Title: Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) Research
Initiation Initiative (CRII) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
(nsf15087) | NSF - National Science Foundation
Date: 06/04/2015
NSF 15-087
Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) Research Initiation
Initiative (CRII) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The following set of questions and answers refer to Frequently Asked
Questions (FAQs) about the CRII Program Solicitation (NSF 15-569;
[1]http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf15569). They
are not intended to be a modification of the Program Solicitation. If
there are any inconsistencies between the CRII Program Solicitation and
these FAQs, the information in the Program Solicitation prevails.
Before preparing CRII proposals, please read the CRII solicitation and
refer to the general information about NSF proposal submission
including the Grant Proposal Guide (GPG) submission guidelines
available at
[2]http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=gpg. If
choosing to submit via Grants.gov, please refer to the NSF Grants.gov
Application Guide:
[3]http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=grantsgovguide.
FAQs about FastLane, the NSF site for submitting proposals, can be
found at
[4]https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/NSFHelp/flashhelp/fastlane/FastLane_Hel
p/fastlane_help.htm#fastlane_faqs_introduction.htm. Information
regarding Grants.gov can be found at [5]http://www.grants.gov.
This document is organized into four sections: (A) Eligibility; (B)
Proposal and Budget Preparation, Submission, and Review; (C)
Announcement of CRII Awards; and (D) Post-Award Management.
A. ELIGIBILITY
1. Whom should I contact to discuss my ideas for a CRII proposal to be
sure CISE supports the topic area?
Your primary contact is a Program Officer in the division or
program that is closest to your area of research. The CISE website
and the CRII solicitation provide information about the various
programs. The NSF staff directory (http://www.nsf.gov/staff/)
provides contact information for Program Officers, by name and by
organization.
2. I hold the title of Associate Professor. Am I eligible?
You may be. One of the CRII eligibility criteria is that you must
be in the first two years of a tenure-track or research science or
education position (or equivalent). Thus, the program is intended
for faculty members who are at or near the beginning of their
careers. While it is rare that such an individual will hold the
position of Associate Professor, that in itself is not an issue, so
long as you are not tenured.
3. I hold a tenured position. Am I eligible to apply?
No.
4. Are the eligibility criteria for CRII and CAREER the same? If I am
eligible to apply to one of these programs, does that mean I am
also eligible to apply to the other?
No, the eligibility criteria are different. You may be eligible to
apply to one program but not the other. Please carefully read the
requirements for each program and see if you meet them in order to
determine your eligibility for that program.
5. The CRII program solicitation states that, to be eligible, I must
be in the first two years of a tenure-track or research science or
education position (or equivalent). I was appointed Assistant
Professor in August of 2013. May I apply to the CRII program this
year, if I submit by the end of July?
No. To be eligible, you must not have reached the second
anniversary of your appointment as of the deadline date for the
solicitation. Note that this is a change from the previous
solicitation.
6. While finishing up my PhD, I started work as an Acting Assistant
Professor on August 15, 2013 (pending conferral of my degree). On
December 16, 2013, after my degree was conferred, I no longer was
Acting. Am I eligible? OR I received my Doctorate four years ago.
Am I eligible to apply? OR After receiving my PhD, I worked as a
research associate for three years, and just began my academic
position last year. Am I eligible? OR After receiving my PhD, I was
a postdoctoral fellow for two years, and just began my academic
position last year. Am I eligible?
Yes, provided you meet all of the CRII eligibility requirements.
CRII eligibility is limited to no more than five years after
official conferral of the PhD (with possible exceptions for family
and medical leave). Working as a research associate or other
non-academic positions is not disqualifying, so long as the
five-year limit is not exceeded. Time spent as a postdoctoral
fellow does not count toward the two-year eligibility requirement,
but does count against the five-year limit. The five-year limit is
a change from the previous solicitation.
7. Am I eligible if I hold a dual appointment at a university?
Yes. Generally, only one department will grant tenure. In that
case, the chair of that department should write the letter of
support that is required as part of Supplementary Documents. If
applicable, the letter may be co-signed by the other department
chair as well.
