NSF Announces Support for International Collaboration in Graduate Education and Research Traineeships

Announcement Number: NSF 02-145

Announcement Date: July 2, 2002

Preproposal Due Date: October 2, 2002

Ful proposals Due: April 18, 2003

On July 2, 2002 the U.S. National Science Foundation announced continuation and expansion of the Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) program that began five years ago, which provides funding for U.S. institutions to focus on innovative research-based graduate education and training activities in emerging areas of science and engineering.

This year, the initiative expands its emphasis on, and increases significantly the funding for, international cooperation in response to the globalization of research and career opportunities, which places importance on providing students an international perspective, such as through internships, fieldwork, or other experiences abroad appropriate to the research area.

NSF plans to support approximately 20 awards, depending upon the quality of proposals and the availability of funds. The budget for each award is up to US$2.95 million spread over 5 years.

Eligible organizations are academic institutions in the U.S. and its territories that grant the Ph.D. degree in the sciences and engineering. Non-Ph.D. granting, non-academic, and international institutions may serve as collaborating institutions.

Pre-proposals are required and are due on October 2, 2002. Full proposals must be submitted by April 18, 2003.

Concerning international collaboration, the initiative:

(1) Addresses opportunities for career development such as may be provided by internships and mentoring in non-U.S. institutions, or other settings.

(2) Provides a budget for each year of support requested, not to exceed $550,000 per year for 5 years, with the exception that (a) the first-year budget may include up to an additional $200,000 special allocation for special purposes, and (b) up to an additional $100,000 per year for 5 years may be requested for international activities, as described below.

(3) May also provide additional funds of up to $100,000 per year for five years to support international activities that will significantly enhance the research, education, and training experiences of the IGERT graduate students.

(4) Requires proposals seeking support for international cooperation to discuss career development opportunities for students, and provision for developing professional and personal skills, an international perspective, and integrated instruction in ethics and the responsible conduct of research.

(5) Should a multi-institution project be proposed, requires a careful justification that considers the administrative complexity and the expected benefits to student experiences. Also requires a discussion of the role of other academic institutions or organizations such as industry, government, non-U.S. institutions, or private foundations that are expected to participate in the IGERT project. Also, requires details of anticipated resource commitments by these organizations.

(6) Stipulates that the major portion of funds must be used for doctoral student stipends, educational and training activities, and for related expenditures, such as student travel, publication costs, and recruitment.

(7) Further stipulates that the primary support is intended for graduate students through internships (university, government, industry), fieldwork with foreign collaborators, or in other settings abroad appropriate to the research area. The stays should be of sufficient duration to acculturate the student and provide a meaningful research and education experience.

(8) For full details, please visit: http://www.nsf.gov/pubsys/ods/getpub.cfm?ods_key=nsf02145