NSF Science, Engineering and Education for Sustainability Fellows | Apply Online

NSF SEES Fellows (NSF 13-595) - Frequently Asked Questions

1) What is the NSF SEES Fellows program (Funding Opportunity Number 13-595)?

The NSF Science, Engineering and Education for Sustainability (SEES) Fellows program (NSF 13-595) was a National Science Foundation discretionary grant opportunity designed to support early-career researchers whose work helps society respond to sustainability challenges through research and education.

2) What was the main goal of the program?

The overall goal was to advance research and education that informs real-world decisions related to environmental and economic sustainability and human well-being, while also helping build a workforce capable of addressing complex sustainability issues.

3) What kind of approach to sustainability did NSF emphasize?

NSF emphasized a systems approach, based on the idea that sustainability problems rarely fit neatly into a single field. The program encouraged work that connects academic research with economic development and broader societal needs.

4) Who was this program intended to support?

The program was intended for early-career researchers serving as Fellows, with eligibility defined by citizenship/residency status, degree timing, doctoral-level work experience limits, and restrictions on holding certain types of positions (such as tenure-track roles).

5) What types of projects were targeted?

The program specifically targeted interdisciplinary, fellowship-style projects where the prospective Fellow proposed an investigation that crosses traditional disciplinary boundaries and deliberately expands the Fellow's expertise beyond their original core discipline.

6) How is "interdisciplinary" defined in the context of this opportunity?

Based on the solicitation description, interdisciplinary meant more than simply collaborating across fields. The research plan needed to show that the Fellow would gain meaningful new training or experience in areas outside their established background.

7) Were partnerships required as part of the fellowship?

Yes. Fellows were expected to form one or more research partnerships that would extend the reach, impact, and scope of the work.

8) Was a professional development plan required?

Yes. Proposals were expected to include a clear professional development plan focused on the Fellow's growth in sustainability science and engineering.

9) Were engineering-focused proposals allowed?

NSF stated that proposals primarily focused on topics that fall under the Directorate for Engineering (ENG) were considered out of scope for the revised solicitation. Engineering-related topics could still appear as secondary or tertiary components when they supported a broader sustainability-centered project.

10) What funding activity category was this opportunity listed under?

The funding activity category was listed as "science and technology and other research and development."

11) Which NSF program areas were associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity was associated with multiple NSF program areas (CFDA numbers) spanning Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Geosciences, Computer and Information Science and Engineering, Biological Sciences, Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences, and Education and Human Resources.

12) How many awards did NSF expect to make, and what was the estimated total funding amount?

NSF anticipated making about 20 awards, with an estimated total funding amount of $5.5 million.

13) Was cost sharing or matching required?

No. There was no cost-sharing or matching requirement.

14) When was the opportunity originally posted and when were proposals due?

The opportunity was originally posted on August 28, 2013. The full proposal deadline was November 26, 2013.

15) Is this funding opportunity still open?

No. The opportunity is archived (archive date August 15, 2014) and is no longer accepting proposals.

16) What types of organizations could submit proposals?

Proposals could be submitted by U.S.-based universities and accredited two- and four-year colleges (including community colleges) on behalf of their faculty members. Certain U.S. nonprofit, non-academic organizations could also submit, including independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies, and similar entities tied to education or research.

17) Could individuals apply directly?

Yes. Individuals were allowed to apply if they were unaffiliated or affiliated with for-profit organizations or government entities. However, if selected for an award, they would need to affiliate with an eligible U.S. university, college, or nonprofit non-academic organization to administer the grant.

18) Who had to serve as the Principal Investigator (PI)?

The Principal Investigator had to be the prospective Fellow.

19) Were co-Principal Investigators (co-PIs) allowed?

No. The program did not allow co-PIs.

20) What citizenship or residency status was required for the Fellow?

The Fellow needed to be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or permanent resident.

21) Was a PhD required to be eligible?

Yes. The Fellow had to have earned a PhD or be expecting to have earned it by the award start date.

22) What was the limit on post-PhD work experience?

The Fellow could have no more than 36 full-time-equivalent months of work experience in positions requiring the doctoral degree.

23) Did the program restrict tenure-track or equivalent positions?

Yes. The Fellow could not be holding a tenure-track (or equivalent) position at an academic institution or at a nonprofit, non-degree-granting organization such as a museum, observatory, or research lab.

24) What if an applicant was more than 36 months past the PhD conferral date?

Applicants beyond 36 months from the PhD conferral date were instructed to include explicit language in the biographical sketch affirming they still met the 36-month work-experience limit, indicating that eligibility was based on relevant doctoral-level work experience rather than strictly the passage of time since degree conferral.

25) Where can applicants find the official program announcement details?

The announcement points to NSF Publication 13-595 for reference and official details.

26) Who should applicants contact for technical issues accessing the announcement?

Applicants who had technical issues accessing the announcement were directed to NSF grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.