Hi. I am sorry I missed the first meeting with the postdocs. One item I am not sure is available from NSF's web pages are the definitions of the criteria for the panel rankings. These are different from those the reviewers use, but represent the final hurdle to getting a proposal funded at NSF. This was from the marine Geology and Geophysics panel I was on about 1.5 years ago, so may be different at other panels. The issue that led to a different set of criteria for the panel was that too many proposals got very high marks (grade inflation) and they were looking for additional ways to sort out the few that could be funded from the many that had very positive reviews. I have nothing yet scheduled for the week of April 13, so any day is OK for the next meeting.
Dave Clague

Here is a summary sheet for you to keep in mind. Please try to score proposals in the panel according to these criteria.

MGG - Panel Scoring criteria

1 - Transformative/breakthrough science with a ready to fund work plan that will return high payoff science. (top priority)

2 - Exciting, "ready to fund" science that has a high impact or that will fill an important hole that needs to be filled before science can move forward. Needs to be funded NOW! (high priority)

3 - A good proposal, worthy of support. Good solid science with a fully developed work plan but not the highest priority. (competitive, but of middle to low priority)

4 - A potentially competitive proposal that needs some additional information or thought/re-evaluation/rewriting by the PI. (potentially competitive, but needs additional work/rethinking/rewriting of an important component of the work)

5 - Not competitive in this round.

Here is a summary of new NSF requirement that pertains to PostDocs and PI's:

As of 5 Jan 2009

"Each proposal that requests funding to support postdoctoral researchers must include, as a separate section within the 15-page Project Description, a description of the mentoring activities that will be provided for such individuals. Examples of mentoring activities include, but are not limited to: career counseling; training in preparation of grant proposals, publications and presentations; guidance on ways to improve teaching and mentoring skills; guidance on how to effectively collaborate with researchers from diverse backgrounds and disciplinary areas; and training in responsible professional practices. The proposed mentoring activities will be evaluated as part of the merit review process under the Foundation's broader impacts merit review criterion. Proposals that do not include a separate section on mentoring activities within the Project Description will be returned without review."

Patrice
x 1803

FYI

Postdoctoral scholars in any field of biology are invited to apply for FIRST
IV, a professional development program funded by the National Science
Foundation that will prepare them for the teaching component of their
career. Participants will attend two, 4-day workshops during summers, one in
2009 followed by another in 2010, at a regional field station (locations and
dates linked below). The
intended outcome of participation is that postdocs will design an entire
introductory biology course based on learner-centered, scientific teaching
prior to assuming their first faculty position. Detailed Information and
Application (due March 15, 2009) at: http://www.msu.edu/~first4