Bement Deputy Director Dr. Kathie Olsen Office of the Inspector General Office of Cyberinfrastructure Office of International Science and Engineering Directorate for Biological Sciences Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering Directorate for Education and Human Resources Office of the General Counsel Office of Legislative and Public Affairs Office of Equal Opportunity Programs Directorate for Engineering Directorate for Geosciences Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences Directorate for Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences Office of Integrative Activities Office of Polar Programs Office of Budget, Finance, and Award Management Dr.Usha Varshney http://www.nsf.gov Office of Information and Resource Management
ENG Organizational Structure Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation (EFRI) Dr. Sohi Rastegar Office of Assistant Director (OAD) Dr. Richard Buckius Deputy Assistant Director Dr. Michael Reischman Senior Advisor Nanotechnology Dr. Mihail Roco Engineering Education and Centers (EEC) Dr. Allen Soyster Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems (CBET) Dr. Judy Raper Civil, Mechanical, and Manufacturing Innovation (CMMI) Dr. Adnan Akay Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems (ECCS) Industrial Innovation and Partnerships (IIP) Dr. Kesh Narayanan http://www.nsf.gov/eng/about.jsp 6
Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation FY 2007 Auto-Reconfigurable Engineered Systems (ARES) Cellular and Biomolecular Engineering (CBE) FY 2008 Cognitive Optimization and Prediction - From Neural Systems to Neurotechnology (COPN): Understanding of sub-symbolic intelligence in the brain that can lead to the development of new designs and algorithms for optimal decision making and prediction in engineered systems Resilient and Sustainable Infrastructures (RESIN): To develop underpinning scientific and engineering systems-level bases for new knowledge and technologies that will enable innovations for twenty-first century Interdependent infrastructures to be both resilient and sustainable agroup Proposals from three or more PIs aup to $500,000 per year for 4 years, 11 Awards, $22M Letter of Intent Due Date (required): September 25, 2007 Preliminary Proposal Due Date (required): October 26, 2007 Full Proposal Deadline: April 30, 2008 Program Solicitation: NSF 07-579 7
ENG FY 2008 Budget Dollars in Millions CBET CMMI ECCS IIP FY 2007 Actual $128.27 157.30 83.24 120.78 FY 2008 Estimate $131.00 159.81 83.50 121.67 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR/STTR) EEC EFRI Total, ENG (108.67) 115.16 25.00 $630.00 (109.37) 115.89 25.00 $636.87 8
ECCS Mission Address fundamental research issues underlying component and device technologies, power and energy, controls, computation, networks, communications and cyber technologies Support integration and networking of intelligent systems principles at the nano, micro, macro scales for a variety of application domains Ensure education of a diverse workforce prepared to continue rapid development of emerging technologies as drivers of the global economy 9
ECCS Programs Electronics, Photonics and Device Technologies EPDT Bioelectronics Electromagnetics Flexible Electronics MEMS/NEMS Micro/Nanoelectronics Micro/Nanomagnetics Microwave Photonics Molecular Electronics Nanophotonics 3D Photonics Optoelectronics Power Electronics Sensors and Actuators Spin Electronics Integrative, Hybrid and Complex Systems IHCS Power, Controls and Adaptive Networks PCAN Adaptive Dynamic Programming Alternate Energy Sources Embedded, Distributed and Adaptive Control Neuromorphic Engineering Power and Energy Systems & Networks Quantum and Molecular Modeling & Simulation of Devices and Systems Sensing and Imaging Networks Telerobotics Nanosystems, Microsystems, Macrosystems Cyber Systems Signal Processing Nano and Microsystems System-on-a-chip System-in-a-package RF and Optical Wireless and Hybrid Communications Systems Inter and Intra-chip Communications Mixed Signals 10
Emerging Technologies Alternate Energy Sources: Generation and Integration in the National Grid (InterGrid) Cyber-Physical Systems Diagnostic, Wearable and Implantable Devices and Systems Flexible Electronics Hybrid Communications Systems and Networks Interdependencies of Critical Infrastructures in Power and Communications Micro & Nano Systems Neuromorphic Engineering Quantum and Molecular Modeling and Simulation of Devices and Systems 3D Photonics: Very Large-scale Integration 11
Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems Division Director Usha Varshney Senior Advisor Lawrence Goldberg Electronics, Photonics and Device Technologies Power, Controls and Adaptive Networks Integrative, Hybrid and Complex Systems Optoelectronics; Nanophotonics; Ultrafast and Extreme Ultra-Violet Technologies Eric Johnson Micro/Nanoelectronics; Bioelectronics; NEMS/MEMS; Sensors Rajinder Khosla Micro/Nanoelectronics; Molecular Electronics; Spin Electronics; Organic Electronics; Micromagnetics; Power Electronics Pradeep Fulay Microwave Photonics; Millimeter, Sub-millimeter and Terahertz Frequency Devices and Components; MMIC Vacant Embedded, Distributed and Adaptive Control; Sensing and Imaging Networks; Systems Theory; Telerobotics Radhakisan Baheti Power and Energy Systems and Networks; Interdependencies of Power and Energy in Critical Infrastructures; Power Drives; Renewable and Alternative Energy Sources Dagmar Niebur Adaptive Dynamic Programming; Neuromorphic Engineering; Quantum and Molecular Modeling and Simulations of Devices and Systems Paul Werbos RF and Optical Wireless and Hybrid Communications Systems; Inter and Intra-chip Communications; Mixed Signals Vacant Micro and Nano Systems; Systems-on-a-chip; System-ina-Package; Diagnostic and Implantable Systems Yogesh Gianchandani Cyber Systems; Signal Processing Scott Midkiff 12
Proposal Submissions Unsolicited Proposals Submission Windows» January 7 - February 7» September 7 - October 7 RET/REU Supplements Deadline Date» April 1 Award Size for Unsolicited Proposals» $315 K for three years» Limited number of group proposals. 13
Research Opportunities in ENG Divisions Disciplinary Research Programs» Investigator Initiated Unsolicited Proposals» Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) program» Small Grant for Exploratory Research (SGER)» Supplements (REU, RET, Instruments, GRS, IRE)» Major Research Instrumentation (MRI)» Workshops & Conferences» Initiatives Engineering Education and Centers (EEC)» Engineering Research Centers (ERC)» Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Sites» Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) Sites» Unsolicited Education Proposals Industrial Innovation and Partnerships (IIP)» Partnership for Innovation (PFI)» Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers (I/UCRC)» Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)» Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR)» Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI) 14
Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER / PECASE) Program Foundation-wide activity that offers NSF s most prestigious awards for junior faculty members within context of their early career development activities. Enhances and emphasizes the importance of balanced academic careers that include both research and education Requires: Career Development Plan Research Plan and Integrated Educational Activities Departmental Endorsement Collaborative activities are strongly encouraged Awards are for 5 years at $80K per year Most meritorious new CAREER awardees, showing exceptional potential for leadership at the frontiers of knowledge, are eligible for Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) Proposal Submission Deadlines: July 17/18/19, 2008 Program Solicitation: NSF 05-579 http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2005/nsf05579/nsf05579.pdf 15
Small Grants for Exploratory Research (SGER) High-risk research in the fields of science, engineering and education Preliminary work on untested and novel ideas Ventures into emerging and potentially transformative research Application of new expertise or new approaches to research topics Quick-response research on unanticipated events Efforts to catalyze rapid and innovative advances» Submit to individual programs» Strongly encouraged to discuss with Program Directors before submitting the proposal for appropriateness» Project description no more than five pages» Maximum award amount not to exceed $200K for 2 years Normally the award size is $50-75k for 1 year Number of awards is limited http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/gpg/nsf04_23/2.jsp 16
Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI) Effective mechanism for transfer of knowledge between academe and industry New research topics, intellectual contributions from industry, student education, culture change Aims to synergize university- industry partnerships by enabling eclectic linkages: Faculty, postdoctoral fellows, graduate and undergraduate students to conduct research and gain experience in an industrial setting Industrial scientists and engineers to bring industry's perspective and integrative skills to academe Collaborative university - industry teams to conduct research projects Supported by all NSF Directorates Program Solicitation: NSF 07-522 http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2007/nsf07522/nsf07522.htm 17
Major Research Instrumentation Program (MRI) Program designed to increase access to scientific and engineering equipment for research and research training in our Nation s organizations of higher education, research museums, and non-profit research organizations Provides support for acquisition (up to 3 Yrs) or development (up to 5 Yrs) proposals of major state-of-the-art research instrumentation Awards for single instruments, large systems of instruments or multiple instruments that share a common or specific research focus Awards range from $100K to $4M Less than $100K for non-phd granting organizations, disciplines of mathematical science or social, behavioral, and economic science at any eligible organization Mandatory 30% cost-sharing has been reintroduced Letter of Intent are required for acquisition request between $2M-$4M, Submission Deadline: December 21, 2007 Full Proposal Submission Deadline: January 24, 2008 Program Solicitation: NSF 08-503 18
