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Primer on Federal Research Agencies of Interest to Universities
and Research Organizations
Prepared by Lewis-Burke Associates LLC
September 7, 2012
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Table of Contents
Forward ................................................................................................................................................................................ 3
Department of Commerce .............................................................................................................................................. 5
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ..................................................................................................... 5
National Institute of Standards and Technology ............................................................................................................ 7
Economic Development Administration ........................................................................................................................ 10
Department of Defense ................................................................................................................................................ 12
Department of Education ............................................................................................................................................ 15
Department of Energy .................................................................................................................................................. 17
Department of Health and Human Services ......................................................................................................... 20
National Institutes of Health ................................................................................................................................................ 20
Health Resources and Services Administration .......................................................................................................... 22
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.............................................................................. 24
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality ............................................................................................................... 25
Food and Drug Administration ........................................................................................................................................... 27
Department of Homeland Security .......................................................................................................................... 29
Department of Housing and Urban Development ............................................................................................. 31
Department of the Interior ......................................................................................................................................... 32
U.S. Geological Survey ............................................................................................................................................................ 32
Department of State ...................................................................................................................................................... 34
Environmental Protection Agency ........................................................................................................................... 35
Institute of Museum and Library Services ............................................................................................................ 37
National Aeronautics and Space Administration ................................................................................................ 38
National Endowment for the Arts ............................................................................................................................. 41
National Endowment for the Humanities .............................................................................................................. 42
National Science Foundation...................................................................................................................................... 44
U.S. Agency for International Development.......................................................................................................... 47
U.S. Department of Agriculture ................................................................................................................................. 49
End Notes ........................................................................................................................................................................... 51
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Forward We are in a time of uncertainty with respect to federal funding for research and development; however, healthy federal opportunities still exist across the government. Given the current budgetary landscape, researchers at your institution need more options for pursuing federal grants. Lewis-Burke Associates LLC can assist you in exploring these additional options. This Lewis-Burke Primer on Federal Research Agencies of Interest to Universities and Research Organizations was prepared as a tool to help researchers understand the variety of research options offered at departments and agencies across the federal government. Lewis-Burke staff can assist in putting researchers in contact with relevant program officers and agency leaders, deciphering funding trends, and providing additional information to help implement your institution’s research goals. Not all federal funding opportunities and research initiatives will be addressed in this document; agency web pages should be visited for the most current information. It is also important to note that specific research programs and directions can differ year to year, oftentimes as a result of Congressional action or directive. The document is organized alphabetically, not according to level of engagement with research institutions. For each agency included in this primer, the following information is provided:
Research Scope & Objectives – Describes the agency’s approach to extramurally funded research, including research topics of interest, research goals, and the extent to which research informs the overall activities and missions of the agency. Degree of Engagement – Describes the extent to which the agency provides extramural research support to universities and research institutions and the mechanisms used (e.g. grants, cooperative agreements, etc). Lewis-Burke developed a five star system to illustrate engagement by the agency:
Extremely limited engagement of extramural researchers/research is not a main function of the agency
A few extramural research programs exist/research is somewhat involved in the function of the agency
Extramural programs exist, but a large amount of research may be conducted by intramural scientists/research is important but resources are limited
Extramural research is a large component of the agency’s activities, in addition to intramural research
Extramural research is central to the agency’s activities/a major proportion of the agency’s budget is used for extramural grants
Signature Programs – Describes some the research programs of primary interest to extramural researchers at universities and other institutions. It does not include an exhaustive list but is instead meant to illustrate the agency’s research portfolio. Additional Resources – Provides links to the agency’s website, grant opportunity web pages, and research plans and reports that provide additional information about the agency’s research foci and direction.
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Research universities and institutions already know that not all agencies are created equal when it comes to their emphasis on research and the extent to which they utilize external researchers at universities and research institutions. This document includes agencies that provide the most funding support to universities and research institutions (e.g. the Department of Defense, National Institutes of Health, and National Science Foundation), other federal agencies and departments that have major programs geared toward extramural researchers (e.g. the Department of Energy, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and U.S Department of Agriculture), and those that have some university investment (e.g. the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Education, and Department of Transportation). We hope you will use this guide as a preliminary resource for understanding the federal research agencies and work with us to explore all of your options.
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Department of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is an operational agency with a mission of understanding Earth’s climate, ocean and weather systems and protecting life and property. While the agency conducts scientific research, it does so to serve its mission; NOAA is not a typical science agency like the National Science Foundation (NSF) or the National Institutes of Health (NIH). NOAA is organized by line office (i.e. National Weather Service, National Ocean Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, etc.). One of the line offices is the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), which is where a majority of the extramural research funding is maintained, though the other line offices have some research programs as well. OAR is organized into three general research topic areas: Climate Research; Weather and Air Quality Research; and Ocean, Coastal and Great Lakes Research. Unlike NSF or NIH, NOAA research programs and priorities can often be determined at the whim and direction of Congress. For example, Climate Research accounts saw significant cuts in recent appropriations bills as the topic became increasingly political and polarizing, especially among House Republicans and a handful of Republican stalwarts in the Senate. The point being, funding for extramural research programs in NOAA can be variable depending on the whims of Congress. Research Scope &
Objectives
Research is central to informing NOAA’s many operational responsibilities and research programs are often very closely aligned with the agency’s on-the-ground activities dealing with coastal resilience, weather and climate forecasting and prediction, fisheries health and management, etc. NOAA research programs are not principal investigator initiated; research questions are carefully designed by the agency based on its informational needs.
Degree of
Engagement
NOAA’s preferred method of collaborating with universities and research institutions is via cooperative agreements. NOAA has a history of engaging in long-term collaborations with institutions, decades-long in some cases. There are some traditional grant programs or shorter term cooperative agreement programs at NOAA as well, but the majority of NOAA extramural research funding goes out through multi-year, multi-institutional arrangements. It is important to note that NOAA, like other mission agencies such as the Department of Energy or the Environmental Protection Agency, has its own research laboratories that conduct basic and applied research. In many cases, extramural researchers are tasked with working in close collaboration with NOAA labs and sometimes competitions will only be open to institutions that are within daily commuting distance to a NOAA lab.
Signature Programs
NOAA offers longer term (several years to decades) partnership and research opportunities as well as shorter term grant opportunities. Long Term Partnerships:
Cooperative Institutes (CIs) – There are currently 13 CIs funded around the country. Some of the CIs represent partnerships that have existed for decades, while others are the result of recent competitions. CIs are several millions of dollars each year for five years, with re-
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competitions every five years. In most cases, though not all, CIs need to be in close proximity to NOAA labs. CIs are very competitive, but a lot of money, making them a big draw for universities. More information: http://www.nrc.noaa.gov/ci/.
• National Sea Grant College Program – There are a total of 30 Sea Grant programs representing all coastal and Great Lakes states. Sea Grant engages in ocean, coastal and Great Lakes research, education, and outreach (extension) and, in addition to basic research, works in the applied space, taking research findings and bringing them to bear on coastal needs. The program’s budget has been relatively unsteady over the last few years and Congress regularly “earmarks” the program in terms of identifying research topics for the program to take on, such as invasive species or marine aquaculture. Each Sea Grant program holds an annual competition for which research institutions can apply. More information: http://www.seagrant.noaa.gov/.
Shorter Term Opportunities: • Climate Program Office (CPO) – The bulk of shorter term, more traditional research grant
opportunities exist around NOAA’s Climate Research theme. CPO administers competitions for programs that deal with climate change variability and predictability and these activities are largely geared toward improving NOAA’s weather and climate models and predictions. An announcement for the CPO competition is usually released in late summer with full proposals due in the fall. For the last several years, the competition covered the following four programs (all of the competitions open at the same time and have roughly the same due dates): Climate Observations and Monitoring; Earth System Science; Modeling, Analysis, Predictions, and Projections; and Climate and Societal Interactions. These represent more basic research programs and typical peer reviewed competitions. More information: http://www.cpo.noaa.gov/index.jsp?pg=./opportunities/opp_index.jsp&opp=grants.
Individual Line Office Research Opportunities – Occasionally opportunities exist for universities and research institutions within NOAA’s operational line offices. However, these programs tend to be specific in scope and will need to address issues of interest to that line office. For example, within the National Ocean Service, the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science engages with universities to address operational coastal issues, such as coastal pollution and invasive species. However, like the other line offices, the mission of NOS is not to fund research; instead, research informs its work.
Additional Resources
NOAA Website: www.noaa.gov Acquisition and Grants Office: http://www.ago.noaa.gov/ago/quicklinks/grantee.cfm Line Offices
Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research: http://www.research.noaa.gov/
National Ocean Service: http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/
National Weather Service: http://www.weather.gov/
National Marine Fisheries Service: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/
National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service: http://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/ Next Generation Strategic Plan: http://www.ppi.noaa.gov/ngsp/ Five Year Research Plan (2008-2012): http://nrc.noaa.gov/plans_docs/5yrp_2008_2012_final.pdf
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National Institute of Standards and Technology
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is a non-regulatory agency within the Department of Commerce. Its mission is to promote U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement sciences, standards, and technology to bolster economic security and drive high-tech industry. NIST is organized around six internal research laboratories and facilities: the Engineering Laboratory, the Physical Measurement Laboratory, the Information Technology Laboratory, the Material Measurement Laboratory, the Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology, and the Center for Neutron Research. The latter two laboratories are user facilities for researchers. In addition to these labs, NIST operates several notable programs for industry, including the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), which helps small and medium sized companies streamline manufacturing techniques and increase efficiency and profits through training resources as well as specific project assistance. While NIST’s research focus areas span many fields including health, energy, chemistry, information technology, manufacturing, and materials science, the Administration continues to see NIST as key coordinator of R&D areas like advanced manufacturing and cybersecurity and a player in innovation and economic competitiveness initiatives. Research Scope &
Objectives
While an agency traditionally focused on internal research, NIST continues to ramp up extramural research opportunities. New extramural programs in advanced manufacturing and other priority areas have been proposed in recent years. The current NIST Director has demonstrated a desire to leverage NIST’s resources to develop programs that work in the space between public research and development initiatives and private commercialization efforts. For the next three years, NIST’s primary programmatic focus will center around three broad areas: advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, and technology transfer/commercialization. NIST recently became the home of the Obama Administration’s Advanced Manufacturing Program (AMP) office, underscoring the priority this field has at the agency.
Degree of
Engagement
NIST like other agencies has its own research laboratories that conduct basic and applied research. Extramural researchers historically have engaged with NIST through various mechanisms such as Memorandums of Understanding for researcher exchanges and Cooperative Research and Development Agreements, which are joint research collaborations with NIST, academia, and industry around a topic of interest. NIST offers some competitive grants and research fellowships, including Measurement Science and Engineering Grants, Postdoctoral Research Fellowships, and the Measurement Science and Engineering Fellowship Program. But in the last few years, NIST has begun to offer extramural programs, such as the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Consortium (AMTech) and Centers of Excellence, for which universities are expected to apply. These two programs have not yet been funded by Congress but are expected to receive funding in the final FY 2013 appropriations bill.
Signature Programs
Annual Programs:
Measurement Science and Engineering Grants – This program offers R&D grants to universities, industry, and non-profits to conduct research across fields including health, energy, chemistry, information technology, manufacturing, fire research, and materials science. Applicants submit proposals through individual NIST labs, so topics covered vary
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according to which laboratory applicants apply. More information: http://www.nist.gov/director/ocfo/grants/upload/2012-mse-ffo.pdf.
Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF) – The SURF program provides undergraduate students the opportunity to perform research and work with NIST scientists at NIST’s campuses in Gaithersburg, MD or Boulder, CO. Students typically work in the areas of nanoscale science, engineering, computer science, mathematics, materials science, chemistry, biology, neutron research and/or physics. More information: http://www.nist.gov/surfgaithersburg/.
Measurement Science and Engineering Fellowship Program – This fellowship program supports graduate students, post-doctoral students, and senior researchers conducting research in existing programs at NIST’s campuses at Gaithersburg, MD or Boulder, CO, or at the Hollings Marine Laboratory (HML) in Charleston, SC. Funding for the program was provided under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 and is set to expire in 2012. For 2011 and 2012, NIST expanded the program to include undergraduate students. There is no information about whether this program will continue after 2012. More information: http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/releases/fellow_062310.cfm.
Newly Proposed Programs (not yet funded):
The Advanced Manufacturing Technology Consortia (AMTech) – This program is aimed at addressing long-term industrial manufacturing needs by supporting industry-led consortia focused on early stage technology development in manufacturing and more efficient technology transfer methods. Consortia would develop roadmaps for addressing long-term research and technology needs and issue subawards for research at universities, national laboratories, and private businesses. This program was first proposed in FY 2012 but has not yet received funding from Congress; it is expected that it will be funded in the final FY 2013 appropriations bill. More information: http://www.nist.gov/director/adv-manufacturing-062411.cfm.
Centers of Excellence – NIST has proposed creating four new competitively-selected centers of excellence involving universities, industry, and government that will leverage and expand the agency’s research capabilities across several S&T areas. NIST expects these centers to bring together experts across multiple sectors to conduct measurement science research in critical NIST investment areas. Centers are also expected to increase technology transfer activities in the region through industry collaboration and engagement in research and training activities. More information: http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/factsheet/centers_excellence2013.cfm.
National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI) – NNMI was proposed in the FY 2013 budget request at $1 billion to support regional hubs of manufacturing excellence and to bring together academia, industry, community colleges, federal agencies and states to advance innovation. NIST would be the coordinator of the program with participation from other agencies. Each of the regional hubs would have a specific technology focus to address large scale manufacturing issues and develop innovative solutions to reduce the cost and reduce risk of commercializing new technologies. While it is unlikely the full $1 billion will be supported, pieces of it may be funded at NIST and other agencies going forward. More information: http://www.manufacturing.gov/amp/nnmi.html.
Additional Resources
NIST Website: www.nist.gov/ Funding Opportunities Website: http://www.nist.gov/director/ocfo/grants/grants.cfm
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Collaboration Opportunities Website: http://www.nist.gov/tpo/collaborations/index.cfm NIST 3-Year Programmatic Plan, FY 2013-2015: http://www.nist.gov/director/upload/NIST-3YP-FY13-15.pdf
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Economic Development Administration
The Economic Development Administration (EDA) within the Department of Commerce (DOC) is a mission agency responsible for leading the federal economic development agenda to achieve success in the global economy. EDA does this by supporting innovation and regional competitiveness; EDA provides regional grants or cooperative agreements that support sustainable job growth and stimulate the local economy. EDA uses the following priorities for determining investment: Collaborative Regional Innovation, Public/Private Partnerships, National Strategic Priorities, Global Competitiveness, Environmentally-Sustainable Development, and Economically Distressed and Underserved Communities. It places a primary focus on economically distressed areas. EDA is primarily a decentralized funding agency and uses its six offices across the U.S. to coordinate regional efforts. The regional offices are located in Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, Denver, Philadelphia, and Seattle. Much of the funding authority resides within the regional offices. In 2009, the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (OIE) was established within EDA to lead the federal government's efforts to promote innovation and entrepreneurship for job creation and economic growth. OIE is guided by the National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship (NACIE); NACIE also facilitates engagement with the entrepreneurship community and other stakeholders (including universities). Research Scope &
Objectives
The main focus of EDA is to support sustainable job growth and build regional economies. As innovation is a key economic driver, EDA will support universities whose research and development activities can provide fast and effective benefits to the local economy through translation of research activities, and access to high tech facilities and trained people. EDA supports a range of topic areas including energy, life sciences, information technology, health care, education, telecommunications, and social innovation. EDA frequently partners with other federal funding agencies such as the National Science Foundation (NSF) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. In those cases, research will fall under the interest and purview of the partnering agency.
Degree of
Engagement
Consortia of universities and other institutions of higher education are encouraged to apply to EDA as partners in a regional ecosystem that involve industry, state and local government, Native American tribes, Economic Development Districts, and public and private non-profits. There is an opportunity for universities to be involved in EDA awards, but it is not exclusive. While EDA funding is limited for research, there are many opportunities for universities to engage with EDA for other types of funding.
Signature Programs
i6 Challenge – The i6 Challenge is a multi-agency grant (including NSF and NIH), which aims to accelerate technology commercialization, job creation, and economic growth. EDA has run three i6 Challenge competitions to date, including competitions specific to sustainability and Proof of Concept Centers. Regional teams are supported by funding of $1 million, plus expected outside matching funds. More information: http://www.eda.gov/challenges/i6/.
University Centers – Given the critical role of universities in regional economic ecosystems, EDA supports universities and university consortia to establish centers that leverage university assets to benefit the local economy and support high-growth entrepreneurship. Applications across
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multiple institutions are encouraged and should include applied research and development, commercialization, and entrepreneur training. Proposals must also demonstrate success in job creation and partnership with the private sector. The EDA University Center Economic Development Program is run by two of its six regional offices “on a non-annual basisi” (every three years). More information: http://www.eda.gov/programs.htm.
Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) – This program assists in the design and implementation of strategies (e.g. strategy development, infrastructure construction, revolving loan fund capitalization) in communities and regions that have experienced or are under the threat of serious damage to the underlying economic base. More information: http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?mode=VIEW&oppId=131493. Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge – This is a multi-agency initiative coordinated by the White House to encourage innovation and job creation through public-private partnerships. The latest challenge involved 14 federal agencies and was focused on advanced manufacturing. More information: http://www.eda.gov/challenges/jobsaccelerator/default.htm.
Additional Resources
EDA Website: http://www.eda.gov/ Federal Funding Opportunities: http://www.eda.gov/ffo.htm Contact Information for Regional Offices: http://www.eda.gov/contacts.htm NACIE Information: http://www.eda.gov/programs/nacie/ OIE Information: http://www.eda.gov/challenges/i6/default.htm
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Department of Defense The Department of Defense (DOD) maintains a robust research and development portfolio aimed at developing new technologies in support of soldiers and military operations. In total, DOD spends about $70 billion annually on research, development, test, and evaluation (RDTE) activities. Within this amount, over $12 billion is devoted to the basic research (6.1), applied research (6.2), and advanced technology development (6.3) accounts which comprise DOD’s science and technology (S&T) program and are of primary interest to universities. The remaining money is for prototype development, testing, and evaluation accounts which predominantly service industry. Despite recent agreement to cut total planned defense spending by $487 billion over the next decade, defense S&T programs maintain considerable bipartisan support on Capitol Hill. Members of Congress from both parties have emphasized the important role these programs will play as the military relies on continued technological dominance to help offset planned reductions in manpower. While many DOD programs will see reductions proportional to overall cuts in coming years, defense S&T, and particularly basic research programs, appear well positioned to weather the storm.
DOD funds research largely through the individual service branches, with the Army Research Office (ARO), Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), and Office of Naval Research (ONR) being the primary distributors of basic and applied research funding. DOD also administers numerous defense-wide research initiatives, including through the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), which funds high-risk, high-reward projects aimed at generating transformative discoveries, and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), which is charged with countering weapons of mass destruction and supports research in areas including biological science, chemical science, computer/networking science, material science, mathematics, medical science, nuclear science, physics, and the social sciences. Further, the National Security Agency (NSA) funds a limited amount of research designed to advance DOD’s cryptology and communications abilities. Key NSA programs include a robust mathematics research enterprise and a centers of excellence program that engages universities in support of the agency’s cybersecurity and information assurance goals.
DOD program managers enjoy broad autonomy in awarding research dollars, as DOD does not employ a strict peer review process in the mold of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) or the National Science Foundation (NSF). This makes it imperative for researchers to develop strong relationships with DOD officials in programs of interest.
Research Scope &
Objectives
While DOD has significantly ramped up its investments in basic and applied research, the Department is principally concerned with supporting projects which hold the capacity to enhance future military capabilities. Recent DOD support for RDTE programs have centered on seven S&T priorities: autonomy; counter weapons of mass destruction; cyber; electronic warfare and protection; human systems; data-to-decisions; and engineering resilient systems. DOD has also announced six basic research priorities which permeate recent funding opportunities across the service branches: synthetic biology; engineered materials; quantum information and control; human motivations and behavior; cognitive neuroscience; and nano-science and engineering. Additionally, DOD maintains biomedical research programs in areas affecting soldiers and their families through the Army Medical Research and Material Command, part of the Army Research Laboratory.
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Degree of
Engagement
While DOD has its own network of laboratories, it relies heavily on universities and other research institutions to perform much of its basic research. There are also limited opportunities for universities to partner with DOD labs on specific projects. Most of DOD’s awards to universities take the form of competitive grants, although contracts and other mechanisms are also used. Many awards are made through Broad Agency Announcements (BAA) released annually by ARO, AFOSR, ONR, DARPA and others which outline an agency’s broad research interests and invite proposals on a variety of topics. DOD uses BAAs in place of the targeted solicitations released more frequently by agencies like NSF and NIH, although some narrower competitions are run each year. Beyond BAAs, DOD supports a network of University Affiliated Research Centers (UARC) at institutions across the country. Difficult to obtain, UARCs normally focus on a particular topic area and allow universities to receive considerable funding through non-competitive streams.
Signature Programs
Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs) – As noted above, BAAs are the most common mechanism through which DOD funds university research. Released annually by each of the service branch research offices and DARPA program offices, BAAs provide a broad outline of each entities’ research priorities for the current fiscal year. BAAs are the vehicle through which core programs, including many basic science topics, are funded by ARO, AFOSR, ONR, DTRA, and DARPA. Because of program managers’ sway over funding decisions, DOD strongly encourages investigators to discuss their ideas with the appropriate program contacts prior to submitting a white paper or full application in response to a BAA. Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI) – Funding research of interest to the military at the nexus of multiple scientific disciplines, MURI is one of DOD’s most popular programs within the academic community. Administered jointly by ARO, AFOSR, and ONR, MURI supports multidisciplinary and often multi-institutional teams in the pursuit of transformative scientific advances. DOD releases new topics for the MURI competition each year. More information: http://www.onr.navy.mil/Science-Technology/Directorates/office-research-discovery-invention/Sponsored-Research/University-Research-Initiatives/MURI.aspx. Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP) – DURIP provides funding for the purchase of equipment to support research in areas of interest to DOD. While always popular, DURIP has gained added importance in recent years as one of the few DOD mechanisms for securing instrumentation dollars following the elimination of Congressional earmarks. The FY 2013 competition will be administered by AFOSR in collaboration with ARO and ONR. Investigators submit proposals directly to the service branch whose priorities best align with their research interests. More information: http://www.onr.navy.mil/Science-Technology/Directorates/office-research-discovery-invention/Sponsored-Research/University-Research-Initiatives/DURIP.aspx. Minerva Initiative – Minerva is DOD’s primary social science research initiative. Minerva solicits projects which help DOD better understand the regions, cultures, and geopolitical environments in which it operates. More information: http://minerva.dtic.mil/.
