Research

[Update May 17, 2019] The latest (and last) NSF-GeoPRISMS solicitation has been released:

https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2019/nsf19581/nsf19581.htm

Full Proposal Target Dates:

August 16, 2019 Type 1 and Postdoc Proposals

March 02, 2020 Type 2 and Type 3 Proposals

The program has delineated three types of activities, which may be submitted individually, or combined as part of one multi-faceted project. The types are: 1) Integrative research projects, 2) Conferences and short courses, 3) Legacy products.

Please note that Postdoctoral Scholar proposals are still welcome, and that Postdoctoral Scholar proposals no longer require two letters of reference.

Please contact Jennifer Wade in EAR [jwade@nsf.gov] or Debbie Smith in OCE [dksmith@nsf.gov] if you have any questions about GeoPRISMS.

[Update May 16, 2018] NSF has just released the new GeoPRISMS solicitation:

https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2018/nsf18559/nsf18559.htm

Full Proposal Target Date: August 13, 2018
Important revisions this year include:
  • Large field projects that involve ship time, significant resources, or where the fieldwork is a significant fraction of the budget (>15%) are no longer accepted to the program;
  • In order to encourage synthesis and integration of multidisciplinary datasets and models, we will welcome conference proposals throughout the year, separately from the full proposal Target Date;
  • Postdoctoral proposals now only require two letters of reference
  • Postdoctoral Fellows are now called Postdoctoral Scholars
Questions should be directed to PO Jennifer Wade: jwade@nsf.gov; (703) 292-4739 or Maurice Tivey: mtivey@nsf.gov; (703) 292-7710

[Update April 12, 2017] NSF has just released the new GeoPRISMS solicitation:

https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2017/nsf17549/nsf17549.htm?WT.mc_id=USNSF_25&WT.mc_ev=click

Full Proposal Target Date(s): July 27, 2017

This revision describes the completion of the “phased funding model” that had been in place, implements a requirement to contact Program Directors before submitting proposals for large field projects, encourages integrative projects at all scales, and removes a one-year call for large proposals to leverage the Transportable Array (TA) in Alaska/Aleutians.

Please note that any proposal submitted in response to this solicitation should be submitted in accordance with the revised NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) (NSF 17-1), which is effective for proposals submitted, or due, on or after January 30, 2017.

Questions should be directed to PO Jennifer Wade: jwade@nsf.gov; (703) 292-4739 or Maurice Tivey: mtivey@nsf.gov; (703) 292-7710

[Update April 25, 2016] NSF has just released the new GeoPRISMS solicitation:

http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2016/nsf16560/nsf16560.htm

New target date: July 26 (for 2016 only).

The most notable changes are:
  • target date: July 26
  • this revision updates the “Continued Community Input and Phased Funding Model” section
  • the submission of letters for Postdoctoral Fellow proposals is simplified
  • this revision adds a requirement to contact a Program Officer prior to submitting a RAPID proposal.

Please note that any proposal submitted in response to this solicitation should be submitted in accordance with the revised NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedure Guide (PAPPG) (NSF 16-1), which is effective for proposals submitted, or due, on or after January 25, 2016.

Questions should be directed to PO Jennifer Wade: jwade@nsf.gov; (703) 292-4739 or Maurice Tivey: mtivey@nsf.gov; (703) 292-7710

[Updated April 18, 2015] NSF has just released the new GeoPRISMS solicitation:
http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2015/nsf15564/nsf15564.htm

The deadline for proposals has been adjusted to July 15 (for 2015 only).

The most notable changes are:
– the deadline is pushed back to July 15
– the solicitation mentions the potential for field support in Alaska in summer 2016
– postdoc support letters can now be directly uploaded OR emailed to one of the Program Officers
– individuals not associated with an institution can no longer submit proposals
Questions should be directed to PO Jennifer Wade: jwade@nsf.gov; 703.292.4739 or Donna Blackman: dblackma@nsf.gov; (703) 292-7978

[Updated May 28, 2014] The NSF GeoPRISMS Program Announcement is available for your review. Please note, NSF has revised the solicitation, providing important instructions regarding the “NSF GeoPRISMS deadline update and logistical support for Aleutian fieldwork” (see below).  You can access the revised solicitation HERE. GeoPRISMS proposals will have a deadline of August 1 in 2014 (for 2014 only), and July 1 every year thereafter. GeoPRISMS Post-Doctoral Fellowship proposals are also welcome. Please see instructions for the post-doctoral program here. Note that proposals submitted to GeoPRISMS will be subject to the new NSF data management requirements, as well as the new GeoPRISMS Data Policy.

FY 2015

NSF GeoPRISMS deadline update and logistical support for Aleutian fieldwork

NSF has just released the new GeoPRISMS solicitation:

Following significant community input and a great response from NSF we are pleased to announce that there will be likely logistical support for fieldwork in the Aleutians. The official text is below. The deadline for proposals has been adjusted to August 1 (for 2014 only).

