Dec 1, 2017 - The National Science Foundation's Established. Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (NSF. EPSCoR) has
SD EPSCoR
RESEARCH. EDUCATION. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
December 2017 Newsletter NSF EPSCoR Releases RII-Track 4 Solicitation The National Science Foundation’s Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (NSF EPSCoR) has announced the release of the Research Infrastructure Improvement Track-4: EPSCoR Research Fellows (RII Track-4) solicitation 18-526. This year’s competition builds on the success of the inaugural FY 2017 competition.
RII-Track 4 At a Glance: • Solicitation: 18-526 • Collaborators & Other Affiliations Information • Program Contact: Timothy M. VanReken • Proposals Due: March 13, 2018
The solicitation provides opportunities for nontenured investigators to further develop their individual research potential through extended collaborative visits to the nation’s premier private, governmental or academic research centers. Through these visits, the EPSCoR Research Fellows will be able to learn new techniques, develop new collaborations or advance existing partnerships, benefit from access to unique equipment and facilities, and/or shift their research toward potentially transformative new directions. The experience gained through the fellowship is intended to provide a foundation for research collaborations that will enhance the Fellows’ research trajectories well beyond the award period. These benefits to the Fellows are also expected to in turn enhance the research capacity of their institutions and jurisdictions more broadly. In 2017 two faculty members from the University of South Dakota were awarded with RII Track-4 Awards. NSF will be hosting informational webinars for the RII Track-4 program that are tentatively planned for January 11and 12, 2018, at 1 p.m. central time. Research administrators and potential principal investigators are encouraged to participate in one of the webinars. The RII Track-4 is a limited solicitation opportunity: three submissions from each institution. Proposals are due March 13, 2018.
Visit with SD EPSCoR Science Communication Fellows Make plans to visit the South Dakota Discovery Center in Pierre on Wednesday, January 17, 2018 from 3-5:30 p.m. for the Science Communication Fellowship Showcase. SD EPSCoR South Dakota Discovery Center and the SD Discovery Center’s Portal to the Public 805 W Sioux Ave., Pierre, SD Science Communication Fellowship Program works January 17, 2018 • 3-5:30 p.m. with research professionals to enhance and refine how they share and communicate their research with the public. The scientists will present fun, handson activities that will be great for all ages. Learn about fascinating research that is taking place right here in South Dakota! The event is free and light refreshments will be provided. sdepscor.org
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CAREER Workshop Update Ed Blog: College Scholarships and Grants
• Links of Interest/Important Dates • Holiday Hours
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Linking South Dakota’s Future to Science & Technology
CAREER Workshop Update The 8th annual CAREER Proposal Preparation Workshop was held Tuesday, Nov. 28 at University Center in Sioux Falls. Over 30 faculty members attended from institutions across South Dakota. The workshop was the first in a series of activities to assist junior faculty members with the development of their National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development Program (NSF CAREER) proposals. The CAREER program offers NSF's most prestigious awards in support of early-career faculty who have the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education and to lead advances in the mission of their department or organization. Activities pursued by early-career faculty build a firm foundation for integrating education and research. As South Dakota continues to expand its research capcity, the CAREER program could be a valuable tool to help new faculty develop a strong foundation for their research and educational programs. Faculty at all academic institutions in South Dakota are eligible to apply for CAREER awards including primarily undergraduate institutions and two-year colleges. A virtual workshop has been set up that includes presentations, hand-outs and videos for any researchers that may have missed out on the November workshop. If you are still planning on submitting a CAREER proposal this year and are interested in gaining access, contact the SD EPSCoR Office.