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Additional Resources
DOD Research and Engineering Website: http://www.acq.osd.mil/chieftechnologist/index.html ARO Website: http://www.arl.army.mil/www/default.cfm?page=29 AFOSR Website: http://www.wpafb.af.mil/afrl/afosr/ ONR Website: http://www.onr.navy.mil/ DARPA Website: http://www.darpa.mil/ DTRA Research Website: http://www.dtra.mil/Research.aspx NSA Research Website: http://www.nsa.gov/research/index.shtml
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Department of Education The Department of Education (ED) oversees federal regulations, programs, and initiatives involving the K-12 and postsecondary education enterprise. This includes the federal student aid programs, commonly referred to as Title IV, such as the Pell Grant, federal Work Study, and federal student loans, and Title I formula funds to states for the education of low-income children. Research Scope &
Objectives
ED provides grants for the development of the education enterprise (e.g. improvement of teacher training, international education opportunities, student support services, etc.) and for education research. The education development grants are often directed to institutions, while the education research grants are more commonly made to individual researchers. Grants are funded through the Office of Postsecondary Education and the Office of Innovation and Improvement (OII) while the education research grants are funded through the Institute of Education Sciences (IES). IES funds peer-reviewed scientific studies on various themes through four centers: the National Center for Education Research, the National Center for Special Education Research, the National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance, and the National Center for Education Statistics.
Degree of
Engagement
Unlike the National Science Foundation (NSF) or the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Department of Education’s mission is not research; rather research is a complementary activity to the larger mission of the agency. In addition, grants tend to be much smaller when compared to NSF and NIH grants. Grants focused on the education enterprise and funding to fulfill promising education practices often require partnerships with state education agencies (SEAs) or local education agencies (LEAs). Research grants from IES focus on identifying and evaluating education practices and programs which increase student achievement and expand access.
Signature Programs
IES Education Research – Education research grants from IES are made in various topic areas including education technology; cognition and early learning; early learning programs and policy; improving education systems: policies, organization, management and leadership; mathematics and science education; postsecondary and adult education; reading and writing; and social and behavioral context for academic learning. Within the topic area, grants receive a funding level based on a “goal.” Goals for FY 2013 include: exploration; development and innovation; efficacy and replication; effectiveness; and measurement. The goal corresponds to the purpose of the research; a promising idea that is just being developed would be funded under exploration, while a fully developed idea which can demonstrate measurable results would be funded under the effectiveness goal. More information: http://ies.ed.gov/funding/webinars/slides.asp?ppt=overview_FY2013. Title VI International and Foreign Language Education – The Title VI programs within the Office of Postsecondary Education fund projects at institutions and individual fellowships which expand scholarly knowledge of languages and cultures of different regions and countries. Programs include the Centers for International Business Education (CIBE), international studies and research, and the National Resource Centers. More information: http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/iegps/index.html.
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Investing in Innovation (I3) – This signature program of the Obama Administration funds the study, implementation, and assessment of promising and innovative practices that improve student achievement in K-12 schools. In order to be eligible, researchers and institutions of higher education must partner with a local education agency (LEA). More information: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/innovation/index.html.
Additional Resources
Department of Education Website: http://www.ed.gov/ Institute of Education Sciences (IES) Website: http://ies.ed.gov/
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Department of Energy The Department of Energy (DOE) is a mission-driven agency that has custodianship of the nation’s nuclear weapons stockpile, funds research on new sources of energy and technology development, supports energy production, and promotes energy efficiency and conservation. DOE is the largest federal funding agency for research in the physical sciences. The Department sustains a network of 17 national laboratories to carry out its missions, which include three nuclear weapons laboratories and 14 civilian research laboratories, as well as smaller technology centers supported within DOE’s annual $26 billion budget. The Department also supports university researchers and collaborations with industry as part of an integrated pipeline of energy-related research and development (R&D) and demonstration and deployment (D&D). DOE’s nuclear programs are directed by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). At nearly $17 billion per year, these programs make up close to two-thirds of DOE’s overall budget. NNSA carries out nuclear weapons R&D, stewardship of the nation’s nuclear stockpile, defense nuclear nonproliferation activities, environmental clean-up associated with the nuclear legacy, and related activities. DOE’s civilian research programs include support for basic research through the Office of Science, applied research through the renewable energy and technology programs of the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), nuclear energy research, fossil energy R&D, and transformational research on new energy technologies through the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E). The Obama Administration has worked to integrate the DOE research enterprise across the agency in order to develop and commercialize new clean energy technologies. DOE also invests in new technologies, such as carbon capture and storage to improve the utilization of conventional energy resources such as coal, oil and gas, and nuclear energy. Research Scope &
Objectives
The current Administration has made it a priority for DOE to engage university researchers and industry in its strategy of working toward energy independence, improving our national security posture, and reenergizing the U.S. economy by developing and manufacturing clean energy technologies. To meet these challenges, DOE has generally supported mid- to large-sized research groups rather than small groups and individual investigators. Universities have generally competed very well for DOE funding and have been welcome to partner with DOE national laboratories and with industry to respond to major funding opportunities, such as Energy Innovation Hubs and Energy Frontier Research Centers. Through the competitive process, these initiatives have been led by both DOE national laboratories and university-led consortia.
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Degree of Engagement
DOE supports university researchers through both grants and cooperative agreements. Most of the competitive funding opportunity announcements (FOAs) are funded through grants. For multi-year projects, DOE can employ cooperative agreements. With its network of national laboratories, competition for DOE funding can be very stiff. In some cases, universities will be competing against both industry and national laboratories for DOE funding; however, DOE’s increasing emphasis on supporting larger consortia has provided new opportunities for universities. One disincentive for university researchers is the cost-sharing statutory requirement for the R&D applied technology programs (20 percent) and for D&D (50 percent). This requirement has, however, helped foster greater university collaborations with industry given the ability to provide matching funds. More recently, to leverage federal investments, DOE has been issuing funding opportunities geared toward industry; as such, university connections to industry are a potential avenue for DOE funding. DOE has convened workshops and reached out to the research community to establish roadmaps that guide research funding opportunities. These research roadmaps are an invaluable resource to university researchers and can be found at nearly every DOE program website. The Department also undertook a Quadrennial Technology Review (QTR) with broad stakeholder input to define the challenges facing DOE’s technology (applied) research programs, which will inform future agency initiatives.
Signature Programs
DOE has proposed and funded several major, multi-year initiatives in recent years. Some of these programs were started under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and are now being sustained within existing budgets. These programs include:
Energy Innovation Hubs (Hubs) – The President has proposed eight Energy Innovation Hubs to expedite the development of new energy technologies. Congress has approved funding for five Hubs (Nuclear Modeling and Simulation; Fuels from Sunlight; Energy Efficient Building and Systems Design; Batteries and Energy Storage; and Critical Materials). A sixth Hub for Electricity Systems has been proposed but not yet funded by Congress. The Hubs are slated for approximately $122 million each over five years. There is uncertainty over whether there will be any Hubs beyond the Electricity Systems Hub. More information: http://energy.gov/science-innovation/innovation/hubs.
Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRCs) – With a combination of Recovery Act funding and annual appropriations, DOE has funded 46 EFRCs at $2 to $5 million each per year for five years. EFRCs are designed to tackle and overcome specific barriers to accelerate the creation of new energy technologies. More information: http://science.energy.gov/bes/efrc/.
Advanced Manufacturing – The Administration views the creation of clean energy technologies as a way to jump start U.S. manufacturing and innovation. DOE has emphasized the development of electric and hybrid vehicles, new battery technologies, and new industrial processes, including energy efficiency. More information: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/manufacturing/.
Materials Genome – DOE is part of a broader federal initiative to create the next generation of materials to be utilized in new energy technologies and other manufacturing processes that will keep the U.S. competitive in the global economy.
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More information: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/02/10/doe-announces-12-million-support-materials-genome-initiative.
Smart Grid – Increasing attention is focused on the need to modernize the nation’s electrical grid with DOE developing the technologies needed for a 21st century grid and incorporating renewable sources, such as solar, wind, and water power on the grid. More information: http://www.doe.gov/smart-grid.
Small Modular Reactors – A DOE initiative to develop the next-generation nuclear reactor technology that is smaller and more secure is just getting underway. Nuclear energy remains part of the “all of the above” energy strategy. More information: http://www.ne.doe.gov/.
Cost-competitive Renewable Energy Technologies – DOE is supporting research targeted on making renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, and biofuels, cost-competitive with conventional coal, oil, and gas resources. More information: http://www.eere.energy.gov/.
Biofuels – DOE supports biofuels R&D at its three bioenergy centers; however, the Department is also jointly funding research with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to develop feedstocks for non-food sources of cellulosic biofuels, and with the Department of Defense (DOD) as a test bed to develop drop-in biofuels that can be used in existing infrastructure and better secure military bases and defense operations through energy security. More information: http://www.eere.energy.gov/topics/biomass.html.
Additional Resources
DOE Website: http://www.doe.gov/ DOE Offices
NNSA: http://nnsa.energy.gov/
Office of Science: http://science.energy.gov/
EERE: http://www.eere.energy.gov/
ARPA-E: http://arpa-e.energy.gov/
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Department of Health and Human Services
National Institutes of Health
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the nation’s largest medical research agency. Its mission is “to seek
fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and to apply that knowledge to
enhance human health, lengthen life, and reduce the burdens of illness and disabilityii.” NIH is composed of 27
different Institutes and Centers (ICs), each specializing in its own area of diseases or body systems research.
The Office of the Director is responsible for overall agency policies and facilitates management and
coordination across all IC activities. While NIH has maintained its strong tradition of supporting basic
biomedical research, in recent years the agency has brought increased attention to the importance of
translational research in an effort to speed the delivery of new drugs and treatments to patients.
Research Scope &
Objectives
NIH supports a broad range of basic, translational, and clinical biological research to acquire new knowledge that can help improve human health. NIH sponsors a large amount of extramural research by scientists at academic institutions across the country, provides training opportunities to foster the next generation of researchers, and conducts a small amount of research in its own intramural laboratories.
Degree of
Engagement
NIH accomplishes its mission primarily through sponsorship of extramural research; more than 80 percent of the NIH budget is awarded through about 50,000 competitive research and training grants to more than 300,000 researchers at more than 2,600 universities, medical schools, and other research institutions in all 50 states.iii Many of these grants fund health-related research by individual investigators through the “R01” research project grant. The R01, NIH’s oldest funding mechanism, can support either investigator-initiated research proposals or proposals submitted in response to a program announcement or request for application.iv NIH also awards program project and center grants to support multidisciplinary, joint research efforts that share common research disciplines, facilities, and resources. Securing program project grants, large center grants, and cooperative agreements (“P” and “U” awards) can help universities bolster the profile of their biomedical research programs within the NIH community (e.g. NCI-Designated Cancer Center Program).
Signature Programs
Several of NIH’s signature programs fund the establishment of research centers at academic institutions:
Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) Program – Started in 2006, the CTSA program supports a national consortium of medical research institutions throughout the country to accelerate the translation of laboratory discoveries into treatments for patients, while also increasing community involvement in clinical research efforts and training a new cohort of clinical and translational investigators. Although the CTSA Consortium reached its anticipated size of 60 medical research institutions in 2011, a recently released CTSA Request for Applications did not specify a fixed limit to the total number of consortia participants, apparently leaving open the possibility of new CTSA sites. The CTSA program is funded by NIH’s newly created National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences. More information:
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http://www.ncats.nih.gov/research/cts/ctsa/ctsa.html. Institutional Development Award (IDeA) Program – The IDeA program fosters health-related
research at institutions located in states with historically low NIH application success rates (“IDeA states”). It also increases the competitiveness of investigators at IDeA state institutions by supporting faculty development and research infrastructure improvements. Administered by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), the program’s two main initiatives are the Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence and the IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence. Additionally, the IDeA Program Infrastructure for Clinical and Translational Research initiative encourages IDeA states to develop the resources necessary to conduct clinical and translational research on diseases that affect underserved populations and diseases prevalent in IDeA states. More information: http://www.nigms.nih.gov/Training/IDeA/.
