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This document has been archived. For current NSF funding opportunities, see
http://www.nsf.gov/funding/browse_all_funding.jsp
Directorate
for Biological Sciences
Division of Biological Infrastructure
The Division of Biological Infrastructure
(DBI) supports activities that provide the infrastructure for contemporary
research in biology.
• Instrument-Related
Activities Cluster
This cluster also manages biology-related proposals submitted to the Major
Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program. MRI is administered by the NSF Office
of Integrative Activities (http://www.nsf.gov/od/oia/index.jsp). See the
MRI Program Announcement (NSF
04-511) for further details.
1. Multi-User Biological Equipment and Instrumentation Resources
Provides
cost-shared support for the acquisition of major items of specialized multi-user
instrumentation, thereby providing access to state-of-the-art instruments.
The instrumentation must be used in the conduct of research that falls
within the purview of the BIO Directorate. The institution is required to
share
the capital cost.
- Research at Undergraduate Institutions (RUI) Proposals for Multi-User
Biological Equipment and Instrumentation Resources—The Multi-User
Biological Equipment and Instrumentation Resources Program (see program
announcement NSF
98-137) accepts proposals through the RUI Program (see
program announcement NSF
00-144). The Multi-User Biological Equipment
Program requires that one of the principal investigators be actively receiving
NSF
funding for research. NSF recognizes that research in NSF-funded areas
at RUI institutions is often supported by other sources. Therefore, for
RUI
institutions, the program makes an exception to the requirement for active
NSF research funding provided that (1) the user group is conducting research
in NSF-supported subject areas and (2) the user group is able to show
adequate research support from other funding sources (such as private
foundations
or institutional research support) to support the proposed research activities.
2. Instrument Development for Biological Research
Supports the development
of new instrumentation to increase the accuracy, range, or sensitivity
of observations for BIO research fields, including development of concept
and
proof of concept for entirely new instruments; development of new instruments
that will provide new capabilities or significantly extend currently achievable
sensitivity or resolution; and development of improved or novel software
for the operation of instruments or the analysis of data or images. For
more information, see program announcement NSF
98-119.
3. Improvements in Facilities, Communications, and Equipment for Research
at Biological Field Stations and Marine Laboratories
Biological Field
Stations and Marine Laboratories (FSMLs) are off-campus facilities for
research and education conducted in the natural habitats of terrestrial,
freshwater,
and marine ecosystems. FSMLs support biological research and education
by preserving access to study areas and organisms, providing facilities
and
equipment in close proximity to those study areas, and fostering an atmosphere
of mutual scientific interest and collaboration in research and education.
To fulfill these roles, FSMLs must offer modern laboratories and educational
spaces, up-to-date equipment, appropriate personal accommodations for visiting
scientists and students, and modern communications and data management
systems for a broad array of users. In recognition of the importance of
FSMLs in
modern biology, NSF invites proposals that address these general goals
of FSML improvement. For more information, see program guideline NSF
02-040.
• Research Resources Cluster
1. Biological Databases and Informatics (BDI)
Encourages support
of new approaches to the management of biological knowledge that render
the collection, maintenance, dissemination, and query of the data and information
therein of greater use to the scientific community. For more information,
see program announcement NSF
02-058.
In addition to the BDI Initiative, the National Science Foundation and
the National Institutes of Health signed a Memorandum of Understanding in
fiscal year 2003 to participate in a new program, Tools for Collaborations
that Involve Data Sharing. The program invites proposals to develop tools
and techniques to harness the unprecedented volume of data generated by
collaborations among researchers. Further information about the program
is available at http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5444&org=DBI.
2. Support of Living Stock Collections
Supports repositories of
research organisms, genetic stocks, and seeds, as well as cell lines and
DNA clones that are associated with the whole organisms in the collection.
The resources supported through this activity are considered essential
for national or international scientific research in the biological sciences.
Funds are also provided for curatorial databases and for linking the information
associated with the collection to other information resources or scientific
databases. Long-term support of a collection or repository will require
the development and use of such databases. For more information, see program
announcement and guidelines NSF
97-80.
