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Job Openings at CRA

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The Computing Research Association (CRA) is hiring! There are three new job openings available for motivated individuals looking to make a difference in the computing research field.

Executive Director of CRA

Executive Director Andrew Bernat recently announced his retirement, staring September 1, 2021. CRA seeks an inclusive, transparent, and enterprising leader to serve as its next Executive Director (ED). CRA has retained Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, to assist in the recruitment of the Executive Director. All inquiries, nominations/referrals, and CVs with cover letters should be sent electronically to the following via http://www.imsearch.com/7971.

Program Assistant, CERP

CRA Center for Evaluating the Research Pipeline (CERP) seeks a full-time employee to join the team as a Program Assistant. The Program Assistant will be primarily responsible for the administrative aspects of CERP’s activities and projects such as coordinating meetings (both virtual and in- person) and website administration. Interested parties should send a cover letter, resume, and a list of 2-3 references to employment[at]cra.org. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Senior Program Associate, CRA-Industry

The Computing Research Association (CRA) seeks a full-time employee to join our team as a Senior Program Associate for the CRA Industry standing committee (CRA-Industry). The Senior Program Associate will engage with members of the CRA-Industry committee and the industry computing research community to further develop awareness of CRA-Industry and its work.  They will work closely with the CRA-Industry steering committee, which consists of senior leaders of the computing research community. Please send a cover letter, resume, a recent writing sample (e.g., technical report, article), and a list of 2-3 references to employment[at]cra.org. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis at least through August 2021 and until the position is filled.

This post is brought to you by the CRA’s Center for Evaluating the Research Pipeline (CERP). CERP provides social science research and comparative evaluation for the computing community. Subscribe to the CERP newsletter & bulletin by clicking here. Volunteer for Data Buddies by signing up here.

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CERP Receives Contract with NSF CISE to Evaluate REU Programs

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Recently, CERP was contracted by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) to evaluate the CISE Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Program. Through this contract, CERP will provide evaluation for REU Sites and REU Supplements starting spring of 2022. More information about CERP’s plans for evaluation can be found on the new CERP REU Evaluation webpage.

If you are a Principal Investigator (PI) of an existing REU award or you are preparing your REU proposal, complete our interest form to begin the process of working with CERP for evaluation. After the interest form is submitted, someone from the evaluation team (cerpreu@cra.org) will confirm the entry and provide any necessary materials for proposal submission.

 

This post is brought to you by the CRA’s Center for Evaluating the Research Pipeline (CERP). CERP provides social science research and comparative evaluation for the computing community. Subscribe to the CERP newsletter & bulletin by clicking here. Volunteer for the Data Buddies Project by signing up here.

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Upcoming NSF deadline: Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)

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The full proposal deadline date for the National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program is August 25, 2021 (NSF 19-582).

From the NSF REU program synopsis:

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 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 may offer interdisciplinary or multi-department research opportunities with a coherent intellectual theme. Proposals with an international dimension are welcome. (2) REU Supplements may be included as a component of proposals for new or renewal NSF grants or cooperative agreements or may be requested for ongoing NSF-funded research projects.Undergraduate student participants in either REU Sites or REU Supplements must be U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or permanent residents of the United States.

 

This community update is brought to you by the CRA’s Center for Evaluating the Research Pipeline (CERP). CERP provides social science research and comparative evaluation for the computing community. Subscribe to the CERP newsletter & bulletin by clicking here. Volunteer for Data Buddies by signing up here.

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ADVANCE: Organizational Change for Gender Equity in STEM Academic Professions

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The National Science Foundation (NSF) is soliciting proposals for it’s ADVANCE program. The program is seeking proposals that build on prior NSF ADVANCE work and other research and literature concerning gender, racial and ethnic equity.

The solicitation includes four funding tracks:

  • The Institutional Transformation (IT) track
  • The Adaptation track
  • The Partnership track
  • The Catalyst track

Please note that NSF ADVANCE does not provide fellowships, research, or travel grants to individual students, postdoctoral researchers, or faculty to pursue STEM degrees or research.

For more information on the ADVANCE proposals, please visit the NSF funding page here.