National Cancer Institute (NCI)-Designated Cancer Centers Program – The NCI-Designated Cancer Centers Program recognizes research centers that meet strict criteria for outstanding programs in cancer research. Institutions must spend several years developing quality cancer research facilities, programs, and researchers in order to successfully complete the rigorous application and review process. Therefore, the designation not only provides institutions with access to federal funding and national resources, it is also a prestigious distinction signifying scientific excellence and leadership. Most of the 67 NCI-designated centers are affiliated with university medical centers. More information: http://www.cancer.gov/researchandfunding/extramural/cancercenters/about.
NIH also provides grants for predoctoral and postdoctoral training:
Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Institutional Research Training Grants – NRSA Institutional Research Training Grants are awarded to institutions as the primary means of supporting predoctoral and postdoctoral research training to develop a diverse and skilled biomedical research workforce. In addition to institutional training awards, NRSA fellowships are also available to individual trainees. More information: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-11-184.html.
Additional Resources
NIH Website: http://www.nih.gov/ Office of Extramural Research Funding Opportunities: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/oer.htm NIH Organization: http://www.nih.gov/about/almanac/organization/index.htm Strategic Plans: http://report.nih.gov/strategicplans/index.aspx Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tools (RePORT): http://report.nih.gov/
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Health Resources and Services Administration The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is the lead federal agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) responsible for enhancing access to healthcare, particularly for underserved populations. It accomplishes this mission by implementing programs that provide resources to states, communities, and local healthcare agencies, as well as providing funding for health professions training. Very little research is funded by HRSA. HRSA is organized by bureau (such as the Bureau of Health Professions and Bureau of Maternal and Child Health) and office (such as the Office of Rural Health and Office of Women’s Health). The agency focuses on training, technical assistance, direct financial assistance to state and local healthcare agencies to address specific healthcare challenges (such as HIV/AIDS or emergency services for children, for example), and very targeted research activities. Research Scope &
Objectives
Research is not a central function of HRSA as it is for other HHS agencies. Instead, HRSA utilizes the research community to advance knowledge about ways to improve the delivery of healthcare by testing new or evaluating existing interventions and best practices.
Degree of
Engagement
While a significant amount of funding is spent at universities, it is used primarily for health care workforce training purposes, not research.
Signature Programs
Health Professions – The Bureau of Health Professions (BHPr) within HRSA administers grants to institutions and individuals to assist in creating a more diverse and culturally competent healthcare workforce, and increasing access to care by ensuring adequate numbers of healthcare professionals in underserved U.S. communities, known as Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs). Title VII (health professions) and Title VIII (nursing) education and training programs within BHPr are the only federal programs designed to train healthcare providers in an interdisciplinary way to meet the healthcare needs of all Americans, including the underserved and those with special needs. They serve to increase minority representation in the healthcare workforce through targeted programs that improve the quality, diversity, and geographic distribution of the health professions workforce. The Title VII and Title VIII programs provide loans, loan guarantees, and scholarships to students, and grants to institutions of higher education and non-profit organizations to help build and maintain a robust health care workforce. The programs cover nursing, geriatrics, public health, dentistry, mental and behavioral health, as well as number of diversity focused programs. Similarly, the National Health Service Corps, housed in the Bureau of Clinician Recruitment and Service, offers loan repayment and scholarships to health professionals who commit to serving in National Health Service Corps-approved healthcare sites in HPSAs. More information: http://nhsc.hrsa.gov/. Maternal and Child Health Research Program (MCHR) – This program funds applied research projects on maternal and child health services that could potentially improve healthcare delivery for mothers and children. Among the topics addressed in the projects include but are not limited to health disparities, quality of care, and public health systems and infrastructure. More
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information: http://mchb.hrsa.gov/research/. Health Centers – Outside of research, one of HRSA’s most signature programs is the Health Center program within the Bureau of Primary Health Care. The program encompasses more than 1,100 community-based health centers whose goals are to serve populations that would otherwise have limited access to care. Types of health centers include Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), which are public and private non-profit health care organizations that receive funding under Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act, and Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alikes, which meet the definition of a “health center” but do not receive Section 330 funding. Look-Alikes receive many of the same benefits as FQHCs. To be supported, community health centers must serve a medically underserved area or population (MUA/MUP), according to HRSA definitions. Community health centers can be housed within university medical centers as long as they meet this population criterion. More information: http://bphc.hrsa.gov/.
Additional Resources
HRSA Website: http://www.hrsa.gov/index.html HRSA Grant Opportunities Website: http://www.hrsa.gov/grants/index.html Bureau of Health Professions: http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/ Bureau of Maternal and Child Health: http://mchb.hrsa.gov/grants/index.html Bureau of Primary Care: http://bphc.hrsa.gov/
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Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is tasked with improving service systems for individuals suffering from mental and behavioral health issues, including substance use disorders, through disseminating information and data, providing policy and program recommendations, and funding grants. In 2011, SAMHSA released a new strategic plan for 2011-2014. The plan outlined eight strategic initiatives: prevention, trauma and justice, military families, recovery support, health reform, health information technology, data outcomes and quality, and public awareness and support. All SAMHSA activities fall within one of the strategic areas. Structurally, SAMHSA is comprised of four centers. The Center for Mental Health Services oversees prevention and treatment of mental health disorders. The Center for Substance Abuse Prevention oversees prevention of drug, alcohol, and tobacco use and abuse. The Center for Substance Abuse Treatment oversees treatment of substance use disorders. The Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality is tasked with collecting and disseminating data. Research Scope &
Objectives
The large majority of SAMHSA grants are focused on healthcare services and community services rather than research. SAMHSA provides funding for some workforce training activities, technical assistance, and services to specific sectors of the population.
Degree of
Engagement
While institutions of higher education are eligible applicants, grants are more often provided to state, regional, or city departments of health, human services, or mental health or to community organizations. It is key for universities to have relationships with these types of organizations in the state/region in order to coordinate activities of interest to SAMHSA. Partnerships are encouraged.
Signature Programs
National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative – This grant is designed to improve services provided to children and their families after witnessing traumatic events. The goal of the initiative is to create a network for collaboration and dissemination of best practices across the nation. There are three categories of centers in this initiative relating to the maturity of the program: development, evaluation, and implementation. More information: http://www.samhsa.gov/grants/2012/sm_12_005.aspx. Campus Suicide Prevention – This program is designed to comprehensively address suicide on college campuses. Funds can support mental health services, including treatment and prevention, on campus. SAMHSA is interested in plans that incorporate the needs of individual populations, including lesbian, gay, and bisexual; American Indian/Alaska Natives, or military families and veterans. More information: http://www.samhsa.gov/grants/2011/sm_11_002.aspx.
Additional Resources
SAMHSA Website: http://www.samhsa.gov/ SAMHSA Grants: http://www.samhsa.gov/grants/ SAMHSA Strategic Plan (2011-2014): http://store.samhsa.gov/product/SMA11-4629
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Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality The mission of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is to improve healthcare, which includes improving the quality, safety, efficiency and effectiveness of care.v AHRQ supports outcomes-focused health services research, such as research on the factors that impact the care a patient receives. The Agency tends not to fund research to prevent and diagnose specific diseases. In addition, AHRQ supported research aims to be responsive to the needs of stakeholders, such as patients and providers, and helps them make informed health decisions. AHRQ-supported research is not only conducted within research institutions but also in different health-related settings including hospitalsvi. About 80 percent of AHRQ’s budget supports grants and contracts.vii AHRQ accepts agency-requested research and investigator-initiated research. While most awards support research, AHRQ also provides fellowship and training support to bolster the pipeline of health services researchers. The Office of Extramural Research, Education, and Priority Populations (OEREP) at AHRQ directs the scientific review process, manages the process for funding decisions, and directs research training and career development programsviii. Research Scope &
Objectives
AHRQ divides its portfolio into six research areas: health information technology; patient-centered health research; patient safety; prevention and care management; value; and crosscutting activities on health cost, quality, and outcomes. ix AHRQ’s current priorities include reducing hospital acquired infections; supporting funding for research on health information technology (health IT); and patient centered health research, specifically as it applies to translation and disseminating clinical comparative effectives research. AHRQ provides research funding through grants and contracts and uses the same funding mechanisms and codes as NIH. These codes include: career development (“K” awards); research program projects and centers (“P” awards); research projects (“R” awards); fellowship programs (“F” awards); cooperative agreements (“U” awards); and training programs (“T” awards).
Degree of
Engagement
AHRQ funding supports scientific research and extramural activities focused on strengthening the pipeline of health services researchers. About 80 percent of AHRQ’s budget supports grants and contracts to improve health and support informed decision making about health care.
Signature Programs
Research Training Programs:
Health Services Research Dissertation Program (R36) – This program, which is of specific interest to OEREP, supports individual researchers at the dissertation stage to help ensure there is a strong pipeline of health services researchers. This is not a large grant but a very motivated program. Applications are accepted annually and most new applications are received three times a year.x More information: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-12-256.html.
In addition to funding for the Health Services Dissertation program, there are several other research and training funding opportunities at AHRQ. A comprehensive list of research and training opportunities can be viewed at http://www.ahrq.gov/fund/training/rsrchtng.htm.
Research Projects:
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Small Research Grant Program (R03) – This program supports varied health services research on small projects for priorities outlined in AHRQ’s portfolio. While there is flexibility in this program, the projects tend to be short term. Different types of research, as discussed in the current RFP, include pilot and feasibility studies; secondary analysis of existing data; small, self-contained research projects; development of research methodology; and, development of new research technology. Traditionally, AHRQ has provided funding for this program despite fiscal constraints. These grants are only about $100,000 but AHRQ generally funds about a quarter of them. More information: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-10-168.html#SectionIV3A.
Research Project Grant (R01) – AHRQ also provides extramural funding for large research projects under this mechanism. These specified projects incorporate AHRQ’s priority portfolio areas. More information: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-09-070.html.
Investigator-Initiated Research:
AHRQ supports and encourages investigator-initiated research for training and research projects that do not fall within targeted grant opportunities. Investigator-initiated research should address AHRQ’s mission and one or more of its portfolios.
Additional Resources
AHRQ Website: http://www.ahrq.gov/ Funding Opportunities: http://www.ahrq.gov/fund/ Research Training Programs: http://www.ahrq.gov/fund/training/rsrchtng.htm Grant Mechanisms: http://www.ahrq.gov/fund/grantdesc.htm Grants On-Line Database: http://gold.ahrq.gov/projectsearch/
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Food and Drug Administration The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) primary mission is to bring new innovations, products, and treatments to market in a timely and safe manner; protect the nation’s food supply; and regulate tobacco products. FDA uses regulatory science, “the science of developing new tools, standards, and approaches to assess the safety, efficacy, quality, and performance of FDA-regulated productsxi,” to help meet its responsibilities. Traditionally, FDA has been viewed as a “closed organization;” however, tight budgets, new responsibilities, and pressure to speed the movement of drugs and medical products into the marketplace has led FDA to incorporate external partners and collaborations, such as academia. Not only is FDA seeking to improve product development and evaluation but it is also interested in supporting and building engagement in the regulatory community. In addition to academia, FDA is working closely with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) through the Joint NIH-FDA Leadership Council on integrated approaches to translational and regulatory science. Research Scope &
Objectives
As a regulatory agency, FDA has limited funding available to support extramural research, but the agency is interested in strategic partnerships that help further its public health mission and help stimulate innovation in products it regulates. Collaborations are formalized through various mechanisms, such as Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs), contracts, cooperative agreements and Academic Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs). Centers of Excellence (COEs) are formal partnerships with universities that are funded through cooperative agreements and enhance FDA’s expertise in various areas of interest. MOUs facilitate relationships between FDA and universities that allows for exchange of ideas, information, faculty and other resources. COEs and MOUs rarely have federal funding associated with them, but can increase the profile of a university and leverage other funding opportunities.