Fellowships and Traineeships Graduate Research Fellowships: Promotes the future strength of the Nation s scientific and technological base. Each fellow is provided an annual stipend up to three years of support Candidates must be citizens, nationals, or permanent residents of the United States Program Solicitation: NSF 07-576, November 1-9, 2007 NSF Graduate Teaching Fellows in K-12 Education (GK-12) Creates a strong bond and enduring partnerships between universities and K-12 schools. Principal Investigators at universities in partnership with school administrators, K-12 teachers and STEM faculty must work together in the development of the proposal. Award Size is up to $600 K/yr for 5 years Program Solicitation: NSF 07-555, May 16, 2007 Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT): Educates Ph.D. scientists and engineers who will pursue careers in research and education to become leaders and creative agents for change Catalyze a cultural change by establishing innovative models for graduate education and training Promote research, education, and training focused on a multidisciplinary research theme Maximum award is $600 K/yr for up to five years Program Solicitation: NSF 07-540, April 5, 2007 19
Research Experiences Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU): Supports active research participation by undergraduate students in on-going research programs Sites» Requires an independent proposal» International dimensions are encouraged» Average award size $300K for a duration of 3 years Supplements» To active NSF awards» Maximum 2 undergraduate students per grant Program Solicitation: NSF 07-569, June 6, 2008 Research Experiences for Teachers (RET): Supports K-12 teachers and community college faculty in on-going engineering research programs Sites» Requires an independent proposal» Award size $450K maximum for a duration up to 3 years Supplements» To active ENG awards including SBIR/STTR» Award size $10K for a duration up to 1 year and 2 teachers per grant Program Solicitation: NSF 07-557, November 19, 2007 20
Graduate and Postdoctoral Supplements Graduate Research Supplements (GRS) to Current ENG Awards to Broaden Participation» To increase numbers in academic/professional careers» Supplements to existing ENG grants» New Ph.D. Students Majoring in Engineering Disciplines Graduate student stipend and tuition consistent with university practices 25% Administrative Cost 12 months, renewable for two additional years during the grant period Nontransferable US Citizens or Nationals or Permanent Residents Program Solicitation: NSF 08-030, Deadline for Submission: May 12, 2008 http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2008/nsf08030/nsf08030.pdf NSF-SIA/NRI Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Fellow Supplements to NSF Centers in Nanoelectronics» Explores new concepts beyond the scaling limit of CMOS technology Enhance industry linkages with active NSF centers involved in long-term nanoelectronics research Average award size $300-500K for a duration of 3 years Program Solicitation: NSF 07-051, December 12, 2007 21
Cyber-enabled Discovery & Innovation (CDI) Goal is to create revolutionary science and engineering research outcomes made possible by innovations and advances in computational thinking defined as comprehensively to encompass computational concepts, methods, models, algorithms, and tools. Seeks ambitious, transformative, multidisciplinary research proposals within or across the following three thematic areas: From Data to Knowledge: enhancing human cognition and generating new knowledge from a wealth of heterogeneous digital data Understanding Complexity in Natural, Built, and Social Systems: deriving fundamental insights on systems comprising multiple interacting elements Building Virtual Organizations: enhancing discovery and innovation by bringing people and resources together across institutional, geographical and cultural boundaries. Support for two types of awards: Limit of 2 proposals per PI» Type I - Summer support for two investigators with complementary expertise; two graduate students; and their collective research needs (e.g. materials, supplies, travel) for three years.» Type II - Summer support for three investigators with complementary expertise; three graduate students; one or two senior personnel (including post-doctoral researchers and staff); and their collective research needs (e.g. materials, supplies, travel) for four years. Letter of Intent Due Date (required): August 30, 2008 September, 30, 2008 Preliminary Proposal Due Date (required): October 4, 2008 November 4, 2008 Full Proposal Submission Window Date (by invitation): January 27, 2009 February 27, 2009 NSF 07-603, 30 Awards, $26M http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2007/nsf07603/nsf07603.htm 22
