Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) NIST Boulder | Apply Online

FY 2010 SURF (NIST Boulder) Grant Opportunity FAQs

1) What is the FY 2010 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) NIST Boulder opportunity?

This opportunity is a federal discretionary funding program run by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). It supports summer research experiences for outstanding undergraduate students in science and engineering by placing them in NIST laboratories in Boulder, Colorado.

2) What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this program?

The Funding Opportunity Number is 2010 SURF B 01.

3) What type of award is used for this program?

The program is structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning the project is intended to be carried out with a level of collaboration between NIST and the award recipient consistent with cooperative agreements.

4) What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with CFDA 11.609, titled Measurement and Engineering Research and Standards.

5) What is the main purpose of the SURF NIST Boulder program?

The program aims to strengthen the future STEM workforce by giving undergraduate students hands-on, lab-based research experiences at NIST Boulder. A key intended outcome is to encourage participants to pursue graduate study and long-term careers in science and engineering through meaningful research responsibilities in a world-class environment.

6) Where does the research take place?

Research takes place in NIST laboratories in Boulder, Colorado.

7) What kind of experience do students get through this program?

Students are placed into NIST labs where they can work directly with internationally recognized NIST scientists and use advanced, state-of-the-art research equipment. The emphasis is on exposure to measurement science, standards, and technology development aligned with NIST's mission.

8) What research areas are being solicited?

The opportunity solicits research spanning these major technical fields:

• Electronics and Electrical Engineering
• Chemical Science and Technology
• Physics
• Materials Science and Engineering
• Information Technology

9) How does the program align with NIST's broader mission?

The program emphasizes cutting-edge measurement science, standards, and technology development, reflecting NIST's mission to advance U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness in ways that support economic security and improve quality of life.

10) Is there a partnership component mentioned in the opportunity?

Yes. The opportunity is framed as a partnership involving NIST laboratories and the National Science Foundation (NSF), with the stated goal of motivating top undergraduate talent to continue along the research pipeline.

11) Who is expected to help identify strong student candidates?

NIST Boulder Program Directors are expected to coordinate with department chairs, outreach coordinators, and leaders of multidisciplinary academic organizations at colleges and universities to identify strong student candidates who would benefit from an off-campus summer research experience.

12) What is the intended relationship among the student, the home institution, and NIST?

The opportunity states an objective to build a mutually beneficial relationship among the student, the student's home institution, and NIST, so the summer research experience supports the student's academic development while contributing to NIST research priorities and strengthening institutional ties.

13) Who is eligible to apply as an institution?

Eligibility is aimed at U.S. colleges and universities, including those in U.S. territories, that offer degree-granting programs in relevant disciplines.

14) What academic disciplines are considered relevant for eligibility?

The opportunity lists examples of relevant disciplines including:

• Materials science
• Chemistry
• Engineering
• Computer science
• Mathematics
• Physics

15) Who is eligible to participate as a student?

Student participants must be U.S. citizens or permanent U.S. residents, and the program focus is on undergraduates.

16) Are graduating seniors eligible?

Graduating seniors are technically eligible, but the opportunity states funding for them is expected to be very limited. It indicates that only up to about three graduating seniors might be considered if funds become available.

17) If graduating seniors are considered, is there any stated priority?

Yes. If funds become available for graduating seniors, NIST indicates it intends to prioritize students who previously participated in SURF.

18) Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The opportunity indicates there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.

19) When was the opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted on December 28, 2009.

20) What was the original application closing date and time?

The original closing date was February 16, 2010 at 5:00 p.m. MST.

21) What is the extended (current) application closing date and time?

The closing date was extended to February 19, 2010 at noon MST.

22) Do applications need to be received by the deadline or just submitted by the deadline?

The opportunity states applications had to be received by the deadline, whether submitted on paper or electronically.

23) What is the archive date for this opportunity?

The archive date is listed as March 20, 2010.

24) What do the published award floor and ceiling of 0 mean?

The opportunity summary shows an award floor of 0 and an award ceiling of 0. This typically signals that specific per-award funding levels were not specified in that summary field and that applicants would need to consult the full announcement for details such as funding amounts, stipend structure, and allowable costs.

25) Where can applicants get help accessing the full announcement?

For help accessing the full announcement, the contact listed is Christopher Hunton, Grants Technical Assistant, at 301-975-5718.

26) What is the program trying to accomplish for students long-term?

Beyond the summer research experience, the opportunity highlights a long-term goal of encouraging participants to pursue graduate study and science and engineering careers by involving them in serious research work in a highly advanced laboratory environment.

27) Does the opportunity specify exact stipend amounts or allowable costs?

Not in the summary information provided here. Because the award floor and ceiling are both shown as 0 in the summary, applicants are directed (by implication) to consult the full announcement for details on funding amounts, stipend structure, and allowable costs.