Research Opportunity Award (ROA): Supplement Opportunity
Directorate for Biological Sciences
Office of the Assistant Director
NSF 07-041
(replaces NSF
05-548)
June 29, 2007
SUBJECT: Research Opportunity Award (ROA): Supplement Opportunity
Dear Colleague:
The purpose of this Dear Colleague letter is to call your attention
to the Research Opportunity Award (ROA) activity that is part of
the NSF-wide Research at Undergraduate Institutions (RUI) program
(see NSF
00-144). ROAs enable faculty at predominantly undergraduate
institutions, including community colleges, to pursue research
as visiting scientists with NSF-supported investigators at other
institutions. The goal of this activity is to enhance the research
productivity and professional development of science faculty at
undergraduate institutions through research activities that enable
them to explore the emerging frontiers of science. Such research
not only contributes to basic knowledge in science but also provides
an opportunity to integrate research and undergraduate education.
The Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO) strongly encourages
all of its awardees to make special efforts to invite community
college faculty, as well as faculty at predominantly undergraduate
institutions, to participate in research through ROAs and thus
broaden the national research base. Participation of members of
underrepresented groups (underrepresented minorities and persons
with disabilities) is particularly encouraged.
We believe that involving community college science faculty in
on-going NSF projects is an excellent way to strengthen the research
environment at community colleges. This may encourage students
to consider majoring in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
(STEM) disciplines. ROAs can also help to build collaborative relationships
between undergraduate science faculty and NSF-funded researchers.
An ROA supplement can be requested on a current award or when
submitting a new or renewal proposal. Most frequently, ROA activities
are summer experiences, but partial support of sabbaticals may
also be provided. ROA supplements are usually about $25,000, including
indirect costs. Except for major instrumentation or equipment,
almost anything allowable in a regular grant proposal (see the
NSF Grant Proposal Guide (GPG) for details) may be included in
an ROA budget. The ROA supplement request should clearly describe,
in some detail, the research to be conducted by the ROA visitor,
a statement from the host about his/her role in the proposed research
efforts, the contribution of the proposed work to the visitor’s
future research plans and impact on his/her home institution, a
budget with appropriate explanatory information, and a biographical
sketch for the visitor. This same information should be supplied
for an ROA that is incorporated into a new research proposal.
For guidance and inquiries concerning the ROA supplement, the
Principal Investigator should consult the Program Director for
his/her particular NSF award or the cognizant Program Director
for the program to which he/she is submitting a proposal. The decision
to award an ROA supplement will be based on internal review by
the Program Director and availability of funds in a particular
program.
A proposal for an ROA supplement to an existing NSF award should
be submitted via FastLane following the instructions described
in the GPG. Further information is available from the RUI Program
Announcement (NSF
00-144). ROAs incorporated in a new or renewal
research proposal should adhere to the same guidelines for new
or renewing proposals that are described in the GPG.
We believe that ROAs will strengthen the research productivity
of undergraduate science faculty, facilitate the integration of
research and undergraduate science education, and enhance the development
of the U.S. science and engineering workforce.
Sincerely,
James P. Collins
Assistant Director
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