NSF 12-063

Dear Colleague Letter: I/UCRC Research Experiences for Veterans – REV

The National Science Foundation recognizes that Veterans represent a potential underutilized workforce for America’s research and industrial communities. The Industrial Innovation and Partnerships Division (IIP) of the Engineering Directorate (ENG) at the National Science Foundation (NSF) is now accepting supplemental requests to conduct Research Experiences for Veterans (REV). The proposed REVs will afford Veterans an opportunity to intern either at an active Industry/University Cooperative Research Center (I/UCRC) university site, or at an active I/UCRC member company.

Recommendations from NSF’s Engineering Education and Centers Division Workshop entitled “Veterans’ Education for Engineering and Science” in April 2009 stated “NSF and other federal science and engineering agencies should create an education/career development program focused on getting veterans into science and technology careers. NSF and the other federal agencies have long experience sponsoring education research and activities. The cost to expand and enrich such programs is a small fraction of the cost of the post-9/11 Veterans educational benefit. Yet by expanding it, the community could engage a significant number of veterans with the potential to pursue careers in fields of engineering, science and technology.”

PI Eligibility: All active I/UCRC grantees

Anticipated type of award: Supplement to existing I/UCRC awards

Supplement Preparation and Submission instructions: The REV supplement will be a modified Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) supplement specifically for U.S. veterans who are classified as full-time students at U.S. Universities active in the I/UCRC program. The REV is not transferrable to the Veterans’ dependants.

Supplemental funding requests must be submitted by 5:00 pm, submitter’s local time, Friday, July 13, 2012 via the NSF FastLane system and follow the guidelines of the most current solicitation for Research Experiences for Undergraduates, found at http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?WT.z_pims_id=5517&ods_key=nsf09598

Anticipated funding amount and Estimated Number of Awards:
This pilot study will not exceed $200,000 from the current FY2012 GOALI budget. The maximum number of awards will not exceed twenty-five, and a single REV is valued at $8,000. NSF recommends the Veteran receive no less than $15 per hour for not more than 20 hours per week for four continuous months. An individual veteran is eligible for a maximum of three REV terms. Supplemental proposals will be internally evaluated per REU guidelines.

Don Senich
Senior Academic Advisor, Industrial Innovation and partnerships (IIP)
(703) 292-7082

Rathindra DasGupta
Program Director, Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers (I/UCRC)
(703) 292-8353