Congratulations to Anthony Botelho for his subcontract NSF Flow Through award from Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Zandra de Araujo for her award from the National Science Foundation; and Philip Poekert, Catherine Cavanaugh, and Paige Pullen for their award from the Florida Department of Education.
Best wishes to Stephen Flory, Pavlo “Pasha” Antonenko, and Sadie Ryan on their proposal to the Strategic Environmental Research and Developmental Program; Zandra de Araujo for her subcontract DHHS Flow Through proposal to Miami-Dade County; Frank Fernandez and Justin Ortagus for their proposal to Arnold Ventures; Justin Ortagus and Benjamin Skinner for their proposal to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; Philip Poekert for his subcontract DHHS Flow Through proposal to the Florida Office of Early Learning; and Wanli Xing, Mary Jo Koroly, Sandip Ray, and Joseph Wilson for their NSF subcontract proposal to University of North Florida.
Grant Writers’ Seminars & Workshops has updated their NIH, NSF, and USDA-NIFA Workbooks for 2022 due to changes in grant proposal requirements by these agencies in recent months. In addition to these changes were covid-19 adjustments, such as continuing to offer their workshops virtually for 2022 and beyond. More information is available on their website.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) requires project reports for all assistance awards, yet 10% of NSF-funded PIs fail to provide these reports on a timely basis. Final project reports are due within 120 days of the award end date. Project reports demonstrate result-oriented accountability for grants, enhance stewardship, and ensure that the American people are receiving value for funds spent on grant programs. NSF takes project reporting compliance seriously and will explore all available mechanisms to ensure compliance. NSF requires awardees to comply with all terms and conditions of the award, which includes project reporting requirements. Failure to submit timely reports will delay NSF review and processing of pending proposals and processing of additional funding and administrative actions for all identified PIs and co-PIs on an NSF award. It is the responsibility of the grantee to actively monitor the status of their project reports. For additional information, please visit Research.gov or contact the cognizant NSF Program Officer for any questions about a specific overdue project report.
The National Science Foundation has issued a Dear Colleague Letter to request information on future topics for their Convergence Accelerator for FY2023. The Convergence Accelerator builds upon NSF investments in fundamental research and discovery to accelerate solutions toward societal impact using a three-tiered approach: topic ideation, followed by convergence research phases 1 and 2. Topics aligned to a specific research focus are called “tracks” and funded teams constitute a cohort. The teams include multiple disciplines, expertise and cross-sector partnerships to stimulate innovative ideas and to develop long-lasting, sustainable solutions to support a variety of societal challenges. NSF seeks input from industry, institutions of higher education (IHEs), non-profits, state and local governments, and other interested parties on potential NSF Convergence Accelerator tracks for the next round of funding. Responses must be submitted by February 28, 2022.
DSP is hosting an informal Awards Team Community Q&A session dedicated to UFIRST Awards and Award Management issues. Please come prepared with questions regarding UFIRST awards and award management. Join by accessing the Q&A Zoom Meeting Room (Meeting ID: 925 1347 9600/Passcode: 610395). You will need access to the Zoom virtual meeting software to join this Q&A. If you have any questions about the Q&A in the days leading up to the session, please contact UF Awards at ufawards@ufl.edu. We look forward to seeing our UF Research and campus partners on the Zoom meeting to answer your awards-related questions.
From Thomasenia Adams, Ana Puig, Amanda Reifenrath, Brian Lane, and Che Williams
Congratulations to Mary Bratsch-Hines for her award from the U.S. Department of Education/IES; Frank Curran, Christopher Redding, and Philip Poekert for their award from Impact Florida; Frank Curran, Maureen Conroy, and Patricia Snyder for their subcontract Buffett Early Childhood Flow Through award from Columbia University; Maya Israel for her subcontract NSF Flow Through award from New York University; Philip Poekert for his subcontract Louisiana Department of Education Flow Through award from Lafayette Parish School System; and Christopher Redding and Holly Lane for their award from the U.S. Department of Education/OSERS-OSEP.
