NSF - Biological Sciences

1. NSF - Biological Sciences Muriel Poston, Ph.D. mposton@nsf.gov National Science Foundation 2005

2. Major BIO Responsibilities • Long-Term Ecological Research • Systematic Biology (Biodiversity) • Evolutionary Biology • Environmental Biology • Plant Biology • Bioinformatics • Non-medical Microbial Biology

3. Biological Sciences Home Page

4. Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO) Mary Clutter, Assistant Director Joann Roskoski, Executive Officer Information and Automation Resources Unit (IAR) Division of Biological Infrastructure (DBI) Machi Dilworth, Division Director Muriel Poston, Deputy Director Division of Environmental Biology (DEB) Mike Willig, Division Director Penny Firth, Deputy Director Division of Integrative Organismal Biology (IOB) Tom Brady, Division Director Judy Verbeke, Deputy Director Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences (MCB) Maryanna Henkart, Division Director Jerry Cohen, Deputy Director HumanResources Ecological Biology BehavioralSystems Biomolecular Systems Developmental Systems Ecosystem Science Research Resources Cellular Systems Population & Evolutionary Processes Genes and Genome Systems Environmental &Structural Systems Plant Genome Research Program Systematic Biology &Biodiversity Inventories Functional & Regulatory Systems Emerging Frontiers (EF)

5. Current Issues and Challenges • Implement 21st Century Biology • Multidimensional • Multidisciplinary • Data driven • Educationally oriented • Internationally engaged

6. Current Issues and Challenges • Development of the next generation of scientists • Broadening Participation • Infrastructure • Enhance Federal Investment • Internationalization of science

7. NSF-wide Priority Areas Biocomplexity in the Environment Nanoscale Science and Engineering Mathematical Sciences Human and Social Dynamics Increased award size and duration BIO Emphasis Areas 21st Century Biology Plant genomics Microbial biology Arabidopsis 2010 Project Broadening participation Major Research Equipment and Facilities National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) BIO Areas of EmphasisFY2005 Budget Request

8. Division of Environmental Biology Examples of Research Areas Supported Under DEB • Systematics • Population Biology • Biodiversity Surveys and Inventories • Partnerships for Enhancing Expertise in Taxonomy (PEET) • Ecosystems Studies • Ecology • Long-term Ecological Research

9. DEB: Ecosystem Science • Biogeochemistry • Decomposition of organic matter • Belowground nutrient cycling and energy flow • Primary productivity • Radiatively active gas flux • Element budgets on watershed, regional, continental, or global scales; • Relationships between diversity and ecosystem function • Ecosystem services • Landscape dynamics

10. DEB: Population and Evolutionary Processes • Population processes • Evolutionary ecology • Evolutionary genetics • Molecular population biology

11. DEB: Systematic Biology and Biodiversity Inventories • Taxonomy • Classification • Phylogenetics • Expeditionary work to discovery, document and describe plant, animal, and microbial diversity

12. Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grants • Division of Environmental Biology and the Division of Integrative Organismal Biology • Must pass candidacy by the deadline • Funds research-related costs only • Recent changes: - increased upper limit to $12, 000 - allows travel to meetings Deadline: 3rd Friday in November, annually Contact: Dr. Mark Courtney, mcourtne@nsf.gov Announcement: NSF 02-173

13. Division of Integrative Organismal Biology Research Areas Supported Under IOB • Behavioral Systems Cluster • Developmental Systems Cluster • Environmental and Structural Systems Cluster • Functional and Regulatory Systems Cluster

14. IOB:Behavioral Systems Cluster • Thematic area focuses on the development, function, mechanisms, and evolution of behavior, biological rhythms, and interactions between organisms including animals, plants, and microbes: • social and reproductive behavior • behavioral ecology and physiology • neural and hormonal mechanisms of behavior; immunology of behavior • biological bases of learning, cognition, and communication

15. IOB:Developmental Systems Cluster • Thematic area focuses on the nature, control, and evolution of those processes that comprise the life cycle of organisms • mechanisms of gametogenesis, fertilization, embryogenesis, differentiation, pattern formation, and morphogenesis • development, regeneration, and aging of the nervous system • genomic approaches, gene networks, integration of developmental gene pathways, and computational approaches are included. 

16. IOB:Environmental and Structural Systems Cluster • Thematic area focuses on the function and evolution of organisms in their physiochemical and biotic environments • of physiological ecology, • functional morphology, • animal sensation and movement, • molecular bases of tissue biomechanical properties, • environmental genomics. 

17. IOB:Functional and Regulatory Systems Cluster • Thematic area focuses on fundamental physiological mechanisms and how they have evolved, with emphasis on organisms as integrated systems. • comparative physiology • Neurophysiology • mechanisms of solute transport • comparative or evolutionary immunology • Includes research at the genetic, genomic, cellular, tissue, organ, system, and organismal levels of organization. 

18. Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences Examples of Research Areas Supported Under MCB • Molecular Structure and Function • Metabolic Biochemistry • Cellular Organization • Signal Transduction and Cellular Regulation • Mechanisms and Regulation of Gene Expression • Genetic Mechanisms

19. Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences Research Areas Supported Under MCB • Biomolecular Systems Cluster • Cellular Systems Cluster • Gene and Genome System Cluster

20. MCB: Biomolecular Systems Cluster • Emphasizes the structure, function, dynamics, interactions, and interconversions of biological molecules • includes integrating theoretical, computational, and experimental approaches to the study of biological molecules and their functional complexes • mechanistic studies of the regulation and catalysis of enzymes and RNA • higher-order characterization of the biochemical processes

21. MCB: Cellular Systems Cluster • Emphasizes the structure, function, and regulation of plant, animal and microbial cells, and their interactions with the environment and with one another • Includes studies of the structure, function, and assembly of cellular elements, including eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell walls and envelopes • Includes intracellular and transmembrane signal transduction mechanisms and cell-cell signaling processes, including those that occur in biofilms • Includes Microbial Observatories and Microbial Interactions and Processes

22. MCB: Gene and Genome Systems Cluster • Emphasizes genomes and genetic mechanisms in all organisms, whether prokaryote, eukaryote, phage, or virus • Includes structure, maintenance, expression, transfer, and stability of genetic information in DNA, RNA, and proteins and how those processes are regulated • Areas of interest include genome organization, molecular and cellular evolution, replication, recombination, repair, and vertical and lateral transmission of heritable information • Includes processes that mediate and regulate gene expression, such as chromatin structure, epigenetic phenomena, transcription, RNA processing, editing and degradation, and translation.

23. Emerging Frontiers Virtual Division An incubator for 21st century biology • Multidisciplinary research and networking activities • Synergy between disciplines • New initiatives for later integration into core programs Currently includes: • All NSF-wide Priority Areas • Frontiers in Integrative Biological Research • Tree of Life • Microbial Genome Sequencing Project • Ecology of Infectious Diseases • Research Collaboration Networks

24. FIBR: Frontiers in Integrative Biological Research • Supports integrative research that addresses major questions in biology • Identify under-studied and unanswered questions • Use innovative approaches • Integrating science and research tools across disciplines • PRELIMINARY PROPOSAL DEADLINE (required for Full Research Proposal submission only): October 4, 2004 • FULL RESEARCH PROPOSAL DEADLINE : February 2005 Read the Program Announcement for more information. Program Announcement: NSF 04-596 Full proposal Deadline: February 16, 2005

25. Research Coordination Networks in Biological Sciences • Foster communication and promote collaboration among scientists with common interests from broad backgrounds and across geographically, disciplinary, and organizational boundaries • Create new research directions Program Announcement: NSF-04-567 Deadline: June 25, 2004; TBA for 2005

26. Division of Biological Infrastructure Examples of Research Areas Supported Under DBI • Postdoctoral Fellowships Program • Research Experiences for Undergraduates Sites • Undergraduate Mentorship in Environmental Biology • Collaborative Research at Undergraduate Institutions • Biological Field Stations and Marine Laboratories • Instrument Development for Biological Research • Multi-user Biological Equipment and Instrumentation • Biological Databases and Informatics • Living Stock Collections • Biological Research Collections

27. Plant Genome Research Program Overall Program Goals • Support research on the structure, organization and function of plant genomes, elucidate fundamental biological processes • Accelerate the acquisition and utilization of new knowledge and innovative technologies • Focus is on plants of economic importance and plant processes of potential economic value. FY’04-’05 Program (NSF 04-510) • Virtual Center Awards in Plant Genome Research • Individual and Small Group Awards in Plant Genome Research

28. Funding Opportunities for Plant Research • Core programs in the BIO Directorate • DBI • DEB • IBN • MCB • Cross-cutting programs • The 2010 Project • Assembling the Tree of Life (AToL) • Research Coordination Networks (RCN) • Frontiers in Integrative Biological Research (FIBR) • Plant Genome Research Program (PGRP)

29. What Is Unusual About PGRP Projects? • Single investigator to multi-institution and multi-investigator • Large budgets • Genome-scale resource development • Industrial participants • International participants • Training/IP/informatics

30. Arabidopsis Barley Brassica Cotton Grape Lettuce Maize Rice Soybean Sorghum Tobacco Tomato Wheat Funded Plants • Medicago • Oat • Pepper • Pine • Poplar • Potato

31. Individual and Small Group Awards in Plant Genome Research (ISGA-PGR) • $300,000 – $500,000 per year for up to 5 years • Projects can build on existing PGRP tools

32. Plant Genome Educational Resources • All NSF PGRP projects have training and outreach components • Many other projects have developed educational resources • A collection of these resources can be accessed at the Plant Genome Research Outreach Portal (PGROP): http://www.plantgdb.org/pgrop/pgrop.php

34. What is ? • A continent-wide research tool consisting of geographically distributed regional observatories, networked via state of the art communications • A virtual lab for research to obtain a predictive understanding of the environment • Collectively, a network of networked environmental research facilities and instruments National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON)

