Undergraduate Research Centers (URC) Program

WHAT: Limited Submission Proposal for the National Science Foundation Undergraduate Research Centers (URC) Program

WHO: PIs in the chemical sciences.

WHY: The Undergraduate Research Centers (URC) Program anticipates having five awards, with each award as a continuing grant up to five years. The amount of each award is up to $500,000 per year plus up to an additional $200,000 in the first year for equipment.

WHEN: Internal proposal deadline of January 31, 2005 .

HOW: Faculty should submit an internal proposal to osppc@tamu.edu for review by the internal selection committee.

 THE FINE PRINT: Details available below and online at http://vpr.tamu.edu/osp/limited.html

The funding agency below has limited the number of solicitations to one per institution. If the number of faculty wishing to submit a proposal exceeds the number allowed by the agency, we will conduct an internal selection process. Below are due dates for the program, including the due date for the internal proposal for review by the internal selection committee, the date for announcement of the internal selection, the due date for the letter of intent and the due date for submission of the proposal to the agency.

AGENCY: National Science Foundation (NSF)

AGENCY PROGRAM TITLE: NSF 05-539 Undergraduate Research Centers (URC) Program

BRIEF PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: The Undergraduate Research Centers (URC) Program seeks new models and partnerships with the potential to expand the research of undergraduate research to include first- and second-year college students, and to enhance the research capacity, infrastructure and culture of participating institutions. Research should be in the chemical sciences or interdisciplinary areas supported by the chemical sciences.

Each URC is an experiment to implement and evaluate a new model to involve large numbers of first- and second-year students in potentially publishable research in the chemical sciences and interdisciplinary fields supported by the chemical sciences.

Key features of URC projects will include: inclusiveness of student recruitment, scalability and sustainability, effective partnerships and center management, integration with the curriculum and project evaluation. In addition, URCs are inherently collaborations of undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral associates, faculty, technical staff, research staff and administrators in support of expanded undergraduate research opportunities and enhanced capacity for excellence.

In sum, the URC Program will develop, implement and evaluate models for collaboration, expansion of undergraduate research participation and enhancement of capacity, infrastructure and commitment to excellence in undergraduate education in the chemical sciences and related disciplines.

More information can be found at the web page of the sponsor’s program announcement at: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2005/nsf05539/nsf05539.htm.

AGENCIES ELIGIBLE TO SUBMIT: Eligible organizations include U. S. academic institutions with undergraduate programs in areas generally supported by the NSF.

ELIGIBLE PROJECT COSTS: Indirect Cost (F&A) Limitations: No indirect costs can be applied to participant support costs, which includes the stipends, travel, subsistence and other costs of undergraduate participants.

AWARD INFORMATION : The Undergraduate Research Centers (URC) Program anticipates having five awards, with each award as a continuing grant up to five years. The amount of each award is up to $500,000 per year plus an additional $200,000 for equipment in the first year.

COST SHARING : NONE.

INTERNAL SELECTION PROCEDURES AND DEADLINES

January 31, 2005 : Deadline to obtain signatures of approval from your department head and college dean to submit an internal proposal to the Office of Sponsored Projects for review by the internal selection committee. The internal proposal should include:

• An executive summary, up to three pages, based on the proposal description as outlined in the NSF Program Announcement;
• Project and Management Plans (including team members);
• Summary budget.

Please read the RFP carefully for specific requirements of the program at http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2005/nsf05539/nsf05539.htm. These materials should be submitted electronically (MS Word or PDF) to osppc@tamu.edu for review by the internal selection committee. S election of pre-proposals will be based on NSF evaluation guidelines. Meeting the needs of the university’s reinvestment plan will also be taken into account.

During the selection process, the internal selection committee may contact departments and colleges for their opinions and commitments. They may also request additional information from PI’s.

February 4, 2005 : The Internal Selection Committee will notify PIs of the result of the internal competition.

March 7, 2005 : NSF Deadline: (required) Letter of Intent.

April 4, 2005 : NSF Deadline: (required) Full Proposal Deadline (due by 5 p.m. proposer’s local time).