NSF 12-498: East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes for U.S. Graduate Students (EAPSI)

Program Solicitation NSF 12-498

National Science Foundation Office of International and Integrative Activities

Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time):

     December 06, 2012

     November 14, 2013

     Second Thursday in November, Annually Thereafter

Important Information And Revision Notes

Owing to the disruptions due to the recent Atlantic storms and issues with the program's website, the Office of International Science and Engineering announces an extension of the deadline for applications to its program of East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes (EAPSI) until December 6, 2012.

Applicants who submitted applications for the earlier deadline will be contacted directly by the program concerning the deadline extension.

Summary Of Program Requirements

General Information

Program Title:

East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes for U.S. Graduate Students (EAPSI)

Synopsis of Program:

NSF and selected foreign counterpart science and technology agencies sponsor international research institutes for US graduate students in seven East Asia and Pacific locations at times set by the counterpart agencies between June and August each year. These Summer Institutes (EAPSI) operate similarly and the research visits to a particular location take place at the same time. Although applicants apply individually to participate in a Summer Institute, awardees become part of the cohort for each location. Applicants must propose a location, host scientist, and a research project that is appropriate for the host site and duration of the international visit.

An EAPSI award provides U.S. graduate students in science, engineering, and education: 1) first-hand research experiences in Australia, China, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Singapore or Taiwan; 2) an introduction to the science, science policy, and scientific infrastructure of the respective location; and 3) an orientation to the society, culture and language. It is expected that EAPSI awards will help students initiate professional relationships to enable future collaboration with foreign counterparts.

The NSF award includes participation in a pre-departure orientation, a summer stipend, and travel expenses to the research site. EAPSI partner agencies pay in-country living expenses during the Summer Institutes.

Cognizant Program Officer(s):

Please note that the following information is current at the time of publishing. See program website for any updates to the points of contact.

• Anne L. Emig, telephone: (703) 292-7241, email: oise-eapsi@nsf.gov

• Elena R. Hillenburg, Program Specialist, telephone: (703) 292-2993, email: oise-eapsi@nsf.gov

Applicable Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s):

• 47.041 --- Engineering
• 47.049 --- Mathematical and Physical Sciences
• 47.050 --- Geosciences
• 47.070 --- Computer and Information Science and Engineering
• 47.074 --- Biological Sciences
• 47.075 --- Social Behavioral and Economic Sciences
• 47.076 --- Education and Human Resources
• 47.079 --- International and Integrative Activities (IIA)
• 47.081 --- Office of Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research

Award Information

Anticipated Type of Award: International travel award

Estimated Number of Awards: 200

NSF nominates applicants to the foreign counterpart agency based on a previously negotiated limit for each EAPSI location. Success rates for the different locations vary within each fiscal year and from year to year. Tentative award offers from NSF are not finalized unless counterpart agencies concur in the selections.

Anticipated Funding Amount: $2,400,000 pending availability of funds.

Eligibility Information

Organization Limit:

Proposals may only be submitted by the following:

• Applications are submitted directly by individual graduate students, not through the institutions at which they are enrolled. This requires that, during the application process, each student must register as an institution and serves as his or her own Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR). Similarly, awards are made to the individuals.

PI Limit:

As of the deadline date for the application, applicants must

• be U.S. citizens or permanent residents;
• be enrolled in a research-oriented Master's or Ph.D. degree program, and, if enrolled in a joint Bachelor/Master's program, have graduated from the undergraduate degree portion of the program;
• be enrolled at a U.S. institution located in the United States; and
• propose a research project in fields of science, engineering, and science education supported by the National Science Foundation (see Section II below for fields of study eligible for NSF support).

Applications submitted by persons who do not meet all of the above criteria will not be entered into the competition and will be returned without review.

Applicants are encouraged to consult with and have the support of their academic advisors prior to applying.

Previous awardees may apply, but only to a different host location from their previous award. Priority will be given to new applicants to the program.

Students who are matriculated at the time of application and subsequently graduate may still receive an award and participate in the program.

Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization:

Not applicable

Limit on Number of Proposals per PI: 1

One application per student per year.

Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions

A. Proposal Preparation Instructions

• Letters of Intent: Not Applicable

• Preliminary Proposal Submission: Not Applicable

• Full Proposal Preparation Instructions: This solicitation contains information that supplements the standard Grant Proposal Guide (GPG) proposal preparation guidelines. Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information

B. Budgetary Information

• Cost Sharing Requirements: Inclusion of voluntary committed cost sharing is prohibited.

• Indirect Cost (F&A) Limitations: There are no indirect costs allowed.

• Other Budgetary Limitations: Other budgetary limitations apply. Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information.

C. Due Dates

• Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time):

       December 06, 2012

       November 14, 2013

       Second Thursday in November, Annually Thereafter

Proposal Review Information Criteria

Merit Review Criteria: National Science Board approved criteria. Additional merit review considerations apply. Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information.

Award Administration Information

Award Conditions: Additional award conditions apply. Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information.

Reporting Requirements: Additional reporting requirements apply. Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information.

I. Introduction

Support of international activities is an integral part of the NSF mission to sustain and strengthen the nation's science, mathematics, and engineering capabilities, and to promote the use of those capabilities in service to society. In particular, NSF recognizes the importance of enabling U.S. researchers and educators to advance their work through international collaborations, and of helping ensure that future generations of U.S. scientists and engineers gain professional experience beyond this nation's borders early in their careers.

II. Program Description

EAPSI awards are available in any area of science and engineering research or education supported by NSF. Applicants are reminded that NSF does not support research in the biological sciences with public health or disease-related goals, including the etiology, diagnosis, or treatment of physical or mental disease, abnormality or malfunction in humans or animals. Animal models of such conditions or the development or testing of drugs or other procedures for their treatment also are not eligible for support. Biomedical engineering and healthcare engineering are supported in selected areas; see the current descriptions on the Engineering website, https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=501032&org=CBET&from=home.

EAPSI awards provide U.S. graduate students in science and engineering: 1) first-hand research experiences in partner locations, i.e., Australia, China, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Singapore or Taiwan; 2) an introduction to the science, science policy, and scientific infrastructure of the respective location; and 3) an orientation to the society, culture and language of these locations. These goals are met through research visits that will help graduate students initiate scientific relationships to enable future collaboration with foreign counterparts. All institutes, except Japan, last approximately eight weeks from June to August. The institute in Japan lasts approximately ten weeks from June to August.

EAPSI aims to provide an international experience to those graduate students particularly who have never had one previously. Previous awardees may apply to a new host location, but priority will be given to new applicants. As this program is open to all research fields and disciplines supported by NSF, at a wide range of suitable research institutions, NSF will ensure appropriate distribution of fellowships across disciplinary fields and research sites. Member of groups under-represented in U.S. science, engineering, and STEM education are especially encouraged to apply.

The East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes are administered in the United States by the National Science Foundation. In East Asia and the Pacific, the Summer Institutes are co-sponsored by:

• Australian Academy of Science;
• Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and National Natural Science Foundation of China;
• Japan Society for the Promotion of Science;
• National Research Foundation of Korea;
• Royal Society of New Zealand;
• National Research Foundation of Singapore; and
• National Science Council of Taiwan.

The first summer institute began in Japan in 1990, followed by Korea in 1995, Taiwan in 2000, China in 2003, Australia in 2004, New Zealand in 2007 and Singapore in 2008. The Summer Institute in Taiwan operates in accordance with the U.S.-Taiwan Relations Act (PL 96-8).

A. Key Elements

The EAPSI program is designed for U.S. graduate students wishing to conduct research in a foreign setting and to experience the culture(s) of the host locations.

Foreign language capability is not required for acceptance into the EAPSI program; however, applicants are strongly encouraged to obtain language training prior to their travel.

Before applying for the Summer Institutes, U.S. permanent residents should verify their ability to travel without difficulty outside of the United States and to Australia, China, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Singapore or Taiwan.

Applicants may indicate a second and third choice in the event their first choice is not possible. Only ONE potential host researcher may be identified per location in the application.

Applicants must obtain an invitation or acceptance from their first choice host researcher to conduct summer research prior to submitting an application. The application also requires a letter of recommendation. These materials cannot be added after the deadline, unless invited by NSF when an alternative site is permitted.

