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Dear Colleague Letter

CHE FY22 International Supplement

Supplemental funding for existing Chemistry awardees to add a new or strengthen an existing, international dimension of their research .
Supplemental funding for existing Chemistry awardees to add a new or strengthen an existing, international dimension of their research .

Dear Colleagues:

Building partnerships is an increasingly high priority across the Federal government, and its importance is highlighted as a key element of leadership for NSF in the National Science Board's Vision 2030, which states that "the U.S. must build partnership capacity at home to respond to a more competitive global S&E landscape and enhance capacity for its researchers to collaborate internationally".

In this context, the Division of Chemistry is inviting requests for supplemental funding from its existing awardees who may wish to add a new, or strengthen an existing, international dimension of their research supported by an award from the Division, when an international collaboration advances the field of chemistry and enhances the U.S. investigator's own research and/or education objectives. Principal Investigators supported by NSF Division of Chemistry research awards are advised to consult with their cognizant NSF program director prior to submitting a supplemental funding request. To be considered in the current fiscal year, requests should be submitted by May 1, annually. Requests received after May 1 will be considered in the following fiscal year.

Supplemental funding requests should address how the proposed international collaboration enhances the project's intellectual merit and broader impacts in the following ways:

  • Mutual benefit of the collaboration for all partners;
  • True intellectual collaboration with the international partner(s);
  • Benefits to be realized from the expertise and specialized skills, facilities, sites and/or resources of the international counterpart; and
  • Active research engagement of U.S. students and early-career researchers, in particular those from diverse backgrounds.

Note: Funding requests for travel to international conferences will not be considered for this supplemental funding opportunity.

CONTENT OF SUPPLEMENT FUNDING REQUEST

The supplemental funding request must be prepared and submitted electronically via the NSF FastLane system and include the following information:

  • Summary of the research problem: Provide a succinct statement of the research problem, describing both the intellectual merit and broader impacts of the proposed activities.
  • Relevance and justification: Provide a justification of the need for the proposed collaborative research in the context of your NSF award, based on the aforementioned objectives.
  • Research plan: Summarize the major goals of the work, the scientific and technical approaches to be used, and the expected outcome. Provide a contingency plan should travel restrictions impact the initial plan.
  • Qualifications of the research partners: Following the guidance contained in Chapter II.C of the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG), provide a biographical sketch for each U.S. and international investigator named in the supplemental funding request (to be uploaded as a supplementary document).
  • Documentation from the international investigator: Provide a letter of collaboration (to be uploaded as a supplementary document) signed by the international collaborator. This letter must indicate their role in the project. If they will provide resources (e.g., materials and supplies, instrument time, training, housing, etc.), the letter must describe such resources. If applicable, provide information on the history of collaborative efforts between the proposed partners (new versus existing collaborations).
  • Budget and budget justification: Provide a budget and budget justification for the requested amount. The budget justification should include details on the number of international trips and whose travel (students, postdoctoral researchers, and/or research scientists) will be supported by the supplemental funding. The budget can cover only the costs for the U.S.-based investigators (including students) engaged in the international collaboration, which may include the following:
    • Travel expenses (including per diem consistent with Federal travel regulations) for the U.S. investigators and/or trainees;
    • Research-related expenses for the U.S. investigators and/or students to conduct research at the partner's home organization; and/or
    • Research-related expenses such as supplies that are necessary for the international partner's research at the U.S. host institution.

NSF funds may not be used to support research and training activities of international scientists and students at their home institution/organization.

Note: PIs are responsible for obtaining any required visas for foreign travel and, through the U.S. host research institution or laboratories, for providing documentation in support of U.S. visas for foreign counterpart investigators. Information about obtaining visas for foreign visitors to the U.S. can be found here: https://www.nsf.gov/od/oise/for-travelers-main.jsp. PIs are also responsible for obtaining research permits and import/export documents, where necessary.

SUBMISSION OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING REQUEST

Supplemental funding requests in response to this Dear Colleague Letter to be considered in the current fiscal year must be received by May 1, annually.

ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

NSF's Office of International Science and Engineering (OISE) lists a number of additional OISE-managed and NSF-wide funding opportunities for U.S. investigators, postdoctoral researchers, and students who wish to collaborate internationally.

Sean L. Jones
Assistant Director
Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences

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