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BIO / DEB - Frequently Asked Questions - January 2008
Here are answers to some questions that we commonly receive. If you do not find your question answered here, please contact us at 703-292-8480.
TYPES OF RESEARCH
SPECIFIC PROGRAMS
MISCELLANEOUS
What types of research does DEB support?
The Division of Environmental Biology (DEB) supports a broad range of activities that encompass the ecological and evolutionary biology of populations, species, communities, and ecosystems.
More information is on our About DEB web page. Solicitations of particular interest to DEB researchers can be found on
our DEB home page. Examples of recently-funded DEB projects are available by clicking on Abstracts of Recent
Awards Made Through This Program at the bottom of each of our Cluster's web pages: Ecological Biology, Ecosystem Science, Population and Evolutionary Processes (PEP), and Systematic Biology and Biodiversity Inventories (SBBI).
How can I find out what types of research NSF is funding on a particular topic?
Do an award search. Type "the specific topic" into the top search box and hit return. You can do more tightly controlled searches by using the different tabs to narrow your search options.
Where can I submit a proposal for interdisciplinary research, including social, environmental or earth sciences?
Many of these are listed on the DEB home page. Or, go to the Crosscutting Activities page to view a list of current solicitations for cross-program activities at NSF. If those opportunities do not fit your needs, speak with a program officer to identify the program to which you should apply. Frequently proposals are reviewed by more than one panel, and projects that cross disciplinary boundaries can be co-funded by multiple NSF programs.
Do you fund climate change research?
Yes! Our entire division funds global change research, including projects dealing with climate change issues. Proposals may be submitted to Population and Evolutionary Processes, Ecological Biology, Ecosystem Science, and our Long Term Research program, among others.
Where within NSF might I seek support for research on invasive species?
All DEB clusters consider proposals that involve invasive species. We recommend doing an award search to find out what specific types of research have been funded, and by whom. Type "invasive species" into the top search box and hit return. You can do more tightly controlled searches by using the different tabs to narrow your search options.
Do you fund research in marine biology or on the Great Lakes?
Programs in DEB in the SBBI and PEP clusters fund work on the evolution of marine organisms, including systematic studies, biological inventories of marine habitats, and evolutionary dynamics. In the latter area, studies with implications for species beyond the marine realm are of primary interest. Population, community ecology and ecosystem studies of marine organisms and of marine and Great Lakes habitats are reviewed and funded through the Biological Oceanography or Chemical Oceanography Sections of Geosciences, with some exceptions and co-reviewing of proposals. DEB funds research on estuaries and on coastal systems such as salt marshes and mangroves. Proposals to DEB may include requests for UNOLS ship time.
Can graduate students apply for funding through DEB?
The Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant program funds doctoral candidates that have completed their preliminary examinations and advanced to Ph.D. candidacy. The proposal is submitted by the major professor, who is designated as the principal investigator. Guidelines are provided in NSF 05-607. Graduate students in DEB-relevant fields are also supported through NSF's International Office (OISE-DDEP) and EHR's Graduate Research Fellowship Program.
Do you have any funding opportunities for postdocs?
The Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO) supports postdoctoral fellowships in Biological Informatics and for individuals from Under-Represented Groups in Biology. Postdoctoral opportunities also are available for collaborative International Research, and for Minority Research Fellows. Two NSF-supported centers also offer postdoctoral opportunities in Evolutionary and Ecological fields.
Do you support research experiences for undergraduate students?
Yes, through REU supplements to existing NSF grants. The DEB deadline for REU supplement requests is February 1 of each year. Additional opportunities for faculty to support undergraduate students are available through the REU Site program. Students may not apply to NSF to participate in REU activities; they apply directly to REU Sites.
I am interested in research that addresses long-term questions that do not fit within three-year grant windows. Where should I look for support?
DEB grants are not limited to three years duration; you may request up to five years of funding in any standard grant proposal. We also offer specific support for long term (5 to 10 years duration) environmental research activities through our Long Term Research in Environmental Biology LTREB solicitation.
I am interested in synthesizing previous research. Do you provide any opportunities for support?
Yes! For synthesizing data that you have collected over a period of years, view Opportunities for Promoting Understanding through Synthesis OPUS. For developing new collaborative networks – and opening new fields of inquiry – think Research Coordination Networks in Biological Sciences RCN. The NSF also funds synthesis centers that support various activities in Evolutionary and Ecological fields.
Is support is available to faculty members of undergraduate colleges and universities?
The Research in Undergraduate Institutions RUI program is specifically designed to support research by faculty members of predominantly undergraduate institutions through the funding of (1) individual and collaborative research projects, (2) the purchase of shared-use research instrumentation, and (3) Research Opportunity Awards for work with NSF-supported investigators at other institutions. All NSF programs participate in the RUI activity, and RUI proposals are evaluated and funded by individual NSF programs such as those in DEB. RUI proposals are evaluated based on their scientific merits and broader impacts, as are other proposals. However, RUI proposals may include a five-page supplemental document that describes the likely impact of the proposed research activity on the research environment of the predominantly undergraduate institutions(s), on the career(s) of the faculty participants, and on the ability of the involved department(s) to prepare students for entry into advanced-degree programs and/or careers in science and engineering. Such activities are considered to be meritorious broader impacts.
What are broader impacts?
All proposals to NSF are evaluated based on two criteria: intellectual merit and broader impacts. The broader impacts criterion addresses the societal benefits that would accrue from the proposed research. How well does the activity advance discovery and understanding while promoting teaching, training, and learning? How well does the proposed activity broaden the participation of underrepresented groups (e.g., gender, ethnicity, disability, geographic, etc.)? To what extent will it enhance the infrastructure for research and education, such as facilities, instrumentation, networks, and partnerships? Will the results be disseminated broadly to enhance scientific and technological understanding? Examples
Can I still use Times New Roman 12-point font to prepare my proposal?
Yes. NSF's new Grant Proposal Guide contains current Proposal Preparation Instructions, including acceptable fonts and font sizes, which include Times New Roman.
What are current funding rates for regular grant proposals submitted to DEB?
Funding rate can be measured multiple ways: for example, by proposal, by project (which in the case of collaborations can consist of multiple proposals), or by investigator. The information below provides a summary based on projects.
Fiscal Year |
Projects Submitted
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% Funded |
2006 |
1204 |
13 |
For more information about funding trends at NSF, please see the Impact of Proposal Award Management Mechanisms report dated August 1, 2007.
What is a panel?
Most proposals received by DEB are reviewed both by ad hoc reviewers and by members of an advisory panel. A panel is a group of scientists who individually read and review proposals, and then gather together to discuss and rate proposals with respect to the two merit review criteria. The recommendations of the panel are considered by the Program Officers in deciding which proposals to recommend for funding.
How do I stay apprised of new research opportunities?
Sign up to receive notifications at the National Science Foundation Update service. The sign-up page offers a selection of subscriptions.
How often can I resubmit a proposal to one of your programs?
We do not limit the number of times a proposal that has been revised may be submitted. We encourage investigators to direct their energies toward revising declined proposals that are on topics and utilize approaches that are the most innovative and competitive.
What is transformative research?
The term transformative research as defined by the National Science Board (the policy making body of the NSF) describes a range of endeavors that promise extraordinary outcomes, such as: revolutionizing entire disciplines; creating entirely new fields; or disrupting accepted theories and perspectives — in other words, those endeavors that have the potential to change the way we address challenges in science and engineering research and education.
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