BIOSKETCH
As of October 5th, 2020, NSF requires the use of new forms for Biosketches and Current and Pending Support documents. There are two approved options investigators may use for creating these documents. The first is using the NSF Fillable Forms. The second, recommended option is using SciENcv. Investigators must use one of these two options when creating their biosketch or the proposal will not be reviewed. To assist investigators with this change, the Office of Research Services has created an entire web page and several documents to walk them through this process.
NSF - Approved Formats for Biographical Sketch
NSF - Approved Formats for Current and Pending Support
Collaborators and Other Affiliations
Information on Collaborators and Other Affiliations must be provided for every senior personnel member working on a proposed NSF project. The information provided is used in the review process to select and exempt potential reviewers who may have conflicts of interest. A template is required for this section to ensure that a thorough review can be completed in a timely manner. A copy of this template is provided in the section NSF Forms & Resources. The NSF has also provided a list of FAQs to help should additional questions arise.
BROADER IMPACTS
The NSF is not only concerned with broadening the knowledge base and deepening our understanding of the sciences, it is also interested in how the research it funds will benefit society as a whole. It is this second part that is referred to as Broader Impacts. Most research that is funded, regardless of the agency funding it, has an interest in the broader impacts of that research. The NSF, however, has a particular interest in them. This section allows researchers the opportunity to design, implement, and evaluate the broader impact components of their NSF research proposal and tie them to specific goals of the project. Each component must be integrated with the specific project being proposed to stand out when compared to other proposals. Unlike the Biosktetch and Current and Pending Support Documents, there is no template for the Broader Impacts statement.
CURRENT AND PENDING SUPPORT
As of October 5th, 2020, NSF requires the use of new forms for Biosketches and Current and Pending Support documents. There are two approved options investigators may use for creating these documents. The first is using the NSF Fillable Forms (provided below). The second, recommended option is using SciENcv. Investigators must use one of these two options when creating their Current and Pending Support document or the proposal will not be reviewed. To assist with this change, the Office of Research Services has created an entire web page and several documents to walk investigators through this process. It is also highly recommended that investigators register with OrcID if they have not already done so. ORS has resources available to assist you with this process as well if needed.
CAREER Proposals
The National Science Foundation's most prestigious awards competition in support of early-career faculty is known as the Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program. CAREER is a Foundation-wide activity that offers qualified, early faculty the opportunity to serve as academic role models in research and education and to lead advances in the mission of their department or organization. Activities pursued by early-career faculty should build a firm foundation for a lifetime of leadership in integrating education and research. NSF encourages submission of CAREER proposals from early-career faculty at all CAREER-eligible organizations. The Office of Research Services has compiled a number of resources to assist faculty interested in applying for CAREER award.
CAREER Program Summary is a great place to start if you are considering a CAREER proposal. This three-page document gives a quick overview of deadlines, unique aspects of the CAREER program, common mistakes, and additional resources available to the investigator.
Developing Education Components for NSF Proposals is an article that is about ten (10) years old now, but is still widely used as a resource for investigators needing assistance developing their educational components.
NSF CAREER Proposal Writing Tips is a collection of articles and essays written by previous CAREER award winners, research administrators, and Federal Program Officers. This resource is a little old, but the information is it is still very applicable to today's application process and it is used at institutions across the country by investigators preparing CAREER proposals