Mid-Career Methodological Opportunities
In order to facilitate the development of innovative methods and
models for understanding complex social and behavioral science
phenomena, the MMS Program and the Statistics and Probability
Program support a limited number of mid-career research
fellowships in the social, behavioral, economic, and statistical
sciences (see NSF 99-33
for the prior announcement describing this activity). The
purpose of the fellowship is to facilitate interactions among
statisticians and social, behavioral, or economic scientists.
For example, a statistician interested in developing methods for
population projection may elect to spend the fellowship period in
the sociology department on his home campus. Likewise, a
psychologist interested in modeling learning behavior may select
as a host location a statistics department at a distant
institution.
Awards cover release time and related expenses so that successful
investigators can spend an extended period of time at a host
location immersing themselves in an area of study outside their
current areas of expertise. The host location may be a different
institution from the investigator’s home institution or a different
department within the home institution.
Target Dates
January 15 and August 15
Proposal Content
Proposals must concretely demonstrate how the proposed fellowship
activities will further the development of new methods for increased
understanding of complex, substantive problems in the social and
behavioral sciences. These new insights may result from the
expansion of the investigator’s personal research program or from
collaborations established by the investigator with other
researchers during the fellowship period. The selection of the host
location must be justified in the body of the proposal, as well as
the proposed fellowship activities. In addition, the proposal must
include a detailed letter of support signed by the department head
or equivalent official at the host location outlining the nature of
the relationship between the investigator and host location. In
order to assess the value added of the proposed training activity,
information on any formal training in the area to be studied should
also be included. The letter, background information, and other
supporting materials should be included in Section I (Special
Information and Supplementary Documentation) of the proposal.
Eligibility Criteria
Any qualified researcher may submit a proposal through normal
institutional channels at either the home or host institution. To be
qualified, the researcher must be employed at a U.S. institution and
must have earned a Ph.D. or equivalent degree in the social,
behavioral, economic, or statistical sciences. Although
applications may be submitted from researchers at any level beyond
the Ph.D., NSF especially encourages the submission of proposals
from senior (post-tenure) researchers. An applicant may have only
one mid-career fellowship award under this program or its successors.
Review Procedures
Proposals will be reviewed by a multidisciplinary panel consisting of
scholars from the social, behavioral, economic, and statistical
sciences. Applicants should allow six months for the review
process. In addition to the general NSF review criteria, proposals
will be evaluated according to the extent to which the proposed
activities facilitate the development of innovative methods and
models for the social and behavioral sciences. The justifications
for choice of host location will be important, as well as the
statement by the host indicating that the applicant is welcome.
NSF anticipates supporting no more than 4-8 mid-career awards per
year, depending on the number of applications and availability of
funds.
Proposal Format and Budget
Proposals must be prepared and submitted to the MMS Program in
accordance with the instructions given here and in the
NSF Grant Proposal Guide (GPG,
NSF 00-2 or current issuance).
Awards will be made for up to a twelve month period. Applicants
are encouraged to coordinate proposed activities with a sabbatical
leave or other forms of release time. Allowable costs include a
stipend, a special allowance, a relocation allowance, and an
institutional allowance. The maximum stipend available for the
duration of the award, paid directly to the Fellow, is $50,000.
Fringe benefits may be provided at a rate not to exceed the normal
home institution fringe benefit rate. A special allowance of $3,000
is available at the Fellow’s discretion and is intended for
scientific supplies, travel, publication expenses, and other
research related costs. Investigators may request a relocation
travel allowance of up to $3,000 if the host location is different
from the home institution. An institutional allowance paid to the
host institution of $300 per month of tenure is allowed for partial
reimbursement of expenses incurred in support of the Fellow (e.g.,
space, equipment, secretarial assistance, and provision of general
support). The institutional allowance is in lieu of indirect costs.
There is no dependency allowance. The fellowship award will begin
six to eighteen months following the applicant’s acceptance of an
award offer.
Mid-Career Methodological Opportunities awards are made on a
fixed amount basis subject to the conditions of the fellowship award
letter, this announcement, and the fixed amount award general
conditions (FAA GC-1). A fixed amount award represents a
predetermined amount for NSF support of the proposed research
without regard to the subsequent costs of the project. Note to
Institutional Research Administrators: grants awarded on a fixed
amount basis are not subject to Federal cost principles as contained
in OMB Circular A-21. As part of the final report required by the
grant general conditions, the grantee will be requested to certify
that the level of effort funded was actually expended.
Additional Information
For more information, contact MMS Program Director Cheryl
L. Eavey or Statistics and Probability Program Director John
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