Applicants are advised to review carefully specific information about their desired location and potential host researchers prior to submission. Questions about specific locations can be addressed to the Office of International Science and Engineering whose regional coordinators and program managers have expertise and experience specific to these locations.

Awardees must attend the pre-departure orientation session in the Washington, D.C. area which is usually held in March or April. Expenses are paid by NSF.

Awardees are responsible for preparing for their own travel, including but not limited to obtaining passports, visas, travel insurance, and any other requirements for travel. Likewise, they are responsible for making their own arrangements for necessary medications, immunizations, and health insurance.

At the conclusion of the Summer Institute, participants are encouraged to visit other research sites in their host location to learn about research being conducted in their field and to cultivate additional contacts for future collaborations. Such visits are scheduled in consultation with host researchers and foreign co-sponsoring organizations.

Applicants are required to review information for their selected location in the respective handbook on the EAPSI website. Information in the handbooks is updated each year for the following year's programs, or as details become available. Participants must attend the Summer Institute in its entirety.

B. Program Conditions and Requirements:

As a set of structured programs jointly funded and managed by NSF and foreign co-sponsoring organizations in the East Asia and Pacific region, all of the Summer Institutes operate in the same manner. All applications are submitted to NSF. Following merit review, NSF selects the applicants to be nominated for awards to partner organizations and makes tentative offers to them to verify that they will accept the fellowship if a final offer is made and that they agree to all conditions of the awards. NSF cannot make final award decisions unless and until the counterpart organizations and hosts concur in the nominations. Therefore it is not always possible to finalize a tentative offer.

Applicants selected by NSF must ACCEPT the following terms and conditions before NSF will forward their nominations to the counterpart organizations. Participants must commit to attend the Summer Institute:

1. in its entirety. Late arrivals and early departures are not allowed and participants must attend any opening and closing ceremonies. Tentative offers will include the dates of the select Summer Institute.

2. unaccompanied. Due to varying visa requirements and the nature of the program, it is not appropriate for awardees to be accompanied by family and/or friends during the Summer Institutes. NSF and host organizations provide support and resources for awardees only; they cannot provide any support, service or accommodation for other individuals.

3. after attending the NSF orientation. A pre-departure orientation in Washington, DC is arranged and expenses reimbursed by NSF.

4. at the location assigned by the partner organization. NSF and the relevant foreign co-sponsoring organizations attempt to finalize host arrangements as proposed by applicants; but placement with the requested host researcher cannot be guaranteed. Students are expected to accept placement with alternative host researchers as suggested by NSF and/or the foreign co-sponsoring organization. Any changes in the research plan must be approved both by NSF and the counterpart agency in advance of the change.

5. with no overlap of Federal support. Participants may receive funding from only one Federal source while participating in the EAPSI summer activity. If you currently receive salary or stipend from another Federal source, including fellowships and research and training grants, you must decline the stipend or your current source of funding during the Summer Institute.

6. after providing NSF contact information of someone in the U.S. in case of emergency while outside the U.S.

Participants are representatives of NSF and the United States. Failure to adhere to any of the above terms and conditions or to engage in behavior that reflects negatively upon either NSF or the United States may result in immediate dismissal from the program, immediate return home, and return of all award funds to NSF and/or the foreign co-sponsoring organization.

C. Approximate Timetable:

November: Deadline, applications submitted

December - January: NSF merit review of applications

February: Tentative offers to selected applicants. Nominations sent to counterpart organizations.

March/April: Pre-departure orientation in Washington, D.C. area (2 days)

April: Final acceptance notices issued to confirmed students by NSF’s foreign co-sponsoring organizations in Australia, China, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Singapore and Taiwan

April - June: Potential awardees submit abstracts and prepare to travel; NSF grants office issues award notifications by email

June - August: Summer Institutes

December: Final reports due

III. Award Information

The NSF portion of the EAPSI award consists of several parts: a stipend of $5,000, attendance at the pre-departure orientation, and round-trip transportation from the Fellow's home to the host location in the form of a non-refundable airline ticket on a U.S. flag carrier in accordance with GSA requirements and issued by the NSF travel contractor.

The foreign counterparts provide in-country room and board and travel for research visits.