8. I am in a shared appointment with my spouse. Both of us are in
tenure-track lines, and I have the title Assistant Professor. Am I
eligible?
Yes, provided you meet the other eligibility requirements.
9. I do not currently have a CRII-eligible appointment, nor do I have
a signed contract for an appointment. I have applied for a position
and may have a contract in place by October 1. May I apply?
No. To be eligible, you must hold a CRII-eligible appointment at a
CRII-eligible organization by the submission deadline specified in
the solicitation.
10. My department (or organization) does not offer tenure, so I am not
in a tenure-track appointment. Can I apply to the CRII program?
Yes, provided you meet the other eligibility requirements. Your
department chair must verify that your position is CRII-eligible in
the letter to be included as a Supplementary Document. Note that
this is another example of a difference in eligibility requirements
between the CRII program and the CAREER program.
11. Am I eligible to apply if I work at a non-degree-granting
organization such as a museum, observatory, or research lab?
No. To be eligible to apply to the CRII program, you must be
employed at an academic institution as defined in the solicitation.
12. I previously received a small EAGER award from NSF. Am I eligible?
OR I previously received an award from NSF as the PI on a non-lead
proposal in a collaborative project. Am I eligible? No. To be
eligible, you must not have received any other grants in the PI
role from any Federal agency, with certain exceptions as specified
in the solicitation. On a collaborative proposal to NSF, the lead
person from each institution is a PI, even if not from the lead
institution.
To be eligible, you must not have received any other grants
(including research contracts) in the PI role from any Federal
department, agency, or institution (such as NIH, DOE, DoD, etc.),
with certain exceptions as specified in the solicitation.
13. Do any of the following disqualify me from the CRII program:
startup funds from my university, a subcontract from an award to
another university, an award from my own university, an award from
a private foundation, an award from a company, and/or an award from
a state or local agency?
No, the intention is that you have not received an award as the PI
from any Federal department, agency, or institution.
14. Do small awards (e.g., $1,000) disqualify?
The amount of the award is not relevant, so a $1,000 Federal award
would disqualify.
15. Am I eligible if I work at a two-year college or a community
college? OR I am an assistant professor at an undergraduate
institution that does not give graduate degrees. Am I eligible to
apply?
Yes, as long as you meet the other CRII eligibility requirements.
NSF encourages submissions from two-year and community colleges
that award degrees in fields supported by NSF, and from primarily
undergraduate institutions.
16. I am a new faculty member at an institution that qualifies as an
undergraduate institution under the provisions of the Research in
Undergraduate Institutions (RUI) program solicitation. Is it
possible to apply for the CRII program under the RUI provisions?
Yes. If using the RUI designation, you must include the additional
Certificate of RUI Eligibility or the RUI Impact Statement as a
Supplementary Document.
17. Can I submit to the CAREER program and to the CRII program in the
same year?
Yes, you may (provided the two proposals are substantially
different). However, the CRII program is intended to provide
faculty with resources to enable them to begin their research and
achieve preliminary results that may, in turn, serve as the basis
for future competitive research proposals, including to the CAREER
program.
18. I have a doctorate in Computer Science Education. Am I eligible to
apply?
Yes. CISE supports educational activities, and associated research,
that focus on computer and information science and engineering (and
closely related fields).
19. I am an Assistant Professor in a Mechanical Engineering department.
Am I eligible?
You could be. CISE funds research primarily on the basis of its
relevance to our mission, not on the basis of the name of the
department in which a given faculty member works. You should
contact a Program Officer in a division or program that is closest
to your area of research to determine if CISE supports the topic
area, and in particular if it is sufficiently related to computer
and information science and engineering.
B.1. PROPOSAL PREPARATION
20. What is the best place to start when preparing a CRII Proposal?
Read the solicitation thoroughly before starting, and refer to it
as you write your proposal. Discuss your plan with your department
chair, personal and academic mentors, and individuals who have been
successful in obtaining awards from NSF. We also encourage you to
contact a Program Officer, or the appropriate division contact for
CRII listed at
[6]http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf15569.
21. How are proposals reviewed for compliance?
CRII proposals will be checked for compliance with formatting
instructions in the NSF Grant Proposal Guide (GPG;
http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=gpg) and the
specific requirements of the CRII solicitation. Program Officers
will not approve or accept proposal file updates after the
deadline, unless there is a technical or print problem with the
proposal.
22. What are some reasons why proposals might be determined to be
non-compliant with the CRII Solicitation? Some reasons include the
following:
+ A co-principal investigator is listed on the cover page or
other senior personnel are listed in the budget.
+ The Project Description is more than 10 pages.
+ The PI is not in the first two years of a tenure-track or
research science or education position (or equivalent) at a
university or college in the US (please see the solicitation
for additional limits), as of the deadline date for
submissions.
+ The PI is more than five years from when the PhD was
officially conferred.
+ The PI has received other grants in a PI role from NSF or
another Federal department, agency, or institution (please see
the solicitation and questions #12-14 in these FAQs for
exceptions and clarifications).
+ The primary division is not a CISE division.
+ A letter of support from the department chair is missing in
the Supplementary Documents.
+ The CRII proposal does not follow one or more guidelines
specified in the NSF Grant Proposal Guide or the NSF
Grants.gov Application Guide.
23. The solicitation says that the PI must not have received a prior
award as a PI. What happens if after I submit the CRII proposal,
another proposal is selected for award (e.g., a CAREER proposal)?
At the time of the CRII submission deadline, you must not have
received another award (including CAREER) from any Federal
department, agency, or institution as a PI. So long as the CAREER
(or other) award has not been made as of the CRII submission
deadline, any subsequent awards will not affect CRII eligibility.
24. I understand that if one receives a CAREER award he/she cannot
simultaneously or subsequently receive a CRII award, but is the
opposite true?
Receiving a CRII award does not preclude an individual from
receiving a subsequent CAREER award. Indeed, as noted in the
solicitation, the CRII program is intended to provide faculty with
resources to enable them to begin their research and achieve
preliminary results that may, in turn, serve as the basis for
future competitive research proposals, including to the CAREER
program.
25. Are there abstracts from previous years that can be examined to get
ideas for typical CRII proposals?
You can find abstracts from prior awards by visiting
[7]www.nsf.gov/awardsearch and searching for CRII.
26. The solicitation talks about mentoring graduate students. For
faculty at two-year and community colleges as well as at
undergraduate -only institutions, can funding be allocated to
supporting undergraduates?
Yes. The proposal should explain how the PI will provide the
undergraduate researchers the necessary mentoring, as well as
strategies for integrating them into a research group given their
heavy course load.
27. I have two possible projects. May I submit two CRII proposals?
No. You may submit only one CRII proposal per annual competition.
28. Could I put two different projects into one proposal?
Successful proposals tend to focus on a particular theme,
especially given the short duration of a CRII award (up to 2 years)
and limited funding (up to $175,000). The general advice is to stay
as tightly focused as you can, keeping your combined research and
education plan doable in the context of a two-year award. If you
have two separate projects in mind, consider discussing both with
your mentors and/or an NSF Program Officer.
29. May I submit a CRII proposal and a regular research proposal on a
similar topic to NSF at the same time?
No, submission of duplicate or substantially similar proposals
concurrently for review by more than one program without prior NSF
approval will result in the return without review of the redundant
proposal. In addition, you may not submit a proposal for research
that is substantially the same as that already supported by any
Federal agency.
30. May I submit a CRII proposal and another proposal on a different
topic to NSF in the same year?
Yes, but only if the research is substantially different. NSF will
return without review a second proposal on a closely related
research topic.
31. What documentation should I submit to show any collaborative
efforts?
Describe the collaborative efforts within the Project Description.
In addition, submit brief letters (limited to one page or less)
describing the nature of the collaboration. Letters of
collaboration are vital when partnering with existing programs or
when collaborating with others. The letters should briefly describe
how the collaborator would contribute to the project. The specific
details of the proposed collaborations should be described in the
proposal's Project Description. The collaborative letters cannot be
used to circumvent the 10-page limit for the Project Description.
