Funding-Limited Submission - NSF Collections in Support of Biological Research (CSBR) NSF 11-558; June 7, 2012

Description: The Collections in Support of Biological Research (CSBR) Program provides funds for improvements to secure, improve, and organize collections that are significant to the NSF/BIO-funded research community. Support is also provided to secure collections-related data for sustained, accurate, and efficient accessibility of the collection to the biological research community. Supplemental funding is also available to transfer collection ownership responsibilities or consolidate or combine existing collections.

The CSBR program provides for enhancements that secure and improve existing collections, result in accessible digitized specimen-related data, and develop better methods for specimen curation and collection management. Requests should demonstrate a clear and urgent need to secure the collection, and the proposed activities should address that need. Biological collections supported include established living stocks/culture collections, vouchered non-living natural history collections, and jointly-curated ancillary collections such as preserved tissues and DNA libraries.

Program page and solicitation:  http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2011/nsf11558/nsf11558.htm

Because NSF limits an institution to 3 proposals per institution, the University of Kentucky has established an internal selection process. Researchers interested in submitting a proposal are to submit the following material electronically to the Office of the Vice President for Research at vpr@email.uky.edu and a copy to their Associate Dean for Research by Thursday, June 7, 2012:

• The names and departments of the Principal Investigator (PI), project personnel and any collaborators;

• Identification of Competitive Area (Natural History, Living Stock, Supplemental Funding)

• A project description (1-2 p. max.) to include a description of the collection outlining its scientific value, the urgency of the request, and planned activities.

A committee will be convened to review the proposals and make a recommendation as to UK’s applicants. The Office of the Vice President for Research will notify all applicants of the outcome in time for the selected researcher to submit a full proposal for the July 27, 2012 deadline.

Questions about the submission process may be sent to Ms. Annette Evans in the Office of the Vice President for Research (alevan4@email.uky.edu or 257-1663).