National Nanotechnology Initiative Funding Opportunities at NSF in FY 2008 NSF support in Nanoscale Science and Engineering is through: Competitive awards in existing Core Programs, including Interdisciplinary Team and Small Group research proposals. Center for the Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology (CEIN), NSF 07-590 NSF-SIA/NRI Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Fellow Supplements to NSF Centers in Nanoelectronics, NSF 07-051 EPA-NSF-DOE Research Solicitation: Nanotechnology Research Grants Investigating Fate, Transport, Transformation, and Exposure of Engineered Nanomaterials. www.nsf.gov/nano 23
Academic Research Initiative (ARI) Joint Domestic Nuclear Detection Office/National Science Foundation Goal is to build intellectual capability relevant to nuclear detection, through initiation and maintenance of long-term frontier research at academic institutions by investment in leading edge technologies that are potentially relevant to the detection of domestic nuclear threats. Seeks innovative and high-risk research in a focused or interdisciplinary area with potential for high impact in the following three thematic areas: Science and Engineering of Detector Materials, Concepts and Designs for New Sensors and Sensing Systems. Science and Engineering of Non-intrusive Active Interrogation Systems; Particle Generators and Accelerators, Associated Detectors, and Algorithms for Improved Data Analysis. Nuclear Forensics and Attributions.» Limit of one Proposal per PI» Anticipated Funding Amount is $58M over five-year period from 2007-2011» Anticipated Funding Amount for FY2008 is $3M for first year of these awards» Estimated Number of Awards is 7-8» Award Size is $400,000 annually per award for a maximum duration of five years with a maximum total award size $2M, inclusive of both direct and indirect costs» Proposal Submission Deadlines: April 11, 2008, and First Wednesday in April, annually thereafter through 2011 NSF 08-534 http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2008/nsf08534/nsf08534.pdf 24
Ethics Education in Science and Engineering (EESE) Goal is to create long-term improvement in ethics education for graduate students in science and engineering. Education Projects must be based on research findings that indicate successful ways to enhance ethics education for graduate students, including a wide range of activities such as mentoring programs, infrastructure-development activities, faculty capacity-building activities, training of postdoctoral fellows to implement programs, among others. Research Projects should build on research in ethics or other relevant fields, and should suggest and explore creative, original, or potentially transformative concepts. Projects can include qualitative and/or quantitative approaches. Combined Research and Education Components might examine ethics education for graduate students in a scientific or engineering field in the first year, might implement programs on several campuses in the second year based on what was discovered, and modification, evaluation and diffusion during the third year.» Limit of one proposal as the lead organization, no limit as non-lead collaborators or subawardee» Funding amount $2.4M for estimated 6-12 Awards» Maximum Award size is up to $300K for maximum duration up to 3 years» Collaborative proposals up to $400K for maximum duration up to 3 years Proposal Submission Deadlines: April 3, 2008, March 2, 2009, March 1, 2010 NSF 08-530 http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2008/nsf08530/nsf08530.pdf 25
ADVANCE: Increasing the Participation and Advancement of Women in Academic Science and Engineering Careers Goal is to develop systemic approaches to increase the representation and advancement of women in academic science and engineering careers, thereby contributing to the development of a more diverse science and engineering workforce. Institutional Transformation (IT) Awards support academic institutional transformation to promote the increased participation and advancement of women scientists and engineers in academe. $2-6 M for 5 years, 8 Awards, Full Proposal Deadline Date: December 6, 2007 Institutional Transformation Planning Grants (IT-Start) Awards support basic data collection and analysis functions necessary to understand the status of women faculty in academic science and engineering at institutions seeking institutional transformation. $100-200K up to 2 Years, 10 Awards, Full Proposal Deadline Date: December 6, 2007 Partnerships for Adaptation, Implementation and Dissemination (PAID)» Awards support analysis, adaptation, dissemination and use of existing innovative materials and practices that have been demonstrated to be effective in increasing representation and participation of women in academic science and engineering careers. 1-5 years, award size depends on the scope of the project, 20 Awards, Full Proposal Deadline Date: January 17, 2008 NSF 07-582, $13 M www.nsf.gov/advance 26