Degree of
Engagement
FDA is primarily a regulatory agency; however, some extramural funding has been made available to support its public health and regulatory mission.
Signature Programs
Advancing Regulatory Science Initiative (ARS) – FDA is supporting a network of Centers of Excellence in Regulatory Science and Innovation (CERSI) to help the agency address its scientific challenges by developing a collaborative regulatory science culture. In October 2011, FDA awarded funding to launch the first two centers at the University of Maryland and Georgetown University, in close proximity to FDA’s main campus in Maryland. FDA plans to fund additional centers; however, tight budgets have delayed the program’s expansion. Also as part of this initiative, FDA issued in May 2012 a solicitation for research to support regulatory science. More information: https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=37bb839589337c6344f0e8d02721e3b1&tab=core&_cview=0. Critical Path Initiative (CPI) – Launched in 2004, CPI is FDA’s strategy to improve innovation in the scientific processes that support the development, evaluation and manufacturing of medical products. It has transformed the way FDA regulates products, especially drugs and devices, and
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focuses on the following areas: developing better evaluation tools; streamlining clinical trials; harnessing bioinformatics; moving manufacturing into the 21st century; developing products to address urgent public health needs; and focusing on at-risk populations, such as pediatrics. More information: http://www.fda.gov/ScienceResearch/SpecialTopics/CriticalPathInitiative/default.htm.
FDA-NIH Joint Leadership Council – Chaired by the FDA Commissioner and NIH Director, the Council was created in 2010 to improve the regulatory review process by integrating the latest science to enhance the safety, quality and efficiency of clinical research and drug approval. The Council engages leaders of both agencies to identify opportunities to improve the translation of biomedical research discoveries into approved diagnostics and therapies. More information: http://www.fda.gov/ScienceResearch/SpecialTopics/RegulatoryScience/ucm201654.htm.
Additional Resources
FDA Website: http://www.fda.gov/ Centers of Excellence in Regulatory Science and Innovation: http://www.fda.gov/ScienceResearch/SpecialTopics/RegulatoryScience/ucm301667.htm Memoranda of Understanding: http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/PartnershipsCollaborations/MemorandaofUnderstandingMOUs/default.htm FDA Focus on Innovation: http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/Innovation/default.htm
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Department of Homeland Security As a mission agency, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) focuses on U.S. security, ranging from border security, emergency response, cybersecurity, and biological attacks. DHS consists of numerous sub agencies, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). To an extent, each of these sub agencies acts semi-independently of DHS with specific goals and foci driving their programs and activities and each issuing unique grants for programs. The agency’s overall research and development arm, the Science and Technology Directorate (S&T), historically has received around $1 billion annually to conduct research across a wide range of scientific topics to support DHS’s broad mission and scope of issues. Science and technology remains a small but critical piece in carrying out DHS’s mission. Research Scope &
Objectives
The S&T Directorate supports basic and applied research across five broad research divisions, including border security; chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosives defense; counterterrorism; cybersecurity; and disaster resilience. Many academic disciplines fall within these divisions, including social, behavioral, and life sciences; engineering; and information technology. Due to Congressional complaints of S&T’s lack of prioritization and duplicative research, DHS has recently attempted to shift its R&D focus to more field-ready technologies or new technologies that can be easily adapted for DHS-specific purposes to avoid duplication across other federal defense and security agencies.
Degree of
Engagement
While DHS S&T performs a large amount of research, much of the work is performed internally through DHS federal laboratories and research centers. There are some opportunities for extramural engagement; like the Department of Defense, DHS S&T outlines its broad research interests through annual Broad Agency Announcements (BAA), which are open to research institutions. S&T also runs the University Programs Office, which funds university-based DHS Centers of Excellence (COEs), a minority-serving institutions program, and educational programs that provide tuition and stipends to undergraduates, graduate students, and post-doctoral researchers. The 12 existing COEs are recompeted sporadically and are extremely competitive. Sub agencies like FEMA also support a very limited number of extramural programs; however, only state agencies are eligible to receive funds. Some opportunities may exist for universities to partner with state entities on projects.
Signature Programs
Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs) – BAAs are one of the best ways for universities and research institutions to receive research funding through DHS. DHS typically offers a number of BAAs throughout the year, including a general long range solicitation focused on evolving and maturing technologies and research as well as more focused BAAs on individual topic areas. The long range BAA focuses on a number of various fields and topics relevant to DHS’s mission as noted above. Applicants are encouraged to submit a white paper on potential topic areas to discuss the viability of their research proposals prior to submitting a full proposal. More information: https://baa2.st.dhs.gov/portal/public/Menu.action?page=baa_current_solicitations. University Programs – These programs fund university-based DHS Centers of Excellence (COEs), a minority-serving institutions program, and educational programs that provide tuition and stipends
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to undergraduates, graduate students, and post-doctoral researchers. More information: http://www.dhs.gov/about-science-technology-directorate-office-university-programs. DHS competitively awards universities COEs across various fields to meet DHS’s S&T needs. Centers are led by universities and bring together many university, industry, national laboratory, and non-profit partners to conduct research and development activities and training programs. DHS expects centers to address both short and long term S&T needs. More information: http://www.dhs.gov/homeland-security-centers-excellence.
Additional Resources
DHS S&T Website: http://www.dhs.gov/directorate-science-and-technology 2011 S&T Strategic Plan: http://www.dhs.gov/dhs-science-and-technology-directorate-strategic-plan FEMA Grants Website: http://www.fema.gov/grants
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Department of Housing and Urban Development
The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) mission is to foster community development and affordable housing. While better known as the federal entity that provides funding for low-income or public housing, HUD also promotes sustainable communities and works to protect home buyers. Research Scope &
Objectives
Although HUD is by no means considered a research agency, within HUD there is an Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R). While few extramural funding opportunities are available, PD&R will sometimes offer contracts or collaborate with researchers on specific policy problems or questions.
Degree of
Engagement
Support for research activities at HUD is minimal and with Congress constantly targeting HUD’s budget for cuts, funding for any research activity will vary from year to year. Despite this, HUD staff members are generally open to meeting with researchers to discuss interests and common synergies.
Signature Programs
Office of University Partnerships – HUD has previously funded research grants to universities, but that support has since dried up or in years where there is funding support, the money is directed to minority serving institutions. However, HUD’s Office of University Partnerships is always a good first stop for researchers interested in engaging with HUD. More information: http://www.oup.org/. Sustainable Communities Initiative – In 2009, HUD, in collaboration with the Department of Transportation and the Environmental Protection Agency, launched the Sustainable Communities Initiative. The goal of the initiative is to support sustainable community and regional planning to enhance better transportation, housing, health care, and education options. While the program does not support individual universities or research institutions, they can be part of a consortium to receive funding. The program received initial funding in FY 2010 and again in FY 2011, but Congress did not provide funding for the program in FY 2012. For FY 2013 the outlook is uncertain, with the Senate supporting the program and the House only offering minimal funding to support existing grants. More information: http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/sustainable_housing_communities. PD&R Research Partnerships – In 2012, PD&R was empowered to enter into non-competitive cooperative agreements to establish research partnerships with outside entities. The partnerships require a 50 percent cost share and for 2012 will focus on specific areas, including: how housing can improve quality of life, knowledge gathered from HUD demonstrations, use of the American Housing Survey data, and improvements to housing technology. More information: http://www.huduser.org/portal/research/pdrrespartnerships_about.html.
Additional Resources
HUD website: http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD
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Department of the Interior
The Department of the Interior (DOI) consists of nine bureaus and offices, including the Bureau of Indian Affairs; Bureau of Land Management; Bureau of Reclamation; National Park Service; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; and U.S. Geological Survey. Though several of the bureaus, such as the Bureau of Reclamation and the National Park Service, have small intramural research programs, the bulk of DOI’s science and research work is carried-out by the U.S. Geological Survey.
U.S. Geological Survey
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is DOI’s scientific research arm and supports research to aid DOI in managing, maintaining, and sustaining the nation’s valuable natural resources. The USGS mission is to provide “reliable scientific information to describe and understand the Earth; minimize loss of life and property from natural disasters; manage water, biological, energy, and mineral resources; and enhance and protect our quality of lifexii.” Because it is primarily mission oriented, much of USGS’s research is conducted through intramural programs aimed at solving DOI problems and is managed internally by USGS scientists. However, there are a few extramural research programs with opportunities for academic researchers. USGS’s science portfolio is organized around seven mission areas: climate and land use change; core science systems; ecosystems; energy and minerals; environmental health; natural hazards; and water. Research is largely conducted through the system of USGS offices located throughout the 50 states. Research Scope &
Objectives
As the nation’s land and resource management department, science is critical to DOI; thus, USGS plays an important role in providing scientific leadership on issues ranging from climate change to water resources and ecosystem protection to energy production. Additionally, USGS is tasked with providing mapping services and monitoring and mitigating natural hazards and disasters such as earthquakes.
Degree of
Engagement
USGS’s research activities are primarily intramural and focused on addressing challenges related to DOI’s mission and objectives. As a result, USGS frequently conducts research projects in partnership with other DOI bureaus and offices and will occasionally sign memorandums of understanding with other federal agencies. However, USGS also supports limited extramural research through grants and contracts.
Signature Programs
USGS’s extramural research portfolio includes programs in mapping, earthquake hazards, water resources, and geospatial data. However, many of these programs haven’t been active for several years. The following programs represent priority research areas for USGS.
Earthquake Hazards Program – This program, part of the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP), is a source of competitive extramural funding for research on earthquake hazards, the physics of earthquakes, earthquake occurrence, and earthquake safety policy. More information: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/.
Mineral Resources External Research Program (MPR) – This program supports research evaluating the nation’s nonfuel mineral resources and mineral environmental assessments. As society’s reliance on rare and critical materials has grown with the advancement of
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technology, so too has the federal government’s interest in expanding domestic production. In past years, the MRP has sought proposals that can improve national knowledge of concealed mineral resources; reduce uncertainty and risk in resource assessment; and improve mineral deposit and environmental models. More information: http://minerals.usgs.gov/mrerp/index.html.
Water Resources Research National Competitive Grants Program – The Water Resources Grants program supports research activities at the Water Resources Research Institutes (WRRIs). One institute is located in each state and funds from this program are only available for WRRIs. More information: http://www.usgs.gov/contracts/WATER/WaterIndex.html.
