Limited Submission
National Science Foundation Research Traineeship (NRT) Program
Internal Proposal due – Monday, July 27, 2015 (9:00 a.m.)
WHAT: The NSF Research Traineeship (NRT) program is designed to encourage the development and implementation of bold, new,
potentially transformative, and scalable models for STEM graduate education training. The NRT program seeks proposals that ensure
that graduate students in research-based master’s and doctoral degree programs develop the skills, knowledge, and competencies
needed to pursue a range of STEM careers. The NRT program includes two tracks— 1) Traineeship and Data-Enabled Science and
Engineering (DESE) Traineeship and 2) Innovations in Graduate Education (IGE):
 The Traineeship Track is dedicated to effective training of STEM graduate students in high priority interdisciplinary research
areas, through the use of a comprehensive traineeship model that is innovative, evidence-based, aligned with changing
workforce and research needs, and scalable.
o
Data Enabled Science and Engineering (DESE) Traineeship Track is a priority interdisciplinary research theme for
this solicitation. The DESE Traineeship track is dedicated to training graduate students in data-enabled science and
engineering.
 The Innovations in Graduate Education (IGE) Track is dedicated solely to piloting, testing, and evaluating novel, innovative,
and potentially transformative approaches to graduate education, both disciplinary and interdisciplinary, to generate the
knowledge required for their customization, implementation, and broader adoption.
Whereas the Traineeship Track and DESE Traineeship track promotes building on the current knowledge base to more effectively
train STEM graduate students, the IGE Track supports test-bed projects with high potential to enrich, improve, and extend the
knowledge base with attention to transferability and innovation. For both tracks, strategic collaborations with the private sector,
non-governmental organizations (NGOs), government agencies, national laboratories, field stations, teaching and learning centers,
museums, and academic partners are encouraged.
NRT Traineeship Track and DESE Traineeship Track Awards are expected to be up to five years in duration with a total budget up to
$3,000,000. NRT IGE Track Awards are expected to be up to 2-3 years with a budget between $300,000 and $500,000.
Full program solicitation can be found at: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2015/nsf15542/nsf15542.pdf
WHO: The PI must be a faculty member with the skills, knowledge, experience and institutional backing to manage and sustain a
graduate education program.
WHEN: Internal Proposal due – Monday, July 27, 2015 (9:00 a.m.)
NSF Letter of Intent due – December 22, 2015
NSF Final Proposal due – February 22, 2016
Please note: This internal competition is being facilitated earlier than usual due to feedback indicating that Columbia’s peer
institutions also run internal selection processes earlier in the year, thus allowing their nominees more time to recruit
collaborators before the external deadline.
HOW: The Internal Proposal must include the following 6 parts:
1) Cover Page Provide the name, department and contact information for the PI, list all participating organizations and the
program track (Traineeship, DESE Traineeship or IGE).
2) Project Summary (up to 1 page) Provide a summary description that addresses the research theme, the training plan, and the
research-education integration. Specify the expected number of NRT trainees who will receive an NRT stipend, those NRT
trainees who will not receive an NRT stipend, and the grand total; also specify whether the program will serve master’s
students, doctoral students, or both.
a) For Traineeship Track and DESE Traineeship Track proposals, provide a brief summary of the vision and goals of the
proposed training program including a brief description of the interdisciplinary research theme, the main training
elements, the integration of the research and training, and the need for the program;
b) For IGE Track proposals, provide a brief description of the graduate education models, approaches, or activities to be
piloted and tested, including a brief description of the disciplinary or interdisciplinary needs and/or challenges
addressed.
3) Organization and Management (up to 1 page) Present the plans for the organization and management of the NRT project,
including the responsibilities of key personnel and reporting lines.
4) Recruitment, Mentoring, and Retention (up to 1 page) Describe plans for recruitment, mentoring, and retention of trainees
with a particular emphasis on broadening participation of groups underrepresented in STEM fields.
5) Recent Student Training Experiences (up to 1 page): Describe the experience of the PI and Co-PIs with leading or participating
in STEM education and training over the past five years. Describe any overlap and/or complementarity between the training
and the proposed NRT program.
6) Letter of Support (2-page limit): Provide a letter from an appropriate senior institutional administrator describing institutional
support for the traineeship. The letter additionally should confirm that NRT trainees on stipend will not be charged for tuition,
health insurance, and other required fees.
Please combine all three elements of the internal proposal in a single PDF file and email to [email protected] and
[email protected] by 9:00 a.m. on Monday, July 27, 2015. The subject of the email should be “2016 NRT.”
Questions concerning this program should be sent to Greg Culler at [email protected].