2011 KIEC - USDA-NIFA: Future Investments for Agricultural Research, Education...

USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Dr. Diana Jerkins National Program Leader Agricultural Systems USDA-NIFA

The role of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture is to support research, extension and education, and bring focus to meet societyâ€&#x;s grand challenges

NIFA – the agency for extramural research, extension and education • Built on the history of CSREES • Expanding the role of AFRI, the competitive grants program • Bringing focus to „capacity‟ funds while maintaining essential services to rural and urban America • Placing emphasis on attracting a new generation of scientists to the agriculture mission

Refocusing NIFA in 2010 Focuses the outcomes from NIFA-sponsored research, education, and extension activities around thematic areas: 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Climate change Bioenergy Food safety Nutrition and childhood obesity Global food security

Important Principles for NIFA • All activities sponsored by NIFA should be of highest quality: value for dollar • Activities should, to the extent possible, focus on the 5 priorities/grand challenges while honoring legislative mandates • Integrated research and extension and/or education will be part of increasing percentage of grants awarded •Support education/training of next generation of scientists

Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) • USDA‟s largest competitive grants program for research, education, and extension, including integrated approaches • Stakeholder input essential FY 2010-2011: – Tighter FOCUS: 5 NIFA priorities – Greater SCALE: Larger awards – Bold IMPACT: Translational science

INSTITUTE OF FOOD PRODUCTION AND SUSTAINABILITY Enhancing global food security through productive and sustainable agricultural systems

INSTITUTE OF BIOENERGY, CLIMATE, AND ENVIRONMENT Ensuring energy independence through clean, biobased systems; Ensuring sustainable and adaptive agro-ecosystems in response to climate change

INSTITUTE OF FOOD SAFETY AND NUTRITION Ensuring a safe food supply Improving citizens’ health through nutrition Reducing childhood obesity Improving food quality

INSTITUTE FOR YOUTH, FAMILY, COMMUNITIES Enabling vibrant and resilient communities Preparing the next generation of scientists Enhancing science capacity in minority-serving institutions Enhancing youth development

CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS Leveraging the knowledge and commitment of U.S. talent to enhance the lives of those in developing countries

Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Finding Your Competitive Advantage

Keys to Competitive Success • Understand NIFA mission • Explore the full range of programs – Many options (find your advantage!)

• Communicate with the National Program Leader or Leaders in your area of interest • Participate – Ad hoc Reviewer to Panelist – Grantsmanship Workshops – Applicant to Awardee!

Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Five Challenge Area RFAs 1.

2.

3.

4.

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Childhood Obesity Prevention: $25 M Climate Change: $40 M Global Food Security: $13 M Food Safety: $20 M Sustainable Bioenergy: $32 M

Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Foundational Program RFA: $65 M 1. Plant Health and Production and Plant Products 2. Animal Health and Production and Animal Products 3. Food Safety, Nutrition, and Health 4. Renewable Energy, Natural Resources, and Environment 5. Agriculture Systems and Technology 6. Agriculture Economics and Rural Communities

Agriculture and Food Research Initiative NIFA Fellowships Grant Program RFA: $6 M 1. Offer individual fellowships for pre- and postdoctoral students – NIFA Fellows 2. Focus on the broad Challenge Areas 3. First funding summer 2011

AFRI Eligibility: Single-function projects 1. State agricultural experiment stations 2. Colleges and universities (including junior colleges offering associate degrees or higher) 3. University research foundations 4. Other research institutions and organizations 5. Federal agencies and national laboratories 6. Private organizations or corporations 7. U.S. Citizens, nationals, or permanent residents *Eligible institutions do not include foreign and international organizations

Integrated Eligibility: Integrated projects 1. Colleges and universities 2. 1994 Land-Grant Institutions 3. Hispanic-serving agricultural colleges and universities

Letters of Intent • Required for most program areas.

• Take care to follow the guidelines.

• Applications submitted without a prior Letter of Intent submission will not be reviewed.

FASE Grants: Restricted eligibility • • • •

Pre-doctoral Fellowship Grants – New Postdoctoral Fellowship Grants New Investigator Grants Strengthening Grants – – – –

Sabbatical Grants Equipment Grants Seed Grants Strengthening Standard and Strengthening CAP Grants

Understanding the level of competition in AFRI • Programs get about 100 proposals • Will fund about 20 • So my chances of getting funded are about 20%...right?

• WRONG! Your chances are much higher if you are eligible for the AFRI Food and Agricultural Science Enhancement (FASE) Program!

Agriculture and Food Research Initiative: Strengthening Awards -Funded from 7.5% set aside from AFRI appropriation ( thatâ&#x20AC;&#x;s 7.5% of $262 million in FY2010! Or over $19 million) - Eligibility limited to EPSCoR states and small to mid sized institutions (<17,500 enrolled) and limited institutional success (not in the top 100).

Strengthening Award Types • Standard Strengthening (full research grant $300k to $30 million) • Career Enhancement Award (Sabbatical, “one year of salary plus travel and supplies”) • Seed grants • Equipment grants (match may be required)

Equipment Grants • Grant limit of $50k (equipment may cost $10-250k) • Match required (non-Federal)

Seed Grants • To support collection of preliminary data and develop methods and approach • Builds a stronger foundation for a standard research proposal • Award up to $150k

Career Enhancement Awards • Also called Sabbatical Awards • Includes one year of salary plus travel and supplies ($120k) • Can be structured and phased so that it is not a year away from your home university • Be creative!

Standard Strengthening • A regular research or Integrated proposal (includes CAPs) • The proposal has two chances to be funded • First chance if the proposal ranks high enough (top 10-15) it is funded out of the regular program funds • Second chance from strengthening funds (Awards made according to ranking but of eligible proposals. First eligible proposal may rank substantially below 20.)

Strengthening Eligibility AFRI • Now eligible in research and integrated programs!

• Now eligible every year in research and integrated programs!

• Now only the lead Project Director needs to be eligible in research and integrated programs!

Strengthening Strategy • Plan your work to link awards and leverage Capacity Building Grants • Evaluate where you are and what you need • Equipment? Training or a collaborator (sabbatical award)? Preliminary data (seed/sabbatical)?

• What is you three year plan? (equipment>seed>standard or sabbatical>standard or other)

Understanding the level of competition in AFRI • Programs is asking for just CAP awards?

• Look closer…for your advantage.

• All programs will take Strengthening Grant applications from 1890s • Includes Equipment, Seed, Sabbatical and Standard strengthening (including CAP) grants • Contact the NPL for your program of interest to discuss before submission of a LOI

Panel Participation • Panelists from 1890 and minority serving institutions are especially needed • Faculty from all levels (Assistant, Associate and Full Professor) • In 2001 less than 2% from 1890, in 2009 5.6% from 1890!

Grantsmanship Workshops • Provides overview of programs to applicants • Mock Peer Review Panel • “Face time” with National Program Leaders • Tips on grant-writing from experts • Travel fellowships for attendees from minority-serving institutions • Offered twice a year

Questions?

• Dr. Diana Jerkins • National Program Leader • 202-401-6996

• djerkins@nifa.usda.gov

• Thank You!!