Letters of support or recommendation for the PI are not permitted,
and NSF will not consider these during the review process. It is up
to the PI to explain what is requested and approach the
collaborator in a timely fashion to get these letters before the
deadline for submission. Scan the signed and dated letter(s) into
the Supplementary Documents section, and place them after the
departmental support letter. Do not submit any other documentation
for the collaborators such as biographical sketches, appendices, or
other NSF forms. You will not be allowed to submit these letters
after the submission deadline, so please plan in advance.
32. I am interested in adding an international dimension to my
proposal. How would I find out what kinds of activities are
eligible for support?
Plans for international cooperative research and education
activities are encouraged. The opportunity to collaborate with
outstanding foreign researchers and educators, and to gain access
to unique sites, equipment or facilities, may provide substantial
benefits to the research and education activities proposed. For
information on the types of activities that are eligible for
support, contact your disciplinary Program Officer and the
appropriate country Program Officer in the Office of International
Science and Engineering (OISE) ([8]http://www.nsf.gov/oise). The
OISE webpage also lists guidelines (four bullet points) for
proposals to be considered for OISE co-funding. OISE will consider
co-funding the international components of successful CRII
proposals submitted to NSF disciplinary programs that adhere to
these guidelines.
33. I have additional information posted on my website I would like the
reviewers to see. May I refer readers to my web site within the
Project Description?
PIs are advised that the Project Description must be self-contained
and are cautioned that a website that provides information related
to the proposal should not be used because: 1) the information
could circumvent page limitations; 2) the reviewers are under no
obligation to view such a site; and 3) the site could be altered or
abolished between the time of submission and the time of review.
34. I have a postdoctoral researcher budgeted on my proposal and I am
required to submit a Postdoctoral Researcher Mentoring Plan. Where
in the proposal is the mentoring plan submitted and what must be
included in the plan?
Each proposal that requests funding to support postdoctoral
researchers must include, as a Supplementary Document, a
description of the mentoring activities that will be provided for
such individuals. In no more than one page, the mentoring plan must
describe the mentoring that will be provided to all postdoctoral
researchers supported by the project, irrespective of whether they
reside at the submitting organization or at a subawardee
organization. Examples of mentoring activities include, but are not
limited to: career counseling; training in preparation of grant
proposals, publications and presentations; guidance on ways to
improve teaching and mentoring skills; guidance on how to
effectively collaborate with researchers from diverse backgrounds
and disciplinary areas; and training in responsible professional
practices. The proposed mentoring activities will be evaluated as
part of the merit review process under the Foundation's broader
impacts merit review criterion. Proposers are advised that the
mentoring plan may not be used to circumvent the 10-page Project
Description limitation.
35. What should be included in the Data Management Plan and where
should I place this section?
Information about the contents and submission of data management
plans can be found in Chapter II.C.2.j of the NSF Grant Proposal
Guide. Additional Data Management Guidance for CISE Proposals and
Awards can be found at [9]http://www.nsf.gov/cise/cise_dmp.jsp. All
proposals submitted to NSF must describe plans for data management
and sharing of the products of research, or assert the absence of
the need for such plans. FastLane will not permit submission of a
proposal that is missing a Data Management Plan. Proposals must
include the plan as a Supplementary Document of no more than two
pages.
36. If I held an NSF postdoctoral fellowship, do I need to include a
"Results from Prior Support" section?
Yes, you must include a "Results from Prior Support" section if you
have received a NSF postdoctoral fellowship, and/or if you have
served as a co-PI on any NSF grant [including
infrastructure/equipment grants through programs such as Major
Research Instrumentation (MRI), educational grants, etc.] within
the last 5 years. If you have received more than one prior award
(excluding amendments), you must report on the award that is most
closely related to the CRII proposal. (See the GPG for the required
information.) Recall that, as noted in Section A above, to be
eligible for CRII, you must not have received any other awards in
the PI role from any Federal department, agency, or institution,
with certain exceptions as specified in the solicitation.
