November 2008 (FY09)

November 2008

As always, please allow extra time for our office to assist you in processing your grant proposals to avoid unnecessary delays or missed deadlines.

REMINDER: Office Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

As a reminder, the internal deadline for the upcoming limited submission competition for the National Science Foundation’s Major Research Instrumentation Program (MRI) is Monday, November 17, 2008.  Note that this is our internal deadline only. Proposals are due to NSF by January 22, 2009. If you have not indicated your intent to apply to this program, please do so immediately so that we can put forward the very best funding applications for this limited submission program. To indicate your intent to submit for the MRI program, complete the required form, also attached to this e-mail, and submit electronically by November 17 to the Office of Sponsored Programs via the following e-mail:  jmu_grants@jmu.edu

The limited submission process and current limited submission opportunities, visit our webpage describing the limited submission process and internal requirements at: http://www.jmu.edu/sponsprog/deadlines.html

Also keep in mind: As the holidays approach; many deadlines are clustered around the end of the calendar year.  The university will be closed from Monday, December 22 and will not reopen until Monday, January 5, 2009. If you are interested in any funding opportunities with deadlines which fall during this time, you must have all of your materials complete and submitted to the Office of Sponsored Programs BEFORE Friday, December 19.

As always, if you have any questions about the internal review process for limited submission proposals or the proposal review process in general, please contact me directly at 568-3725.

NSF to Impose Salary Limits, Make Other Policy Changes in 2009

Effective Jan. 5, 2009, the National Science Foundation will limit senior faculty salary reimbursement from all NSF-funded grants to not more than two months in any one year and impose a new definition of co-principal investigator, according to the January 2009 Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide. NSF posted the guide on its Web site Oct. 1.

Link:www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf091

While saying it would "continue to encourage" all new investigators to apply for National Institutes of Health's R01 grants, NIH announced a new policy on Sept. 26 that would place certain researchers in a new category called "early stage investigators (ESI)." "[U]nder this policy, those new investigators who are within 10 years of their terminal research degree or within 10 years of completing a medical residency, will be identified as early stage investigators. Their applications will be identified and their career stage will be considered at the time of review and award. It is hoped that by providing an advantage for ESIs, the NIH will be able to directly encourage earlier application for NIH research grant support," the agency said in the notice.

Link: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-08-121.html.

The National Science Foundation has issued major revisions to the "Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide" that will be effective for any applicants submitting proposals with deadlines or target dates on or after January 5, 2009. One of the major changes taking place will be the addition of a new section on mentoring designed to address an America COMPETES Act directive. Under the new policy, each proposal that requests funding to support postdoctoral research must include a separate plan outlining mentoring activities the grantee will provide to postdocs. In addition, the grantee must update NSF on the mentoring activities in subsequent annual reports and in the final project report. This new requirement will be key to determining a proposal's fate. The mentoring plan will be evaluated as part of the merit review process under NSF's review criterion mandating addressing the "broader impacts" of the proposed activities. Proposals that do not include a separate section dealing with mentoring "will be returned without review" according to the guidelines.

NSF has also initiated a revision of its Small Grants for Exploratory Research Program (SGER - pronounced "sugar"). The revision will replace SGER with two new programs: Grants for Rapid Response Research (RAPID) will support quick response research on natural or anthropogenic disasters and other unanticipated events. Funding requests may range up to $200,000 for one year; Early-concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER) will support high-risk, exploratory and potentially transformative research. Requests may total up to $300,000 and projects may take up to two years.

Inability to receive funding after these two submissions (the original and single amendment) will require the applicant to substantially redesign their proposal rather than just implementing changes in response to reviewers' critiques. Applicants may resubmit a third time, but only if the application is fundamentally revised to qualify as new.

NIH expects this revised policy to lead to higher quality submissions with faster turnaround time. The move will also lessen the burden on the peer review system.

http://www.jmu.edu/sponsprog/fsources.html

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Improving Health Quality via IT

Investigator-Initiated Energy Proposals

Federal Highway Administration

Educational Foundation of America

Educational Foundation of America

Engineering Information Foundation

Programs and Services for Older Persons

Interpreting America's Historic Places
Family and Youth Programs
Landmarks of American History and Culture

Tools for Studying Biological Systems

Scientific Data Stewardship

Broadening Participation in Biology
Deep Underground Science
Earth Sciences Instrumentation and Facilities
Research on Engineering Education
International Planning Visit/Workshop Awards
Discovery Research K-12

USDA Solid Waste Management

National Spatial Data Infrastructure

Singing for Charitable Change Foundation

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• The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality seeks applications to support a wide variety of research designs to improve the quality, safety, effectiveness, and efficiency of health care through implementing health information technology. Four research responsibilities of the Health IT are: improve the quality and safety of medication management systems and technologies; support patient-centered care, co-ordinations of care across transitions in care settings; promote the use of electronic exchange of health information to improve quality of care; and improve health care decision-making through the use of integrated data and knowledge management.
• Eligibility: Domestic or foreign, for-profit or nonprofit, public or private institutions and organizations such as colleges, universities, hospitals, laboratories, state and local governments.
• Funding: $100,000 over two years.
• Web: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/index.html (search for PAR-08-268)
  
• Deadline: February 15, 2008; June 16, 2008 and October 16, 2008 for small grants

• The Energy Department announced continuation of its annual omnibus solicitation for investigator-initiated proposals in all areas of energy science. Areas include: basic energy sciences,  like materials sciences, chemical sciences, geosciences, biosciences, engineering, accelerator and detector research, experimental program to stimulate competitive Research in less-competitive states; high energy physics; nuclear physics, for example: medium energy nuclear physics, heavy ion nuclear physics, low-energy nuclear physics, nuclear theory; advanced scientific computing research  like  applied mathematics, computer science, network environment research, broadening participation and collaboration; fusion energy sciences; biological and environmental research like life sciences, environmental remediation, climate change research.
  
• Eligibility: Colleges and universities, nonprofit organizations, for-profit commercial organizations, state and local governments, and unaffiliated individuals.
• Funding: Estimated $400 million.
• Web: http://www.sc.doe.gov/grants/grants.html
  
• Deadline: December 31, 2008

• The Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration invites applications to provide technical assistance to promote and advance strategic highway safety plans through infrastructure design and engineering improvements in areas at high risk for traffic fatalities. The plan will focus on enabling state transportation departments to develop a national highway safety program in each of four areas: roadway departure, intersections, pedestrians, and speed.
  
• Eligibility: Higher education institutions, other nonprofit organizations and for-profit entities.
• Funding: $1.2 million for one cooperative agreement over 60 months.
• Web: http://www.grants.gov/search/basic.do (enter FON "DTFH61-09-RA-00001")
  
• Deadline: November 7, 2008

• The Educational Foundation of America funds projects that support underprivileged and at-risk children in grades preK-12 by providing college preparatory programs to the underserved, extracurricular and after-school programs with a variety of themes like literacy, computer skills, human rights, science, and the environment. The foundation also supports professional and community education, the development of innovative new curriculum, and the assistance of individuals with learning disabilities.
• Eligibility: Nonprofit organizations.
• Funding: In 2006, the foundation provided almost $14 million for 238 grants: high $175,000, low, $3,500.
• Web: http://www.efaw.org/education.htm
  
• Deadline: Rolling.

• The Engineering Information Foundation solicits proposals for its Women in Engineering Program, which provides funding for developmental projects, instructional projects, and training programs that encourage young women to choose a career in engineering. Programs should focus on encouraging middle school girls to pursue degrees in engineering, and improve retention rates for undergraduate women in engineering. Proposals should include how the program contributes to the knowledge base regarding what works and what doesn't work in increasing the numbers of women in engineering.
• Eligibility: Nonprofit organizations.
• Funding: Grants range from $5,000 to $25,000. Matching grants are encouraged.
• Web: http://www.eifgrants.org/info/women.html
• Deadline: February 27, 2008

Programs and Services for Older Persons

• The Health and Humans Services Department's Administration on Aging solicits proposals to test new and innovative approaches to the design and delivery of programs and services for older persons. The Administration of Aging (AoA) is particularly interested in funding innovative performance models that can demonstrate successful outcomes and may be replicated by other organizations; and evidence-based demonstrations supported by randomized control trials published in peer-reviewed journals.
• Eligibility: Higher education institutions, nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, faith-based organizations, and state, local and tribal governments.
• Funding: $750,000 for one or two awards for one year.
• Web: http://www.aoa.gov/doingbus/fundopp/fundopp.aspx
• Deadline: December 31, 2008

Interpreting America's Historic Places

• The National Endowment for the Humanities solicits applications for projects to support public humanities projects that exploit the evocative power of historic places to address themes and issues central to American history and culture, including those that advance knowledge of how the founding principles of the United States have shaped American history and culture for more than two hundred years. Projects may interpret a single historic site or house, a series of sites, an entire neighborhood, a town or community, or a larger geographic region.
• Eligibility: Any U.S. nonprofit organization, and state and local government agencies.
• Funding: Awards up to $400,000.
• Web: http://www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/IAHP_Implementation.html
• Deadline: January 28, 2009 and August 29, 2009

Family and Youth Programs

• The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) solicits applications for projects to support public programs that encourage intergenerational learning about significant topics in U.S. history and culture, especially programs tailored to youth and family audiences at museums, libraries, and other community sites. NEH encourages projects that: highlight documents and artifacts; make humanities content central to the project (competitive proposals will employ a team of humanities advisors whose expertise is tailored to the project's needs); and/or collaborate with other organizations to extend the reach of the project, including cultural, community, professional, and businesses.
• Eligibility: Nonprofit organizations with 510(c)(3) tax-exempt status; state and local government agencies such as schools and higher-education institutions; school, academic, and public libraries; discipline and professional associations; and cultural institutions.
• Funding: Typically up to $40,000 for one year for planning grants; up to $400,000 for 18-36 months for implementation projects.
• Web: http://www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/familyyouthprograms.html
• Deadline: January 28, 2009

Landmarks of American History and Culture

• The National Endowment for the Humanities solicits applications for projects to support a series of one-week residence-based workshops for K-12 educators that use historic sites to address central themes and issues in American history, government, literature, art history, or other related humanities subjects. Workshops should follow the following criteria: they should be held at or near sites important to American history and culture (e.g. presidential residences or libraries, Colonial-era settlements, major battlefields, historic districts, and sites associated with major writers or artists); be academically rigorous and focus on key primary sources, documents, and works relevant to major themes of American history and culture; and be repeated two to three times during the summer and accommodate forty teachers at each one-week session.
• Eligibility: Nonprofit organizations with 510(c) (3) tax-exempt status, state and local governmental agencies and tribal governments.
• Funding: Twenty awards of up to $225,000 each, assuming that a one-week session costs approximately $75,000.
• Web: http://www.neh.gov/grants/guidelines/landmarks.html
• Deadline: March 16, 2009

• Four National Institutes of Health agencies invite applications to conduct workshops and short courses to improve the integration of mathematical, statistical, and computational approaches into biological and/or behavioral research. Support will be limited to activities that reach a wide audience of researchers and are aligned with the missions of the funding agencies: the National Institute of General Medical Sciences; National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine; National Institute on Aging; and the National Institute of Mental Health.
• Eligibility: Higher education institutions, hospitals, laboratories and other nonprofits and for-profits
• Funding: Up to $200,000 per year for a total of $1 million in direct costs over five years
• Web: http://www.grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-09-002.html
  
• Deadline: January 25, 2009; May 25, 2009; September 25, 2009

• The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration seeks applications to support teams in development and stewardship of Climate Data Records for the atmosphere, cryosphere, oceans, and land. The project focuses on the generalization and application of mature algorithms to multiple satellites and sensors that together span climate-relevant time periods. The program will fund teams for developing an algorithm and production framework; and the development of processes, procedures, standards, and tools that facilitate coherent, sustainable, and scientifically defensible results across the project.
• Eligibility: Higher education institutions; nonprofits or for-profits; commercial or international organizations; state, local, tribal or federal agencies.
• Funding: $2.6 million for between five and fifteen awards over a project period of three years
• Web: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-23516.pdf
  
• Deadline: October 31, 2009 for letters; December 15, 2009 for proposals

• The  National Science Foundation invites applications for research initiation grants aimed at increasing the diversity of the biological sciences workforce by jumpstarting the careers of individuals from different segments under-represented in the field. Awards support activities of beginning investigators, such as collecting preliminary data or developing collaborations that could lead to the formulation of competitive grant applications to NSF at the conclusion of the award.
• Eligibility: U.S. colleges and universities, nonprofit nonacademic organizations associated with educational or research activities, especially proposers from minority institutions. The principal investigator must be a citizen or national legal resident and have a doctorate or equal expertise, present a plan showing how activities will increase diversity in the workforce, be a new investigator (in the first academic appointment as a faculty member or research-related position), and have not previously served as a PI or co-PI on a federal research grant.
• Funding: $3 million to $5 million for between fifteen and twenty-five awards up to $75,000 per year for two years, with the possible addition of up to $25,000 for equipment.
• Web: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=10676
  
• Deadline: January 12, 2009

Deep Underground Science

• The National Science Foundation invites proposals for specific candidate experiments to be considered for the Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory for transformational physics research currently on the drawing board at NSF. The fourth in a series of solicitations to advance laboratory calls for proposals to develop technical designs for all phases of experiments whose requirements would define the lab's infrastructure.
• Eligibility: U.S. colleges and universities.
• Funding: $15 million over three years for between ten to fifteen awards varying in size depending on the scope.
• Web: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503136
  
• Deadline: January 9, 2009

Earth Sciences Information and Facilities

• The National Science Foundation seeks proposals for the Earth Sciences Instrumentation Facilities Grant which supports meritorious requests within and across Earth Science disciplines. Proposals should be submitted under one of the following: acquisition or upgrade of research equipment, development of new instrumentation, analytical techniques or software, support of national or regional multi-user facilities, support of research, or development of cyberinfrastructure for the Earth Sciences (Geoinformatics).
• Eligibility: State educational offices or organizations and local school districts may submit proposals intended to broaden the impact, accelerate the pace, and increase the effectiveness of improvements in science, mathematics, and engineering education in both K-12 and post-secondary levels.
• Funding: Up to $7 million for 35-45 awards.
• Contact: David Lambert, NSF 4201 Wilson Blvd. Room 785 S, Arlington, VA 22230; (703)292-8558; dlambert@nsf.gov
• Web: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=6186&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund.html
  
• Deadline: February 11, 2009

Research on Engineering Education

• The National Science Foundation invites research applications that can contribute to significant breakthroughs in understanding how students learn engineering so undergraduate and graduate programs can better prepare engineers to meet the needs of the changing economy. NSF will fund projects in two categories: 1) Innovations in teaching and learning, including expansion projects: engineering epistemologies, engineering learning mechanisms, engineering learning systems, engineering diversity and inclusiveness, engineering entrepreneurship, and 2) Educational Opportunities using Cyberinfrastructure and virtual or mixed reality exploratory projects.
• Eligibility: U.S. organizations, colleges, and universities; governmental units such as school districts and state education agencies; other nonprofit nonacademic organizations such as research laboratories and professional organization; and for-profit organizations with strong science or engineering capabilities.
• Funding: $8.5 million for between 35 and 40 awards of $150,000 to $400,000 including exploratory projects up to $150,000 each (multiple universities up to $200,000 each) and expansion projects up to $400,000 each.
• Web: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2008/nsf08610/nsf08610.htm
  
• Deadline: March 11, 2009

International Planning Visit/Workshop Awards

• The National Science Foundation solicits applications for the International Planning Visit/Workshop awards, providing support for initial phases of integrated research and education activities with foreign partners. Awards may be used for the following: Planning visits to access foreign facilities, equipment, or subjects of research, and to have detailed discussions with prospective foreign partners; or Joint workshops designed to identify common research priorities, focused on a specific, well-defined area of research collaboration. Workshops may be held at either a U.S. or foreign location.
• Eligibility: State, local, and Tribal governments, school districts, communities, non-profit organizations, businesses, or special purposes districts.
• Funding: Workshop grants up to $30,000 per year, for up to two years. Planning visits- $20,000 for two years.
• Web: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2004/nsf04035/nsf04035.pdf
  
• Deadline: Planning Visits: Ongoing; Workshop: Annually, February 20, May 20, and September 20

Discovery Research K-12

• The National Science Foundation seeks research proposals that promise to advance preK-12 student learning and teaching in STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). The program supports development, implementation and study of resources, models and technologies that can be used by students, teachers and/or policy-makers to improve STEM education. NSF invites projects that meet a variety of educational needs, from the immediate and pressing challenges to anticipated future needs. The program puts premium on proposals that: challenge existing assumptions; consider new and innovative ways to reach students and teachers; are informed by current research; and broaden the boundaries of schools and disciplines.
• Eligibility: U.S. organizations, colleges, and universities; governmental units such as school districts and state education agencies; other nonprofit nonacademic organizations such as research laboratories and professional organization; and for-profit organizations with strong science or engineering capabilities.
• Funding: $50 million for 50 to 70 awards. Under this revised program announcement, types of awards are: for research and development programs, $3.5 million; implementation-focused projects, up to $5 million over five years; exploratory projects, up to $450,000 over three years; synthesis projects, up to $250,000 over two years; and conference/workshops, up to $100,000 over two years.
• Web: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2008/nsf08609/nsf08609.htm
  
