Mock NSF RFP

National Science Foundation

Directorate for Biological Sciences

Division of Environmental Biology

Ecological studies

Request for Proposals

for

Support of Graduate Thesis/Dissertation Research

The National Science Foundation is requesting proposals to support graduate research at the Masters or Doctoral level. This research should be environmental and ecological in nature, and should focus on community, ecosystem, or landscape level questions. Funding is available through this program for up to 3 years, at a funding rate of up to $75,000 per year but for no more than $150,000 total. The purpose of this program is to provide support to full time graduate students who wish to pursue innovative, holistic research in the field of ecology. Students must be currently enrolled in a graduate program. Proposals must have the approval and support of the student's graduate advisor, but the advisor cannot be a Principle Investigator.

DIRECTIONS FOR SUBMISSION

Applicants should refer to NSF's Grant Proposal Guide while preparing proposals.  These exact directions can not be followed, because NSF has moved to an internet-based paperless proposal system.  However, the proposals that you will prepare will contain all of the information required for an NSF proposal. In order to generate the best possible pool of proposals, a pre-proposal must be submitted following the directions and deadlines below. Pre-proposals will be reviewed by the Program Officer, and returned with comments and suggestions. Each PI is strongly encouraged to address these comments in their final submission. All submissions will receive external reviews, and a standard NSF Panel will recommend funding.

PROPOSAL PREPARATION

Pre-proposals should follow NSF's guidelines, with the following exceptions: 1) The pre-proposals need only contain a Cover Sheet, Project Description, References Cited, Biographical Sketch in NSF's format, and a budget spreadsheet in FIU's Office of Sponsored Research Administration format. The Cover Sheet will contain the information described in the NSF Grant Proposal Guide. The Project Description section of the pre-proposal shall not exceed 2 pages (single-spaced, 1" margins, 12 point font) including all graphics and tables. The full proposal should follow NSF's Grant Proposal Guide as closely as possible without using Fastlane, NSF's internet proposal webpage, with the following exceptions: The Project Description section of the full proposal shall not exceed 10 pages (single-spaced, 1" margins, 12 point font) including all graphics and tables.

PROPOSAL DEADLINES

Pre-proposal must be received by the Program Officer as a single pdf file via email by 5:00 PM EST on February 22, 2010.  Comments from the Program Officer will be returned by March 1, 2010. Full Proposals must be received as a single pdf file via email by the Program Officer by 5:00 PM EST on April 9, 2010.

CONTACTS/PROGRAM OFFICERS

The Program Officer for this program is Jim Fourqurean (MSB 360, 305-348-4084, jim.fourqurean@.fiu.edu). Contact the Program Officer with all questions regarding this program or RFP. Principle Investigators are encouraged to contact the Program Officer to discuss their ideas prior to submission of proposals.

NOTE: If you stumbled on this web page using a search engine, please undersdtand this is a class exercise at Florida International University, NOT a real call for proposals!