CERP Bulletin

The CERP Bulletin frequently shares news, timely information about CERP initiatives, and items of interest to the general community.
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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.

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Racial Equity in STEM Education (EHR Racial Equity)

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The National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorate for Education and Human Resources (EHR) is soliciting proposals for projects addressing systemic racism in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and workforce development through research and practice. Those who have been impacted by the inequities caused by system racism should be the primary focus for all proposals. Competitive proposals will be clear with respect to how the work will advance racial equity and address system racism.

Proposals should articulate a plan to generate knowledge through research and practice, such as:

  • building theory
  • developing methods
  • testing approaches and interventions
  • assessing the potential, efficacy, effectiveness, and scalability of approaches and interventions
  • establishing, cultivating, and assessing authentic partnerships
  • changing institutional, organizational, and structural practices and policies
  • focusing on affective, behavioral, cultural, social components, and implications

The first full proposal deadline date is July 13, 2021. For more information, please visit the program funding page here.  

Prospective PIs are encouraged to send a one-page concept paper to EHRRacialequityPD@nsf.gov in advance of submitting a proposal.  

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Submit Requests for Supplemental Funding to the NSF CISE BPC Program

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The Broadening Participation in Computing program (BPC) aims to significantly increase the number of U.S. citizens and permanent residents receiving post-secondary degrees in the computer and information science and engineering (CISE) disciplines, and to encourage participation of other groups underrepresented in the CISE disciplines.

PIs with active Medium and Large CISE Core programs awards funded in the last three years (specifically pursuant to solicitations NSF 20-591, 19-589. 18-569, 18-568, and 18-570) are invited to submit supplemental funding requests to engage more members of the CISE research community in significant BPC efforts as part of a project’s BPC plan. These supplements will increase the participation of individuals underrepresented in the community participation in specific research areas. Supplemental funding requests for an existing BPC plan should either (a) extend the reach of current BPC activities that have some evidence of effectiveness to more participants or institutions; or (b) coordinate and institutionalize BPC activities within a department or similar unit.

The supplemental funding request should include the following information:

  1. objectives and strategies for the proposed activities along with a timeline,
  2. an evaluation and assessment plan that describes how to measure the outcomes of the proposed activities, and
  3. the results of past BPC activities on this project.

The current approved BPC plan must be uploaded as a Supplementary Document.

Supplemental funding requests must: (a) be less than 20% of the original award amount; and (b) not exceed $200,000. Supplements will not be given if they would require an extension beyond the expiration date of the original grant.

Interested PIs are strongly encouraged to contact both their cognizant NSF Program Director(s) and the BPC team at cise-bpc@nsf.gov by May 17. Supplement requests should be submitted by the BPC deadline (June 14).

 Please refer to the CISE BPC solicitation (NSF 21-571) for more details. Send questions or concerns to cise-bpc@nsf.gov.

This message was brought to you by the National Science Foundation Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering.

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NSF Reports on Graduate and Postdoctorates in Science, Engineering and Select Health Fields

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Two reports have been released containing information on graduate and postdoctoral students in science and engineering fields. The first report presents data from the 2019 Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates in Science and Engineering showing trends in enrollment, postdoc appointments, and other selected characteristics. 

The second report, Trends for Graduate Student Enrollment and Postdoctoral Appointments in Science, Engineering and Health Fields at U.S. Academic Institutions between 2017 and 2019, presents data and other findings from the Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates in Science and Engineering (GSS) between 2017 and 2019. The GSS provides insight into current and future science and engineering workforce trends. 

Key findings of the report include: 

  • Between 2017 and 2019, the number of individuals receiving advanced Science, Engineering, and Health fields (SEH)  training at U.S. academic institutions increased by 7.8% for master’s students, 4.2% for doctoral students, and 2.3% for postdocs.
  • In engineering, master’s enrollments declined by 5.0% between 2017 and 2019, while doctoral enrollment and the number of postdocs increased by 4.7% and 5.4%, respectively. 
  • From 2017 to 2019, the number of Nonfaculty Researchers (NFRs) reported to the GSS grew by 7.7%, representing an increase of 2,169 doctorates engaged in research outside of faculty rank or tenure.

You can find the first report by clicking the link provided here, and the second report by clicking here. 

Update: Science and Engineering State Indicators (Spring 2021)

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The data for the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) Science and Engineering State Indicators data tool has been updated. The tool utilizes U.S. state data in science and engineering education, workforce, research and development, patents and publications, and knowledge-intensive industries. This update includes new data for half of the 60 indicators, with new information on higher education financing and degrees, research and development, early-stage funding of businesses and other indicators. To access the Science and Engineering State Indicators data tool, click the link provided here.

The NCSES Data Team will host a webinar to highlight new features of the NCSES interactive data tools on April 8th, 2021, including the Chart Builder, Data Explorer and Table Builder features that were released last year. You can register for the webinar by clicking the link provided here. Please note that registration is required for this event.

