NSF CAREER Grant UPDATE Thread

[helloworld]

How do you know when the panel met? Since it switched to grants.gov, I thought we couldn't see panel meeting dates anymore.

My panel was in late September. Does it mean "no news is bad news" at this point?

Good thing that fastlane is down so I don't need to check for a few days..

[malist123]

I am just wondering if CBET programs started sending rejections out. Last year, some programs did at the end Of October or the beginning of November. Did anyone hear any rejections yet?

[MoO2]

I am just wondering if CBET programs started sending rejections out. Last year, some programs did at the end Of October or the beginning of November. Did anyone hear any rejections yet?

I know someone already received rejection for the CBET CAREER.

[lightofhope]

How do you know when the panel met? Since it switched to grants.gov, I thought we couldn't see panel meeting dates anymore.

My panel was in late September. Does it mean "no news is bad news" at this point?

Good thing that fastlane is down so I don't need to check for a few days..

Here is my experience, not sure how others find out.

After the submission, Go to this website (https://www.nsf.gov/events/advisory.jsp), and find your PD's name, you can roughly estimate the date.

[bazinga58]

I applied to ENG, was contacted by the PM who seemed pretty excited about my proposal, and was asked to respond to questions and submit a public abstract at the beginning of October. There hasn't been any activity since a few days later, when I assume my submission was updated with these materials. The PM indicated satisfaction with what I sent in. I thought that proposals moved to the Recommended category soon after that, if they were going to be recommended at all, but this hasn't been the case. Any guesses as to whether I still have a shot?

My experience with non-CAREER NSF so far (two awarded, three declined) is that if they ask you for the abstract, start date, current/pending, etc., then it's almost guaranteed that it will be awarded. I've had long (7 weeks+) periods between this request and the official "recommended" flag on Research.gov, and then another month+ before an award is official. So I'd say you're still in good shape.

In the past two weeks, my PD was updated, and my original PD has started awarding grants. No other status update or communication. I have no idea what this means. Any thoughts? I know of others who received their rejection notices back when I received questions and a request for an abstract.

[lightofhope]

how do you know your PD starts to send out awards?

[bazinga58]

how do you know your PD starts to send out awards?

You can search on the NSF awards site for your NSF organization and CAREER awards (reference code:1045) -- https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/advancedSearch.jsp

[tobehappyprof]

This is also how I found the dates out.  The drawbacks are that you can only see future panels and your PD may handle multiple panels for different solicitations.

How do you know when the panel met? Since it switched to grants.gov, I thought we couldn't see panel meeting dates anymore.

My panel was in late September. Does it mean "no news is bad news" at this point?

Good thing that fastlane is down so I don't need to check for a few days..

Here is my experience, not sure how others find out.

After the submission, Go to this website (https://www.nsf.gov/events/advisory.jsp), and find your PD's name, you can roughly estimate the date.

[tobehappyprof]

For my last NSF grant, the PD changed to a person who was more closely in my area. Then it got funded.
My *guess* is that the first PD saw value in your proposal but it may not be the best fit, and s/he transferred it to a PD who can better evaluate your proposal.

I applied to ENG, was contacted by the PM who seemed pretty excited about my proposal, and was asked to respond to questions and submit a public abstract at the beginning of October. There hasn't been any activity since a few days later, when I assume my submission was updated with these materials. The PM indicated satisfaction with what I sent in. I thought that proposals moved to the Recommended category soon after that, if they were going to be recommended at all, but this hasn't been the case. Any guesses as to whether I still have a shot?

My experience with non-CAREER NSF so far (two awarded, three declined) is that if they ask you for the abstract, start date, current/pending, etc., then it's almost guaranteed that it will be awarded. I've had long (7 weeks+) periods between this request and the official "recommended" flag on Research.gov, and then another month+ before an award is official. So I'd say you're still in good shape.

In the past two weeks, my PD was updated, and my original PD has started awarding grants. No other status update or communication. I have no idea what this means. