Inside NSF -- Proposal Review in the Division of Undergraduate Education 2004

Inside NSF: What are peer reviewers really looking for? Liz Dorland Chemistry Department, Mesa Community College, Mesa, AZ Program Officer: NSF-DUE August 2003-August 2004 First Year Chemistry International Conference, UIUC

Peer Review at NSF
How can you best sell your brilliant idea?
First, consider the process...

Program Officers in DUE
Chemistry, biology, engineering, math, geology, computer science, social science
Rotators vs permanent PDs
2004 : Chemistry - 1 permanent, 2 rotators
Hixson Parson Ungar DD: Haggett ATE: Teles

Peer Review - Panels
How are reviewers selected?
How can you get onto a panel, and why should you want to? (email discipline PO)
What will be involved if you go?

Panel Process
5 - 6 panelists, one is “chair”
10-12 proposals, read/write/rate in advance
submit reviews in Fastlane before arrival
1.5+ days at the Doubletree Hotel or NSF
discuss proposals in panel room
“ Scribe” on ~2 proposals, writes panel summary
approve/submit summaries in Fastlane
“ Interactive Panel System”

Proposals Inside NSF
Submission -> Sorting to panels
Inviting reviewers -> Panel Meeting
Proposal processing
What happens between the submission deadline and when you see your reviews in Fastlane several months later?

Proposal Processing
Proposal GPA Spreadsheet vs $$ available
What gets funded??
Assignment to PO “My Work”
Low Declines
Awards Negotiation
High Declines
70% Rule (in 6 months)

The Secret Life of the PO/PD
respond to phone calls and emails from current and prospective PIs
manage ~70-100+ projects
read/approve annual & final reports
approve some changes in budget/scope
site visits and/or NVC meeting if large project
weekly division PD meeting, seminars, etc.
give the “NSF Talk” at conferences (e.g. ICCE)
do proposal writing workshops
proposal processing for 5-6 programs/panels
write solicitations, design/modify programs
workshops at NSF & National Academy

NSF Acronyms: Which two are the “ringers”?
ATE
A&I ASA STEP NSDL EMD BIO CISE MPS SBE CCLI ENG EHR GEO DUE HRD REC ESIE DGA NSB NRC NAS MSP DRL

The Night Before 2YC3
Powerpoint at NSF: 3 AM
Meridian in the rain...
A night at the Hilton
Flight to LAX
Hilton Meridian

What do DUE reviewers look for?
The same thing that reviewers in the research directorates look for.
knowledge of field/what’s been done
knowledge of the literature (beyond JChemEd)
innovative ideas that can potentially have broad application in other settings
buy-in from department/administration
partnerships/collaborations
a well-developed and detailed plan with timeline
formative/summative assessment from day 1
well organized, no long rationale/set-up

Commercial Break: Molit - Concord Consortium
Molecular Literacy Project
Interactive modules
Editable/authorable
“ Word for Molecules”
Free to download
www.molit.concord.org
Workshop Wednesday AM!!

... new materials that use highly interactive molecular dynamics and quantum mechanics models, and embed these models in learning activities that are appropriate for both core science courses and specialized courses teaching biotechnology and nanotechnology...

Don’t forget BCCE and ICCE 2006! Questions?

Independent Agencies: NSF, NASA, NRC, EPA, Smithsonian...

Inside NSF -- Proposal Review in the Division of Undergraduate Education 2004

by Liz Dorland on Oct 26, 2006

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Inside NSF -- Proposal Review in the Division of Undergraduate Education 2004 — Presentation Transcript