Cooperative Activity with Department of Energy Programs for Education
and Human Resource Development -- "Dear Colleague Letter"
Office of the Assistant Director for Education and Human Resources
Dear Colleague:
The Principal Investigators (PIs) of National Science Foundation
(NSF) awards managed by one of the NSF programs serving STEM education
that often has participation by faculty, undergraduate students
and/or pre-service teachers (see list below) are invited to consider
participating in a cooperative effort between NSF and the Department
of Energy (DoE) Office of Science.
Advanced Technological Education (ATE)
Centers for Learning and Teaching (CLT)
Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology (CREST)
Computer Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Scholarships (CSEMS)
Research on Gender in Science and Engineering (GSE)
Historically Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate Program
(HBCU-UP)
Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP)
Model Institutions for Excellence (MIE)
Math and Science Partnership (MSP): Comprehensive and Targeted
Projects
Robert Noyce Scholarship Program
NSF Collaboratives for Excellence in Teacher Preparation (CETP)
Research in Disabilities Education (RDE)
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Teacher Preparation
(STEMTP)
Teacher Professional Continuum (TPC) Program
Tribal Colleges and Universities Program (TCUP)
To support the continued leadership of the United States in science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and the continued
development of a competitive, diverse STEM workforce, NSF and DoE
are implementing collaboration between the agencies' programs for
the development of human resources in STEM. As an immediate result
of this effort, during FY 2006 NSF will support students and faculty
from participating NSF projects (see list above) who are accepted
as participants in one of four DoE initiatives that provide hands-on
research opportunities in DoE national laboratories during the
summer: Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships (SULI), Faculty
and Student Teams (FaST), Community College Institute of Science
and Technology (CCI), and Pre-Service Teacher (PST) Internships.
You are invited to encourage appropriate students and faculty to
apply for these opportunities and, if DoE approves their applications,
to then request supplemental funding from NSF to support their
participation. (Please note: specific instructions for applying
to DOE and for requesting supplement funding from NSF are in the
attachment.)
A description of the opportunities is attached. SULI and CCI are
designed for college students who could benefit from working in
an advanced scientific research environment, FaST includes faculty
and students teams in that opportunity, and PST internships target
students who are preparing to become teachers of science, mathematics,
and technology at elementary and secondary schools.
Note that for the first time, this invitation notifies and authorizes
submission in each of three succeeding number years.
In FY 2006, FY 2007, and FY 2008 undergraduate students (two-year
and four-year schools) may apply to DoE to participate in SULI
or PST internships. Students enrolled in community colleges may
participate in CCI or SULI, and if they are pre-service teachers
(PST).
Faculty and student teams may participate in FaST. The amounts
targeted for the NSF supplements for this cooperative program are
$4,500 for each student, and up to 2/9 academic year salary (up
to $12,000) for faculty.
NSF will support up to 91 students and 13 faculty, pending the
availability of funds. Up to $1,000 in additional participant support
may be requested as reasonable accommodation for unusual/extraordinary
travel expenses incurred by persons with disabilities; forward
a formal request for supplemental funding to NSF.
This supplement request should be submitted as soon as possible
but before 5 pm (submitter's local time), April 20, 2006, and by
April 20 in 2007, and 2008 respectively.
We hope that you will give serious consideration to encouraging
appropriate students and faculty to apply for the DoE initiatives
and subsequently applying to NSF for a supplement to support the
participants. As always, we cannot guarantee that a supplement
request will be granted, but we will strive to fund as many as
possible.
Sincerely,
Donald E. Thompson
Assistant Director (Acting)
Education and Human Resources
Attachment: Opportunities for NSF/EHR Grantee Participation in
Programs of the Department of Energy Office of Science.