CRA Executive Director Job Description and Advertisement

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The Computing Research Association (CRA)—the nation’s premier member organization of academic departments, laboratories, and industry centers aimed at advancing computing research to change the world—seeks an inclusive, transparent, and enterprising leader to serve as its next Executive Director (ED). CRA counts among its members more than 200 North American organizations active in computing research: academic departments of computer science and computer engineering; laboratories and centers in industry, government, and academia; and affiliated professional societies. The next Executive Director has a unique opportunity to lead CRA to effect change that benefits both computing research and society at large.

Formed in 1972, CRA is the largest organization of its kind in the country. It has continued to grow and offer new programs and services under an ever-widening umbrella of committees and strategic initiatives collectively focused on supporting pathbreaking, expansive, and inclusive computing research in North America. Its complex mission is supported by diverse funding streams, and its operations and strategic directions serve a wide range of stakeholder groups including academic research programs, industry groups, and the federal government. As computing becomes increasingly ubiquitous across society, CRA will play an ever more important role in fostering connection with its constituent partners; engaging with societal issues like privacy, security, and equity; challenging norms and rigid hierarchies that affect the computing research pipeline; and nucleating ideas, strategies, and policies that emphasize the transformative capacities of socially responsible computing to improve the world.

In leading and sustaining CRA’s work, the ED will report to the Executive Committee of CRA’s Board of Directors. The ED will play a robust role to build on CRA’s existing renown and further grow the national visibility and leadership of the organization at this time of critical challenge for the computing field and for society. CRA seeks as Executive Director a highly accomplished, energetic, and articulate leader who brings a strong computing science background, knowledge of the computing research community, and the capacity to interact diplomatically and effectively with a wide variety of individuals. They must possess a broad and inclusive view of the computing fields, solid management capabilities and experience, outstanding communication skills, deep understanding of the funding mechanisms that affect computing research, significant leadership and change-management experience, and the capacity to lead, mentor, and guide a highly capable and accomplished staff.

CRA has retained Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, to assist in the recruitment of the Executive Director. All inquiries, nominations/referrals, and CVs with cover letters should be sent electronically to the following via http://www.imsearch.com/7971. The full list of search committee members can be found here.

John Muckle, Partner
Vijay Saraswat, Managing Associate
Raul Bernal, Senior Associate

Isaacson, Miller
263 Summer Street, Floor 7
Boston, MA 02210
http://www.imsearch.com/7971

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CISE Research Initiation Initiative (CRII)

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The National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) is seeking proposals to support research independence among early-career academics specifically lacking access to adequate resources for its CISE Research Initiation Initiative (CRII) program. The CRII program seeks to provide essential resources to enable early-career PIs to launch their research careers. 

Funds obtained through this program will be used to support untenured faculty or research scientists in their first three years in a primary academic position after their PhD, but not more than six years after completion of their PhD for proposals submitted in 2021, and not more than five years after completion of their PhD for proposals submitted after 2021. Proposals may be submitted by two- and four-year Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) located in the US and non-profit, non-academic organizations. Applicants for this program may not yet have received any other grants or contracts in the PI role from any department, agency, or institution of the federal government, including from the CAREER program or any other program, post-PhD, regardless of the size of the grant or contract, with certain exceptions as noted below. 

The deadline for full proposals is September 20, 2021. For more information, click the link provided below.

Read More

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Call for BPC Reviewers

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The National Science Foundation is now preparing for proposal submissions for the Broadening Participation in Computing  (NSF 21-571) program.  The BPC program seeks to engage the computing community to develop and implement innovative methods, frameworks, and strategies to improve recruitment and retention of these students through undergraduate and graduate degrees.  The quality of the awards selected for support by the National Science Foundation depends greatly on the critical judgments of expert reviewers from diverse backgrounds. If you are willing to serve as a reviewer, please follow the link below to provide some information about your background.  Responses submitted by June 20 will be most helpful.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2021EWF

We realize that now is still a severely disruptive time. Please do not take this request as a lack of recognition of what you are going through at the moment. Yet, many researchers are relying on NSF funding, so we are trying to maintain a steady stream of proposal evaluations and awards. We really appreciate any help you could provide in this endeavor.

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Broadening Participation in Computing (BPC) Program Solicitation Webinar

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The National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) is hosting a webinar on the Broadening Participation in Computing (BPC) program solicitation (NSF 21-571) on May 4, 2021 starting at 2:00 pm Eastern Time. 