37. I would like to submit some additional tabular material that would
exceed the 10-page limit on the length of the Project Description.
Can I submit this information as an appendix?
No. The Project Description cannot exceed 10 pages (including
Results from Prior NSF Support, which is limited to five pages).
All visual materials, including charts, graphs, maps, photographs
and other pictorial presentations are included in the 10-page
limitation. Appendices are not permitted for CRII proposals.
38. What should be in the department chair letter?
The proposal must include a letter of support from the PI's
department chair/head certifying that the PI meets the eligibility
criteria (as specified in the solicitation and elaborated in these
FAQs). Specifically, it should affirm that the PI is in the first
two years of a tenure-track or research science or education
position (or equivalent), and is no more than five years since
official conferral of the PhD. Only official leaves of absence (for
illness, family, etc.) may be subtracted from the total time in the
position, as certified by the PI's department chair/head in this
required letter of support. Postdoctoral appointments do not count
toward the two-year limit. The letter may not contain any
information other than that necessary to establish eligibility for
a CRII award.
B.2. BUDGET PREPARATION
39. What is an appropriate level of funding to request?
The CRII proposal budget request should be consistent with the
proposed activities not to exceed $175,000 for up to 24 months.
40. May I request academic year salary on a CRII proposal?
No summer salary, course buyouts, or academic year salary costs are
allowed. Most of the funds should go toward student(s).
41. How many students may be supported on a CRII grant? Is there a
limit on dollars per student?
There are no limits specified for either the number of students or
dollars per student. However, supporting more than two or three
students at one time is probably unwise when beginning an academic
career.
42. I will have a collaborator on my proposal. May I include the
collaborator as a Co-PI or other senior personnel on my budget?
No, you may not include any co-PIs or senior personnel - either in
the primary budget or within a subaward to a collaborating
institution. However, you may provide funds for others to work on
your research activities as consultants.
B.3. PROPOSAL SUBMISSION
43. Do I submit a proposal to just CRII or to a particular program at
NSF, and how do I decide to which program I should submit my CRII
proposal?
CRII proposals must be submitted to at least one primary program or
unit through FastLane or Grants.gov, as specified in Section V.A of
the solicitation. The title of the proposal should begin with the
string "CRII:", followed by the acronyms for one or more from the
following list of allowable divisions or programs (URLs provided
for further information on each program):
+ Cyberinfrastructure (ACI) -
[10]http://www.nsf.gov/div/index.jsp?div=ACI
+ Algorithmic Foundations (AF) -
[11]http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503299
+ Communications and Information Foundations (CIF) -
[12]http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503300
+ Software and Hardware Foundations (SHF) -
[13]http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503301
+ Computer Systems Research (CSR) -
[14]http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503306
+ Networking Technology and Systems (NeTS) -
[15]http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503307
+ Information Integration and Informatics (III) -
[16]http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503303
+ Cyber-Human Systems (CHS) -
[17]http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=504958
+ Robust Intelligence (RI) -
[18]http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503305
+ Cyberlearning and Future Learning Technologies (Cyberlearning)
- [19]https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=504984
+ Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) -
[20]http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503286
+ Smart and Connected Health (SCH) -
[21]http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=504739
+ Secure and Trustworthy Cyberspace (SaTC) -
[22]http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=504709
+ STEM+Computing (STEM+C) Partnerships (replacing CE21):
[23]http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=505006
First, you should determine if the proposed research project falls
within the realm of research that NSF's CISE Directorate normally
supports. Then you will need to identify one or more of the above
disciplinary programs related to your research goals. One way to
get a good overview of CISE is to look at the titles of the
divisions and programs. The NSF Guide to Programs
([24]http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_list.jsp?org=CISE) and CISE
Directorate website ([25]http://www.nsf.gov/dir/index.jsp?org=CISE)
provide descriptions of the topic areas supported by CISE
disciplinary programs.
