Science of Science and Innovation Policy Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the SciSIP Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grant (DDRIG) opportunity?

The Science of Science and Innovation Policy Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants (SciSIP DDRIG; NSF 14-578) is a National Science Foundation (NSF) funding opportunity intended to strengthen doctoral dissertation research that advances the scientific foundations of science and innovation policy.

Which NSF area/portfolio does this program belong to?

The program sits within NSF's Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences portfolio and is associated with CFDA 47.075.

What is the main purpose of this grant?

The core purpose is to fund dissertation research that develops, improves, or expands conceptual and analytical approaches that can be applied across a wide range of science of science and innovation policy challenges. The emphasis is on improving the evidence base and analytical capabilities used to understand and guide the science and engineering enterprise.

Is the program focused on studying science policy as a topic, or on something else?

The solicitation emphasizes that the focus is not simply studying science policy as a topic. Instead, it prioritizes research that improves the foundations, methods, data, metrics, and decision-relevant analyses used to inform real-world science policy and innovation policy decisions.

What kinds of outputs does the program encourage?

In addition to building basic knowledge, supported projects are described as producing practical models, tools, data resources, and metrics that can inform science policy and innovation policy decisions.

What types of research approaches are considered a fit?

Examples described include: building behavioral or organizational frameworks to explain how research, discovery, and innovation occur; designing models that connect policy choices to research outcomes; and creating new analytical methods for working with science and technology data.

Does the solicitation highlight the importance of making research usable to non-specialists?

Yes. A recurring theme is turning complex information into decision-relevant insight, including methodologies for analysis, communication, and visualization that make findings usable to different audiences, not only academic specialists.

What are example topic areas mentioned in the solicitation?

The solicitation lists example topics that illustrate fit, including: how policy decisions shape the contexts, structures, and processes of science and engineering research; tangible and intangible returns from investments in science and R and D; how structures and processes translate research into usable knowledge; theories of creativity and how creative processes become social or economic outcomes; and collecting, analyzing, and visualizing new forms of data describing the scientific and engineering enterprise.

Does the program support work on data, indicators, and metrics?

Yes. The program encourages projects that create or improve science and engineering data, indicators, and metrics that capture modern forms of discovery and knowledge generation, including efforts demonstrating the feasibility of gathering and analyzing data on innovation and knowledge production within organizations.

What does "dissertation improvement grant" mean in this context?

It means the award is intended to enhance an existing doctoral dissertation research project rather than function as a standalone, large research award.

Who is the intended beneficiary of this mechanism?

The mechanism is designed to support doctoral students enrolled at U.S. universities who are conducting dissertation research that strengthens fundamental understanding in the science of science and innovation policy area.

Who serves as the Principal Investigator (PI) and who serves as co-PI?

The doctoral student participates as a co-Principal Investigator, while the Principal Investigator role is held by the student's dissertation advisor or another faculty member at the same institution.

What types of institutions are eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to U.S.-based, accredited Ph.D.-granting colleges and universities that have a campus located in the United States, applying on behalf of their faculty.

Is the grant limited to organizations located in the United States?

Yes. The eligibility description specifies accredited Ph.D.-granting institutions with a campus located in the United States.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No cost sharing or matching requirement is stated for this opportunity.

What is the funding instrument and category?

The funding instrument is a grant. It is categorized under science and technology and other research and development.

How many awards and how much total funding were anticipated for the posted cycle described?

For the posted cycle reflected in the provided information, NSF anticipated making about three awards with an estimated total funding level of $60,000.

When was the opportunity originally posted?

The original posting date listed is June 23, 2014.

What proposal due dates/target dates were listed?

Listed full proposal target dates included September 22, 2014; September 9, 2015; and September 9 annually thereafter.

Is this specific listing currently open?

The record indicates the opportunity is archived (archive date December 18, 2014), meaning it is not currently open under that specific listing, even though the summary describes what NSF intended to support through NSF Publication 14-578 and the SciSIP DDRIG mechanism.

What publication/solicitation identifier is associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with NSF Publication 14-578 and is referred to as SciSIP DDRIG (NSF 14-578).

Where should applicants go for help with administrative or technical access issues related to Grants.gov?

For administrative or technical access issues, the announcement points applicants to NSF's Grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.