35. Multi-User Biological Equipment and Instrumentation Resources (MUE) • provides support for the purchase of major items • requests can be from $40,000 to $400,000. • single items of biological equipment or several pieces of equipment with a related purpose • must be shared by 3 to 7 investigators with actively-funded NSF research projects. Program Announcement: NSF 05-534 Deadline: 1st Wednesday in July, annually

36. Major Research Instrumentation Program • NSF wide program, BIO managed review • Designed to improve the condition of scientific and engineering equipment and facilities for research and research training • Awards for instrumentation will range from $100,000 to $2 million. Deadline: 3rd Thursday in January, annually Program Announcement: NSF-05-515

37. Field Stations & Marine Labs Program Successful projects have: • Demonstrated infrastructure need • High potential biological impact • Broad user base • Educational outreach Read the Program Announcement for more information. Program Announcement: NSF 05-550 April 26, 2005

38. Biological Research Collections • Collection Enhancement • Computerization of specimen-related data • Curation and Collection Management research Program solicitation NSF 04-571

39. Biological Databases and Informatics • To encourage support of new approaches to the management of biological knowledge that render the collection, maintenance, dissemination and query of the data and information therein of greater utility to the scientific community. Read the Program Announcement for more information. Program Announcement: NSF 05-???

40. C-RUI: Cross-disciplinary Research at Undergraduate Institutions • Supports research efforts involving faculty from different fields • Targeted at cross-disciplinary research projects that require contribution of from more than one disciplinary area • Focused on undergraduate students from predominantly undergraduate institutions • Anticipated funding for program - $2 million; up to 8 awards Read the Program Announcement for more information. Program Announcement: NSF 04-536

41. Research Experiences for Undergraduates effective for attracting and retaining undergraduates in careers in mathematics, science and engineering incorporates active research experience REU supplements to PIs with existing awards REU sites: NSF 04-584 Sites Deadline: Aug. 17, 2004 Supplement Deadline: Contact your Program Officer for details.

42. Undergraduate Mentoring in Environmental Biology • institutional awards to give students research experience in environmental biology - broadly defined • proposals should emphasize factors that enable underrepresented groups to enter and remain in environmental biology • major emphasis on direct student participation in research during the academic year and summer, with students remaining in program for > 1 year Program Announcement: NSF 05-558 Preliminary proposal Deadline: May 18th 2005 Full proposal Deadline: October 17th 2005

43. Postdoctoral Fellowship Programs Awards for research and training Applicants choose sponsoring scientist and provide research/training plan Two year awards • Minority Postdoctoral Fellowships • Program announcement NSF 00-139; • Deadline: First Monday in December • Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Interdisciplinary Informatics • Program Announcement NSF 04-539 • Deadline: April 11th, 2005

44. Award Supplement Opportunities • Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) • Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) • Research Opportunity Awards (ROA) • Research Assistantships for Minority High School Students (RAMHSS) • Facilitation Award for Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities

45. RESEARCH EXPERIENCE FOR TEACHERS • 1-year supplement to current NSF Awards • help build long term collaborative relationships between K-12 teachers of science and mathematics and the NSF research community • encourages researchers to form partnerships with teachers at inner city schools and less well- endowed school districts Consult with the Program Director of your particular NSF award. Dear Colleague Letter: NSF 05-524

46. Research Opportunity Award Supplementary funding through ongoing NSF research grants to allow faculty at predominantly undergraduate institutions or secondary schools to participate in research activities under the aegis of NSF-supported investigators • details located within the RUI program announcement Consult with the Program Director of your particular NSF award. Dear Colleague Letter: NSF 05-548

47. Research Assistantships for Minority High School Students (RAMHSS) • involves high school minority students in research • provides funding supplements to PIs supported by NSF • occurs throughout the academic year and summer Contact the Program Officer in the appropriate program for details.

48. Useful URLs - Bookmark!! NSF Home Page: http://www.nsf.gov Search NSF Awards: http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/ Search NSF Documents On-Line: http://www.nsf.gov/publications/ods/ FastLane Home Page: https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/fastlane.jsp NSF Custom News Service: http://www.nsf.gov/mynsf/ Grant Proposal Guide (GPG): http://www.nsf.gov/pubsys/ods/getpub.cfm?ods_key=nsf0423 Guide to Programs: http://www.nsf.gov/ pubsys/ods/getpub.cfm?ods_key=nsf04009

49. Directorate for Education and Human Resources Math and Science Partnership (MSP) Division of Human Resource Development (HRD) Division of Elementary, Secondary and Informal Education (ESIE) Division of Research, Evaluation and Communication (REC) Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE) Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) Division of Graduate Education (DGE)

50. Division of Elementary, Secondary and Informal Education (ESIE) • Centers for Learning and Teaching (CLT) • Informal Science Education (ISE) • Information Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST) • Instructional Materials Development (IMD) • Nanoscale Science and Engineering Education (NSEE) • Presidential Awards • Teacher Professional Continuum (TPC) • Advanced Technological Education (ATE)