Opportunities for NSF/EHR Grantee Participation in Programs
of the Department of Energy Office of Science
Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships
(SULI) target undergraduate
students who have not had an opportunity to work in an advanced
scientific research environment, especially students belonging
to groups underrepresented in fields of science, mathematics, engineering,
and technology. The SULI program incorporates both an individually
mentored research component and a set of enrichment activities,
which include lectures, classroom activities, career guidance and
planning, and field trips. Additional information is available
on the Web at
http://www.scied.science.doe.gov/scied/erulf/about.html.
Grantees of participating NSF/EHR STEM programs may request supplements
to support the participation of undergraduate students in the SULI
program. NSF provides stipend and travel support of $4,500 per
student.
Faculty and Student Teams (FaST) provides opportunities for college
professors and students to participate in a 10-week highly interactive
and stimulating immersion experience in a research environment
in a DoE laboratory. This program encourages a sustainable professional
relationship between the faculty and laboratory investigators.
Workshops and training minimize the "culture shock" of
working in a national laboratory setting. Additional information
is available on the Web at http://www.scied.science.doe.gov/scied/sci_ed.htm and click on "Faculty and Student Teams Program."
Grantees of participating NSF/EHR STEM programs supporting undergraduate
students may request supplements to support the participation of
faculty-student teams in the FaST initiative. NSF provides up to
2/9 academic year salary (up to $12,000) per faculty member for
up to thirteen college faculty members (nationwide). Each faculty
member who is selected to participate will select up to three undergraduate
students to join the research team; NSF provides stipend and travel
support of $4,500 per student.
Community College Institutes (CCI) places students from community
colleges in paid internships in Science and Engineering and Technology.
Because of the comprehensive nature of this program many of the
participants have felt it has had an enormous influence on their
careers. Students work with scientists or engineers on projects
related to the laboratories' research programs. They also attend
career planning and numerous training/informational sessions. Additional
information is available on the Web at http://www.scied.science.doe.gov/scied/CCI/about.html.
Grantees of participating NSF/EHR STEM programs supporting community/two-year
college students may request supplements to support the participation
of undergraduate students in the CCI program. NSF provides stipend
and travel support of $4,500 per student.
Pre-Service Teacher (PST) Internships
target students who are preparing to become teachers of science,
mathematics, and technology at elementary and secondary schools.
In addition to the research component found in the SULI program,
the students are guided by a resident Master Teacher to learn how
to transfer their newfound scientific research expertise to the
classroom. This culminates in each student writing an educational
module based on his or her research, which incorporates science
standards and benchmarks. Additional information is available on
the Web at http://www.scied.science.doe.gov/scied/PST/about.htm
Grantees of participating NSF/EHR STEM programs supporting students
in pre-service STEM teacher education may request supplements to
support the participation of students in the PST Internships program.
NSF provides stipend and travel support of $4,500 per student.
For participants in all four initiatives, DoE provides support
for housing, laboratory safety training, local travel, and other
program costs.
During FY 2006 (and FY07, and FY08 respectively), grantees of
participating NSF programs may encourage students and faculty members
to apply to participate in the DoE initiatives (SULI, FaST, CCI,
or PST Internships). Once a DoE applicant has accepted an offer
from a DoE lab, e-mail will be sent by DoE to notify the PI. The
PI may then request supplemental funding from NSF.
APPLYING TO DoE
Applications are reviewed by DoE beginning February 1, 2006.
SULI: NSF Principal Investigators (PIs) are asked to identify
students who have the potential to benefit significantly from the
research participation offered by the SULI program. These students
should complete the SULI application on the DoE Office of Science
Web site at http://www.scied.science.doe.gov/scied/erulf/about.html.
This form has a check box where students should indicate that they
are affiliated with one of the participating NSF programs (including
the grant award number, the PI's name, and the PI's e-mail address).
Once a DoE applicant has accepted an offer from a DoE lab, e-mail
will be sent by DoE to notify the PI. The PI may then request supplemental
funding from NSF.
FaST: NSF Principal Investigators (PIs) are asked to identify
faculty members associated with one of the participating NSF/EHR
grant programs to apply to the FaST Program. Faculty from colleges
and universities with limited prior research capabilities and those
institutions serving populations underrepresented in the fields
of science, engineering and technology are encouraged to take advantage
of the FaST opportunity to prepare students for careers in science,
engineering, computer science, and technology and for their own
professional development.
Along with information about the DoE program, the web site http://www.scied.science.doe.gov/scied/sci_ed.htm includes a downloadable DoE application for the faculty and student
team members and laboratory project descriptions. Faculty should
review the DoE FaST project descriptions and identify opportunities
for which they are qualified, interested, and willing to make a
commitment. Faculty applicants may contact laboratory Science Education
directors for additional information on the project prior to submitting
the application.
Download and submit an application to DoE, Office of Science,
FaST program manager, Sue Ellen Walbridge at sue-ellen.walbridge@science.doe.gov.
Faculty members should select the project of interest to them and
complete the application. Once a FaST team has been selected by
a lab and has accepted the offer, the NSF PI will be notified by
DoE by e-mail. The PI may then request an NSF supplement.
CCI: NSF Principal Investigators (PIs) are asked to identify two-year
college students who have the potential to benefit significantly
from the research participation offered by the CCI program. These
students should complete the CCI application on the DoE Office
of Science Web site at http://www.scied.science.doe.gov/CCI/about.html.
This form has a check box where students should indicate that they
are affiliated with one of the participating NSF programs (including
the grant award number, the PI's name, and the PI's e-mail address).
Once a DoE applicant has accepted an offer from a DoE lab, e-mail
will be sent by DoE to notify the PI. The PI may then request supplemental
funding from NSF.
PST Internships: Grantees of participating NSF/EHR STEM programs
supporting students in pre-service STEM teacher education are asked
to identify students who have the potential to benefit significantly
from the research participation offered by the PST Internships
program. These students should complete the PST Internships application
on the DoE Office of Science Web site at http://www.scied.science.doe.gov/PST/about.html.
Once a DoE applicant has accepted an offer from a DoE lab, e-mail
will be sent by DoE to notify the PI. The PI may then request supplemental
funding from NSF.
REQUESTING SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING FROM NSF
After DoE notifies the NSF PI that the DoE application has been
approved, the PI may then submit a request for supplemental funding
to NSF. This request should conform to the procedure outlined in
NSF's Grant Policy Manual, Section 264 (see http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/manuals/gpm05_131/gpm2.jsp#260).
NSF's FastLane system should be used to prepare and submit these
requests for supplemental funding (https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/fastlane.jsp).
The requests should be submitted as soon as
notification of application acceptance by DoE is received, but
must be submitted by 5 pm (submitter’s
local time), April 20, 2006 ( and April 20 of the ensuing 2 years).
To request the supplement, the PI should use the FastLane Proposals,
Awards & Status function. The Supplemental Funding Request
may be accessed via the Award and Reporting Functions. In the Supplemental
Funding Request, the PI should complete:
Justification For Supplement: a brief (one-page) statement justifying
participation in the relevant DoE initiative (e.g., alignment of
the planned research with the overall program goals). Note that
decisions will be based on the evaluation of submittals through
use of the standard NSB Merit Review Criteria, and will take into
account the quality of the proposed work and its expected benefits
to the students and faculty participating.
Supplementary Docs: a copy of the notification from DoE that the
students and/or faculty have been accepted.
Budgets (Including Justification): a budget for travel and stipend.
On the budget page, stipends and travel support should be entered
on Line F (Participant Support). Indirect costs are not allowed
on participant support costs, and there is no administrative allowance
in lieu of indirect costs. The amounts targeted for the NSF supplements
for this cooperative activity are $4,500 for each student (allocated
as ten weekly stipends of $400, and up to $500 for travel), and
up to 2/9 academic year salary (up to $12,000) for faculty. NSF
will support up to 91 students and 13 faculty. Up to $1,000 in
additional participant support may be requested as reasonable accommodation
for unusual/extraordinary travel expenses incurred by persons with
disabilities. This additional request must be included and justified
in the submitted budget. DoE indicates that it provides reasonable
accommodation at its research facilities.