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Program Solicitation: ADVANCE – Organizational Change for Gender Equity in STEM Academic Professions

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The National Science Foundation’s (NSF) ADVANCE program is soliciting proposals seeking to build on prior NSF ADVANCE work and other research on gender, racial and ethnic equity in STEM faculty in academic workplaces. All proposals are expected to use intersectional approaches in the design of systemic change strategies in recognition that gender, race and ethnicity do not exist in isolation from each other and from other categories of social identity.

This solicitation includes four funding tracks:

  • Institutional Transformation (IT): The IT track is designed to support the development, implementation and evaluation of systemic change strategies within institutions of higher education.
  • Adaptation: The Adaptation track is designed to support the work to adapt, implement and evaluate evidence-based systemic change strategies that have been shown to promote equity for STEM faculty in academic spaces.
  • Partnership: The Partnership track is designed to support the work to facilitate the broader adaptation of gender equity and systemic change strategies.
  • Catalyst: The Catalyst track is designed to broaden the types of institutions of higher educations that are able to undertake data collection and institutional self-assessment work to identify systemic gender inequities impacting their STEM faculty.

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.

The preliminary proposal target date is April 22, 2021. For more information, please click the link provided below.

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Program Solicitation: Broadening Participation in Computing (BPC)

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The National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) is currently accepting proposals from the computing community for Broadening Participation in Computing (BPC) projects aimed at increasing the representation of historically underrepresented groups in the discipline. These groups may include women, persons with disabilities, Blacks and African Americans, Hispanics, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.

The BPC program supports three categories of awards:

  • Alliances: Alliances operate across multiple stages of the academic pipeline and address one or several intended groups that are underrepresented. Existing Alliances with documented impact on BPC may apply for additional funding.
  • Demonstration Projects (DPs): Typical DPs pilot innovative programs that, once fully developed, could be incorporated into the activities of an existing or new Alliance, or otherwise scaled up for widespread impact. Examples include projects proposed by a single institution or those that focus on a single underrepresented community, a single point in the academic pathway, or a single impediment to full participation in computing.
  • Supplements: Supplements to existing CISE research awards are intended to engage more members of the computing research community in significant BPC efforts as part of a project’s BPC plan.

The deadline for submitting proposals is June 14, 2021 by 5 PM submitter’s local time.

Proposals may only be submitted by institutions of higher education, non-profit or non-academic organizations, and state and local governments. For more information, please review the program solicitation in its entirety by clicking the link provided below. 

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Deadline Extended: Tapia Scholarship Applications & Call for Participation

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The 2021 Virtual Tapia Conference is extending the deadline for scholarship applications and program submissions to April 14th, 2021. 

The Tapia scholarship application is intended for students and postdocs at colleges and universities in the United States and its territories. Tapia Scholarships are funded by Tapia Conference sponsors and a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). 

The 2021 Virtual Tapia Conference is additionally soliciting program submissions for workshops, panels, and birds of a feather (BOF) sessions in the following tracks: 

  • Technical
  • Professional Development for Academia
  • Professional Development for Industry/Government Agencies
  • Broadening Participation

Students are encouraged to submit for the Tapia Poster Competition and ACM Student Research Competition. PhD students are particularly encouraged to submit to the Doctoral Consortium.

For more information, please follow the link provided below.

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SIGCSE 2021 Panel Recap: How Student Surveys Drive Change: Using the Data Buddies Department Report from the Computing Research Association

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On Monday, March 15, CRA’s Director of the Center for Evaluating the Research Pipeline (CERP) Burçin Tamer was a panelist at the SIGCSE 2021 session, “How Student Surveys Drive Change: Using the Data Buddies Department Report from the Computing Research Association.” Tamer and other panelists discussed how departments have used their students’ responses to the Data Buddies Survey to make meaningful changes in their department. You can read more about the Data Buddies Survey here. To become a Data Buddies partner department, you can sign-up here. 

You can find the session slides and a video overview of the panel by clicking the link provided below.

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Upcoming Webinar: Including Individuals with Disabilities in STEM Courses, Research, and Careers

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The March Expert Panel for the STEM for All Multiplex Theme of the Month is being held this month with the theme of Including Individuals with Disabilities in STEM Courses, Research, and Careers. The webinar is bringing together four leaders in the efforts to make STEM fields more accessible to students with disabilities. 

Panelists include: 

  • Richard E. Ladner, PI of AccessComputing and Professor Emeritus in the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Washington.
  • Sheryl Burgstahler, Director of Accessible Technology Services and the DO-IT Center, and Co-PI of AccessComputing. 
  • Jeanne Reis, M.Ed., Co-Director of the ASL Ed Center, and developer of ASL Clear, a STEM learning app centered in American Sign Language linguistic principles. 
  • Dr. Emily Moore, Director of Research and Accessibility for PhET Interactive Simulations in the Department of Physics at the University of Colorado, Boulder.

The webinar panel will be held on March 24, 2021 at 3 PM ET. For more information, or to register, please click the link below.

 

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