The GeoPRISMS Program plans to arrange logistical support for up to two seasons of community field projects, in the form of ship and helicopter support in the Aleutians. Pending proposal success, availability of funds and vessel scheduling, up to 30 days could be available in each of the 2015 and 2016 summer field seasons. This coordination of field logistics at the Alaska Primary Site should maximize the science return for the available funds. Proposals involving field work in the Aleutians should include, as they normally would, personnel budgeting for travel to/from AK, personnel costs during field work, and a timeline for the work. However, we expect to negotiate, at the award stage, final budgets and work plans so that we may best take advantage of the shared field platforms supported by the program.

Questions about this particular effort should be directed to Program Officer Jennifer Wade: jwade@nsf.gov; 703.292.4739

GeoPRISMS Post-Doctoral Fellowship proposals are also welcome. Please see instructions here.

FY 2014

Extract from NSF GeoPRISMS solicitation for the FY14, with advice for submitting large field proposals:

… In order to target the limited available resources in a practical and cost-effective manner, NSF is implementing a phased funding model to address the extensive science objectives and numerous primary research sites identified by the community during their planning activities. According to this phased implementation model, NSF advises the community that some of the primary sites will be prioritized for certain types of proposals each year. This model allows proponents to self-organize, plan, and coordinate their research. This also allows GeoPRISMS program officers to better leverage the limited available funds each year. The community will continue to provide recommendations to the Foundation through community workshops and the GeoPRISMS Steering and Oversight Committee (GSOC). Based on this input, program funding priorities and focus may continue to evolve. The GSOC is tasked with continually monitoring the operations and reviewing progress towards the stated goals within each initiative’s science plan, as well as developing the next set of priorities with the community’s involvement, while encouraging attempts at integration and syntheses of results.

The phased funding model adopted by GeoPRISMS has defined “windows of opportunity” during which proposals of certain types will be accepted for given primary sites. Large and costly field experiments can only be supported in one site at a time, for up to two sequential years. Smaller studies (such as preparatory work, data analysis, and synthesis, or thematic studies), requiring a lower percentage of the overall annual budget, will be considered for all sites each year. For example, during the early years of GeoPRISMS, the Cascadia primary site received high levels of funding. So while data acquisition for that site will now be phased out within this program, data synthesis may still be supported. The windows of opportunity for large-scale data acquisition projects are thus defined, by site:

  • Cascadia: [completed for GeoPRISMS, continue to accept in Core Programs]
  • ENAM: FY13-14 (July 2012 and 2013 deadlines)
  • Alaska/Aleutians: FY14-15 (July 2013 and 2014 deadlines)
  • EARS: FY15-16 (July 2014 and 2015 deadlines)
  • New Zealand: FY16-17 (July 2015 and 2016 deadlines)

It is important to note that these dates serve only as guidelines, and that NSF is open to accepting proposals that fall outside of these guidelines when justified by unique and time-limited opportunities. In such cases, PIs must contact the program officers ahead of submission.

GeoPRISMS Post-Doctoral Fellowship proposals are also welcome. Please see instructions here.

[Clarification from NSF Program Officers: Please read the language in the solicitation carefully. Notice that the windows listed are a) flexible windows, and more importantly b) intended for “large-scale data acquisition projects” and “costly field experiments,” a category under which many proposals do not fall. It states that “smaller studies (such as preparatory work, data analysis, and synthesis, or thematic studies), requiring a lower percentage of the overall annual budget, will be considered for all sites each year.”]

FY 2012

The first NSF solicitation for GeoPRISMS proposals (for FY12) has been announced, with a deadline of July 1, 2011. Note, as NSF is currently operating under a congressional Continuing Resolution (CR), proposals for the FY12 competition will be accepted under the existing MARGINS Program Announcement. Once the CR is concluded, a new Program Announcement for GeoPRISMS will be issued.

As explained in the message from the Program Manager:

Limited sequestered funds […] make it necessary to phase in research activities at various chosen primary sites (instead of initiating all at the same time) as more detailed IPs are developed for the individual sites and priorities are identified by community discussion […] Proposals for the FY12 competition (due on July 1st, 2011) will be accepted under the existing MARGINS Program Announcement but only for the following specific topics: 1) Data assimilation and small reconnaissance studies for all primary sites relevant to GeoPRISMS objectives; 2) Research projects relevant to stated GeoPRISMS objectives at Cascadia; 3) Synthesis and integration efforts at MARGINS focus-sites; 4) Workshop proposals for science or implementation at Cascadia, Alaska, or Eastern North American Margin primary sites; and 5) Post-doctoral fellowships.

Early preference is given to the North American primary sites of Cascadia, Alaska, and Eastern North American Margin, due to opportunities to leverage and coordinate with EarthScope activities in all three locations. Planning workshops for these three primary sites are in the early stages of organization, and will be announced when the details are known. Proposals for research at the other primary sites (including the East African Rift System and New Zealand), and associated thematic studies will be solicitated in future years.

GeoPRISMS Post-Doctoral Fellowship proposals are also welcome. Please see instructions here.

DCL Cascadia

NSF has released a “Dear Colleague Letter: Clarification of the proposal submission process for the Cascadia Initiative (CI)”. This letter outlines the types of proposals that will be considered for the EarthScope-GeoPRISMS Cascadia Initiative, and their associated deadlines. For more information: