Information for MCB PIs when preparing Supplemental Funding Requests

The Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences (MCB) funds supplemental funding requests to support education and broadening participation for individuals at many stages along the STEM career trajectory, including high school, undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, graduate, K-12 teachers, and faculty. MCB also considers supplement requests to sustain research when the PI, co-PI, or other personnel is on family leave. These opportunities are described in detail below. If you require a supplement that is not covered by these opportunities (such as the repair or replacement of equipment that is essential to your MCB funded research effort), please contact the relevant MCB Program (check the MCB Staff Directory on the NSF website).

MCB seeks to increase the diversity of individuals and institutions in the molecular and cellular biosciences community. Hence, for supplements aimed at broadening participation, proposers must be intentional regarding their efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion of individuals traditionally underrepresented in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) or individuals from a range of institution types where research opportunities may be limited, such as Minority-serving Institutions (MSIs), Primarily Undergraduate Institutions (PUIs), two-year colleges, and institutions in jurisdictions associated with the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR). In addition, proposers are also strongly encouraged to consider involving veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces as part of NSF's broader effort to promote veteran involvement in STEM research and education.

Supplement requests considered by MCB include (select a link below to go directly to a relevant section or scroll through the page to review all):

Select link below to go directly to a relevant section or scroll through the page to review all

• Research Assistantships for High School Students (RAHSS)


• Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)


• Research Experiences for Post-Baccalaureate Students (REPS)


• Non-Academic Research Internships for Graduate Students (INTERN)


• Research Experiences for Teachers (RET)


• Research Opportunity Award (ROA)


• Career-Life Balance (CLB)

All supplement requests should be discussed with your Program Director.

Target Date:
Requests for INTERN, REPS, and CLB supplements may be submitted at any time. Requests for RAHSS, REU, RET, and ROA supplements should be submitted by the third Tuesday in January annually. This is a target date; requests beyond the target date will be considered only as budgets allow.

Eligibility:
Supplements are only available to PIs and Co-PIs with active awards. If you have more than one award, you may request supplements for each award. Please note that some special (non-core) programs accept supplement requests, and others do not. Therefore, PIs should consult the cognizant Program Directors for those programs to determine if the program accepts supplement requests.
Before submitting a supplement request, review the guidance for that specific type of supplement and keep the following in mind:

• No supplements can be awarded if there are any overdue project reports associated with anyone on the award, including Co-PIs and all members of a collaborative.


• Supplemental funds generally must be expended by the expiration date of the original award.


• The IRB/IACUC documentation must be up-to-date and include the timeframe of the supplement.


• If the award budget already included Participant Support funds to support students or teachers, you must clearly explain the extenuating circumstances leading to the request for additional funding.


• As budgets allow, MCB typically provides funds for only one REU student per year. However, programs will consider supporting two REU students if the PI can demonstrate a unique opportunity for broadening participation from traditionally underrepresented groups in the biological sciences.


• Unless otherwise stipulated in your original award, the indirect cost rates for any supplements should be the same as the original award; see NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) for more information on indirect cost rates.

How to Submit:
Requests for supplemental funding for any current award must be submitted via the "Supplemental Funding Request" function in Research.gov. To submit through Research.gov:

• Navigate to the Prepare New Supplemental Funding Request page and select the award in the Research.gov Supplemental Funding Request Preparation Wizard. Follow the instructions within the page. If you wish to submit more than one type of supplement (REU and RET, for example), be sure to submit each separately. For help on Research.gov use, contact Research.gov help at rgov@nsf.gov or 1-800-381-1532.


• After you have prepared the request for supplemental funding, forward it to your organization's Sponsored Research Office for submission.

Research Assistantships for High School Students RAHSS

The Dear Colleague Letter: Research Assistantships for High School Students (RAHSS): Funding to Broaden Participation in the Biological Sciences (NSF 18-088) describes how NSF awardees can foster interest in the pursuit of studies in the Biological Sciences; and broaden participation of high school students, particularly those who are members of traditionally underrepresented groups, persons with disabilities, and women in sub-disciplines where they are underrepresented. MCB enthusiastically supports these supplemental awards.

Components to include in an RAHSS Supplement request (limited to 3 pages of project description):

• A specific statement in the Project Summary that this is a request for an RAHSS supplement.


• Clear description of the meaningful and intellectually challenging activities in which the student(s) will be involved.


• A detailed mentoring plan and a plan to measure the impact of the research experience on the student(s).


• A plan for encouraging the advancement of the RAHSS student(s) beyond participation in the research program.


• An explanation of the unforeseen circumstances that led to this request for post-award supplemental funding.