BRIGE: Broadening Participation Research Initiation Grants in Engineering Goal is to increase the number of researchers in their early careers in engineering disciplines with encouragement of underrepresented groups, engineers from minority serving institutions and persons with disabilities Eligible candidates must meet the following requirements:» U.S. Citizen or National or legally admitted Permanent Resident of the United States.» Holds doctoral degree in an NSF ENG-supported field.» New investigator on a full time tenure-track faculty position or equivalent research appointment for no longer than three years in a U.S. college, university, or non-profit institution on the date of proposal submission.» Has not previously served as Principal Investigator or Co-Principal Investigator on federal research grants totaling more than $50,000.» Present a plan to increase participation of engineers from underrepresented groups.» Award Size and Duration: $175,000 for 24 months, Awards: 25 to 30, $4M Proposal Due Date: February 8, 2008 NSF 07-589 27
National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network (NNIN) UWash Stanford Cornell Minnesota Michigan PSU UCSB UNM NCSU UT-Austin Georgia Tech Harvard Howard An integrated national network of user facilities providing researchers open access to resources, instrumentation and expertise in all domains of nanoscale science, engineering and technology http://www.nnin.org Single Electron Spin Detection using Magnetic Resonance Force Microscopy, Rugar et al., Nature 430, July (2004) Cornell U. Stanford U. U. of Michigan Georgia Institute of Technology U. of Washington Pennsylvania State U. U. of California- Santa Barbara U. of Minnesota U. of New Mexico U. of Texas Austin Harvard U. Howard U. North Carolina State U. 28
Network for Computational Nanotechnology (NCN) A National resource to accelerate the transformation of nanoscience to nanotechnology through theory, modeling and simulation, and collaboration enabled by cyberinfrastructure Norfolk State U. U. Texas - El Paso Stanford U. NCN Purdue U. No. Date U. Florida Northwestern U. U. Illinois - Urbana Champaign NSF Infrastructure and Research Network www.nanohub.org 29
Merit Review Criteria I. What is the Intellectual Merit of the Proposed Activity?» Importance of the proposed activity in advancing knowledge and understanding» Qualifications of the proposer (individual or team)» Intent to explore creative, original, or potentially transformative concepts» How well conceived and organized is the proposed activity?» Sufficient access to resources II. What are the Broader Impacts of the Proposed Activity?» Advance discovery and understanding while promoting teaching, training, and learning» Broaden participation of underrepresented groups» Enhance the infrastructure for research and education» Disseminate broadly to enhance scientific and technological understanding» Provide benefit to society 30
Transformative Research Describes a range of endeavors which promises extraordinary outcomes» Revolutionizing entire disciplines» Creating entirely new fields» Disrupting accepted theories and perspectives» Have the potential to change the way we address challenges in science, engineering, and innovation. All proposals received after January 5, 2008 will be reviewed against the newly revised criterion 31
Reviewers Proposal review is an important service to NSF and to your community There s no better way to see how the system works There s no better way to understand what makes a winning proposal Contact the Program Directors in the area of your expertise, e-mailing brief description of your research expertise with key words Requires about 40 hours of work to read proposals and write comments, plus a 2-3 day trip to NSF for panel review NSF pays for travel (within government limits) and expenses (flat-rate compensation) 32
NSF Merit Review NSF ensures that proposals submitted are reviewed in a fair, competitive, transparent, and in-depth manner. The goal of this Merit Review website is to help our community better understand the NSF merit review process, as well as identify resources for additional information. What happens when you submit a proposal to NSF? How are the reviewers selected to review proposals? Who decides whether a proposal is awarded or declined? What type of information does one receive once a proposal has been reviewed? How long does the entire merit review process take? http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/meritreview/index.jsp 33
Proposal and Program Guides Grant Proposal Guide, NSF 08-1 http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=gpg Guide to Programs/Browse Funding Opportunities http://www.nsf.gov/funding/browse_all_funding.jsp Thank you Division of Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems (ECCS) Directorate for Engineering National Science Foundation 4201 Wilson Boulevard Arlington, Virginia 22230 34