IV. Eligibility Information

Organization Limit:

Proposals may only be submitted by the following:

• Applications are submitted directly by individual graduate students, not through the institutions at which they are enrolled. This requires that, during the application process, each student must register as an institution and serves as his or her own Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR). Similarly, awards are made to the individuals.

PI Limit:

As of the deadline date for the application, applicants must

• be U.S. citizens or permanent residents;
• be enrolled in a research-oriented Master's or Ph.D. degree program, and, if enrolled in a joint Bachelor/Master's program, have graduated from the undergraduate degree portion of the program;
• be enrolled at a U.S. institution located in the United States; and
• propose a research project in fields of science, engineering, and science education supported by the National Science Foundation (see Section II below for fields of study eligible for NSF support).

Applications submitted by persons who do not meet all of the above criteria will not be entered into the competition and will be returned without review.

Applicants are encouraged to consult with and have the support of their academic advisors prior to applying.

Previous awardees may apply, but only to a different host location from their previous award. Priority will be given to new applicants to the program.

Students who are matriculated at the time of application and subsequently graduate may still receive an award and participate in the program.

Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization:

Not applicable

Limit on Number of Proposals per PI: 1

One application per student per year.

V. Proposal Preparation And Submission Instructions

A. Proposal Preparation Instructions

Full Proposal Instructions: Proposals submitted in response to this program solicitation should be prepared and submitted in accordance with the guidelines specified in the NSF Grant Proposal Guide (GPG). The complete text of the GPG is available electronically on the NSF website at: https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=gpg. Paper copies of the GPG may be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, telephone (703) 292-PUBS (7827) or by e-mail from nsfpubs@nsf.gov.

Important Proposal Preparation Information: FastLane will check for required sections of the full proposal, in accordance with Grant Proposal Guide (GPG) instructions described in Chapter II.C.2. The GPG requires submission of: Project Summary; Project Description; References Cited; Biographical Sketch(es); Budget; Budget Justification; Current and Pending Support; Facilities, Equipment & Other Resources; Data Management Plan; and Postdoctoral Mentoring Plan, if applicable. If a required section is missing, FastLane will not accept the proposal.

Please note that the proposal preparation instructions provided in this program solicitation may deviate from the GPG instructions. If the solicitation instructions do not require a GPG-required section to be included in the proposal, insert text or upload a document in that section of the proposal that states, "Not Applicable for this Program Solicitation." Doing so will enable FastLane to accept your proposal.

In cases where requirements given in this program solicitation differ from those given in the Grant Proposal Guide, this program solicitation takes precedence.

All page limits indicated within this program solicitation include images, figures, graphics, tables, etc. Applicants must adhere to page limitations, NSF limits on font type and size, and margins (minimum of 2.5 cm). Proposals that do not conform to the requirements will be returned without review.

IMPORTANT SUBMISSION NOTES: Unlike most proposals to NSF, EAPSI proposals are submitted directly to NSF without going through your university. EAPSI proposals must be submitted electronically on the NSF FastLane website.

1. Follow specific instructions from 'How to Apply' by selecting 'Postdoctoral Fellowships and Other Programs', 'I am an Applicant', and then 'East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes' on the NSF FastLane website (https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/fastlane.jsp).
2. In the FastLane application process for EAPSI, the applicant will be called a Principal Investigator (PI) or Proposer and must register as an 'individual researcher' acting as the Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR).
3. After registering as an individual researcher, applicants must log in to FastLane and edit the PI Information form regarding citizenship. Applicants must be US citizens or permanent residents and therefore it is not permitted to select "do not wish to provide" in response to citizenship. Failure to provide citizenship information will result in the application being returned without review.
4. The applicant must list the name of the Letter of Recommendation writer within the "Add/Delete Letter of Reference Writers" section in FastLane Proposal Preparation. This must be done BEFORE the applicant's reference can upload his or her letter into the FastLane system.
5. All proposal materials must be submitted via FastLane by the deadline. Materials sent via other means to NSF or received after the deadline will not be reviewed, considered, or accepted.
6. EAPSI applications will be shared with foreign partner science agencies, and subsequently, with potential host researchers. Therefore, do not include any information in your application to which you would not want your host researcher or the foreign co-sponsoring organization to have access.
7. Before selecting hosts, applicants are advised to review specific criteria and procedures for Australia, China, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Singapore and Taiwan listed under "Potential Host Institutions for East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes" on the EAPSI website https://www.nsf.gov/eapsi. Applicants to Japan should seek formal acceptance from a senior-level representative at the host institution (e.g., Professor, Director), even if the applicant's mentor may be a junior-level (e.g., Assistant Professor) researcher at that institution.
8. Applicants are not restricted to the hosts listed on the "Potential Host Institutions for East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes" website. Rather, students are strongly encouraged to seek information about potential foreign host researchers and institutions from their academic advisors, appropriate U.S. or foreign faculty members, or by contacting primary points of contact at foreign co-sponsoring organizations listed in the respective Handbooks. Students may also seek out host researchers by conducting literature searches and/or from host universities directly.
9. While preparing the application, applicants should keep in mind that the key to a successful EAPSI application and experience is developing clear, mutually agreed upon expectations about the proposed research project and sharing them with the host and the graduate advisor.
10. If you have any questions about registering as an individual or need assistance with submitting materials in FastLane, contact the FastLane Helpdesk at fastlane@nsf.gov or 1-800-673-6188.

