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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): NSF ENG Interdisciplinary Research (IDR) - Program Element 7951

1) What is the NSF ENG Interdisciplinary Research (IDR) opportunity (Program Element 7951)?

The NSF Directorate for Engineering (ENG) Interdisciplinary Research (IDR) opportunity (Program Element 7951) is intended to encourage transformative engineering research that crosses disciplinary boundaries in ways that standard, single-discipline ENG core programs typically do not cover.

2) What does NSF mean by "interdisciplinary research" for this opportunity?

NSF emphasizes genuine integration across fields, not parallel efforts that simply sit side-by-side. The intent is to integrate knowledge from two or more distinct fields by combining data, methods, tools, perspectives, and theories to advance fundamental understanding or address problems that cannot be solved adequately within one discipline alone. NSF grounds this definition in the National Academies report, "Facilitating Interdisciplinary Research."

3) How many disciplines or fields must a project integrate to be considered IDR?

Projects must integrate knowledge from two or more distinct fields, with the focus on meaningful integration (methods, tools, perspectives, theories, etc.), rather than loosely connected contributions.

4) Are proposals restricted to specific topics?

No. Proposals can address any topic relevant to engineering. The opportunity is intentionally not constrained by existing program structures, reflecting a goal of seeding new research directions and potentially creating entirely new fields that could later mature into standing programs.

5) What is a key funding requirement that IDR proposals must meet?

To be funded, an IDR proposal must ultimately attract funding from at least two programs in at least two NSF divisions, with the primary funding division located within NSF ENG.

6) Which NSF divisions within ENG can receive IDR submissions?

Submissions had to be directed to the IDR program (Program Element 7951) within one of these ENG divisions: CBET, CMMI, or ECCS.

7) How should the proposal be submitted (solicited vs. unsolicited)?

Proposals had to be submitted as unsolicited proposals directed to the IDR program (Program Element 7951) within an eligible ENG division (CBET, CMMI, or ECCS).

8) What team size does NSF suggest for IDR projects?

NSF notes that IDR proposals are often best suited to small, tightly coordinated teams, typically around 2 to 4 investigators. This is described as a common pattern rather than an absolute rule.

9) What award size and project duration should applicants expect?

NSF framed typical budgets around approximately $400,000 to $600,000 total for projects lasting up to three years.

10) Is there flexibility in the budget amount?

Yes. NSF indicated flexibility for smaller or larger budgets when justified by the project scope. However, the total requested support was capped at $1,000,000.

11) What is the maximum total funding request allowed under this opportunity?

The upper limit stated for total requested support is $1,000,000.

12) Are there strict formatting and submission rules?

Yes. The solicitation includes strict submission and formatting requirements, and noncompliant proposals were to be returned without review.

13) What was required in the proposal title?

The proposal title was required to begin with "IDR " to clearly identify it as an IDR submission.

14) What was required in the Project Summary?

The one-page Project Summary needed to include a separate paragraph explicitly describing the interdisciplinary nature of the work.

15) What NSF review criteria must proposals address?

Proposals had to address both NSF review criteria: Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts, following applicable rules in the NSF Grant Proposal Guide (NSF 09-29).

16) How should applicants write proposals given the interdisciplinary review context?

Because reviewers may come from different disciplinary backgrounds, NSF guidance stresses writing proposals so that experts across the relevant fields can clearly understand the project’s novelty, how integration across disciplines will occur, the transformative potential, and expected impacts.

17) Is cost sharing required?

No. The posted record indicates there is no cost sharing requirement.

18) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

This is identified as a discretionary grant opportunity under CFDA 47.041 (Engineering Grants).

19) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as broadly unrestricted (open to any applicant type), subject to any additional eligibility clarifications in the full text.

20) When was this opportunity posted, and what was the deadline listed?

The posted date was September 30, 2009. The full proposal deadline was December 7, 2009 by 5:00 PM local time.

21) Did the posting guarantee a set number of awards or total funding amount?

No. The record lists expected awards and estimated total funding as zero, which typically indicates the posting served as a program description and did not guarantee a specific number of awards or a set-aside funding total.

22) Where should applicants seek help if they have Grants.gov access issues?

For access issues, NSF directed applicants to Grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.