Additional Resources
USGS Website: http://www.usgs.gov/ USGS Grant Opportunities: http://www.usgs.gov/contracts/grants/ USGS Science Strategic Plan: http://www.usgs.gov/start_with_science/
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Department of State The Department of State is a mission agency responsible for the country’s diplomatic affairs. It is not a research agency and while interested in science and education to inform foreign policy, it does not fund basic research. Moreover, many of the best access points for universities fall into the policy influence arena rather than research. With that said, the Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) maintains numerous educational and cultural exchange programs in which university faculty and students are eligible to participate. In addition, the office of the Science and Technology Advisor to the Secretary of State (STAS) provides advice regarding the role of science and technology in foreign relations. Beyond this advisory role, STAS sponsors multiple fellowship programs aimed at increasing the Department’s scientific capabilities and enhancing the use of science and education as tools of diplomacy. The Department is particularly interested in how issues including climate change, agriculture, and energy affect international affairs. Research Scope &
Objectives
While the notion of science diplomacy, and specifically the use of science to connect with non-traditional partners in the Muslim world, was a hallmark of President Obama’s first year in office, new initiatives have slowed considerably since then. The Obama Administration has placed a particular emphasis on outreach to India, with higher education being viewed as a key cog of this partnership. The Department of State hosted the first ever U.S.-India Higher Education Summit in October 2011. Department of State officials indicate that the President hopes to focus more on Latin America for the remainder of his first term and a potential second, although the Middle East and Asia Pacific also remain priority regions.
Degree of
Engagement
As noted above, the Department of State funds little research but supports educational and cultural exchange programs. Opportunities exist for scientists to advise the Department on policy, but the Department of State is not an entity which provides significant research dollars to universities. Researchers and other faculty members are best served by reaching out to STAS to discuss how their expertise and research interests best align with current Department of State priorities and opportunities for further engagement.
Signature Programs
Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program – The popular Fulbright program is most applicable to university faculty and students, with specific opportunities within the program targeted at each. It provides opportunities for researchers and other professionals to “conduct research, lecture, and/or consult with other scholars and institutions abroad.” The program sends approximately 800 U.S. scholars and professionals to study and lecture in more than 130 countries annually. More information: http://fulbright.state.gov/index.html. Jefferson Science Fellows – Within STAS, the Jefferson Science Fellows program provides the opportunity for a group of university faculty to spend a year working at the Department of State or USAID. Jefferson Fellows remain consultants for the Department upon return to their university positions. More information: http://sites.nationalacademies.org/pga/jefferson/.
Additional Resources
Department of State Website: http://www.state.gov/ ECA Website: http://exchanges.state.gov/ Department of State Science Advisor Website: http://www.state.gov/e/stas/index.htm
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Environmental Protection Agency The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is a mission agency tasked with protecting human health and the environment through legislative authority under the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the National Environmental Policy Act. EPA does so by crafting and enforcing regulations on water, air, soils, and hazardous waste; consequently its research is largely intramural and supports these regulatory efforts. EPA operates very differently from more “traditional” science agencies such as the National Science Foundation (NSF) or National Institutes of Health (NIH). EPA is divided into ten regions that span the United States, as well as headquarters offices, such as the Office of Air and Radiation, Office of Water, and Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response. Each region is responsible for implementing EPA’s programs, which the headquarters offices develop. Furthermore, EPA hosts approximately two dozen laboratories across the country, some of which are regional labs addressing regional issues and others of which are national labs addressing national issues, such as the National Air and Radiation Environmental Laboratory and the National Exposure Research Laboratory. Within the National Center for Environmental Research (NCER), the Office of Research and Development (ORD) is the mainstay of EPA’s extramural research activities. Unlike NSF or NIH, Congress often is instrumental in determining EPA’s research programs and priorities. This is because Congress views EPA very politically as conservatives continually attempt to lessen its regulatory reach and progressives continue to defend it. Research Scope &
Objectives
Research is critical to informing EPA’s regulatory responsibilities. Its research programs are aligned with the agency’s on-the-ground activities dealing with environmental health, toxics, and clean air, water, and soils. Similar to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), research programs are not principal investigator initiated; rather, EPA carefully designs research questions based on its informational needs.
Degree of
Engagement
As mentioned above, EPA has many of its own research labs that conduct both basic and applied research. As such, the most common way for academics to engage with EPA is through ORD and, within ORD, most commonly though the Science to Achieve Results program.
Signature Programs
Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Program – The STAR program offers grants, fellowships, and occasionally, centers:
Grants – As previously noted, the most consistent program in which extramural researchers can engage is the STAR program. STAR research grants provide funding for projects that complement EPA’s intramural activities as well as other federal agencies’ activities. STAR Request for Applications (RFAs) are posted throughout the year, but they are infrequent and targeted. Furthermore, not all grants are applicable as many are aimed at states, municipalities, and small businesses. Funding topics are identified through ORD planning activities and awards are made through a peer review process. More information: http://epa.gov/ncer/rfa/#CurrentStar.
Fellowships – STAR fellowships are used to support master’s and doctoral level students. Approximately 1,300 applicants compete each year for about 100 fellowship slots. The funding supports full-time two-year master’s or three-year doctoral degree students, and
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provides up to $37,000 per year for monthly stipend, tuition, fees, and other authorized expenses. There is an announcement for applicants every year in August, with applications due in November. More information: http://www.epa.gov/ncer/fellow/recipients/star_fellow10.html.
Centers – Very infrequently, NCER will establish centers under the STAR program to tackle priority areas. Current centers focus on the topics of: children’s health, particulate matter, computational toxicology, and biological threats to homeland security. More information: http://cfpub.epa.gov/ncer_abstracts/index.cfm/fuseaction/outlinks.centers.
People, Prosperity and the Planet Program (P3) – This program funds “Phase 1” grants to undergraduate teams for one year to participate in an annual sustainable design competition. More information: http://epa.gov/ncer/p3/. Greater Research Opportunities Fellowships – This fellowship provides support to institutions of higher education that receive limited federal funding, including institutions with substantial minority enrollment. To be eligible, institutions must receive $35 million or less annually in federal research and development funding. The undergraduate fellowship provides financial support to students in their junior and senior year of study and support for a three-month summer internship. The graduate fellowship supports master’s candidates for two years and doctoral students for three years, providing up to $37,000 per year. The graduate fellowship was not offered in 2012. More information: http://www.epa.gov/ncer/fellow/gro/index.html.
Additional Resources
EPA Website: www.epa.gov National Center for Environmental Research: http://epa.gov/ncer/rfa/ EPA Organizational Chart with Headquarters Offices and Regions: http://epa.gov/aboutepa/organization.html
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Institute of Museum and Library Services The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) was founded in 1996 by combining two previously existing entities – one focused on museum activities and one focused on library services. The Institute recently undertook a strategic planning process, releasing a new strategic plan for 2012-2016. The plan identified new overarching goals for the Institute, including preparing people to be active participating members of their communities, encouraging the use of libraries and museums as community “anchors” to promote civic engagement, and steward library and museum collections including through the use of technology for preservation. With regard to university activities, IMLS supports operation of university museums and training for future museum or library employees. Research Scope &
Objectives
IMLS is one of the smaller federal funding agencies. It supports a variety of activities of libraries and museums with the goal of “creating a nation of learners.” IMLS support is not focused on research; instead the primary mission is to help sustain library and museum operations. IMLS provides leadership, collects data, supports partnerships, and funds grants with the goal of promoting access to information and services that promote learning and civic engagement.
Degree of
Engagement
IMLS programs are designed for three specific entities – museums, libraries, and tribal organizations. However, universities with libraries and/or museums can apply on behalf of the museum or library. Universities can also partner with local organizations on some grant opportunities.
Signature Programs
Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program – This program is designed to help train current and future librarians and archivists, including by enhancing graduate schools that perform these functions. IMLS is particularly interested in data management. More information: http://www.imls.gov/applicants/lb21_guidelines_2013.aspx. Learning Labs – The Learning Labs Program is designed to create learning labs in libraries or museums across the country to serve middle and high school aged students in media-based learning. More information: http://www.imls.gov/applicants/detail.aspx?GrantId=20.
Additional Resources
IMLS website: http://www.imls.gov/ Available Grants: http://www.imls.gov/applicants/institution.aspx IMLS Strategic Plan (2012-2016): http://www.imls.gov/about/strategic_plan.aspx#
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National Aeronautics and Space Administration
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is dedicated to the exploration of space and the development of cutting edge civilian aeronautics and space technology. As part of its mission, NASA conducts research across a broad array of topics from Earth and space science to human health in space and technology development. NASA is organized into three mission directorates: Science; Aeronautics Research; and Human Exploration and Operations. In FY 2014, NASA will add a fourth mission directorate: Space Technology. The majority of extramural research funding is maintained in the Science Mission Directorate, but many offices and mission directorates at NASA engage with universities. The Science Mission Directorate is organized into four divisions based on general research topics: Earth Science; Planetary Science; Astrophysics; and Heliophysics. NASA has strong bipartisan support from Congress and the Administration. However, as NASA’s main activities revolve around large missions and its 10 centers, Congress is more engaged in setting specific research directions than it does with the National Science Foundation (NSF) or the National Institutes of Health (NIH). There is often complex political negotiation over the balance of funding both between and within mission directorates on topics such as high priority science missions ranked in National Research Council decadal surveys, commercial space flight, and the future successor to the space shuttle program. Research Scope &
Objectives
NASA conducts space exploration work in four principal categories: Science; Aeronautics Research; Space Technology; and Human Exploration and Operations. The Science Mission Directorate conducts robotic, balloon, and satellite missions to explore the Earth, Sun, planets, and the Universe. The Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate designs and tests new flight technologies for improved civilian flight capabilities on Earth. The Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate operates the International Space Station, develops new rockets and systems for human space exploration, and conducts health research. The Space Technology program invests in potentially game-changing technology with applications across NASA mission directorates. NASA’s Education program includes support for scientific training in fields relevant to NASA’s mission, opportunities to engage undergraduates, and outreach to younger children to inspire interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
Degree of
Engagement
Universities and research institutions primarily interact with NASA through the Science Mission Directorate and NASA’s Education Program, as well as the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate and Space Technology. Much of NASA Science funding is directed towards soliciting, developing, and operating large flagship missions that are chosen through a decadal survey process run by the National Academy of Sciences. However, NASA also funds investigator-driven research and smaller investigator-led missions that are more accessible to universities. The primary funding for investigator-driven research is solicited through the joint, “Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences” (ROSES). Unlike the broad opportunities available at NSF and NIH, research opportunities at NASA
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are heavily tied to NASA missions and data. More information: http://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/summary.do?method=init&solId={4DF6A47E-EDC1-20F2-11FB-8BDF6890024A}&path=open. Traditionally, universities have received education funding from NASA through two programs: NASA Space Grant and the NASA Experimental Project to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR). Both programs are run through a state-level dedicated agent that acts as a principal investigator on awards through the programs. NASA also provides education funding through direct university engagement with NASA centers. Universities can engage with individual NASA centers for internships, research partnerships, and informal education events. It is important to note that NASA, like other mission agencies such as the Department of Energy or the Environmental Protection Agency, has its own research laboratories and centers that conduct basic and applied research. In many cases, extramural researchers work in close collaboration with NASA centers. This is especially true for research related to Human Exploration and Operations and Aeronautics as well as larger class flight missions such as Discovery and New Frontiers.
