August 28 is entry deadline for NSF's Instrument Development for Biological Research program

The U.S.'s National Science Foundation (NSF) is seeking proposals for its Instrument Development for Biological Research (IDBR) Program (Solicitation 08-566) by August 28--and the last Friday in August annually thereafter. The IDBR supports development of novel instrumentation as well as existing instruments that have been fundamentally improved by an order of magnitude or more. Proposals are encouraged for instrumentation that does not currently exist in the form of a working prototype; the NSF encourages focus on proof-of-concept development for entirely novel equipment.

Through this program, the NSF will sponsor instruments likely to have a significant impact on the study of biological systems at any level. Proposals must target instrument developments that meet a broad need in the biological research community--and in areas supported by NSF biology programs.

In evaluating proposals, the program will favor development of biological instrumentation not applicable for clinical or biomedical applications.

Software developers should keep in mind that the IDBR program supports the development or major improvement of software for the operation of instruments only as associated with the development of the instrument. Data-analysis and -acquisition software are supported only to the extent that the software, in connection with new instrumentation, will clearly advance biological research.

Applicants must prepare and submit proposals using the NSF's FastLane system at http://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/.

Please be advised that the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) includes revised guidelines to implement the mentoring provisions of the America COMPETES Act (ACA) (Pub. L. No. 110-69, Aug. 9, 2007.) As specified in the ACA, each proposal that requests funding to support postdoctoral researchers must include a description of the mentoring activities that will be provided for such individuals. Proposals that do not comply with this requirement will be returned without review (see the PAPP Guide Part I: Grant Proposal Guide Chapter II for further information about the implementation of this new requirement).

For further information see the IDBR page on NSF's site, plus abstracts of recent awards made through this program. Or, contact Nily Dan or Steven Ellis at [email protected].