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NSF 17-021

Dear Colleague Letter: Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Supplemental Funding

This document has been archived and replaced by NSF 18-015.

October 20, 2016

Dear Colleagues:

The NSF Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) invites grantees with active CISE awards to submit requests for Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Supplemental funding, following the guidelines in the NSF REU solicitation (see Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU): Sites and Supplements; NSF 13-542). Awards under no cost extension (NCE) are not eligible for this supplement. A student must be a US citizen, or a permanent resident of the US. The duration for new requests is typically one year. The proposed start date for a supplement must be after the conclusion of all existing REU supplements on the corresponding active CISE award. Priority will be given to requests submitted before March 30, 2017; the potential for funding requests after this date will be limited. If requests for REU supplemental support exceed funds available in CISE, requests will be considered in the order received. REU supplement funds can be used at any time during the year.

Annual and final reports for a project receiving REU supplements should provide a brief description of activities, impacts and outcomes (including number of support-months for each student) of REU supplement support.

REU stipend support helps retain talented students, while providing meaningful research experiences and encouraging research-based careers. The participation of students from groups underrepresented in computing -- underrepresented minorities, women, and persons with disabilities -- is strongly encouraged. In addition, CISE encourages REU supplements that specifically afford U.S. veterans an opportunity to engage in meaningful research experiences. For single investigator projects, CISE REU supplemental funding requests should typically be for no more than two students for one year. Research teams funded through multi-investigator projects may request support for a larger number of students, commensurate with the size and nature of their projects. Requests for larger numbers of students should be accompanied by detailed justifications.

CISE usually provides up to $8,000 per student per year through the REU supplemental support mechanism (This amount usually covers stipend but a small portion of the fund can be used for other related purposes e.g.; student travel to a conference). As described in the REU program solicitation (NSF 13-542), indirect costs (F&A) are not allowed on Participant Support costs in REU Site or REU Supplement budgets.

CISE REU supplemental funding requests must describe results of any previous such support, such as students supported, papers published, student placements, etc. Other factors influencing supplemental funding decisions include the number of REU requests received by CISE programs, and in the case of multiple submissions by a single PI, the ability to provide adequate mentoring.

Investigators are encouraged to refer to the REU program solicitation (NSF13-542) for detailed information concerning submission requirements. Since supplemental funds requests are handled by the cognizant program officer overseeing the active award requesting the supplement, grantees should contact the cognizant program officers of their awards if they have questions or need additional information.

Sincerely,

James Kurose
Assistant Director, CISE