Partnerships for International Research (PIRE)

Partnerships for International Research and Education (PIRE) is an NSF-wide program that supports international activities across all NSF supported disciplines. The primary goal of PIRE is to support high quality projects in which advances in research and education could not occur without international collaboration. PIRE seeks to catalyze a higher level of international engagement in the U.S. science and engineering community. International partnerships are essential to addressing critical science and engineering problems. In the global context, U.S. researchers and educators must be able to operate effectively in teams with partners from different nations and cultural backgrounds. PIRE promotes excellence in science and engineering through international collaboration and facilitates development of a diverse, globally-engaged, U.S. science and engineering workforce. This PIRE competition will focus exclusively on the NSF-wide investment area of Science, Engineering, and Education for Sustainability (SEES). The SEES effort focuses on interdisciplinary topics that will advance sustainability science, engineering and education as an integrative approach to the challenges of adapting to environmental, social and cultural changes associated with growth and development of human populations, and attaining a sustainable energy future.

Amount: $4 million across 5 years
Date due: Preliminary proposals due October 19, 2011

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Cottrell College Science Awards Single Investigator Awards

Support of significant research that contributes to the advancement of science and to the professional and scholarly development of faculty at undergraduate institutions along with their students

Eligibility

The principal investigator must have a faculty appointment at a US college or university in a department of astronomy, chemistry or physics, or, if from another department, propose research that significantly overlaps with research in astronomy, chemistry or physics. Faculty who have had a previous CCSA award or whose appointment is in a department or school of engineering or medicine are not eligible. The applicant’s home department must offer at least baccalaureate, but not doctoral, degrees. At the time of application the applicant must be within the first three years of her/his first tenure track appointment.

Criteria

The potential of a proposed research project to add to fundamental scientific knowledge is a prime criterion in its evaluation, as is its potential for developing into a long term viable program capable of attracting future support from other agencies. Other factors considered are the environment for research at the institution, student participation, and the contribution the research will make to the college's science programs.

Funding

Cottrell College Science Awards provide direct expenses for support of the proposed research. The total funding from Research Corporation for Science Advancement must be $35,000. An institutional match of $10,000 is required for all applicants. Expenses are limited to five budget categories: equipment, supplies, student stipends, faculty stipends, and travel away from the home institution to conduct research. Requests for Research Corporation for Science Advancement funds have the following limits: supplies up to $6,000 per year, student summer stipends up to $3,500 for 10 weeks, faculty summer stipends up to $7,500 for 8 weeks, travel costs to conduct research and reasonable fees for instrument use off campus up to $2,500 per year. No indirect costs or fringe benefits (other than FICA at 7.65%) are allowed from RC funds.

Applications

The target date for completed applications is November 15. All potential applicants begin the submission process by completing the Eligibility Quiz. If you meet the basic eligibility guidelines you will be directed to submit a brief pre-proposal that is due on September 15. All eligible applicants must complete the pre-proposal. See the complete program guidelines for further details. For questions regarding eligibility and application processes, contact us at ccsa@rescorp.org