Adrion talks about NSF grant process

By Sarah R. Buchholz, Chronicle staff

aculty, staff and students interested in learning about how the National Science Foundation chooses funding recipients can hear about it from an insider Wed-nesday, Nov. 13 when Computer Science professor Rick Adrion will offer a talk.

     Adrion, who served as director of the NSF's computer science division from 2000-2002, is scheduled to speak about "Funding Your Research from the National Science Foundation" in 101 Lincoln Campus Center from 2-4 p.m. While full-time at NSF, he was responsible for a $125 million budget. Adrion continues to work for the NSF on a quarter-time appointment as a senior advisor to the head of the computer science and engineering directorate.

     "Of the federally sponsored research dollars coming into campus, NSF currently funds 43 percent - $29 million in 2002 - so they are an important sponsor," said Margaret Burggren, associate director of Research Affairs.

     "The NSF has changed a lot over the last 20 years, even over the last five years," Adrion said. "I'm going to try to offer some insight into how it has changed and how to find opportunities and to improve one's chances [of receiving funding]."

     The NSF has shifted its style significantly, said Adrion, no longer focusing on sub-disciplines in traditional academic categories, but expending 50 percent of its recourses on multi-disciplinary initiatives, called "priority areas." This impacts how one can be competitive for grants, he said.

     Adrion has witnessed the evolution of the NSF over the last quarter-century, having worked there twice before, in the '70s and '80s, as well as recently.

     "There is a lot of coordination across departments [now]," he said. "These priority areas are different than the regular programs. I'll talk about how to get a fair review."

      Some types of proposals have a 90 percent chance of being funded, he said, while others are highly competitive, so it is important to know where the money is and what it takes to qualify for it.

     Burggren said the talk will be important for young faculty working in areas funded by NSF, as well as those in mid-career who want an accurate picture of how the NSF is changing.