Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GANN)

This grant opportunity provides fellowships for graduate students with excellent academic records who demonstrate financial need and plan to pursue the highest degree available in their course of study at the institution. An absolute priority is for fellowships in an area of national need (i.e., Computer and Information Sciences).

Amount: $130,000 - $260,000

Date due: December 18, 2009

For more information, click here.

Microsoft Research Faculty Fellows

Microsoft Research seeks nominees who are advancing computing research with the potential to create significant impact on the state of the art, and who demonstrate the likelihood of becoming thought leaders in the field for the 2010 Microsoft Research Faculty Fellows Program.

Amount: $200,000

Date due: November 16, 2009

The Microsoft Research Faculty Fellowship Program is designed to identify, recognize, and support exceptional new faculty members engaged in innovative computing research. The objective of the program is to stimulate and support creative research undertaken by promising researchers who have the potential to make a profound impact on the field of computing in their research disciplines.

For more information, click here.

Mozilla Foundation Design Challenge for Web Interface

Mozilla Foundation announces the Jetpack for Learning Design Challenge which is inspired by and modeled on the Design Challenge series of events sponsored by Mozilla Labs. Design Challenges are intended to encourage innovation, and experimentation in user interface design for the Web. and provoke thought, facilitate discussion, and inspire future design directions for Firefox, the Mozilla project, and the Web as a whole.

Amount: $4,000

Date due: November 27, 2009

The Jetpack for Learning Design Challenge is divided into three phases: the submission period for mockups that runs until midnight (US Pacific Time) on 27 November, an online course during December 2009 and January 2010, and a face-to-face design camp in March 2010, immediately prior to SXSW Interactive. During the first phase of the Jetpack for Learning Design Challenge participants are asked to produce a concept, mockup and an explanation of their thinking behind it. A mockup can be anything from a low-fi sketch on a napkin to a high-fi video presenting the concept. The Jetpack for Learning team (consisting of Jetpack for Learning instructors and other project staff) will review all submissions. Sixty participants will be selected to participate in a two-month online course to further their ideas and concepts. At the end of the course, 10 will be selected for an all expenses trip to Design Camp.

For more information, click here.

Science Master's Program (NSF)

The Science Master's Program prepares graduate students for careers in business, industry,nonprofit organizations, and government agencies by providing them not only with a strong foundation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines, but also with research experiences, internship experiences, and the skills to succeed in those careers. The program is intended to catalyze the creation of institution-based efforts that can be sustained without additional federal funding. This program is also intended to encourage diversity in student participation so as to contribute to a broadly inclusive, well-trained science and engineering workforce.

Amount: $700,000 (across 3 years)

Date due: November 20, 2009

Proposals submitted to the Science Master's Program should describe a STEM based Master's graduate education curriculum broadened with education that provides additional skills, such as through specially tailored courses in business and management, that prepare students to work in business, industry, government agencies, or nonprofit organizations. The fields and training activities should be in areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics where there is high or emerging (anticipated) need. Proposals must demonstrate that the proposed programs meet the needs of the intended workplace and that careful market research and collaboration have led to the proposed model.

For more information, click here.

Small Business Technology Transfer Program (NSF)

NSF announces the availability of funding for the Small Business Technology Transfer Program in which small business and universities collaborate to stimulate technological innovation in the private sector by strengthening the role of small business concerns in meeting Federal research and development needs.

Amount: $140,000

Due: November 17, 2009

The Small Business Technology Transfer Program (STTR) requires researchers at universities to play a significant intellectual role in the conduct of each STTR project. These university-based researchers, by joining forces with a small company, can spin-off their commercially promising ideas while they remain primarily employed at the research institution. The primary employment of the Principal Investigator (PI) must be with the small business concern at the time of the award. A PI must spend a minimum of two calendar months on an STTR Phase I project.

For more information, click here.

Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)

The National Science Foundation aims to ensure the vitality of the human resource base of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in the United States and to reinforce its diversity by offering approximately 1,654 graduate fellowships in this competition pending availability of funds. The Graduate Research Fellowship provides three years of support for graduate study leading to research-based master’s or doctoral degrees and is intended for students who are in the early stages of their graduate study.

Amount: Graduate Research Fellowship, $30,000; Tuition allowance, $10,500.

