Opportunity Information: Apply for 09 501
Apply for 09 501
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Research Initiation Grants to Broaden Participation in Biology" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.074 Biological Sciences.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 5, 2011 and posted on Mar 4, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Current but no longer receiving proposals. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $5,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 25 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Organization Limit Proposals may only be submitted by the following Universities and colleges Universities and two and four year colleges (including community colleges) located and accredited in the U.S. Non profit, non academic organizations Independent museums,research labs, and similar organizations in the U.S. associated with educational or research activities. Proposers affiliated with Minority Serving Institutions MSIs, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic serving institutions (HSIs), and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) are especially encouraged to apply. PI Limit Co investigators are not permitted, but collaborations with other scientists and/or visiting scientist status in other laboratories are permitted. Principal investigators must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
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Opportunity Summary:
The National Science Foundation (NSF), through its Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO), offered the Research Initiation Grants to Broaden Participation in Biology (RIG) as a targeted funding opportunity designed to help expand participation in biological research, especially among groups historically underrepresented in biology. The program was built around the idea that early, well-timed support can help researchers launch independent research programs and become competitive for future NSF BIO funding. NSF specifically highlighted that African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders have been underrepresented in biology, and the RIG mechanism was intended to help address those disparities by increasing the diversity of scientists leading BIO-funded research.
A core aim of the RIG program was to strengthen the community of role models and mentors available to an increasingly diverse student population and to the future biology workforce. NSF also emphasized building research capacity at Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) by supporting scientists who can run independent, competitive research programs in those settings, thereby creating more research opportunities for students from underrepresented groups. In addition to supporting biological discovery itself, the program encouraged projects that incorporate innovative strategies to attract and retain individuals from underrepresented groups into biology careers, linking research activity to broader participation outcomes.
Awards were set for a 24-month project period and were relatively small, starter-scale grants intended to initiate or jump-start a research program rather than sustain a mature lab long-term. The standard budget limit was $175,000 in total costs (direct plus indirect), with the option to request up to an additional $25,000 specifically for equipment. This placed the maximum total award amount at $200,000. NSF anticipated making around 25 awards, with an estimated total program funding level of about $5,000,000. The program did not require cost sharing or matching funds, which reduces barriers for institutions and investigators with fewer discretionary resources.
Eligibility rules were specific. Proposals could be submitted by U.S.-based and U.S.-accredited two-year and four-year colleges and universities (including community colleges), as well as eligible U.S. nonprofit, non-academic organizations such as independent museums and research laboratories that are associated with educational or research activities. While the opportunity was not limited to MSIs, NSF explicitly encouraged submissions from investigators affiliated with MSIs, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs). On the investigator side, the Principal Investigator (PI) had to be a U.S. citizen or a lawfully admitted U.S. permanent resident at the time of application; visa holders were not eligible. Another notable structural constraint was that co-investigators were not permitted, reinforcing that the grant was meant to establish an individual investigator as an independent researcher. At the same time, NSF allowed collaborations with other scientists and permitted arrangements such as visiting scientist status in other laboratories, which gave applicants flexibility to access specialized expertise or facilities without formally adding co-PIs or co-Is.
Administratively, this opportunity was issued as a discretionary grant in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category, under CFDA number 47.074 (Biological Sciences). The funding opportunity number was NSF 09-501. Historically, full proposals were due on the second Monday in January each year (with a cited deadline of January 12, 2009 and an original closing date of January 11, 2010), but the listing indicates it is now archived and no longer accepting proposals (archived May 5, 2011). For reference and official details, NSF directed applicants to NSF Publication 09-501 and provided Grants.gov support contact information for access or technical issues.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the NSF Research Initiation Grants to Broaden Participation in Biology (RIG) program?
The Research Initiation Grants to Broaden Participation in Biology (RIG) program was a targeted funding opportunity offered by the National Science Foundation (NSF) through its Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO). It was designed to broaden participation in biological research by providing early, well-timed support to help researchers launch independent research programs and become competitive for future NSF BIO funding.
What problem or need was the RIG program intended to address?
The program was intended to address the persistent underrepresentation of certain groups in biology and in BIO-funded research leadership. NSF specifically highlighted African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders as historically underrepresented in biology, and positioned RIG as one mechanism to help reduce those disparities.
What were the main goals of the RIG program?
Core goals included helping investigators initiate or jump-start independent biological research programs, increasing the diversity of scientists leading NSF BIO-funded work, strengthening the pool of role models and mentors for an increasingly diverse student population and workforce, and building research capacity at Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) by supporting scientists capable of running competitive independent research programs in those settings.
Did the program focus only on biological discovery, or also on broader participation outcomes?
In addition to supporting biological discovery, the program encouraged projects that incorporate innovative strategies to attract and retain individuals from underrepresented groups into biology careers, linking research activity to broader participation outcomes.
How long was the award period?
Awards were set for a 24-month project period.
What was the typical award size and budget limit?
The standard budget limit was $175,000 in total costs (direct plus indirect). Applicants could request up to an additional $25,000 specifically for equipment, bringing the maximum total award amount to $200,000.
Could applicants request extra funds for equipment?
Yes. The program allowed requests of up to an additional $25,000 specifically for equipment beyond the standard $175,000 total-cost limit.
How many awards did NSF expect to make and what was the estimated total funding level?
NSF anticipated making around 25 awards, with an estimated total program funding level of about $5,000,000.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. The program did not require cost sharing or matching funds.
What types of organizations were eligible to submit proposals?
Eligible submitting organizations included U.S.-based and U.S.-accredited two-year and four-year colleges and universities (including community colleges). Eligible U.S. nonprofit, non-academic organizations (such as independent museums and research laboratories) could also apply if they were associated with educational or research activities.
Was the opportunity limited to Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs)?
No. The opportunity was not limited to MSIs, but NSF explicitly encouraged submissions from investigators affiliated with MSIs, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs).
Who was eligible to serve as the Principal Investigator (PI)?
The PI had to be a U.S. citizen or a lawfully admitted U.S. permanent resident at the time of application.
Are visa holders eligible to serve as PI?
No. Visa holders were not eligible to serve as PI under the stated eligibility requirements.
Were co-investigators allowed on a proposal?
No. Co-investigators were not permitted. This constraint reinforced that the grant was intended to establish an individual investigator as an independent researcher.
If co-investigators were not allowed, could the PI still collaborate with other scientists?
Yes. NSF allowed collaborations with other scientists and permitted arrangements such as visiting scientist status in other laboratories, enabling applicants to access specialized expertise or facilities without formally adding co-PIs or co-investigators.
What NSF directorate and program area managed this opportunity?
This opportunity was offered through the NSF Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO) and was associated with the Biological Sciences program area.
What was the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The opportunity was listed under CFDA number 47.074 (Biological Sciences).
What was the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number was NSF 09-501.
What type of grant was this categorized as?
It was issued as a discretionary grant in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category.
When were proposals historically due?
Historically, full proposals were due on the second Monday in January each year. The information provided cites a deadline of January 12, 2009 and an original closing date of January 11, 2010.
Is this funding opportunity currently open?
No. The listing indicates the opportunity is archived and no longer accepting proposals. It was archived on May 5, 2011.
Where were applicants directed for official program details?
NSF directed applicants to NSF Publication 09-501 for reference and official details.
Where could applicants get help with Grants.gov access or technical issues?
The opportunity information indicated that Grants.gov support contact information was provided for access or technical issues.
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