PROPOSAL COMPONENTS: Only complete and timely applications will be accepted. You must submit all materials listed below by the deadline. Applications that include any extraneous information not requested in the program solicitation will be returned without review.

1. Cover Sheet: You must first complete the requested fields on the cover sheet to gain access to the application process. Check that your name and address are correct. Select the EAPSI program solicitation from the list shown. When you click on "remainder of the cover sheet," you'll notice that the cover sheet auto fills and is saved.
2. Application Form:
   • You must complete and save the Application Form. Please enter all information COMPLETELY and CORRECTLY.
   • In item 2, you may list up to three locations in order of preference from the following list: Australia, China, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Singapore, or Taiwan. You must identify one potential host researchers at each location.
   • In item 3, identify the NSF program area as listed at www.nsf.gov or research directorate within whose purview your research project falls or, for interdisciplinary projects, the major fields of science/engineering/education. This field is limited to 30 characters.
   • In item 4, provide a succinct and clear title of the research project you are proposing in terms understandable to any scientist, mathematician or engineer. Do not use abbreviations or acronyms. This field is limited to 180 characters.
   • If item 6 reads "do not wish to provide," go back and edit the PI Personal Information in FastLane. If a permanent resident, you must supply registration number and county of citizenship.
   • In item 12, use the same order to list potential hosts as in item 4. You may name more than one host researcher per institution. Please provide contact information including email addresses.
   • Applicants must obtain and include an invitation or acceptance from their first choice host researcher. Email is acceptable. A summary of the email or other correspondence between you and the proposed host that lead to the research plan is required and must be uploaded in the "Supplementary Docs" section of the application. (See below.)
3. Project Summary: This is an abstract not to exceed one page with 2 separate sections. The first, intellectual merit, is a short description of your proposed research project and the other, broader impacts, summarizes your planned activities and impacts beyond the research project itself. The international component of EAPSI is itself a broader impact and, while it may be appropriate to mention broader implications of the research to the field of science, broader impacts should include but not be limited to community engagement, outreach efforts, and educational activities. You may divide the one page between the two required topics as you wish. If both are not present, your application will be returned without review.
4. Project Description: (not to exceed five (5) single spaced pages with 2.5 cm margins using an NSF-allowed font). The project description is the section of the application where you present your research plan for the summer, the specific justification for the selection of your host and host location, and your career goals and how the EAPSI fellowship fits with your thesis project and/or career goals. Space is limited so do not repeat any information given elsewhere in your application, for example, the project summary.
   • Begin the project description with a project synopsis and timeline.
   • Present a research plan including a short introduction and background section. Provide a clear description of what research you plan to conduct and why traveling to the host location is justified for the project's successful completion. If asking hypothesis-driven research question(s), give research objectives and methodologies. The description should be detailed and specific enough to be evaluated by both disciplinary experts and general enough for an interdisciplinary panel. If specific hypotheses are not presented, give sufficient detail to explain what research is being conducted, how, and why. Explain how the research fits into your thesis research and/or career goals.
   • The proposed research should be achievable within 6-7 weeks (8-9 weeks for Japan).
   • Describe previous collaboration with the host and/or proposed future collaboration as a result of an EAPSI project, if any.
   • Identify any special clearances or reviews required, e.g., human subjects, vertebrate animals, collection/import/export permits and how these requirements will be met prior to accepting an EAPSI fellowship.
   • Give a brief scientific biography of your primary proposed host, including a few select publications or activities that directly relate to your project, if any.
