Developmental Systems

PROGRAM GUIDELINES

A revised version of the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG), NSF 09-1, was issued on October 1, 2008 and is effective for proposals submitted on or after January 5, 2009. Please be advised that the guidelines contained in NSF 09-1 apply to proposals submitted in response to this funding opportunity.  Proposers who opt to submit prior to January 5^th, 2009, must also follow the guidelines contained in NSF 09-1.

One of the most significant changes to the PAPPG is implementation of the mentoring provisions of the America COMPETES Act.  Each proposal that requests funding to support postdoctoral researchers must include, as a separate section within the 15-page project description, a description of the mentoring activities that will be provided for such individuals.  Proposals that do not include a separate section on mentoring activities within the Project Description will be returned without review (see the PAPP Guide Part I: Grant Proposal Guide Chapter II.C.2.d for further information).

Apply to PD 07-1111 as follows:

For full proposals submitted via FastLane: standard Grant Proposal Guidelines apply.
For 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/bfa/dias/policy/docs/grantsgovguide.pdf)

DUE DATES

SYNOPSIS

The Developmental Systems Cluster supports research aimed at understanding how interacting developmental processes give rise to the emergent properties of organisms.  A systems level approach to understanding these processes, at the molecular, cellular, and organismal levels of organization, requires the use of molecular, genetic, biochemical, and physiological techniques as well as techniques from outside biology.  The Developmental Systems Cluster is also particularly interested in understanding how emergent properties result in the development of complex phenotypes and lead to the evolution of developmental mechanisms.

Plant, Fungal and Microbial Developmental Systems-The Plant, Fungal and Microbial Development programmatic area supports research that addresses developmental processes in plants from algae to angiosperms, microbes and fungi.

Animal Developmental Systems-Animal Developmental Systems programmatic area supports research that seeks to understand the processes that result in the complex phenotype of animals.  Because different organisms may be more amenable to certain approaches than others, analyses of development in a wide range of different species are encouraged.

Evolution of Developmental Systems-The Evolution of Developmental Systems programmatic area supports research to discover the developmental processes shared by all organisms and those singular ones that produce diversity (phenotypic variation within a species and/or between species).  What developmental changes have given rise to new phenotypes?  How are gene networks modified to generate different phenotypic outcomes?  To answer these and other evolutionary questions will likely require inter-disciplinary and collaborative approaches using a wide range of model systems.

Summary of Award Information - In fiscal year (FY) 2007, the Developmental Systems Cluster funded 16.9% of submitted proposals, and the mean annual award was $132,998.  In FY 2007, the Division of Integrative Organismal Systems funded 17.1% of submitted proposals, and the mean annual award was $125,446.

Program Directors:

Zhongchi Liu.  Plant, Fungal & Microbial Developmental Mechanisms; Evolution of Developmental Mechanisms

James Deshler.  Evolution of Developmental Mechanisms; Animal Developmental Mechanisms

Steven Klein.  Evolution of Developmental Mechanisms; Animal Developmental Mechanisms

RELATED URLS

An Integrative Developmental Biology Workshop Report

Integration of Development and Physiology: Mechanisms Shaping Animals Dear Collegue Letter

Abstracts of Recent Awards Made Through This Program