• A brief description of the PI's other experience involving high school students in research. Results from the most recent RAHSS supplement must be described, if applicable.


• The desired start date and duration of supplement.


• The expiration date of the parent award (the supplement must be used up by the time the grant expires).


• A brief biographical sketch of the student(s), if already selected, should be included in Supplementary Documents.


• Budget for an RAHSS supplement request:


• Budgets for RAHSS activities are generally under $6,000 per student and should include a student stipend.


• Person-related costs, such as stipends, travel, and lodging should be entered in Participant Support Costs (section F) on the budget. Non-person related costs, such as materials or supplies, should be appropriate for the proposed activities and included under section G.1. of the budget. Indirect costs should be calculated only on the amount listed in section G.1.


• All costs should be clearly explained in the budget justification.


• If exceptional circumstances require additional funds, please consult with the relevant MCB Program Director.

RAHSS supplement requests should be submitted by the target date of the third Tuesday in January.

If you have questions, please contact the cognizant MCB Program Director (check the MCB Staff Directory on the NSF website).

Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)

The Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) supplements support NSF awardees in providing integrated research experiences for undergraduates.

If support for REUs is anticipated at the time a proposal is submitted, then funds to support REUs should be included in the original proposal. If such activities were unforeseen at the time of submission and the request broadens participation in STEM fields, a limited number of post-award supplements may be available.

High-quality mentoring is important in REU Supplements, and REU projects should involve students in meaningful ways in research projects. An REU supplement should enable undergraduates to participate fully in a research enterprise, from inception and design of the project to completion and dissemination of results. Additionally, investigators should give serious attention not only to developing students' research skills, but also to involving them in the culture of research in their discipline and providing opportunities for high-quality interaction with faculty and/or other research mentors, access to appropriate facilities, and professional development opportunities. Hence, the request should emphasize expected student involvement in all aspects of the project and include a detailed plan for mentoring.

MCB programs normally consider supplement requests to fund only one REU student per year, per award, but exceptions will be considered if well justified.

Components to include in an REU Supplement request (limited to 3 pages of project description):

• A specific statement in the project summary that this is a request for an REU supplement.


• A detailed mentoring plan and a plan to measure the impact of the research experience on the student.


• A description of the form and nature of the student's involvement in the PI's NSF research project, including expected learning outcomes for the student.


• An explanation of the unforeseen circumstances that led to this request for post-award supplemental funding.


• A description of the selection criteria used for selecting the student participant(s) - or a detailed description of the process that will be used to select the participant(s). Remember that priority will be given to requests that aim to broaden participation in STEM fields. Additionally, the student must be an undergraduate throughout the entire period of the REU supplement (REU supplements may be used to support high school students who have been accepted to college), and the student must be a citizen or permanent resident of the U.S. or its possessions (or will be by the REU start date).


• A brief description of the PI's prior experience involving undergraduates in research; results from the most recent REU supplement must be described, if applicable.


• The desired start date and duration of supplement.


• The expiration date of the parent award (the supplement must be expended by the time the award expires).


• A brief biographical sketch of the student(s) if already selected should be included in Supplementary Documents.


• Budget for an REU supplement request:


• Typical student stipends for summer projects average around $600 per student per week, in addition to other participant costs which should be explained in the budget justification (which would be "other" in section F of the budget), such as: room and board, fees, and travel. Academic-year stipends should be comparable on a pro rata basis.


• All person-related costs, including stipends, travel, room and board, and fees, should be placed in Participant Support Costs (section F) on the budget. Indirect costs should be calculated only on the amount listed in section G.1.


• A modest amount of money for materials and supplies can be requested and should be included under section G.1. of the budget.


• All costs should be clearly explained in the budget justification.


• MCB recommends costs on the order of $7,250 per student, although supplement awards have ranged from $7,000-$9,000 in the past, depending on the proposed activities and availability of funds.

REU supplement requests should be submitted by the target date of the third Tuesday in January.

If you have any additional questions, please contact the relevant MCB Program (check the MCB Staff Directory on the NSF website).

Research Experience for Post-Baccalaureate Students (REPS)

MCB continues to accept requests for supplemental funding or requests as part of proposals, for up to 12 months of participant support for an eligible post-baccalaureate student. Priority for funding will be given to support individuals who have not had prior research experiences and/or individuals who will aid in NSF's goal of ensuring diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in STEM fields.

The supplemental funding request should be submitted in Research.gov in accordance with the guidelines found in the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG).

Additional specific guidance for the REPs supplement:

• In the section entitled "Summary of Proposed Work," state that this is a REPS request and provide brief information on the number of participants, the mentor names and potential projects, and professional development activities that will be part of the program. This section typically does not exceed one page.