If NSF determines that your proposal is more appropriate for a
different program than the primary one you selected, the proposal
will be reassigned to the appropriate organizational unit. NSF will
make the final determination of where your proposal will be
assigned and considered. Should the proposal be reassigned, you
will be contacted, given reasons for the transfer, and be offered
the opportunity to withdraw the proposal from consideration if
desired. You can track your proposal's assignment and progress
through FastLane.
44. My proposal seems to fit in two different programs. What should I
do to indicate which program(s) I want to consider my proposal?
You may designate more than one disciplinary program in the cover
sheet if you think two or more programs should jointly review your
proposal, by including more than one program acronym in your
proposal title (as described in the solicitation). It is very
important that you select the most relevant program as the primary
organization since that is the organization that is most likely to
have primary responsibility for reviewing your proposal. Do not
submit duplicate CRII proposals to multiple disciplinary programs.
You are strongly encouraged to contact the Program Officer most
closely related to the subject matter when preparing a
cross-disciplinary proposal.
45. What if my proposal is submitted after the submission deadline?
The proposal will be returned without review. A CRII proposal must
be submitted in FastLane or Grants.gov by your organization by 5:00
p.m. your local time on the deadline date. NSF Program Officers are
not authorized to grant extensions of solicitation deadlines.
46. I am having problems submitting my proposal and the CRII deadline
is almost here. Who should I contact?
Issues and questions related to the NSF FastLane system should be
directed to the FastLane User Support desk at (800) 673-6188. You
can also send an e-mail message to [26]fastlane@nsf.gov. For
information on the availability of the NSF FastLane system, phone
(800) 437-7408 for a recorded message. For Grants.gov user support,
contact the Grants.gov Contact Center by phone at (800) 518-4726 or
by email at [27]support@grants.gov. If FastLane or Grants.gov is
unable to resolve the submission problem and you cannot submit your
proposal by the deadline, please make sure to get documentation
that you tried to contact these support centers before your
deadline. For NSF to consider a deadline extension you must provide
NSF with supporting documentation from FastLane or Grants.gov that
there was a problem at the time of submission that could not be
resolved in time. A possible slowdown of these systems due to
volume is not a valid reason for an extension. PIs are strongly
encouraged to submit their CRII proposals well in advance of the
deadline to allow time to correct any problems that may occur in
the submission process.
47. I just noticed a major problem with my CRII proposal. The CRII
deadline has not passed so can I fix the problem?
Yes, if you see a problem before the deadline, you may use the
FastLane Proposal File Update Module to replace files or revise
other Proposal Attributes of a submitted proposal. An automatic
request for a proposal file update will be accepted only if
submitted prior to the CRII deadline. On rare occasions, a proposal
has technical problems due to PDF Conversion or printing problems.
If the deadline has passed and you discover this problem, contact
your disciplinary Program Officer to discuss whether NSF will
approve a proposal file update. You should thoroughly review your
proposal before it is submitted, including identifying any PDF
conversion or printing problems. You are encouraged to download the
final submitted version of your proposal from the FastLane site to
ascertain that that version contains all the proposal parts and
that it is compliant.
B.4. PROPOSAL REVIEW
48. My work is multidisciplinary and I want to request that two
different programs review my CRII proposal. To which program should
I submit my proposal and how will my proposal be reviewed?
NSF encourages multidisciplinary proposals and every attempt is
made to ensure the best fit for these proposals. Proposals with a
multidisciplinary focus are commonly reviewed by different
programs, or by special multidisciplinary panels and/or ad-hoc
reviewers. However, only one program can serve as the managing or
primary program. Do not submit duplicate proposals. The primary
organization you select on the cover page in FastLane or Grants.gov
should be the program that supports the main thrust of your
proposed research. NSF may choose to have your proposal reviewed by
two panels. Alternatively, the managing Program Officer might ask
for names of suggested reviewers from the second program.
49. In addition to the two NSF merit review criteria (intellectual
merit and broader impacts), what other factors will be considered
in the review process?