   • Explain how the specific expertise of your proposed host researcher and capability of the host institution (e.g., facilities, data, equipment access) benefits your proposed project, i.e., describe what benefits derive from working with your host on the proposed research topic/project.
   • Describe the expected value of gaining both cultural and scientific experience in Australia, China, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Singapore or Taiwan to your future career goals.
   • Describe any unique qualifications you possess to conduct research in an international setting.
   • List the person who will be writing your Letter of Reference; include his or her institution, position, and relationship to you and identify any potential conflicts-of-interest, e.g., personal or family relationships, etc.
5. References cited: Literature cited in the Project Description are not counted against the 5-page limit on the project description but must be listed separately and uploaded into the References section.
6. Biographical Sketch (curriculum vitae):
   • Provide a 2-page biographical sketch that includes your academic background, previous appointments, past research experience, previous international experience, a list of publications, and/or other pertinent information (e.g., awards, skills and abilities) you consider relevant to determining your overall suitability for receiving an EAPSI fellowship. Your CV needs to explain clearly what graduate program you are enrolled in, what degree you seek, and where you are in the process of earning the degree.
   • List any Responsible Conduct of Research training you have had.
   • If you are a prior EAPSI Fellow, indicate the year and location of Fellowship experience and provide a short paragraph on results of your past EAPSI support.
   • The biographical sketch should include only your professional information; do not include personal information, such as birth date, home address, etc.
   • You may use the format described in the Grant Proposal Guide at https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=gpg or a format of your choosing.
7. A Letter of Reference: You must have a letter of recommendation from your current graduate/thesis advisor.
   • If you are not assigned to one advisor, you may substitute your academic advisor or Department Chair.
   • The reference writer must identify any potential conflicts-of-interest, e.g. personal and/or family relationship with the applicant.
   • Do not use your proposed foreign host as the writer of a letter of reference.
   • Your reference-letter writer must submit the letter using FastLane (See "Add/Delete Letter of Reference Writers" section in your FastLane application).
   • You must list the person's name in FastLane before your reference can submit a letter.
   • You are responsible for assuring that your reference uses FastLane to submit the letter by the application deadline.
   • If the letter is not received in FastLane by the deadline, the application will be returned without review.
8. Supplementary Documents: ONLY the following supplementary documents are to be submitted electronically via FastLane as part of the application. Please submit them in the following order:
   • Proof of Current Enrollment: A statement from your advisor, the registrar's office, Dean, or Department Chair attesting to your current enrollment in the graduate program. Email statements with their original headings including senders' email addresses and dates are acceptable.
   • Letters of invitation or acceptance (email is sufficient) from the potential host researcher. The host letters must indicate that the host has read your proposal and agrees to host you for the proposed project, what benefits will accrue to the host's research, and what facilities and resources will be made available to you for the summer.
   • Include a description of how you made contact with the proposed host and established mutual commitment to the project. You may use a summary of your contacts or include copies of emails you exchanged with the proposed host. Keep this section brief by not including manuscripts you may have exchanged.
   • IRB Approval (if applicable): If your proposal involves human subjects, include Institutional Review Board (IRB) Approval or Exemption information from your home or host institution. Otherwise address how you will obtain approval in the project description.
   • Vertebrate Animals Statement (if applicable): Upload Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) approval for your research from your graduate institution or similar approval from the host institution, if available. Otherwise address how you will obtain the approval in the project description.
   • Data Management Plan, or assertion of the absence of the need for such a plan, per guidance in the GPG.