Due: November 2, 2009

NSF Fellows are expected to become knowledge experts who can contribute significantly to research, teaching, and innovations in science and engineering. These individuals will be crucial to maintaining and advancing the nation’s technological infrastructure and national security as well as contributing to the economic well being of society at large. The Graduate Research Fellowship Program is designed to provide opportunities for advanced education that prepares students for a broad range of disciplinary and interdisciplinary careers through its strategic investments in intellectual capital.

Applicable disciplines include chemistry, computer and information science, economics, engineering, geosciences, life sciences, mathematics, physics, psychology, and the social sciences.

For more information, click here.

Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) -- includes Computer & Information Sciences

The Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program supports active research participation by undergraduate students in any of the areas of research funded by the National Science Foundation. REU Sites must have a well-defined common focus that enables a cohort experience for students. These projects may be based in a single discipline or academic department, or on interdisciplinary or multi-department research opportunities with a coherent intellectual theme.

Amount: Varies

Due: October 22, 2009

REU projects involve students in meaningful ways in ongoing research programs or in research projects specifically designed for the REU program. This solicitation features two mechanisms for support of student research: (1) REU Sites are based on independent proposals to initiate and conduct projects that engage a number of students in research. REU Sites may be based in a single discipline or academic department, or on interdisciplinary or multi-department research opportunities with a coherent intellectual theme. Proposals with an international dimension are welcome. A partnership with the Department of Defense supports REU Sites in DoD-relevant research areas.

For more information, click here.

Creative IT (NSF)

The National Science Foundation (NSF) seeks proposals for projects whose objectives are new models of creativity, new models for research and education, or creativity enhancing tools developed in the context of a specific discipline. A project may respond to new theoretical models, new models of research, innovative educational approaches, or creativity enhancing tools.

Amount: Up to $800,000 across 3 years

Due: October 13, 2009

Two types of proposals will be accepted: pilot projects and major projects. Pilot projects typically have a single PI and a single undergraduate or graduate student for a duration of one to three years. A pilot project identifies a synergy from understanding creativity in a specific context in which a computing environment has the potential to lead to innovative and creative advances in one or more disciplines. Major Projects have one or more PIs and multiple undergraduate and graduate students for a duration of three years with a maximum budget of $800,000. A Major project brings together a group of people to develop a synergistic effect that can transform our understanding of models, computing environments or education relevant to CreativeIT.

For more information, click here.

Keeping up: Technology's Rapid Changes and Effects on People with Disabilities

The National Council on Disability is interested in evaluating how Americans with disabilities are faring in this new digital media age. NCD is interested in examining the accessibility of new media and technologies developed, documenting successful development processes, understanding consumer needs, and identifying the facilitators and barriers to the technology transfer for employment purposes. Through this research, NCD will aim to educate designers about how specific new technologies intersect with the employment needs of individuals with disabilities. This research will aim to provide technology developers with knowledge on how their complex products can be developed in a cost-effective way and used to increase the employment of people with disabilities.

Amount: $150,000

Due date: August 7, 2009

As part of this research, six new media sources and/or digital technology products will be analyzed for their utility in employment settings, and their accessibility to people with disabilities. This analysis should include market trends, potential consumers, facilitators and barriers to expanding the market to employment settings, industry practice, and accessibility. NCD proposes to collect data on the experiences of people with disabilities in this new media environment; highlight accomplishments, and determine recommendations for how digital media accessibility for people with disabilities can be improved. NCD hopes the information in this report will motivate and drive the development of new technologies that will improve the employment status of people with disabilities.

For more information, click here.

NSF Scholarships in Science, Technology & Mathematics (S-STEM)

The National Science Foundation announces a request for proposals (RFP) from universities interested in providing scholarships for academically talented, financially needy students, enabling them to enter the workforce following completion of an associate, baccalaureate or graduate-level degree in science, technology or mathematics. Grantee institutions are responsible for selecting scholarship recipients, reporting demographic information, and managing the S-STEM project at the institution.

Amount: $600,000 to be spread across 5 years

Due date: 09/14/09 (notice of intent due 08/11/09)

According to NSF, "The S-STEM program emphasizes the importance of recruiting students to science and engineering disciplines, mentoring and supporting students through degree completion, and partnering with employers to facilitate student career placement in the STEM workforce. Participating institutions are expected to support the goals of the S-STEM program including:

• Improved educational opportunities for students;
• Increased retention of students to degree achievement;
• Improved student support programs at institutions of higher education;
• Increased numbers of well-educated and skilled employees in technical areas of national need.

Students to be awarded scholarships must demonstrate academic talent and financial need. In addition, they must be US citizens, permanent residents, nationals, or refugees.

For more information click here.