National Science Foundation

Welcome to the MCB Virtual Office Hours, we will begin at 2pm ET!

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Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences (MCB)

Virtual Office Hours

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MCB Virtual Office HourQuestion and Answers Session:

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National Science Foundation

Molecular and Cellular Biosciences (MCB)• Supports quantitative, predictive and theory-driven research to understand complex living

systems at the molecular, subcellular, and cellular levels

• Encourages use of approaches at intersections of biology and other disciplines

• Promotes activities that build capacity and ensure diversity, equity and inclusion in the scientific enterprise.

$152 MFY 2020

ResearchBudget

613Proposals

17Panels

250Awards

Award size: up 10%Decision time: down 20%

~35% Success rate

Average award size: >$200 K/year

Award duration: 2-5 years

Predictive Biology through Interdisciplinary Research

• Molecular Biophysics• Genetic Mechanisms• Cellular Dynamics and

Function• Systems and Synthetic

Biology

https://www.nsf.gov/funding/programs.jsp?org=MCB

https://mcbblog.nsfbio.com/funding-opportunities-2/

Where to Find MCB Funding Opportunities

MCB Virtual Office HourToday’s Topic

Funding Opportunities for International Collaborations

Copy of this and Past Presentations at https://mcbblog.nsfbio.com/office-hours/2/

International Engagement and Collaboration

NSF welcomes international collaboration that

• Demonstrates how it strengthens proposal’s merit and impact

• Represents Intellectual partnership with mutual benefit• Engages US students, early career researchers

Any proposal to any program at NSF may contain an international element• Most international collaborations are funded by the research

directorates through core programs• Limited number of targeted international funding

opportunities• Directorate-initiated opportunities• Office of International Science and Engineering programs

Partnerships are a growing priority (Research, workforce development)

Funding for International Collaboration

• Lead Agency Opportunities (for coordinated funding in core programs)• Broad partnerships covering core programs in many directorates: UK, Israel and

France• Focused partnerships covering limited number of programs: Czech Republic,

Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Taiwan

• Dear Colleague Letters calling attention to special opportunities• International Collaboration Supplements in Quantum Information Science and

Engineering Research (NSF 21-090)• Research Collaboration Opportunities in Europe for NSF Awardees (NSF 21-068);

CAREERS

NSF/BBSRC Lead Agency Opportunity (NSF 21-100)

https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2021/nsf21100/nsf21100.jspSpecific Research Areas:

Biological informatics, Microbes and the Host Immune System, Quantum Biology, and Synthetic CellSingle Intent to submit and full proposals are submitted to the designated lead agency:

US partner submits to NSF/BIO or UK partner to UKRI/BBSRC.

Proposals are reviewed by the lead agency. If funding is recommended, NSF funds the US PI(s) and BBSRC funds UK PI)s)MCB Reps: Engin Serpersu (eserpers@nsf.gov) and David Rockcliffe (drockcli@nsf.gov)

Biological Informatics

• Proposals are invited that address the development of novel informatics approaches and cyberinfrastructure resources to enable novel and effective use of data in biological research, addressing key challenges faced by researchers and supporting generation of new knowledge from biological data.

• Proposals should be submitted to:

• NSF 21-502, Infrastructure Innovation for Biological Research (Innovation)

• NSF 21-501, Infrastructure Capacity for Biology Core Program (Capacity)

• BBSRC Responsive Mode 22RM1

Microbes and the Host

Immune System

• Proposals are invited that:

• take an integrated approach to answer important questions relating to the immune system and host-microbe interactions.

• aim to identify molecular mechanisms or develop systems-level understanding.

• aim to progress knowledge of immunology in non-human animals or plants.

Microbes and the Host

Immune System

• Proposals that focus on industrial applications will not be accepted.

• Proposals that focus solely on human or mouse immune systems will not be accepted.

• Proposals should be submitted to:

• NSF 21-506, Division of Integrative Organismal Systems Core Programs

• BBSRC Responsive Mode 22RM1

Quantum Biology

Proposals are invited that seek to investigate the biological molecules and biomolecular systems that give rise to quantum mechanical effects in living organisms. Relevant areas of investigation include

• the features of proteins that enable quantum effects to occur at physiological temperatures and the significance of the relatively large size of most protein complexes that exhibit quantum phenomena in contributing to the superposition of quantum states that give rise to quantum entanglement or quantum coherence.

Proposals should be submitted to:

• NSF 21-509, Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences: Investigator Initiated Research Projects

• BBSRC Responsive Mode 22RM1

Synthetic Cell

• One goal of synthetic cell research is to decipher the basic requirements of a living cell by understanding the myriad functions that make it resilient and adaptive. To this end, proposals are expected to focus on building a synthetic cell in order to understand biology.

• Proposals focused exclusively on building a synthetic cell as a biomanufacturing platform or as a therapeutic moiety will not be accepted.

• Proposals should be submitted to:

• NSF 21-509, Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences: Investigator Initiated Research Projects

• BBSRC Responsive Mode 22RM1

Intention to Submit

Proposers will be required to submit a PDF Intention to Submit (ITS) by email to the proposed lead agency that outlines the research proposed, research teams involved, and bottom-line estimates of funding to be requested from the NSF/BIO and UKRI/BBSRC.

Proposals are submitted either to UKRI/BBSRC or to NSF/BIO as the proposed lead agency. The ITS must identify the participating program to which the ITS is directed.

The ITS will be shared with the non-lead agency to check for eligibility

Collaborative Research NSF/BIO–

UKRI/BBSRC

1. If the ITS presents an eligible research project based on the eligibility description, the subsequent full proposal must be submitted in accordance with the proposal preparation requirements of the lead agency,

2. The proposal should include a description of the full proposed research program and research team and describe the total resources for the joint project (that is, the funds requested from both the NSF/BIO and UKRI/BBSRC).

3. Deadline for ITS (UKRI/BBSRC and NSF/BIO): September 22, 2021

Collaborative Research

Opportunities –US and Israel

NSF and US-Israel Binational Science Foundation (NSF-BSF)

• Dear Colleague Letter NSF 20-094• Enables US and Israeli researchers to submit a

single collaborative proposal to be reviewed by NSF as the lead agency.

• Proposals must adhere to the scientific areas, funding limits and grant durations specified by participating NSF programs.

• List of participating programs (various programs in all NSF directorates, including MCB).

• Contact appropriate program PO for specific queries, such as programmatic fit of research topic.

Collaborative Research

Opportunities –US and Israel

• The US PI must submit the proposal to NSF and the Israeli PI must submit the same proposal to BSF (within one week). Proposal is reviewed by NSF only

• NSF-BSF proposals may be submitted at anytime to MCB/BIO.

• Apply to MCB/BIO solicitation: NSF 21-509

• In addition to addressing the NSF merit review criteria of Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts, the proposal must clearly describe an integrated collaborative effort and highlight the value of the international collaboration.

• If selected for funding, NSF will fund the US PI and BSF intends to support the Israeli PI.

ANR - NSF/Physics/MCB Lead Agency Opportunity

NSF 21-XXX

Dear Colleague Letter: ANR - NSF/Physics/MCB Lead Agency Opportunity at the Physics – Molecular and Cellular Biosciences Interface

The lead agency opportunity allows US and French researchers to submit a single proposal describing a project involving US and French researchers

Physics from Molecules to CellsNSF and ANR seek proposals that use multidisciplinary approaches that emphasize quantitative, predictive and theory driven science aimed at understanding mechanisms underlying these essential life processes at the molecular, subcellular and cellular scales.

Deadline: Dec 14th 2021 Contacts: Wilson Francisco wfrancis@nsf.govKrastan Blagoev kblagoev@nsf.gov

Partnership for International Research and Education (PIRE)

• Frontier U.S. research built on synergy among U.S. and international teams

• Extensive overseas research opportunities forU.S. students and early career researchers

• Robust leveraging of U.S. and international resources

• Revised solicitation planned in 2021, awards in 2022

• Stay tuned!

Accelerating Research through International Network-to-Network Collaborations (AccelNet)

• NSF 21-511• Aims to foster networks of networks,

creating links between multiple networks that cross international boundaries

• Leverage expertise, data, facilities, and other resources to stimulate critical research advances.

• Design and Implementation tracks• Focus on grand challenges identified by

NSF or a research community as a priority

• Deadline: October 11, 2021

International Research Experience for Students

• NSF 20-598• OISE program to develop a globally engaged U.S. STEM workforce• Track-I: IRES Sites

• Faculty-led cohort of undergrads and/or grad student• Deadline: Sept 21, 2021

• Track-II: Advanced Studies Institutes• Seminar-style training for graduate students• Deadline: Sept 28, 2021

Submit your questions via the

Q&A function.

MCB Virtual Office HourQuestion and Answers Session:

*For specific questions about your project,please contact a Program Director.

Click on the Q&A icon on the bottom of your Zoom screen,

shown here:A Q&A box should appear on

your screen. Please enter your question or comment in the

box. You may select to submit your question anonymously.

October 26, 3-4 pm EST

The New NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) - NSF 22-1

November 10, 2-3 pm EST

Post-Award Actions: Annual Reports and Supplement Requests

November 17, 2-3 pm EST

Funding Opportunities: Designer Cells, Biology Integration Institutes, IntBIO, etc.

Upcoming Virtual Office Hours

https://mcbblog.nsfbio.com/office-hours/

VOH topic suggestions welcome: Lourdes Holloway, lhollowa@nsf.govSonam Ahluwalia, sahluwal@nsf.gov