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NSF 13-556

NSF 13-556. Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers (MRSEC) Program October 14, 2014 MRSEC Directors Annual Meeting: Second Tuesday in October annually? Daniele Finotello. mrfn.org. m rsec.org. MRSEC History. 1960-61 - I nterdisciplinary Research Labs (IDLs) -ARPA

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NSF 13-556

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  1. NSF 13-556 Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers (MRSEC) Program October 14, 2014 MRSEC Directors Annual Meeting: Second Tuesday in October annually? Daniele Finotello mrfn.org mrsec.org

  2. MRSECHistory • 1960-61 - Interdisciplinary Research Labs (IDLs) -ARPA • 1971- Proposal to transfer IDLs to NSF as a result of the Mansfield Amendment • 1972 - NSF establishes DMR, MRL program • 1984 - DMR establishes MRG program • 1994- DMR establishes MRSEC program • 2005 - DMR requests a study of the MRSEC program by the National Academies • 2010 - DMR establishes CEMRI and MIRT programs • 2013 - DMR drops CEMRI/MIRT nomenclature and returns program name back to MRSEC with no small group competition

  3. TABLE 1 Year of Establishment and Termination of Interdisciplinary Laboratories (IDLs)/Materials Research Laboratories (MRLs) From “Advancing Materials Research” chapter ‘Materials Research Laboratories: Reviewing the First Twenty-five Years’.

  4. MRSEC Program Goals • Stimulate and support outstanding interdisciplinary research and education in materials of a scope and complexity that requires a center • Critical mass of investigators • Address fundamental, complex materials problems that are intellectually challenging and important to society • Foster partnerships between academia and industry as well as other sectors • Broaden participation of groups under-represented in the sciences • Re-competition model and Seed program provide a mechanism for a reinvention and adaptation to address emerging areas (flexibility)

  5. 2014: two or more IRG(s) in each MRSEC Each IRG: Addresses a major materials topic or area synergistically Involves several researchers with complementary backgrounds, skills, knowledge. Provides sustained support for interactive effort. Is more than a ‘collection of individual investigators’. Interaction withinan IRG is critical; Interaction amongIRGs not required Collectively, the MRSECs span the entire breadth of research topics that DMR addresses as a division (and more): balanced portfolio Interdisciplinary Research Groups (IRG): Core Unit

  6. 2011-13 MRSEC Program Balance – Mapping to DMR Individual Investigator Program 23 Centers with a total of 58 IRGs

  7. Existing MRSEC compete with new proposals in open competition in the 6th year of the award Six year awards, $56M* total in 2014; Individual Center support from ~$1.6M to ~$3.6M * $51M in 2003 MRSEC Awards

  8. 2014 MRSEC Competition: PP Panel Review: August 26, 2013 – November 22, 2013 Topics were sought that solve fundamental, timely and complex materials problems that are intellectually challenging, important to society, and that potentially broaden the current portfolio. MRSECs include 2-5 IRGs. Preliminary proposals reviewed based on the topical areas of IRGs, thus the IRGs in a MRSEC proposal may have been reviewed by different panels if the research areas are dissimilar. 81 pre-proposals (246 IRGs) reviewed in seven topical panels convened at NSF from October 28 to November 15, 2013. Outcome: 26 MRSEC Full Proposals including 65 IRGs Invited on Nov. 22, 2013

  9. MRSEC Pre-Proposals Review 7 Panels 79 Panelists 28 Mail Reviewers 545 Reviews

  10. 2014 MRSEC Competition: FP Full proposals (Mail Review) due January 10, 2014: Invitations communicates on November 22, 2013 All Full Proposals received on 1/10/14 Compliant 274 Review Requests emailed 224 Acceptances 392 IRG Reviews <26 Proposals invited on April 10, 2014 to Reverse Site Visit Panels

  11. 2014 MRSEC Competition: RSVP Reverse Site Visit Panels: <26 MRSEC with <65 IRGs Invited on April 10 4 RSV 3-day Panels from May 20 to June 12 50 Panelists <26 MRSEC recommended on July 10, 2014 include <65 IRGs Awards:November 1-15,2014

  12. A brief Summary: 2008 , 2011 &2014 MRSEC Competition 14 (9) (maybe 14 > X > 9) Awards 2008: Largest turnover in the history of the program. • 5 (3) (Any?) awards to institutions that have not had a MRSEC • Once awards are made there will be less than 23 MRSEC including less than 58 IRGs (started with 23 and 58 respectively) • In 2015, once the competition is complete, allMRSEC will have at least 2 IRGs: MRSEC

  13. Post Award Management Site Visits • Program Director Site Visits, • Site visits with and without Panelists Annual Reports • Annual Desk Review of all MRSECs: January – July • MRSEC specific Annual / Final Report Guidelines • Annual Diary Note with Funding Recommendation PI Meetings • MRSEC Directors’ Meeting: once per year • Working groups: Broadening Participation, Communication, Education, Facilities, and Industry Annual Education Coordinators’ Meeting • Focus on evaluation, broadening participation, and seeking sources of support outside the MRSEC program. Next Meeting at MRS Dec. 3, 2014

  14. MRSEC Post-Award Management Annual Reports (We will Talk): Due 2-4 Weeks before site visit; Due no later than May 15. Yearly (100+ pages); Pubs: BE NICE. IF YOU CAN, SEND US A FLASHDRIVE Based on 23 Annual Reports: 723 TT + 48 NTT Faculty; 288 Post-Docs; 838 GS & 198 UGS Pubs: 687 Primary; 665 Partial; 652 SEF; 79 patents 2 or More: 33%; from 14% to 55%

  15. MRSEC Post-Award Management 2nd Year PD Site Visit 1(/2) Day(s) (Maybe with Panelists, budget permitting); 2 PDs (We are interviewing) 4th Year PD + Panelists Site Visit 2 Days, 2 PDs, 4-8 Panelists Schedule: 1 in Feb., 3 in Apr., 4 in May, 1 in June. SV Agenda soon mailed.

  16. Highlights: What, How, Why A Highlight shows: • An exciting outcome of an NSF supported project • Transformative results • Impacts of outcomes, especially benefits to society, economy, industry, nation, etc. Audiences include: • Congress, other policy makers • Business and industry professionals • Educators • The general public

  17. Highlights: What, How, Why When writing a highlight: • Short, straightforward sentences that articulate a single point • Use simple language; avoid scientific terminology • Write for a public audience that is interested in high-level impacts and benefits Highlights are used: • Budget requests • Budget drivers • Budget requests • And more budget requests

  18. What we will work for the 2016/2017competitionThe “Alexandria Effect” Today: Focus on dates, post-award management, highlights

  19. MRSEC 2016/2017 Solicitation Synergy Societal Broader Impacts Center as a Whole According to a 3 year schedule: Pre-Proposal: Due July/August 2016? Panels before NSF moves? Full Proposal: Due once in New Building? Or before? Reverse Site Visit: Panels in late spring 2017?

  20. MRSEC Program THANK YOU FOR COMING LOOKING FORWARD TO HELP AND WITNESS YOUR MRSEC SUCCESS

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