Signature Programs
Space Technology – Space Technology provides grants and fellowships to universities through a number of programs designed for technologies at varying stages of readiness. The program has a DARPA-like entity for truly catalytic research, larger scale flight demonstration opportunities, graduate fellowships and opportunities for individual investigator research. For all programs, NASA seeks to develop new technologies that can be applied across NASA mission directorates to revolutionize both human and robotic space flight. Technology areas of interest to NASA include: launch propulsion; in-space propulsion; space power and energy storage; robotics and autonomous systems; communication and navigation; human health, life support, and habitation; human exploration destination systems; science instruments and sensors; entry, descent, and landing; nanotechnology; modeling, simulation, and information technology; materials and manufacturing; ground and launch systems processing; and thermal management. More information: http://www.nasa.gov/offices/oct/home/roadmaps/index.html and http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/503466main_space_tech_grand_challenges_12_02_10.pdf. Investigator-Driven Science Missions – In addition to research supporting or analyzing larger NASA missions, NASA funds smaller missions conceived of and led by academic scientists. For Astrophysics and Heliophysics, these missions are part of the Explorer program (http://explorers.gsfc.nasa.gov/missions.html), while in Planetary Science these types of missions are supported by the Discovery program (http://discovery.nasa.gov/p_mission.cfml) and its subset New Frontiers (http://discoverynewfrontiers.nasa.gov/index.cfml). In response to the 2007 Earth Science decadal survey by the National Academy of Sciences, NASA created a similar program in Earth Science to fund Venture Class missions led by principal investigators. The Venture Class program is open to all Earth-science themes and will support three types of missions: full orbital missions; instruments for orbital missions; and suborbital projects. Earth Venture will solicit one or two types of missions each year. More information: http://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/summary.do?method=init&solId={D54009F1-D57C-4398-0D74-5F2A4EA29A1F}&path=closedPast. NASA Exploration Health Research – NASA maintains a health research program as a part of its
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effort to study the impacts on astronauts from their time in space as well as the future possibility of long-duration flights to distant bodies. NASA’s Human Research Program (HRP) addresses challenges such as providing optimal nutrition to astronauts and managing the environmental risks posed by radiation and lunar dust. HRP scientists and engineers examine ways to predict, assess, and solve the problems that humans encounter in space. More information: http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/acd/human.html.
Additional Resources
NASA Website: www.nasa.gov Research Solicitations Website: http://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/index.do Mission Directorates and Other Programs
Science Mission Directorate: http://science.nasa.gov/researchers/
Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate: http://www.aeronautics.nasa.gov/
Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate: http://www.nasa.gov/directorates/heo/home/index.html
Space Technology Program: http://www.nasa.gov/offices/oct/home/index.html
Education Program: http://www.nasa.gov/offices/education/about/index.html
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National Endowment for the Arts The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is the federal resource that supports funding for artistic projects. Support is provided through direct grants, state and regional partnerships, leadership initiatives, literature fellowships, and lifetime honors. NEA program awards are announced once per year, and most NEA programs are initiatives that are continually reissued each year. Research Scope &
Objectives
NEA provides funding for a wide array of artistic disciplines including visual arts, music, dance, literature, design, theater, musical theater, opera, folk and traditional arts, and media arts including film, audio, animation, and digital art.
Degree of
Engagement
While NEA provides a significant proportion of its budget to extramural projects, this money is not for research. Rather, NEA support is awarded to fund artistic projects. It should also be noted that NEA does not fund individual artists, rather the funding is directed to institutions or community organizations.
Signature Programs
The majority of NEA funding is awarded through three different grants categories: Art Works, Challenge America Fast-Track, and Our Town.
Art Works – Art Works is the broadest funding category offered by NEA. This program funds projects that contribute to one of four outcomes—creation, engagement, learning, or livability. NEA encourages innovative and artistically crafted media projects that not only increase access to, but also enhance public knowledge and understanding of, the arts. Recently NEA announced an Art Works: Research grant to examine the value and impacts of the arts on the economy and workforce. More information: http://www.nea.gov/grants/apply/GAP13/ArtsEdAW.html.
Challenge America Fast-Track – This program provides funding for small and mid-sized organizations to support projects focused on bringing art to underserved populations. Grants can be used to support professional arts programming as well as projects that seek to advance community development through the arts. Projects should focus on one of two outcome areas: engagement or livability. More information: http://www.nea.gov/grants/apply/GAP12/Challenge.html
Our Town – The Our Town program provides support for projects that improve the livability of communities. To be eligible to receive funding through Our Town, interested organizations must partner with a local government entity. Projects can include planning, design, or art engagement activities. More information: http://www.nea.gov/grants/apply/OurTown/index.html
Additional Resources
NEA Website: http://www.nea.gov National Endowment for the Arts 2012 Guide: http://www.nea.gov/pub/2012-NEA-Guide.pdf
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National Endowment for the Humanities The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) is the largest federal funding resource for research in the humanities. NEH is comprised of four divisions and three offices, with grant opportunities housed in each: the Division of Education Programs offers grant opportunities to strengthen teachers’ skills in the subject areas they teach; the Division of Preservation and Access provides grants to museums and libraries to preserve artifacts and materials and expand access; the Division of Public Programs funds projects that reach wide audiences such as documentaries or museum exhibits; and the Division of Research provides grants to individual scholars for research projects. Each Division offers a series of regularly reissued grants; solicitations are typically announced once per year. The NEH also houses the Office of Challenge Grants, which provides large grants to institutions; the Office of Digital Humanities which funds grants in the area of digital humanities; and the Office of Bridging Cultures, a new initiative to fund programs and grants which promote understanding of diverse histories and cultures.
Research Scope &
Objectives
NEH provides funding to individual scholars and institutions to bolster humanities teaching, facilitate scholarship, and preserve educational and cultural resources.
Degree of
Engagement
While NEH provides a significant proportion of its budget to extramural projects, the limited funding means that there are limited grant opportunities at this agency.
Signature Programs
Individual Fellowships – Fellowships are made to individual researchers doing advanced research in the area of humanities. Recipients usually produce articles, books, or other scholarly materials as a result of their research. Graduate students are not allowed to apply for these fellowships. More information : http://www.neh.gov/grants/research/fellowships. Summer Seminars – NEH makes awards to individual faculty or institutions to plan and carry out “summer seminars” to develop content knowledge for K-12 teachers and college faculty in various humanities topics. More information: http://www.neh.gov/grants/education/summer-seminars-and-institutes. Challenge Grants – These are “capacity-building” grants made to institutions that can be used for buying and upgrading equipment, building or improving facilities, purchasing library or museum collections, or building endowments to support the longevity of humanities programs. They require a 3 to 1 match, and an institution can only hold one of these grants at a time. More information: http://www.neh.gov/divisions/challenge. Digital Humanities – The Office of Digital Humanities provides funding for projects and various initiatives across the divisions seeking to improve research, access, or education in the humanities through the use of digital technology. More information: http://www.neh.gov/divisions/odh.
Additional Resources
NEH Website: http://www.neh.gov/ Grant Opportunities: http://www.neh.gov/grants Division of Education Programs: http://www.neh.gov/divisions/education
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Division of Preservation and Access: http://www.neh.gov/divisions/preservation Division of Public Programs: http://www.neh.gov/divisions/public Division of Research Programs: http://www.neh.gov/divisions/research
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National Science Foundation The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency with the sole purpose to support extramural basic research. NSF is led by one Director and employs both permanent and “rotating” staff. Rotators are staff members who are “on loan” from a university or another research organization to work at NSF over a certain period of time, usually ranging from one to four years. NSF is organized into seven research directorates: biological sciences; computer and information science and engineering; education and human resources; engineering; geosciences; mathematical and physical sciences; and social, behavioral, and economic sciences. These directorates are responsible for funding research through established core research programs or new initiatives launched by the Director or the directorates’ leadership. NSF also supports the building and management of major basic research facilities to be utilized by entire research communities as well as some support for instrumentation at research universities or other research organizations. NSF has traditionally enjoyed strong bipartisan support in Congress and has been a favored agency in both Republican and Democratic Administrations. While funding increases for NSF have not been as large as its community would like, the agency has been resilient from major funding cuts proposed by Congress. Research Scope &
Objectives
As mentioned above, NSF supports basic research in the areas relevant to its seven research directorates. NSF encourages research that is “high-risk, high-reward” and that can advance entire research fields. Despite supporting research in the biological sciences, NSF does not provide funding for biomedical research as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) covers that portfolio. The same is true when it comes to research related to energy and environment; anything that is perceived to be too applied or something the Department of Energy (DOE) or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) should fund, NSF will typically not support.
Degree of
Engagement
Support for extramural research is the sole purpose of NSF. NSF staff and leadership are typically very accessible to researchers via email, phone calls, in-person meetings, webinars, or even visits to research institutions and universities.
Signature Programs
The majority of NSF funding is funneled through core research programs in the seven research directorates: biological sciences; computer and information science and engineering; education and human resources; engineering; geosciences; mathematical and physical sciences; and social, behavioral, and economic sciences. These core programs reflect major areas of research within each directorate and proposal deadlines remain consistent from year to year. Information on all core programs are available on the directorate websites. However, NSF also supports new research initiatives resulting from societal needs, Congressional input, or White House priorities. In recent years, NSF has supported new programs related to sustainability, STEM education, manufacturing, cyberinfrastructure, and materials. These often span several if not all of NSF’s research directorates.
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Examples Include:
Cyberinfrastructure Framework for 21st Century Science and Engineering (CIF21) – CIF21 is an agency-wide effort to develop comprehensive, integrated, sustainable, and secure cyberinfrastructure to accelerate research and education capabilities in computational and data-enabled science and engineering. More information: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=504730.
NSF Innovation Corps (I-Corps) – Through I-Corps, NSF seeks to catalyze technology transfer and entrepreneurship by identifying and fostering research capable of transitioning out of the laboratory and linking it into a broader network of entrepreneurs, investors, and industry experts. More information: http://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/i-corps/.
Integrated NSF Support Promoting Interdisciplinary Research and Education (INSPIRE) – The purpose of INSPIRE is to strengthen support for interdisciplinary research that addresses scientific problems at the interface of traditional disciplines, funding for INSPIRE comes from across the Foundation with funding decisions made by program officers. More information: http://www.nsf.gov/about/budget/fy2013/pdf/40_fy2013.pdf.
Secure and Trustworthy Cyberspace (SaTC) – SaTC aligns NSF’s investments in cybersecurity to the thrust areas identified in the National Science and Technology Council report, Trustworthy Cyberspace: Strategic Plan for the Federal Cybersecurity Research and Development Program: inducing change, developing scientific foundations, maximizing research impact, and accelerating transition to practicexiii. SaTC supports research to protect America’s information technology infrastructure from various threats. More information: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=504709&org=CISE&from=home.
Science, Engineering, and Education for Sustainability (SEES) – SEES engages NSF’s seven research directorates and other Foundation offices to address interdisciplinary research and education needs as they relate to understanding the interactions between human and environmental systems. For the last few years, the initiative has provided funding for programs in energy and environment. In FY 2013, SEES would initiate five programs: Coastal SEES; Arctic SEES; Sustainable Chemistry, Engineering, and Materials (SusChEM); Creating a More Disaster-Resilient America (CaMRA); and the Role of Information Sciences and Engineering in SEES (RISES), which would support research to utilize advanced information technologies to decrease energy consumption and increase the use of renewable energy. More information: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=504707.