Best wishes to Zandra de Araujo for her proposal to the National Science Foundation; Chelsey Simmons, Kent Crippen, and Sarah Furtney for their proposal to the National Science Foundation; Bruce Carroll, Kent Crippen, and Tracy Johns for their proposal to the National Science Foundation; Frank Fernandez for his proposal to the Spencer Foundation; Lynda Hayes for her proposal to the Florida Department of Education; Nigel Newbutt for his proposal to Google; Philip Poekert for his two proposals, one to Children First Professional Development Center and one to the Early Learning Coalition of Palm Beach County; Paige Pullen for her two proposals, one to Raymond School District for Lamprey River Elementary School and one to Riverside County; Christopher Redding for his proposal to the Spencer Foundation; and Megan Ennes, Jacqueline Swank, and Jacquelyn Micieli-Voutsinas for their proposal to the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
The Division of Sponsored Programs (DSP) has revised and clarified its guidance on pre-proposals, LOIs, and white paper submissions. It applies only to these types of submissions and not to final proposals, which are subject to all standard proposal processing guidelines. For example, if a pre-proposal is required to route through UFIRST, then the UF/DSP internal deadline policy will apply. More information with a decision-making flow chart is available here.
The National Academies’ Gulf Research Program has launched the Gulf Scholars Program (GSP), a five-year pilot program seeks to build the capacity of Gulf-based IHEs in preparing undergraduate students to work across these complexities and who will serve the Gulf of Mexico region. Each year the GRP will select and fund a cohort of 5-7 colleges and universities to participate in the GSP. Each participating institution will receive funds to create academic, co-curricular, and extracurricular experiences around key learning outcomes in engaging and preparing a cohort of students for leadership in securing a safer, more resilient, and sustainable Gulf region. GSP’s learning outcomes include knowledge of the Gulf region, multidisciplinary and integrative learning, intercultural knowledge and competencies, social responsibility and ethical reasoning, innovation and entrepreneurialism, and Gulf impact project. If interested or curious to learn more, contact Dr. Angela Lindner at alindner@aa.ufl.edu.
Q & A with Nigel Newbutt, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in the School of Teaching and Learning
The basic questions that guide my research are associated with how innovative and novel technologies can support autistic people in their lives. For me, the transformative nature of emerging technologies means that there are many applications for under-served groups, and my work locates this with people with disabilities and autistic groups. I would also add; another basic question I consider core to my work is that of how technologies can be informed and co-designed with the communities I support. This has become so central to my work (and the field), especially if we are to fully realize the potential of a range of technologies for under-served groups. Linked to this, I am also exploring meaningful ways that virtual reality technologies can be applied to vocational skill development in better supporting successful work-based skills and transitions into work environments for autistic people.
It is with great pleasure that the Office of Science and Technology (OSTP) would like to share more information about the recently launched The Time is Now: Advancing Equity in Science & Technology Ideation Challenge. The challenge is open from now through November 19, 2021. You can email equity@ostp.eop.gov with questions, comments or suggestions. We hope that you will help OSTP advance equity in the science & technology ecosystem through this challenge in three specific ways:
The UF Graduate School’s Office of Graduate Diversity Initiatives (OGDI) invites all qualified faculty and postdoctoral members to apply for induction into the Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society. The Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society recognizes outstanding scholarly achievement and promotes excellence and diversity in doctoral education and the professoriate. The Bouchet Society seeks to develop a network of preeminent scholars who exemplify academic and personal excellence, foster environments of support, and serve as examples of scholarship, leadership, character, service, and advocacy for students traditionally underrepresented in academia. Postdoctoral members must apply for membership and be approved by the National Steering Committee; faculty members must be nominated. The application process will open on Monday, November 15, 2021, and close at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, December 15, 2021. For more details, including application requirements and instructions, click this online link: UF Bouchet. Please email questions to OGDI at ogdi@aa.ufl.edu.
For those who are interested in pursuing the NSF’s National AI Research Institutes Program, nearly 50 frequently asked questions are addressed and answered by the NSF on this page. For general inquiries that are not answered on this page, you can contact NSF regarding this program at AIInstitutesProgram@nsf.gov. NSF is also hosting a webinar to cover the submission requirements and program updates. Register in advance.