The webinar will take place via Zoom. It will include a briefing on the 2021 BPC program and key solicitation requirements, followed by a question-and-answer session. Prior to the webinar, you can submit questions to cise-bpc@nsf.gov.

Click here to register in advance for this webinar.

After registering, a confirmation email will be sent containing information about how to join the webinar. Participants will be able to join in listen-only mode and interact through the Q&A function.

For more information about the webinar, please go to https://www.nsf.gov/events/event_summ.jsp?cntn_id=302618

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CRA Receives NSF Award to Develop a Mentoring Program for NSF’s CSGrad4US Graduate Fellowship

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In response to the National Science Foundation (NSF) Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) Directorate’s recently announced CSGrad4US Fellowship program, the Computing Research Association’s Education (CRA-E) and Widening Participation (CRA-WP) committees are working to develop a CSGrad4US Mentoring Program for recipients of the CSGrad4US Fellowship. 

Funded by the National Science Foundation (award #2123180), the goals of the CS Grad4US Mentoring Program are (1) to guide returning students through the application process towards a successful CS Ph.D. admission and school selection and (2) to mentor them through the transition to Ph.D. graduate study during the first year. The program will include both a group mentoring component addressing general aspects of the graduate application process and an individual coaching component. Specific topics include the admissions process, preparation of all components of a strong graduate application, differences between graduate programs at different institutions, and how to compare programs with respect to the Fellow’s goals and background, and general guidelines on making a selection among admission acceptances.

The CSGrad4US Mentoring Program will provide not only general graduate application advice and guidance, but also provide missing larger context and network to students returning from the workforce. These goals are achieved through group mentoring sessions followed by individual coaching during the application and decision making process and the first year in graduate school.

With an understanding of the myriad pathways into computing research, the mentoring program aims to support students with varying levels of research experience, including those with no prior research experience. The mentoring program will be led by Erik Russell (Computing Research Association), and co-PIs: Susanne Hambrusch (Purdue University), Lori Pollock (University of Delaware), Maria Gini (University of Minnesota), and Russ Joseph (Northwestern University).

Are you interested in serving as a mentor or coach? 

The mentor and coach application is now available on the CS Grad4US Mentoring Program webpage.

 

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NSF Extends Application Deadline to April 27, 2021, for CSGrad4US: New NSF Fellowship Opportunity for CISE Bachelor’s Degree Holders to Return for PhD

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The National Science Foundation (NSF) Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) Directorate has announced the new CSGrad4US Graduate Fellowship program that aims to increase the number of diverse, domestic graduate students pursuing research and innovation careers in the CISE fields. The new fellowship, which will provide 3-year fellowship opportunities for new Ph.D. students in the computing disciplines, was released in response to the increased demand for people with a Ph.D. in computer science (CS), the continued decrease of domestic students pursuing research and completing a Ph.D., and the overall small number of bachelor’s degree recipients in CS pursuing graduate school. In particular, the percentage of domestic Ph.D. students in CS graduating has decreased from 69% in 1985 to 37% in 2018 [1].

Eligibility
CSGrad4US Fellowship applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:

  • Be a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident;
  • Intend to apply for full-time enrollment in a research-based doctoral degree program in a CISE field (computer science, computer engineering, or information science) no later than Fall 2023;
  • Have graduated with a bachelor’s degree in a CISE field between July 1, 2016, and June 31, 2019;
  • Not be enrolled in a master’s or doctoral degree-granting program for a CISE
    discipline at the time of the application (other than a professional master’s degree
    program); and
  • Have never previously accepted an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship.

NSF seeks candidates from a broad array of backgrounds and strongly encourages women, African Americans, Hispanics, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, Native Pacific Islanders, and persons with disabilities to apply.

Timeline
The Application deadline for the CSGrad4US Graduate Fellowship has been extended and is now due April 27, 2021, by 5:00 pm submitter local time. Please visit https://www.nsf.gov/cise/CSGrad4US/ for additional details and deadlines.

[1] Addressing the National Need for Increasing the Domestic PhD Yield in Computer Science. Susanne Hambrusch, Lori Pollock, Ran Libeskind-Hadas, and Christine Alvarado, Quadrennial Paper, CRA, November 2020.