- The description doesn’t mention any program areas. Does this mean it is open to all fields? If I submit a summary proposal, does it have to relate to a specific domain? If so, where can I find those areas – are they listed on the NSF or NBER website?
All economics and economics-adjacent fields are welcome, which is why there are no restrictions in the call. That said, the bigger issue to consider is whether, if accepted to the mentoring program and you submit a proposal, the NSF would see the project as a fit for one of its programs. While part of the mentoring program will be to coach mentees in that regard, the programs that fall under NSF’s SBE Directorate (in particular SES, e.g., Economics; Decision, Risk and Management Sciences (DRMS); Science of Science: Discovery, Communication and Impact (SoS:DCI)) and what they fund are probably a good guide for the types of projects/fields that are likely to be a good fit in the long run.
- The call states “Program participants will receive funding for release time for Fall 2024”. What does that mean and how will it work? Is this the only type of financial support that will be provided?
Faculty who are selected for the mentoring program will receive funding (in the form of a subaward) to support release time for fall 2024 (exact details will be ironed out once announcements are made). This time should be used to fully participate in the mentoring program, in particular to develop a proposal for NSF submission. This is also why a letter of support from a Dean or other senior administrator should be submitted – that person is partly committing to ensuring that the faculty mentee will be able to take release time, as required by the mentoring program.
Release time is the only support that the mentoring program will provide – other than 1-1 mentoring and virtual workshops (as explained in the call). Notice that the NSF typically does not have “planning grants” – that is, funding to apply for an NSF award – as is the case in this mentoring program.
If you are successful in obtaining your own NSF funding (after participating in the mentoring program), that budget can include whatever components you feel are necessary, subject to what is allowable according to NSF PAPP-G and negotiations with NSF.
It is between you and your home institution to discuss other forms of support they can provide to assist you during the mentoring program – assuming that is something you feel is necessary.
- Will the program be hands-on? Will we have someone who will help us and also work with us as mentors as we write?
As the call indicates, the mentoring component will run from May 2024 to January 2025. So, it is not “just a short intervention”. Those who are selected will receive release time for fall 2024 in order to ensure that they have ample time to work on proposal development under guidance of a mentor. In short, it will be hands-on and mentees will get frequent feedback from a mentor.
- What is the list of Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) that is being used to determine eligibility?
We use the eligibility matrix at the following link, https://cmsi.gse.rutgers.edu/msi-directory, which is also used by NSF’s Build and Broaden program. If necessary, please confirm with the NBER grant administrator (Elisa Pepe, epepe@nber.org) whether your institution qualifies as an MSI.
- Does one have to have applied for or received NSF funding previously to be considered for this program?
No. If you are an economist at an MSI and are interested in the program, please apply.
- Can one of the project directors look over my proposal/application before the deadline?
We do not give feedback on proposals/applications, mostly because if admitted to the mentoring program, that would be one of the main roles of the mentor — to provide extensive feedback on the proposal/idea with NSF merit review criteria in mind.