CAREER Proposal Budgeting Workshop

Sponsored Programs Office

May 17, 2011

NSF CAREER Award Program Goals

• NSF’s most prestigious award for young faculty• Foster the effective integration of research

and education at all levels• Foundation-wide support for increased

participation of those traditionally underrepresented in science and engineering

CAREER Budget Basics

• Minimum size (generally the maximum)– $400k; $500k in BIO and OPP

• Duration: 5 years• Prior to preparing a CAREER proposal it is

strongly encouraged the PI contact their disciplinary program director to discuss appropriate budget requests and typical funding levels for the specific discipline.

Budget Basics

• Budget equals roughly $80K per year

• You will need to budget for each year of funding (multiple year budget)– Not every activity must happen in every year• For example, some outreach can happen in later

years, every other year, etc.

– Remember, costs escalate in later years

• Don’t forget GACS and reduced F&A rate

Budget

• Personnel• PI salary (no salary for other collaborators)

– One month summer is a good starting place.– Two month max; five year duration– Academic year salary can be requested for PI, but not

normal. NSF views this as a concern: PIs who have heavy teaching responsibilities or who must conduct field work during the academic year should not budget academic salary.

• Postdoctoral fellows– Remember, if you include funds for a post-doc a

mentoring plan will be required

Budget

• Personnel• Graduate students

– Try to include students, especially in education and outreach activities

– Can budget more than the minimum stipend

• Undergraduate students• Education and/or outreach activities • Funds for an evaluator• Other personnel (no senior personnel, but could

budget technician, etc.)

Budget • Participant Support– Contains

• Costs of transportation• Per diem• Stipends • Other related costs for participants or trainees (but not

employees) • Must be in connection with NSF-sponsored conferences,

meetings, symposia, training activities and workshops.

– Indirect costs are not allowed (on participant support).

– The number of participants to be supported must be entered in Fastlane in the proposal budget.

Budget

• Materials and Supplies– Contains tangible personal property, other than

equipment, costing less than $5,000– Cost estimates must be included for items that

represent a substantial amount of the proposed line item cost

• Equipment– If included, reviewers may wonder if this should have

been part of your start-up package

Budget

• Travel– Include some travel, make specific plans but

you will have flexibility• Publication, Documentation and

Dissemination– Includes reports, reprints, page charges or

other journal costs – A more exhaustive list can be found at nsf.gov

Budget

• Budget Restrictions – No support for collaborators or other “senior

personnel”

– Unallowable costs: entertainment, meals and coffee breaks, alcoholic beverages

– Check with A-21 for additional unallowable costs or search the Michigan Tech website for “unallowable costs”

Budget

• Budget should align with and support research and education plans

–Don’t identify an activity without showing budget support for it.•Thus, education and outreach must be included unless supported from other funds.

–You can leverage existing programs for a greater impact with modest budget.

Budget Justification

• Justification – Documents and justifies the amounts requested

in each category– 3 pages, explain your budget in words, provide

complete unambiguous information.• E.g.: Participant support costs: rates, numbers, etc.

• Do not make reviewers guess why you have included an item or why you have budgeted a specific amount. Explain!

Budget Advice

• Recognize that you must make choices. –$80k per year is not much money and goes quickly. –Use those choices to show your determination to carry out your CAREER research and education program.

More Information• Most of this information is available with

additional detail in NSF’s Grant Proposal Guide and the CAREER program solicitation

Any Questions?