Funding-Limited Submission - NSF Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT); April 11, 2011

The Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) program has been developed to meet the challenges of educating U.S. Ph.D. scientists and engineers with interdisciplinary backgrounds, deep knowledge in chosen disciplines, and technical, professional, and personal skills. The program is intended to establish new models for graduate education and training in a fertile environment for collaborative research that transcends traditional disciplinary boundaries. It is also intended to facilitate diversity in student participation and preparation, and to contribute to a world-class, broadly inclusive, and globally engaged science and engineering workforce.

Building upon the IGERT platform, the purpose of this IGERT solicitation is to support new models in graduate education in which students are engaged in an environment that supports innovation to learn through hands-on experience how their own research may contribute in new ways to benefit society and to learn the processes for the successful implementation of such contributions.

Revision Summary

1. There will be no preliminary proposals in this competition.

2. Submissions will be limited to 1 proposal per lead institution.

3. In this competition it is required that the training program explicitly propose new models in graduate education in which students are engaged in an environment that supports innovation; learn through hands-on experience how their own research may contribute in new ways to benefit society; and to learn the processes for the successful implementation of such contributions.

4. The IGERT budget now includes a Competitive Incentive Fund for trainees in the amount of up to $200,000, for integrated interdisciplinary research and innovation activities.

5. The IGERT budget now allows for 6 faculty months of salary to be used for IGERT curricular development.

6. While IGERT projects must have the capability to communicate with each other and the NSF through videoconferencing, no specific system is required. Costs for developing a collaboration conference audio and video capability are no longer allowed.

7. A data management plan is required. Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information.

8. It is now made explicit that at the time of award, PIs will be required to obtain IRB approval for this award.

9. The solicitation has been revised to allow for full reimbursement of indirect costs, based on the awardee's current Federally negotiated indirect cost rate agreement.

10. Budgetary information has changed, including the amount allowed in year 1 for new and renewal proposals, see section F. Budget and Allowable Costs for more information.

Program website: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=12759&org=NSF

Because NSF limits an institution to only 1 proposal, UK has established an internal selection process.  Applicants are to submit the following information electronically to Kris Hobson (hobson@email.uky.edu), Office of the Provost, and a copy to their dean by Monday, April 11, 2011:

· Title of Project

· Names and departments of the PI and participating personnel

· Project description to include goals, interdisciplinary themes, recruitment strategies and organizational structure (2 pages, max.)

A committee will be convened to review the proposals and make a recommendation. The Office of the Provost will notify all applicants of the outcome in time for submission for the May 2, 2011 LOI deadline.  
 
NSF Deadlines: May 2, 2011 letter of intent (required); July 1, 2011 full proposal