The Division of Environmental Biology (DEB) held its second Virtual Office Hour on January 13th, 2020. Below is a recap of some of the questions asked during this past session which focused on the Bridging Ecology and Evolution (BEE) (NSF 20-502) track, as well as the co-review process used within the Division.
Join us for the next Virtual Office Hour on February 10th, 2020 from 1-2pm EST where we will talk about the Rules of Life (RoL) track in the BIO core solicitation and the NSF-wide Understanding Rules of Life (URoL) solicitation.
The presentation and other documents are available here:
If you were unable to attend, here are a some of the questions asked during the Q & A section:
Q: For the Bridging Ecology and Evolution (BEE) category, is it necessary for the proposal to be split equally between ecology and evolution? If not, what fraction would you expect to see?
A: There is no set fraction of ecology and evolution required in a BEE proposal. You are encouraged to form a team consisting of the right people based on the expertise needed and the questions you want to answer.
Q: What is the average budget for a BEE proposal? Is there a maximum amount allowed?
A: There is no budget cap for BEE proposals. The amount requested is entirely up to the PI. This is the same for all proposals submitted to the core solicitation, with the exception of Small Grants, which are capped at $200,000. As is always the case, a PI should request what is necessary to complete the project.
Q: Should Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) supplements be included within the budget of BEE proposals at time of submission?
A: Yes. DEB has been emphasizing that education and broadening participation requests should be included in the budget of the proposal at time of submission. To learn more about these types of requests, please check out this blog post.
Q: Can BEE proposals cross DEB and other Divisions in NSF?
A: Yes, as long as the proposal meets the BEE criteria of integrating questions that span the ecological (ES, PCE) and evolutionary (EP, SBS) clusters. If the proposal topic also spans multiple Divisions in the Biology Directorate, we encourage you to think about whether your proposal might be a better fit for the Rules of Life track. Tune in for the Rules of Life and Understanding the Rules of Life virtual office hours on February 10, 2020 for more information or contact a Program Officer with specific questions. Please note that proposals seeking to bridge evolution and ecology in the marine biome should be submitted to the more appropriate choice of either EP or SBS; these will be co-reviewed with GEO’s Biological Oceanography program.
Q: Are panelists/reviewers told that they are reviewing a co-reviewed proposal?
A: This information is not shared with ad hoc reviewers. Panelists will not know ahead of time; however, this information may be shared with them during the panel as Program Officers from other programs tend to visit the panel to listen to the discussion.
Q: When will the new Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending Support requirements as outlined in the new Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) (NSF 20-1) go into effect?
A: Any new requirements become effective 90 days after the PAPPG’s release. For more, please check out this link from the NSF Policy Office.
Please reach out to a Program Officer if you have any questions about the proposal submission and review process in DEB programs.
The DEB monthly Virtual Office Hour takes place the 2nd Monday of every month from 1-2pm EST. The topics rotate, but listeners are welcome to ask about any NSF-related topics. Program Officers from each of DEB’s core programs will be present.Be sure to check back here or follow the BIO Twitter (@NSF_BIO) for information on how to register.
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