As described in the solicitation, reviewers are asked to address
the two NSF merit review criteria, but they are also asked to note
any solicitation-specific review criteria. In the case of CRII,
reviewers are specifically asked to evaluate:
+ the appropriateness of the research objectives for the
relatively short duration of this award;
+ the potential of the research initiation activities to produce
sufficient preliminary results to serve as the basis for
future competitive research proposals; and
+ whether the activities are seen to be the necessary and
critical steps for the PI to achieve research independence.
Reviewers will also be asked to evaluate the information provided
in the required Facilities, Equipment and Other Resources section
of the proposal, which is used to assess the adequacy of the
organizational resources available to perform the effort proposed.
In addition, the cognizant NSF Program Officer will review this
information for programmatic and technical sufficiency. Reviewers
will read the Letter of Support from the Department Chair/Head
certifying that the PI meets the eligibility criteria, including
that he or she is in the first two years of a tenure-track or
research science or education position (or equivalent) and is no
more than five years since official conferral of the PhD.
The proposed mentoring activities, e.g., as described in the
Postdoctoral Mentoring Plan submitted in the Supplementary
Documents section of the proposal (if applicable), will also be
evaluated as part of the merit review process under the
Foundation's broader impacts merit review criterion.
The Data Management Plan will be reviewed as an integral part of
the proposal, coming under intellectual merit, broader impacts, or
both, as appropriate for the scientific community of relevance.
C. ANNOUNCEMENT OF CRII AWARDS
50. When will I be notified of the final decision on my CRII proposal?
Most proposers will be notified within six months of submission.
You can check the status of your CRII proposal by accessing the
FastLane website. If you have not received notification of a
decision on your proposal by February and your proposal status is
shown as "pending" in FastLane, you can contact the program or
division to which your proposal was assigned to inquire about the
status of your proposal.
D. POST-AWARD ADMINISTRATION
51. Are the reporting requirements for CRII awards the same as for
other NSF awards?
Yes, all of the requirements for annual and final reports that
apply to other NSF awards also apply to CRII awards.
52. What types of supplemental funds are available for CRII awards? OR
Can CRII awards receive Research Experiences for Undergraduates
(REU) supplements?
CRII awards are eligible for supplemental funding as described in
the NSF Awards and Administration Guide
([28]http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=papp).
Contact your disciplinary Program Officer to ask about possible
supplemental funding opportunities for CRII awards. CRII awards can
receive REU supplements.
53. What happens to my CRII award if I leave my academic appointment?
CRII awards must be relinquished if the PI transfers any time prior
to or during the period of the award to a position that is not
tenured, not tenure-track, nor tenure-track equivalent and/or to an
institution that is not CRII-eligible. This includes transfer to a
university or college outside the US or to a non-academic,
non-CRII-eligible institution. In some cases, if you leave an
eligible position while the CRII award is active, funding may be
expended to allow the student(s) to continue to be supported on the
award for the remaining funded year. The award would then terminate
at the end of that funded year. Contact the disciplinary Program
Officer as soon you know you will be leaving to inquire about this
possibility. If approved, a substitute PI will be placed on the
award for the remaining year of support. The substitute PI will not
receive any salary support on the CRII award.
References
1. http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf15569
2. http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=gpg
3. http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=grantsgovguide
4. https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/NSFHelp/flashhelp/fastlane/FastLane_Help/fastlane_help.htm#fastlane_faqs_introduction.htm
5. http://www.grants.gov/
6. http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf15569
7. http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2015/nsf15087/www.nsf.gov/awardsearch
8. http://www.nsf.gov/oise
9. ttp://www.nsf.gov/cise/cise_dmp.js
10. http://www.nsf.gov/div/index.jsp?div=ACI
11. http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503299
12. http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503300
13. http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503301
14. http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503306
15. http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503307
16. http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503303
17. http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=504958
18. http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503305
19. https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=504984
20. http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503286
21. http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=504739
22. http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=504709
23. http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=505006
24. tp://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_list.jsp?org=CISE
25. http://www.nsf.gov/dir/index.jsp?org=CISE
26. mailto:fastlane@nsf.gov
27. mailto:support@grants.gov
28. http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=papp