Additional Resources
NSF website: http://www.nsf.gov/index.jsp Directorates and Offices:
Biological Sciences: http://www.nsf.gov/dir/index.jsp?org=BIO
Computer and Information Science and Engineering: http://www.nsf.gov/dir/index.jsp?org=CISE
Education and Human Resources: http://www.nsf.gov/dir/index.jsp?org=EHR
Engineering: http://www.nsf.gov/dir/index.jsp?org=ENG\
Geosciences: http://www.nsf.gov/dir/index.jsp?org=GEO
Mathematical and Physical Sciences: http://www.nsf.gov/dir/index.jsp?org=MPS
Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences: http://www.nsf.gov/dir/index.jsp?org=SBE
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Other Offices or Programs of Interest:
Office of the Director: http://www.nsf.gov/od/
Office of Cyberinfrastructure: http://www.nsf.gov/dir/index.jsp?org=OCI
Office of Integrated Activities: http://www.nsf.gov/dir/index.jsp?org=OIA
Environmental Research and Education: http://www.nsf.gov/dir/index.jsp?org=ERE
Office of International Science and Engineering: http://www.nsf.gov/div/index.jsp?div=OISE NSF Strategic Plan (FY 2011-2016): http://www.nsf.gov/news/strategicplan/nsfstrategicplan_2011_2016.pdf
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U.S. Agency for International Development The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is a mission agency responsible for implementing the United States’ global development agenda in partnership with the Department of State. While universities have long viewed USAID as an underutilized partner, USAID has made an enhanced use of science, technology, and innovation to modernize global development. Illustratively, the past two years have seen the emergence of numerous new initiatives to better engage the scientific and technological communities in global development. Programs like the Higher Education Solutions Network, Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER), Development Innovation Ventures (DIV), and Grand Challenges for Development are all initiatives either targeted specifically at or available to university researchers. Further, a new Office of Science and Technology was recently established within USAID to help ensure that development policy decisions are guided by the best possible evidence. The Office has proven to be a valuable new entry point for the research community. Research Scope &
Objectives
USAID supports research with the ability to enhance global development. This includes projects involving the development of new systems and technologies as well as the application of existing technologies to development in innovative new ways. While the agency is willing to support projects in a wide variety of areas relevant to global development, many recent solicitations have sought proposals on topics including climate change, energy, agriculture, education, and child and maternal health as applied to the developing world. The Obama Administration’s broad global development priorities were outlined in the inaugural Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review (QDDR) released in 2010. These priorities continue to guide USAID’s development policies and associated research opportunities.
Degree of
Engagement
Most USAID research awards flow to universities as grants, although some development work and project implementation may be funded through contracts or other mechanisms. As discussed above, USAID has engaged with universities for years but efforts have greatly expanded under the current Administration. USAID’s increased outreach to universities is also aimed at helping achieve the goal of building capacity in developing countries to ensure that progress is made beyond the end of federal support. Local capacity building is another pillar of Administrator Shah’s reform agenda for USAID following years of concern about waste and inefficiency caused by the agency’s historical reliance on large development corporations to design and implement development programs. This approach is expected to continue as development dollars remain tight. Finally, USAID accepts unsolicited proposals through its country and regional missions, but the squeeze on the agency’s appropriations have caused low success rates through this approach.
Signature Programs
Targeted Opportunities:
Higher Education Solutions Network – In February, USAID released a solicitation for a new program called the Higher Education Solutions Network to create a network of university-based centers to pursue potentially game-changing advances in international development. Agency officials stress that they want universities’ best and most creative ideas which target key global development challenges and were intentionally vague regarding topic areas for the new program. USAID wants centers to be interdisciplinary and to heavily involve students. The strong interest in the program makes it likely that
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USAID will fund additional rounds of the program subject to future appropriations. More information: http://universityengagement.usaid.gov/.
Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER) – PEER is the first opportunity through the new NSF/USAID MOU which will provide grants to researchers in developing countries to supplement ongoing work by U.S. researchers through active NSF awards. There is no new money for U.S. researchers and applications must be submitted by foreign researchers directly to the National Academies, which will administer the money on behalf of USAID. USAID is funding PEER while NSF is offering guidance on the peer review process for selecting proposals. Because USAID is focused on building capacity through the program, conferences and other seminars in developing countries also qualify for funding in an effort to engage as many individuals as possible on topics of interest (including natural hazards resiliency, biodiversity, and climate change). A second round of PEER awards focused on global health in partnership with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has also been announced. More information: http://sites.nationalacademies.org/pga/dsc/peer/index.htm.
Grand Challenges for Development – Grand Challenges for Develop are competitions to promote innovative new solutions to targeted global development challenges. Administered as partnerships between USAID, its foreign counterparts, and a variety of nongovernmental organizations, the agency has thus far run competitions for Grand Challenges related to education (All Children Reading), maternal health (Saving Lives at Birth), and energy to support agricultural development (Powering Agriculture). Future Grand Challenges are expected, with potential topics including water and food security. Grand Challenges are open, but not limited, to universities. More information: http://www.usaid.gov/grandchallenges/.
Development Innovation Ventures – DIV provides funding to identify and test projects with the potential to provide game-changing development outcomes. DIV funds proof of concept activities, scaling, and implementation of innovative development solutions, but does not support basic research. Similar to the Department of Defense’s Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) process, USAID uses an Annual Program Statement to outline its priorities for DIV and invites proposals until a replacement is issued. DIV affords applicants a broad ability to propose innovative projects so long as they are linked to a USAID development priority. However, USAID emphasizes that proposals must offer transformative development solutions, and that DIV is not designed to support incremental advances in existing technologies or systems. More information: http://idea.usaid.gov/organization/div.
Additional Resources
USAID Website: http://www.usaid.gov/ USAID University Engagement Website: http://universityengagement.usaid.gov/ Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review: http://www.state.gov/s/dmr/qddr/index.htm
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U.S. Department of Agriculture The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides national-level leadership for the American agricultural enterprise. As the go-to experts on agricultural issues such as nutrition, food safety, resource conservation, innovative technology, and rural development, science and research is a key component of the USDA’s mission and provides novel and breakthrough solutions to pressing agricultural challenges. USDA is organized into 17 agencies and 17 offices that manage the Department’s functions. Two agencies within the Department are primarily responsible for supporting the bulk of USDA’s research activities: the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). ARS is USDA’s primary intramural research arm and coordinates research projects focused on broad regional or national areas of interest. NIFA is USDA’s extramural research arm and replaced the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES). NIFA contributes to USDA’s Research, Education, and Economics (REE) portfolio by directly supporting basic and applied research, education, and extension programs in partnership with land-grant universities and other organizations. Within NIFA, the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) provides the primary source of competitive grant opportunities. Research Scope &
Objectives
Research is integral to USDA’s mission but is tempered by other large programs such as crop insurance and food stamps. USDA’s science and research programs seek to address five challenge areas developed in response to the National Research Council’s report, New Biology for the 21st Century (http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12764), which proposed four challenge areas in food, environment, energy, and health. These five areas guide both the intramural and extramural research activities: (1) keep American agriculture competitive while ending world hunger; (2) improve nutrition and end child obesity;(3) improve food safety for all Americans; (4) secure America’s energy future; (5) mitigate and adapt to climate change. NIFA annually releases seven solicitations focused on these challenge areas (detailed below). ARS has oriented its intramural science mission to address these challenges through 19 national program areas organized under four major categories: nutrition, food safety, and quality; animal production and protection; natural resources and sustainable agricultural systems; and crop production and protection.
Degree of
Engagement
USDA engages with the academic research community through grants and cooperative agreements managed by NIFA’s competitive solicitation process as well as through ARS regional offices and research laboratories. The Land-grant university system and its associated infrastructure serves as the foundation for many USDA research endeavors and extension offices located throughout the 50 states disseminate the science developed with USDA funding.
Signature Programs
Each year, the competitive AFRI program solicits research proposals through seven large requests for applications (RFAs), details on each RFA can be found below.
NIFA Fellowships Grant Program – The Fellowships Grant program provides fellowships for predoctoral and postdoctoral students. More information: http://nifa.usda.gov/fo/afrinifafellowshipsgrantprogram.cfm.
Sustainable Bioenergy – The Sustainable Bioenergy program focuses on “regional systems for the sustainable production of bioenergy and biobased products that contribute significantly to
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reducing dependence on foreign oil, have net positive social, environmental, and rural economic impacts, and are compatible with existing agricultural systems.” Developing renewable fuels is a top priority for the Obama Administration and this program seeks to support the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 goal of 36 billion gallons/year of biofuels by 2022. More information: http://nifa.usda.gov/fo/afrisustainablebioenergy.cfm.
Childhood Obesity Prevention – Obesity prevention is a top priority for First Lady Michelle Obama and USDA is focusing its resources on addressing the food system to reduce obesity among children, which the USDA states as the “number one nutrition-related problem in the U.S.” The Childhood Obesity Prevention challenge area is focused on the long-term goal of reducing obesity among children and adolescents 2-19 years. More information: http://nifa.usda.gov/fo/childhoodobesityafri.cfm.
Agricultural and Natural Resources Science for Climate Variability and Change – The Climate Variability and Change program supports research activities that “reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase carbon sequestration in agricultural and forest production systems, and prepare the nation's agriculture and forests to adapt to variable climates.” The goal of the program is to reduce the use of energy, nitrogen fertilizer, and water by ten percent and increase carbon sequestration by fifteen percent through “resilient agriculture and forest production systems.” More information: http://nifa.usda.gov/fo/africlimatechange.cfm.
Food Security – The Food Security program focuses on research aimed at improving food availability and accessibility. According to USDA, food security is achieved when “food availability and food accessibility goals are met successfully.” This program seeks to increase sustainable food production and to decrease the number of individuals, families, and communities with food risk by “addressing key constraints to food accessibility and implementing solutions that enhance sustainable food systems.” More information: http://nifa.usda.gov/fo/afriglobalfoodsecurity.cfm.
Food Safety – The Food Safety program supports science and research aimed at protecting the nation’s food supply from microbial and chemical contaminants present in all stages of the food chain, from production to consumption. The program supports research that explores the “interdependencies of human, animal, and ecosystem health as it pertains to foodborne pathogens.” The long-term goal of the program is reducing foodborne illnesses and deaths by improving the safety of the food supply. More information: http://nifa.usda.gov/fo/foodsafetyafri.cfm.
Foundational Grant Program – The Foundational Program supports research grants in the six AFRI priority areas: Plant Health and Production and Plant Products; Animal Health and Production and Animal Products; Food Safety, Nutrition, and Health; Renewable Energy, Natural Resources, and Environment; Agriculture Systems and Technology; and Agriculture Economics and Rural Communities. More information: http://nifa.usda.gov/fo/foundationalprogramafri.cfm.
Additional Resources
USDA Website: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome ARS Website: http://www.ars.usda.gov/main/main.htm NIFA Website: http://www.csrees.usda.gov/
AFRI Website: http://www.csrees.usda.gov/funding/rfas/afri.html
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End Notes
ihttp://www.grants.gov/search/search.do;jsessionid=0k71PzTTNRrJcknhhl1pQQTxWqT0yvKywLpB4n1LTj7XXb5LpT4g!712472910?oppId=143093&mode=VIEW ii http://www.nih.gov/about/mission.htm
iii http://www.nih.gov/about/impact/testimony-6-21-2012.pdf
iv http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/r01.htm
v http://www.ahrq.gov/about/highlt11.htm#mission
vi http://www.hhs.gov/budget/budget-brief-fy2013.pdf
vii http://www.ahrq.gov/about/ataglance.htm
viii http://www.ahrq.gov/about/oerep/oerepmiss.htm
ix http://www.ahrq.gov/about/cj2013/cj2013.pdf
x http://www.ahrq.gov/fund/appdates.htm
xi http://www.fda.gov/ScienceResearch/SpecialTopics/RegulatoryScience/ucm268098.htm
xii http://www.usgs.gov/aboutusgs/default.asp#what
xiii http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/microsites/ostp/fed_cybersecurity_rd_strategic_plan_2011.pdf
