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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): NSF Education and Interdisciplinary Research (PD 03 9134)

1) What is the NSF "Education and Interdisciplinary Research" opportunity (PD 03 9134)?

Education and Interdisciplinary Research (Funding Opportunity Number PD 03 9134) was a National Science Foundation (NSF) discretionary grant opportunity in the Mathematical and Physical Sciences area (CFDA 47.049). It focused on two closely connected priorities in physics: (1) strengthening physics education and training, and (2) advancing research that crosses disciplinary boundaries.

2) Is this funding opportunity still open?

No. The solicitation is archived. The archive date is recorded as April 8, 2011, and it was replaced by PD 11 9134.

3) When was PD 03 9134 originally posted, and what were the key dates?

The opportunity was originally posted on March 4, 2009. It listed an original closing date of September 30, 2009. It also referenced a recurring proposal target date pattern described as the last Wednesday in September annually (and noted a specific target date example of September 28, 2005).

4) What type of funding mechanism did NSF use for this opportunity?

The opportunity was offered using a cooperative agreement mechanism.

5) Were cost sharing or matching funds required?

At the time of the posting, the opportunity did not specify cost sharing or matching requirements.

6) What were the main program priorities?

The program emphasized two priorities in physics that were designed to be closely connected:

• Strengthening physics education and training (including curriculum development and broadening participation).
• Advancing interdisciplinary research at interfaces between physics and other disciplines, including emerging areas.

7) What kinds of education projects did the program aim to support?

On the education side, the program supported activities aligned with NSF-wide initiatives that cut across multiple NSF directorates and divisions. It also supported physics education improvements that might not fit neatly into another single NSF program.

8) Which NSF-wide initiatives were explicitly mentioned as examples?

The solicitation explicitly mentioned the Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) program and Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) as examples of NSF-wide efforts that proposals could align with or complement.

9) Did the opportunity encourage projects that broaden participation in physics?

Yes. The education emphasis explicitly included efforts aimed at broadening participation for women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

10) What does it mean to "align with NSF-wide initiatives" in this context?

Based on the description, it means proposals could be positioned to complement or integrate with broader NSF efforts such as CAREER and REU, or other crosscutting activities described in the NSF Guide to Programs (Crosscutting Investment Strategies section). Examples described in the opportunity include structured research and mentoring experiences for undergraduates, embedding education plans into early-career faculty research trajectories, or building targeted pathways that improve access and retention for underrepresented groups in physics.

11) Did the program support undergraduate and graduate education and training?

Yes. The description highlights improving education and training of physics students at both undergraduate and graduate levels.

12) Was curriculum development an eligible type of activity?

Yes. The opportunity explicitly mentioned curriculum development for upper-level physics courses as an example of the kinds of education and training improvements it aimed to support.

13) What are examples of education improvements consistent with the solicitation description?

Examples suggested by the solicitation framing include redesigning advanced laboratory sequences, modernizing core theory or methods courses, building new instructional materials tied to contemporary research tools, and developing evidence-informed training models that better prepare students for research and diverse careers.

14) Did the program allow flexibility for education/training activities that were not covered elsewhere at NSF?

Yes. The solicitation indicates support for physics education improvements that may not be covered by another single NSF program, signaling flexibility for well-justified ideas that are relevant to the physics community.

15) What kinds of research projects did the program encourage?

On the research side, the program specifically encouraged work at the interface between physics and other disciplines, including emerging areas. The intent was to foster interdisciplinary research where physics concepts, methods, instrumentation, or modeling approaches connect strongly with other fields.

16) Did the program support interdisciplinary research in fields not normally associated with physics?

The opportunity indicated openness to "broadening activities" related to research at the interface with other fields, including fields not normally associated with physics. This suggests interest in interdisciplinary directions that may be newer or less traditionally labeled as physics.

17) What are "broadening activities" on the research side, as described in the opportunity?

The description implies interest not only in interdisciplinary research results, but also in structures that help make such work sustainable, such as cross-department research training, interdisciplinary workshops or networks, and shared educational/research platforms that bridge disciplinary cultures.

18) Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was listed as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), subject to any clarifications that would have appeared in the full announcement's eligibility section.

19) Why do the listing fields show expected awards and estimated total funding as 0?

The listing showed expected awards and estimated total funding as 0, but the opportunity description notes that these fields in archived notices can reflect listing artifacts rather than a definitive statement that no awards were made. Authoritative award and funding details would typically be found in the full program description and related NSF guidance for that cycle.

20) Where were applicants directed for more detail on crosscutting NSF programs referenced by the solicitation?

The solicitation pointed applicants to the NSF Guide to Programs, specifically the Crosscutting Investment Strategies section, for details on broader NSF programs and related activities.

21) What support contact was provided if someone could not access the announcement electronically?

NSF directed users to NSF grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov for assistance if they could not access the announcement electronically.

22) What should someone do if there were problems linking to the funding announcement?

The opportunity referenced contacting NSF if there were problems linking to the funding announcement.

23) What is the core purpose of this opportunity, based on the description?

The core takeaway is that this opportunity served as a vehicle for proposals that combine strong physics impacts with either substantial education/training components (including curriculum and broadening participation) or meaningful interdisciplinary research connections, particularly in newer or less traditionally "physics-labeled" spaces.

24) What replaced PD 03 9134?

The archived solicitation was replaced by PD 11 9134.