Program
Information
Communications
Address
National Science Foundation
Physical Anthropology Program
4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 995
Arlington, VA 22230
Phone: (703) 292-7321
FAX: (703) 292-9068
Program
Budget:
In Fiscal Year 2003 a total of approximately $5 million was
spent. This included new awards made after Fall and Spring
panels, dissertation awards, infrastructure and HOMINID awards
as well as yearly increments to continuing awards funded in
earlier years. The base budget for the program itself was
approximately $3 million.
Funding
Criteria and Success Rates:
All programs within the National Science Foundation consider
two review criteria: Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts.
You must address each in separate paragraphs within you Project
Summary. Proposals that do not comply will be returned without
review.
In a
normal panel cycle the program receives approximately 40-50
proposals spread across the sub-fields. The panel of experts
reviews each proposal in light of the two criteria, as well
as the reviews of each. Usually each proposal has been commented
upon by 3-5 experts, in addition to the panelists. Each proposal
is then categorized on a scale from "Must Fund" to "Decline."
Many
PIs strategize about their budget, for instance hoping that
a small budget may increase chances for funding. The recommendations
for awards are made based upon scientific merit and the broader
impacts of the research, not the budget. A meritorious proposal
will not be summarily declined because of a large budget.
At the very least there will be discussion about providing
support within the realities of the program's resources. In
constructing your budget, you should make a reasonable request.
If a recommendation to fund is made, negotiations will follow
if necessary.
Over
the past several years, approximately 25% of the senior awards
received at least some degree of funding. The smallest awards
have been under $10,000 and the largest in excess of $125,000/year
for 3-5 years. In addition, some physical anthropologists
have received very large awards through applications to other
cross-directorate
programs. NSF maintains a database of abstracts of all
awards at which you can perform a fielded
search (use Physical Anthropology in the NSF Program field).
One of the best ways to construct a successful proposal is
to read several that were funded. One way to obtain these
might be to contact PIs that were funded and request a copy
of theirs.
A word
on co-funding. Given the basic nature of our discipline, coupled
with the increasingly interdisciplinary nature of research
activities, many proposals could benefit from co-review with
other programs in the foundation. Some PIs fear that a co-review
increases the chances for declination. In practice the culture
of the Foundation is such that it enhances the likelihood
of funding. If two programs view a proposal as meritorious
it decreases the cost to each. If one does not recommend funding
the proposal, it generally does not negatively impact the
considerations of the other. If you think that your research
might be reviewed by more than one program, contact the program
officer of physical anthropology to discuss the matter. Often
co-review is sought even in the absence of PI involvement,
but discussion may be desirable.
Doctoral
Dissertation Improvement Proposals:
Doctoral
students at U.S. universities can submit requests for support
of their research through the Doctoral
Dissertation Research Improvement Grant program.
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