FastLane Contact(s): FastLane Help Desk, telephone: 1(800) 673-6188,
e-mail: fastlane@nsf.gov.
The PI must also send notification to NSF/EHR DOE-EHR@nsf.gov that the FastLane request has been submitted. The notification
should include the PI's name, the grant to be supplemented by the
seven-digit number, and the cognizant NSF Program Officer for the
award.
Also, the PI must submit an annual project report to the cognizant
Program Officer at least 90 days before the end of the current
budget period, including information on supplement-based project
participants (individual and organizational), activities and findings,
publications, and other specific products and contributions.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Requests for additional information or clarifications
may be e-mailed to DOE-EHR@nsf.gov.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
The National Science Foundation (NSF) funds research and education
in most fields of science and engineering. Awardees are wholly
responsible for conducting their project activities and preparing
the results for publication. Thus, the Foundation does not assume
responsibility for such findings or their interpretation.
NSF welcomes proposals from all qualified scientists, engineers
and educators. The Foundation strongly encourages women, minorities
and persons with disabilities to compete fully in its programs.
In accordance with Federal statutes, regulations and NSF policies,
no person on grounds of race, color, age, sex, national origin
or disability shall be excluded from participation in, be denied
the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any
program or activity receiving financial assistance from NSF,
although some programs may have special requirements that limit
eligibility.
Facilitation Awards for Scientists
and Engineers with Disabilities (FASED) provide
funding for special assistance or equipment to enable persons
with disabilities (investigators and other staff, including student
research assistants) to work on NSF-supported projects. See the
GPG Chapter II, Section D.2 for instructions regarding preparation
of these types of proposals.
The National Science Foundation promotes and advances
scientific progress in the United States by competitively
awarding grants and cooperative agreements for research
and education in the sciences, mathematics, and engineering.
To get the latest information about program deadlines,
to download copies of NSF publications, and to access
abstracts of awards, visit the NSF Website at http://www.nsf.gov
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PRIVACY ACT AND PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENTS
The information requested on proposal forms and project reports
is solicited under the authority of the National Science Foundation
Act of 1950, as amended. The information on proposal forms will
be used in connection with the selection of qualified proposals;
project reports submitted by awardees will be used for program
evaluation and reporting within the Executive Branch and to Congress.
The information requested may be disclosed to qualified reviewers
and staff assistants as part of the proposal review process;
to applicant institutions/grantees to provide or obtain data
regarding the proposal review process, award decisions, or the
administration of awards; to government contractors, experts,
volunteers and researchers and educators as necessary to complete
assigned work; to other government agencies needing information
as part of the review process or in order to coordinate programs;
and to another Federal agency, court or party in a court or Federal
administrative proceeding if the government is a party. Information
about Principal Investigators may be added to the Reviewer file
and used to select potential candidates to serve as peer reviewers
or advisory committee members. See Systems of Records, NSF-50, “Principal
Investigator/Proposal File and Associated Records,” 63
Federal Register 267 (January 5, 1998), and NSF-51, “Reviewer/Proposal
File and Associated Records,” 63 Federal Register 268 (January
5, 1998). Submission of the information is voluntary. Failure
to provide full and complete information, however, may reduce
the possibility of receiving an award.
An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required
to respond to an information collection unless it displays a valid
OMB control number. The OMB control number for this collection
is 3145-0058. Public reporting burden for this collection of information
is estimated to average 120 hours per response, including the time
for reviewing instructions. Send comments regarding this burden
estimate and any other aspect of this collection of information,
including suggestions for reducing this burden, to: Suzanne Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, Division of Administrative Services,
National Science Foundation, Arlington, VA 22230.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) No. 47.076 – Education
and Human Resources
OMB control number: 3145-0058
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