• Deadline: January 8, 2009

• The Agriculture Department solicits proposals for projects that will reduce or eliminate pollution of water resources in rural areas and improve planning and management of solid waste sites. Funds may be used to: evacuate current landfill conditions to determine threats to water resources, provide technical assistance and/or training to enhance operator skills in maintaining and operating active landfills, and technical assistance/training to help communities reduce solid waste stream.
• Eligibility: .Tax-exempt nonprofit organizations, public agencies, tribes and academic institutions with requisite experience and resources.
• Funding: $3.4 million for 35 awards
• Web: http://www.grants.gov/search/basic.do (enter FON "RDUP-TAT-GRANT-1000608-FY09)
  
• Deadline: December 31, 2008

• The U.S. Geological Survey invites proposals for innovative projects to build the infrastructure necessary to effectively discover, access, share, manage, and use digital geographic data. Specific areas of emphasis include: metadata documentation, clearinghouse establishment, framework development, standards implementations and geographic information system organizational coordination. funding categories this year are: metadata trainer and outreach assistance, use of Geospatial One-Stop map and data services, strategic and business plan development in support of the NSDI Future Directions Fifty States Initiative, establishing the use of government tabular data in a geographic context, building data stewardship for the National Map and the NSDI, standards development and implementation assistance and outreach (excluding metadata standards), and demonstration of geospatial data partnerships across local, state, and federal government.
• Eligibility: Academic institutions, other nonprofit organizations, for-profit entities and state, local and tribal governments.
• Funding: $1.3 million for 26 awards of $25,000 to $150,000 each.
• Web: http://www.grants.gov/search/basic.do (enter FON "09HQPA0007")
  
• Deadline: January 6, 2009

• The Singing for Change Charitable Foundation supports programs that are concerned with health, education, and protection of children and families; promote environmental awareness and teach people methods of conservation, protection, and the responsible use of natural resources; help people who have been marginalized in society because of their low levels of skill, education, or income; and people with AIDS, disabilities and homeless people.
• Eligibility: 501(c) (3) organizations, or organizations with a sponsoring agency.
• Funding: Grants from $500 to $10,000. Grants of $1,000 and less may be awarded on basis of the letter of interest without requiring a full proposal.
• Web: http://www.margaritaville.com/index.php?page=ssfc
  
• Deadline: Ongoing for letters.

return to Funding Opportunities

The following external links are funding deadlines organized by discipline. Please select the applicable discipline to access possible funding opportunities: (courtesy of The Grant Advisor Plus)

• Fine Arts
• Humanities
  
• Sciences
  
• Social Sciences
  
• Federal Register
  
• Education
  
• International
  
• Health Related
  
• Unrestricted / Other
  
• Minorities / Women

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John Hulvey, Director of Sponsored Programs Administration and Accounting
MSC 5728, JMAC-6, Suite 26
hulveyjd@jmu.edu
x8-3725

Sponsored Programs Administration:
Pre-Award & Post-Award (Non-fiscal)
www.jmu.edu/sponsprog/
jmu_grants@jmu.edu
JMAC-6, Suite 26
MSC 5728
Phone: 568-6872; Fax: 568-6240

Sponsored Programs Accounting :
Post-Award (Grants & Contracts)
www.jmu.edu/acadaffairs/grant.shtml
JMAC-6, Suite 30
MSC 5713
Phone: 568-4623; Fax: 568-2397

Tamara Hatch, Associate Director
hatchtt@jmu.edu
x8-2350

Sally Dickenson, Grants Specialist
dickensr@jmu.edu
x8-2336

Whitney Keister, Grants Specialist
keistejw@jmu.edu
x8-3558

Carolyn Strong, Research Coordinator
IRB & IACUC Contact
strongcd@jmu.edu
x8-2318

Amanda Brown , Executive Assistant
brown2aw@jmu.edu
x8-6872 or x8-4623

Donna Crumpton, Financial Administrator
crumptdl@jmu.edu
x8-8099

Brenda Seifried, Financial Administrator
wilburbc@jmu.edu
x8-8-2314

Kyra Shiflet, Financial Administrator
shiflekl@jmu.edu
x8-7108

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