Application timeline
Position Description
Dear Colleagues:
The Division of Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems (ECCS), within the Directorate for Engineering at the National Science Foundation, announces a nationwide search for senior-level engineering researcher to fill an open Program Director position in the Communications, Circuits, and Sensing Systems (CCSS) area.
Formal consideration of interested applications will begin August 20, 2019 and will continue until a selection is made. The ECCS Division is looking to fill this position immediately.
NSF Program Directors have the primary responsibility for carrying out the Agency's overall mission to support innovative and merit-evaluated activities in fundamental research and education that contribute to the nation's technological strength, security, and welfare. They are also responsible for service to NSF-wide activities and initiatives that together accomplish NSF's strategic goals to: 1) Transform the Frontiers of Science and Engineering, 2) Stimulate Innovation and Address Societal Needs through Research and Education, and 3) Excel as a Scientific Federal Agency.
In support of these goals, NSF Program Directors are responsible for extensive interaction with academic research communities and industry, as well as interaction with other Federal agencies. Within this context, Program Directors solicit, receive and review research and education proposals, make funding recommendations, administer awards, and undertake interaction with research communities in these fields. This requires expertise in appropriate disciplines to implement the proposal review and evaluation process for the program, as well as strong skills in written and oral communication. Successful candidates should be receptive to new ideas, have a strong sense of fairness, excellent judgment, and a high degree of personal integrity.
The NSF Division of Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems (ECCS) supports enabling and transformative research at the nano, micro, and macro scales that fuels progress in engineering system applications with high societal impact. ECCS programs encompass novel electronic, photonic, and magnetic devices — and the integration of these devices into circuit and system environments, intelligent systems, control, and networks — for applications spanning communications and cyber technologies, energy and power, healthcare, environment, transportation, manufacturing, Internet of Things, and other systems-related areas. ECCS also strengthens its programs through links to other areas of engineering, science, industry, government, and international collaborations. In addition, ECCS emphasizes the integration of research and education to ensure the preparation of a diverse and professionally skilled workforce.
The Division is organized around three broad programs: Electronic, Photonic and Magnetic Devices (EPMD); Communications, Circuits, and Sensing Systems (CCSS); and Energy, Power, Control and Networks (EPCN). For further information, please visit the ECCS web site at https://www.nsf.gov/div/index.jsp?org=ECCS.
The CCSS Program is seeking candidates with broad and demonstrated experience to address emerging research encompassing areas of wireless, optical, and hybrid communications and networking; millimeter-wave and terahertz communications; integrated sensing, communication, and computational systems; spectrum access and spectrum sharing, signal processing and compressive sampling; cyber physical systems and hardware-controlled secured communications; medical imaging and processing; dynamic-data-enabled communication systems through sensing and machine learning; and quantum communications. These areas are of strategic interest and importance to the ECCS Division and the Engineering Directorate.
The position recruited under this announcement will be filled under the following appointment option(s):
Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) Assignment: Individuals eligible for an IPA assignment with a Federal agency include employees of State and local government agencies or institutions of higher education, Indian tribal governments, and other eligible organizations in instances where such assignments would be of mutual benefit to the organizations involved. Initial assignments under IPA provisions may be made for a period up to two years, with a possible extension for up to an additional two-year period. The individual remains an employee of the home institution and NSF provides the negotiated funding toward the assignee's salary and benefits. Initial IPA assignments are made for a one-year period and may be extended by mutual agreement.
Temporary Excepted Service Appointment: Appointment to this position will be made under the Excepted Authority of the NSF Act. Candidates who do not have civil service status or reinstatement eligibility will not obtain civil service status if selected. Candidates currently in the competitive service will be required to waive competitive civil service rights if selected. Usual civil service benefits (retirement, health benefits and life insurance) are applicable for appointments of more than one year. Temporary appointments may not exceed three years.
Visiting Scientist, Engineer, and Educator (VSEE) Program: Appointment to this position will be made under the Excepted Authority of the NSF Act. Visiting Scientists are on non-paid leave status from their home institution and placed on the NSF payroll. NSF withholds Social Security taxes and pays the home institution's contributions to maintain retirement and fringe benefits (i.e., health benefits and life insurance), either directly to the home institution or to the carrier. Appointments are usually made for a one-year period and may be extended for an additional year by mutual agreement.
Candidates must have a Ph.D. in engineering or physical science plus after award of the Ph.D., six or more years of successful research, research administration, and/or managerial experience pertinent to the position.
In addition, demonstrated vision and leadership to identify and support long-term research and education that contributes to the mission of the ECCS Division and NSF are desirable. This position is an unparalleled opportunity to ensure NSF funded research is at the forefront of advancing engineering research and education. The individual will work with other NSF Program Directors in formulating research strategies, developing collaboration and cooperation across the Foundation and among government, academe and industry, fostering outreach to underrepresented groups, and providing leadership within NSF and the engineering community.
Please send an email indicating the DCL number under which you are applying and include (1) a cover letter outlining qualifications for the position and (2) a curriculum vitae, (3) Citizen affidavit, as applicable, to clondono@nsf.gov or:
Carmina Londono, PhD
Deputy Division Director
Division of Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems (ECCS)
National Science Foundation
Phone: (703) 292-8339