3. Biological Research Collections
Supports collection improvement;
computerization of specimen-related data; research on curatorial and collection
management techniques; and activities such as symposia and workshops to
discuss subjects that enhance collections availability and utilization
by the research community. For more information, see program announcement
NSF
03-566.
• Training Cluster
1. Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Sites
This Foundation-wide
program provides opportunities for undergraduate students to experience
hands-on participation in research and related scholarly activities. BIO
provides support to grantees who involve students in special training programs
and ongoing research through the REU Sites and Supplements Program. For
more information, see program announcement NSF
03-577.
2. Undergraduate Mentoring in Environmental Biology (UMEB)
The UMEB
Program is designed to enable institutions to create innovative programs
that will encourage undergraduate students—especially those from underrepresented
groups—to pursue a career in environmental biology. UMEB supports
projects designed to engage undergraduate students in year-round research
activities and to provide sustained mentoring support. For more information,
see program announcement NSF
03-585.
3. Collaborative Research at Undergraduate Institutions (C-RUI)
The
C-RUI Program supports the collaboration of faculty across all science
disciplines to engage in research activities that require the expertise
of biologists
(as well as nonbiologists) to solve biological problems requiring a multidisciplinary
approach. Key elements in the program include the integration of research
and teaching and the training of undergraduate students. The program is
intended to build the research infrastructure at undergraduate institutions
and to encourage multidisciplinary (e.g., biology and geoscience, biology
and chemistry, biology and mathematics, biology and computer science) training
of undergraduate students. It is the intention of the BIO Directorate to
participate in this activity by continuing the C-RUI activity that began
in fiscal year 1995. For more information, see program announcement NSF
03-514.
4. Integrative Graduate Education and Research Training (IGERT)
The
agency-wide IGERT Program was created by NSF to meet the need for a cadre
of broadly prepared Ph.D.s with the technical, professional, and personal
skills essential to address the varied career demands of the future. IGERT
sponsors development of innovative, research-based graduate education and
training programs in Ph.D.-granting institutions. The program supports
projects that are based on multidisciplinary research themes and organized
by diverse
groups of investigators with appropriate research and teaching expertise.
The use of a multidisciplinary research theme provides a framework for
the integration of research and education activities and for collaborative
efforts
in training that span disciplinary areas. Thus, an IGERT project may involve
investigators from one or more departments within a single institution
or from more than one institution. The emphasis of the IGERT Program is
on
training graduate students; however, the program will support efforts that
include undergraduate and/or postdoctoral training if such participation
will strengthen the proposed training program.
5. Postdoctoral Research Fellowships
These fellowships are offered
in select program areas to U.S. citizens, nationals, and lawfully admitted
permanent resident aliens. Applicants choose a sponsoring scientist and
present a research and training plan. These fellowships are awarded to
individuals for research and training at any appropriate U.S. or foreign
institution
for 2 years, and require a change from the Ph.D. institution.
- The BIO Directorate offers postdoctoral research fellowships
in selected areas of biology to provide opportunities for recent doctoral
scientists to obtain additional training; gain research experience under
the sponsorship of established scientists; and broaden their scientific
horizons beyond their research experiences during their undergraduate or
graduate training. These fellowships are further designed to assist new
scientists to direct their research efforts across traditional disciplinary
lines and to offer them unique research resources, sites, and facilities,
including foreign locations. NSF postdoctoral fellowships are awarded to
individuals, and applications are submitted directly by applicants to NSF.
Fellows must affiliate with an appropriate research institution and are
expected to devote themselves full time to fellowship activities for the
duration of the fellowship. At the conclusion of the fellowship, a fellow
who accepts a tenure-track appointment at a U.S. institution deemed eligible
to receive NSF funds may apply for a research starter grant. This program
seeks to encourage research and training at the postdoctoral level at the
intersection of biology and the informational, computational, mathematical,
and statistical sciences. Complete information, including deadline dates
and program announcement numbers, is available at http://www.nsf.gov/div/index.jsp?div=DBI.
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