Over the next several years, the FAS Research Development group will track and disseminate all funding opportunities related to the BRAIN InitiativeThese funding opportunities will be sent to a targeted list of faculty. That list includes faculty affiliates of the Center for Brain Science (CBS) and the Mind Brain Behavior (MBB) Interfaculty Initiative. This project is being carried out in collaboration with the Center for Brain Science. All opportunities will be archived and recipients may unsubscribe at any time. For additional Research Development support (finding funding, proposal development resources, etc.), please visit the Research Development website.
Funding Opportunities
Sponsor Deadline for Letters of Intent (requested): October 23, 2016
Sponsor Deadline for Full Proposals: November 23, 2016
OSP Deadline: November 16, 2016
Award Information: Application budgets are limited to $700,000 in direct costs (including consortium F&A) in any project year, and need to reflect the actual needs of the proposed project. The maximum project period is 4 years. Issuing IC and partner components intend to commit an estimated total of $5 million to fund 10 awards.
 
This funding opportunity announcement aims to support transformative discoveries that will lead to breakthroughs in understanding human brain function. Guided by the long-term scientific plan, "BRAIN 2025: A Scientific Vision," this FOA specifically seeks to support efforts that will revolutionize our understanding of the biological activity underlying, and bioinformatic content of, data collected using contemporary non-invasive functional brain imaging techniques. The hope is that these transformative discoveries will lead to breakthroughs in understanding the dynamic activity of the human brain.  

Additional information is available in the sponsor announcement
Harvard Pre-Proposal Deadline: October 3, 2016
Sponsor Deadline for Letters of Intent (if nominated): December 9, 2016
Sponsor Deadline for Full Proposals: February 17, 2017
OSP Deadline: 5 business days prior to submission
Award Information: Up to $3,000,000 for up to 5 years for NRT Traineeship Track Awards and $300,000-$500,000 for up to 3 years for NRT IGE Track Awards
Note: This is a limited submission funding opportunity. Harvard may only put forward two proposals in each track. FAS/SEAS faculty may contact Erin Cromack at [email protected] or 617-496-5252 for more information on Harvard's internal competition.
 
The NSF Research Traineeship (NRT) program is designed to encourage the development and implementation of bold, new, and potentially transformative models for STEM graduate education training. The NRT program seeks proposals that ensure that graduate students in research-based master's and doctoral degree programs develop the skills, knowledge, and competencies needed to pursue a range of STEM careers. The NRT program includes two tracks:

1.       The Traineeship Track is dedicated to effective training of STEM graduate students in high priority interdisciplinary research areas, through the use of a comprehensive traineeship model that is innovative, evidence-based, and aligned with changing workforce and research needs. For FY2017, there are three priority areas:
a.       Understanding the Brain (UtB),
b.      Innovations at the Nexus of Food, Energy, and Water Systems (INFEWS), and
c.       any other interdisciplinary research theme of national priority.

2.       The Innovations in Graduate Education (IGE) Track focuses on test-bed projects aimed at piloting, testing, and validating innovative and potentially transformative approaches to graduate education. IGE projects are intended to generate the knowledge required for their customization, implementation, and broader adoption. While the Traineeship Track promotes building on the current knowledge base to develop comprehensive programs to effectively train STEM graduate students, the IGE Track supports testing of novel models or activities with high potential to enrich and extend the knowledge base on effective graduate education approaches.
 
The NRT program addresses both workforce development, emphasizing broad participation, and institutional capacity building needs in graduate education. For both tracks, strategic collaborations with the private sector, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), government agencies, national laboratories, field stations, teaching and learning centers, informal science centers, and academic partners are encouraged.

The link to the internal competition is here.

Additional Information
Questions about this newsletter or proposal submission may be directed to:

Jennifer Corby
Research Development Officer
[email protected] | 617-495-1590
Research Development | Research Administration Services | research.fas.harvard.edu