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Federal News Archive

• NSF Seeks Faculty Review Panelists for Graduate Research Fellowship Competition
• Call for Recommendations for the NCRR 2004–2008 Strategic Plan
• Final NIH Statement on Sharing Research Data
• Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Stipends Increase
• Technical Support Working Group BAA Information Delivery System (BIDS)
• Commerce Department Issues Heads-up for Technology Opportunities Program (TOP)

NSF Seeks Faculty Review Panelists for Graduate Research Fellowship Competition
Each year, the National Science Foundation (NSF) awards approximately 900 new fellowships to graduate students in science, mathematics, and engineering. Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) conducts panel review meetings to evaluate and rate NSF fellowship applicants on the basis of ability.

ORAU also selects the review panelists with the concurrence of NSF. The agency maintains a database of appropriate professors, researchers, and others in disciplines supported by NSF. ORAU also regularly solicits recommendations from graduate deans, vice presidents and former panelists. ORAU looks for those who have demonstrated accomplishment in research and graduate education to serve as panelists.

ORAU invites approximately 475 scholars to review meetings in Washington, D.C. for three days each February. ORAU conducts the reviews entirely on site. To ensure fairness, continuity, and experience, ORAU strives to have each panel composed of both new members and returning members. An experienced panelist chairs each panel. Each panelist receives the standard NSF remuneration per working day and has his or her travel expenses covered.

"It's great when our faculty can participate in these reviews," said Sandra Hoeflich, assistant dean of fellowships in the Graduate School. "As insiders, faculty can better understand how decisions regarding graduate fellowships are made. They can then inform and mentor our own Carolina graduate students so the students can win more fellowships."

If you would like to be included in the ORAU database as a potential review panelist, contact ORAU as soon as possible (ORAU hopes to name new panelists in mid-August).

Contact Martha Payne:
tel: (866) 353-0905 toll free
email: nsfpanelist@orau.gov

ORAU uses the review panelist questionnaires to compose panels of the highest caliber. All personal information provided in the questionnaires will be kept confidential.

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Call for Recommendations for the NCRR 2004–2008 Strategic Plan
On January 29, 2003, the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR) asked the scientific community to make recommendations for the 2004–2008 strategic plan. The purpose of the plan is to anticipate and fill the biomedical research community's needs for critical research resources and technologies. The comments will help NCRR update its 1998–2003 strategic plan entitled "NCRR: A Catalyst for Discovery," which is available online at http://www.ncrr.nih.gov/about_ncrr/plan98.asp.

NCRR seeks answers to the following questions:

• What are the most important research trend(s) that will drive biomedical research?
• What research resources and technologies will be critical in addressing these trend(s) and meeting biomedical investigators' needs?
• What strategies will eliminate barriers to progress and enhanceaccess to research resources and technologies?

NCRR requests feedback from biomedical scientists, and will accept comments until May 15, 2003. Send your comments through the NCRR's Strategic Planning page at http://www.ncrr.nih.gov/sprecommend.asp.

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Final NIH Statement on Sharing Research Data
Following a recent public comment period, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has issued a final statement reaffirming its support for sharing final research data from NIH-supported studies with other researchers. NIH believes data sharing is essential for expedited translation of research results into knowledge, products, and procedures to improve human health.

Starting with the October 1, 2003 receipt date, investigators submitting an NIH application seeking $500,000 or more in direct costs in any single year are expected to include a plan for data sharing or state why data sharing is not possible. Applicants are encouraged to discuss their data-sharing plan with their program contact when negotiating their application assignment.

For more information on research data sharing, visit
http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-03-032.html.

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Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Stipends Increase
On March 7, 2003, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced increased stipend levels for all Kirschstein NRSA predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees and fellows. These increased stipends apply to all individuals receiving support through institutional research training grants or individual fellowships, including the Minority Access to Research Career (MARC) and Career Opportunities in Research (COR) programs, made on or after October 1, 2002. Competing and noncompeting awards issued on or after October 1, 2002, will be revised by the NIH awarding component to reflect the new stipend levels.

Training-related expenses and institutional allowances for all predoctoral and postdoctoral fellows, as well as stipend levels for undergraduate trainees, remain the same for all awards made with FY 2003 funds.

Further information, including actual stipend levels, is available online at http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-03-033.html.

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Technical Support Working Group BAA Information Delivery System (BIDS)
The Technical Support Working Group (TSWG) is the U.S. national forum that identifies, prioritizes, and coordinates interagency and international research and development (R&D) requirements for combating terrorism. The TSWG rapidly develops technologies and equipment to meet the high-priority needs of the counterterrorism community, and addresses joint international operational requirements through cooperative R&D with major allies.

To disseminate and receive data related to active solicitations, the TSWG has developed a web-based tool, the Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) Information Delivery System (BIDS), located at: https://www.bids.tswg.gov/tswg/bids.nsf/. Downloads of active BAA solicitations from this site are available to all visitors; however, you must register and have an active registration on this site to submit a response. If you are interested in the research, development, and prototyping of technologies to combat terrorism, we encourage you to register to receive BAA postings on a regular basis.

For postings of other government development or contracting opportunities, you can also consult the Federal Business Opportunities (FedBizOpps) at http://research.unc.edu/grantsource/cbd.html

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Commerce Department Issues Heads-up for Technology Opportunities Program (TOP)
The Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) urges universities and other nonprofit organizations to prepare now for the popular Technology Opportunities Program. TOP provides matching grants for model projects that demonstrate innovative uses of digital network technologies in underserved communities. Projects address specific challenges and realize opportunities in such areas as lifelong learning, community and economic development, government and public services, safety, health, and culture and the arts.

NTIA will release a notice in the Federal Register, which will describe the rules and deadlines for applying for the FY 2003 TOP program. To be alerted via email regarding release of the notice, you may want to register for TOP's email list.

For more information about the Technology Opportunities Program, see http://www.ntia.doc.gov/top/index.html.

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