• In the section entitled "Justification for Supplement," describe in detail the participant's involvement in the research project, a description of the potential project, the mentoring plan for the participant including any professional development activities, and information on the recruited participant, including a brief biographical sketch. Describe how the proposed program would contribute to the participant's long-term career goal and how the supplemental funding will serve to broaden participation.
The recommended per-student budget is $650 per week over 12 months, plus fringe benefits and travel to support REPS activities.

Funds to support REPS may also be included in full proposals. If REPS funds are requested as part of a full proposal, a description of those activities, limited to 3 pages, should be included in the supplementary documents.

REPS supplements may be requested at any time (there is no target date).

Non-Academic Research Internships for Graduate Students (INTERN)

The goal of INTERN is to provide graduate students with experiential learning opportunities through research internships to acquire core professional competencies and skills to support careers in any sector of the U.S. economy. The Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences (MCB) enthusiastically supports these supplemental awards. Further information is available in the INTERN Dear Colleague Letter (NSF 21-013).

Each supplemental funding request must include:

• The INTERN DCL title and DCL number in the summary section of the proposal and include the following components:


• A two-page summary that describes the internship. The request must include a concise statement from the graduate student describing how the activity will better prepare the graduate student to enter the workforce.


• A resume of the graduate student (up to 2 pages) that contains (but is not limited to) the following information:


• Educational Preparation (Institution, Major, Year of Study)


• Summary of graduate coursework completed


• Professional employment history


• Publications


• Other information relevant to the proposed internship


• A letter of collaboration from an authorized official at the host organization that describes the internship opportunity and the mentoring that will be provided to the student during the internship. This letter should include a statement confirming that neither the graduate student nor the PI has a financial interest in the organization hosting the internship.


• A letter from the PI that confirms that the student meets the eligibility requirements specified in the DCL. The letter must describe how the proposed internship activity will contribute to the student's graduate education experience and how it may impact time to degree. The PI must describe activities that are synergistic with the scope of the PI's NSF Grant to be supplemented.


• The NSF awardee and the organization hosting the graduate student must agree in advance as to how intellectual property (IP) rights will be handled. A signed agreement on IP (including publication and patent rights) must be submitted prior to the award of the supplemental funding. NSF is responsible neither for the agreement reached nor the IP information exchanged between the NSF awardee and the host organization.


• A budget and a clear justification for all requested budget costs, which must not exceed $55,000 per student per six-month period.

INTERN supplement requests may be submitted at any time (there is no target date).

If you have any additional questions, please contact the relevant MCB Program (check the MCB Staff Directory on the NSF website).

Research Experience for Teachers (RET)

The Dear Colleague Letter: Research Experience for Teachers (RET): Funding Opportunity in the Biological Sciences (NSF 18-089) describes how NSF awardees can provide integrated research and education experience for K-12 teachers by including the active participation of these teachers in funded research projects. MCB enthusiastically supports these supplemental awards.

The intent of this endeavor is to facilitate professional development of K-12 science teachers through mentored research experiences at the cutting edge of science.

We strongly recommend discussing a potential RET submission with a Program Director after studying the "Dear Colleague Letter" and prior to submitting the proposal.

Components to include or consider in an RET Supplement request (limited to 3 pages of project description):

• A specific statement in the project summary that this is a request for an RET supplement.


• Clearly articulate, in some detail, the form and nature of the prospective teacher's involvement in the PI's research.


• Describe the selection process used for identifying the teacher(s). MCB encourages the recruitment of teachers who are members of groups traditionally underrepresented in STEM (including minorities, persons with disabilities, veterans) or whose school is located in an underserved community. Please note that RET support is limited to U.S. citizens or permanent residents.


• Describe how the experience will lead to transfer of new knowledge to classroom activities and how those activities help fulfill curriculum goals or teacher training stated by the relevant school system. The inclusion of a plan for broad dissemination of new teaching products is encouraged.


• Describe what follow-up would be provided to help in translating the teacher's research experience into classroom practice.


• Explain the unforeseen circumstances that led to this request for funding as a post-award supplement (rather than inclusion in the original proposal).


• Briefly describe any prior experience working with K-12 teachers. Results from the most recent RET supplement must be described, if applicable.


• List the desired start date and duration of the supplement. The duration of the RET supplement will generally be one year, and the project may be carried out during summer months, during the academic year, or both.


• Indicate expiration date of the parent award (the supplement must be expended by the time the award expires).


• Include a biographical sketch for each teacher of no more than 2-pages in Supplementary Documents.