SPECIFIC NOTES REGARDING THE EAPSI SELECTION PROCESS:

1. Following merit review, you will be notified if your application is tentatively selected. NSF will then forward applications to the respective foreign co-sponsoring organization for matching/confirming with host researcher(s) listed in your application. Final award decisions are contingent on (1) recommendation by NSF, (2) acceptance by NSF's foreign co-sponsoring organization, and (3) confirmed placement at the foreign host institution. It is possible that an applicant who has been tentatively selected may ultimately be declined.
2. NSF may suggest alternative placement at other locations in rare cases where applicants are not able to be matched with a host or are declined by the foreign co-sponsoring organization.

Proposers are reminded to identify the program solicitation number (NSF12-498) in the program solicitation block on the NSF Cover Sheet For Proposal to the National Science Foundation. Compliance with this requirement is critical to determining the relevant proposal processing guidelines. Failure to submit this information may delay processing.

B. Budgetary Information

Cost Sharing: Inclusion of voluntary committed cost sharing is prohibited

Indirect Cost (F&A) Limitations: There are no indirect costs allowed.

Other Budgetary Limitations: Other budgetary limitations apply. See the full text of this solicitation for further details.

Budget Preparation Instructions: The proposal budget form is filled in automatically to reflect the amount of the stipend and allowances. Do not alter this form in any way.

C. Due Dates

• Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time):

       December 06, 2012

       November 14, 2013

       Second Thursday in November, Annually Thereafter

D. FastLane Requirements

Proposers are required to prepare and submit all proposals for this program solicitation through use of the NSF FastLane system. Detailed instructions regarding the technical aspects of proposal preparation and submission via FastLane are available at: http://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/a1/newstan.htm. For FastLane user support, call the FastLane Help Desk at 1-800-673-6188 or e-mail fastlane@nsf.gov. The FastLane Help Desk answers general technical questions related to the use of the FastLane system. Specific questions related to this program solicitation should be referred to the NSF program staff contact(s) listed in Section VIII of this funding opportunity.

Submission of Electronically Signed Cover Sheets. The Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) must electronically sign the proposal Cover Sheet to submit the required proposal certifications (see Chapter II, Section C of the Grant Proposal Guide for a listing of the certifications). The AOR must provide the required electronic certifications within five working days following the electronic submission of the proposal. Further instructions regarding this process are available on the FastLane Website at: https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/fastlane.jsp.

VI. NSF Proposal Processing And Review Procedures

Proposals received by NSF are assigned to the appropriate NSF program where they will be reviewed if they meet NSF proposal preparation requirements. Internal NSF reviewers will be selected from the scientists, engineers, and educators serving at NSF by Program Officers charged with the oversight of the review process. Care is taken to ensure that reviewers have no conflicts of interest with the proposal.

A. NSF Merit Review Criteria

All NSF proposals are evaluated through use of the two National Science Board (NSB)-approved merit review criteria: intellectual merit and the broader impacts of the proposed effort. In some instances, however, NSF will employ additional criteria as required to highlight the specific objectives of certain programs and activities.

The two NSB-approved merit review criteria are listed below. The criteria include considerations that help define them. These considerations are suggestions and not all will apply to any given proposal. While proposers must address both merit review criteria, reviewers will be asked to address only those considerations that are relevant to the proposal being considered and for which the reviewer is qualified to make judgments.

What is the intellectual merit of the proposed activity?
How important is the proposed activity to advancing knowledge and understanding within its own field or across different fields? How well qualified is the proposer (individual or team) to conduct the project? (If appropriate, the reviewer will comment on the quality of the prior work.) To what extent does the proposed activity suggest and explore creative, original, or potentially transformative concepts? How well conceived and organized is the proposed activity? Is there sufficient access to resources?

What are the broader impacts of the proposed activity?
How well does the activity advance discovery and understanding while promoting teaching, training, and learning? How well does the proposed activity broaden the participation of underrepresented groups (e.g., gender, ethnicity, disability, geographic, etc.)? To what extent will it enhance the infrastructure for research and education, such as facilities, instrumentation, networks, and partnerships? Will the results be disseminated broadly to enhance scientific and technological understanding? What may be the benefits of the proposed activity to society?

Examples illustrating activities likely to demonstrate broader impacts are available electronically on the NSF website at: https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/gpg/broaderimpacts.pdf.

Mentoring activities provided to postdoctoral researchers supported on the project, as described in a one-page supplementary document, will be evaluated under the Broader Impacts criterion.