CAREER Timeline NOVEMBER 28, 2017 CAREER Proposal Development Workshop
DECEMBER - MAY, 2018 Individual investigators develop proposals Occasional information updates, FAQ pages
MAY 1, 2018 First draft of proposals due for technical review
JUNE 27, 2018 Second draft of proposals due for internal review
JULY 9-13, 2018
Proposal editing/proofing/formatting working one-on-one with consultants
JULY 18-20, 2018 Final proposals submitted to NSF
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Linking South Dakota’s Future to Science & Technology ED BLOG: High Schooler's Guide to Finding Scholarships and Grants for College Are you an upcoming high school graduate seeking a college degree in the field of science or technology? There are many resources you can utilize to ensure that your funding is taken care of. Scholarships: Scholarships are offered everywhere, you just need to know where to look. High schools have personal scholarships funded by local businesses, families that lost loved ones, and local people in the community. Starting around January, applications can be found in the counselor’s office. Some scholarships are field specific, but many are general meaning anyone can apply. Depending on the requirements, you may have to write an essay or answer some questions. Don’t pass this opportunity up! Applications don’t take very long and it is almost guaranteed that you will get something come announcement day. Universities offer scholarships too if you promise to go to their campus for your education. These can be academic scholarships rewarding students with high GPA’s and ACT/SAT scores. Schools do this because they are trying to increase their overall student GPA average for to make their school look better. If they know your high school grades are high, there is a great change your college grades with be too! For those students that are athletic, there are scholarships that can pay from 25 to 100 percent of your tuition if you play on the sports team. Finally, there are often small scholarships that are major specific that you can apply to your freshman up to junior year through the university. They can be found online on the college’s website. Generalized online scholarships can be tricky to scroll through. While there are some reputable websites, there are scams too. Try to look for websites with a ‘.org’ or ‘.gov’ when you look through the search engine’s results. Federal Student Aid is a good reputable website with helpful tips. For science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) related funding see here. Grants: Grants differ from scholarships in that they are monetized awards from the government. Most of the time, universities will automatically place you with grants you qualify for based on family income. Your financial aid advisor will discuss all you qualify for when you visit. For specific STEM grants, the link mentioned above is a good source along with this website. Are you prepared? The best way to prepare for your scholarship application is to improve your grades, test scores, and writing skills. Higher ACT/SAT scores will get you noticed, but don’t worry if you don’t excel at test taking. Good grades play a large role too. For those applications that require an essay, take your time and answer honestly. Talking about your struggles and how you have overcome them is a good idea if it is related to the topic. Personalizing with the reader is important. Don’t fret too much over everything because there are always people who are happy to help!
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Linking South Dakota’s Future to Science & Technology
Links of Interest: • • • • • • •
SDSU to Offer Specialization in Data Science SD Mines Paleontologist Lands NSF Grant to Increase Diversity in Earth Sciences USD Biology Major Wins Award for Sustainable River Research Sanford Health Announces $1 Million Health and Science Award Arens Becomes 10th USD Rhodes Scholar 2018 Governor’s Giant Vision Competition is Open Breakthrough Biotech Video Scholarship Competition
Important Dates: • • • • • • • •
Science Fellowship Communication Showcase - Jan. 17, 2018 RII Track 1 Proposals Due - Jan. 19, 2018 RII Track 2 Proposals Due - Jan. 26, 2018 Deadline to Submit Biotech Video Scholarship Entries - Jan. 31, 2018 26th Annual SDCTM & SDSTA Joint Conference - Feb. 8-10, 2018 Sanford Promise Community Lecture Series: Rare Disease Day - Feb.22, 2018 Governor's Giant Vision Student Competition - Application Deadline: Feb.23, 2018 RII Track 4 Proposals Due - March 13, 2018
Happy Holidays! The SD EPSCoR office wishes you and your family a wonderful holiday season! The office will be closed on the following dates: • Dec. 25, 2017 • Dec. 26, 2017 • Jan. 1, 2018
SD EPSCoR Office Staff
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Dr. Mel Ustad Director Phillip Huebner Director of STEM Partnerships Dr. Rhea Waldman Education Outreach Specialist Elizabeth Martinson Project Administrator Layne Manson Program Assistant Nick Eppard Communications Officer sdepscor.org
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This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation/EPSCoR Grant Number IIA-1355423 and by the State of South Dakota. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