• Budget for an RET supplement request:


• Person-related costs, such as stipends, travel, and lodging should be entered in Participant Support Costs (section F) on the budget. Non-person related costs, such as materials or supplies, should be appropriate for the proposed activities and included under section G.1. of the budget. Indirect costs should be calculated only on the amount listed in section G.1.


• All costs should be clearly explained in the budget justification.


• Typical requests include a teacher stipend and up to $1,000 for the cost of materials, equipment, software and other supplies for developing classroom instructions and experiments.


• Total expenses for each teacher participant should generally be under $15,000.

Funds may be available for up to two teachers, but exceptions will be considered. If exceptional circumstances require additional funds, please consult with the relevant MCB Program Director.

RET supplement requests should be submitted by the target date of the third Tuesday in January.

If you have questions, please contact the cognizant MCB Program (check the MCB Staff Directorate on the NSF website).

Research Opportunity Award (ROA)

The goal of a Research Opportunity Award (ROA) activity is to enhance the research productivity and professional development of science faculty at primarily undergraduate institutions (including community colleges) through research activities that enable them to explore the emerging frontiers of science. Such research not only contributes to basic knowledge in science but also provides an opportunity to integrate research and undergraduate education. The Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences (MCB) enthusiastically supports this activity. Further information is available in the RUI Program Webpage.

We strongly recommend discussing a potential ROA submission with a Program Director prior to submitting the proposal.

The following can assist you in preparing an ROA supplement request:

• The formal ROA supplement request should clearly describe, in some detail: the research to be conducted by the ROA visitor; a statement from the host about his/her role in the proposed research efforts; the contribution of the proposed work to the visitor's future research plans and impact on his/her home institution; a budget with appropriate explanatory justification, and a biographical sketch for the visitor.


• ROA activities are most frequently summer experiences, but partial support of sabbaticals may also be provided.


• ROA supplements are generally about $25,000, including indirect costs.


• Except for major instrumentation or equipment, almost anything allowable in a regular grant proposal (see the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) for details) may be included in an ROA budget.

The decision to award an ROA supplement will be based on internal review by the Program Director and availability of funds.

ROA supplement requests should be submitted by the target date of the third Tuesday in January.

If you have questions, please contact a cognizant MCB Program Director (check the MCB Staff Directory on the NSF website).

Career-Life Balance (CLB)

CLB Supplemental Funding (PAPPG Chapter 2.F.8.) to existing awards may be requested as described below:

• Research award recipients may request supplemental funding:


• To support additional personnel (e.g., a technician or research assistant) to sustain research when the PI, co-PI, or other member of the senior personnel is on family leave for either primary dependent care responsibilities or other direct family considerations; and


• To support additional personnel (e.g., a technician or research assistant) to sustain research while a postdoctoral researcher or graduate student being supported by NSF on the award is on family leave for either primary dependent care responsibilities or other direct family considerations.


• Special Instructions for the Preparation and Submission of CLB Supplemental Funding Requests
  For all eligible categories noted above, the supplemental funding request may include funding for up to six months of salary support or stipend for a maximum of $30,000 in direct costs of salary compensation or stipend, but the duration of the salary or stipend support may not exceed the duration of the family leave. Fringe benefits and associated indirect costs (F&A), but not tuition, may be included in addition to the salary costs, and therefore, the total supplemental funding request may exceed $30,000.

All requests for CLB supplemental funding support must be submitted via the "Supplemental Funding Request" function in Research.gov and must be adequately justified. It may take NSF up to two months or more to process such a request. CLB supplemental funding requests will usually be reviewed internally unless the Program Director determines that the advice of external reviewers is essential.

The CLB Supplemental Funding Request must:

• Clearly specify that this is a CLB supplemental funding request.


• Provide a description of how a technician, research assistant, or equivalent would be used to sustain the research effort while the PI, co-PI or other member of the Senior Personnel is on family leave, the NSF Graduate Research Fellow is on medical deferral for a family leave situation, or the postdoctoral researcher or graduate student is on family leave.


• Provide a budget and budget justification in support of requested costs.


• Identify the proposed period of performance for the technician, research assistant, or equivalent.


• Include the following statement:


• "The Authorized Organizational Representative hereby certifies that the request for a technician (or equivalent) is because the (PI/co-PI/senior investigator/ Fellow/ postdoctoral researcher/ graduate student) is, or will be, on family leave status (or equivalent) from the institution in accordance with the institution's policies. The Authorized Organizational Representative also affirms that it is able to fill the position for which funding is being requested, in an appropriate timeframe."

No privacy-related information should be provided in this request, i.e., the rationale for leave should not be disclosed to NSF.

CLB supplement requests may be submitted at any time (there is no target date).

If you have any additional questions, please contact the relevant MCB Program (check the MCB Staff Directory on the NSF website).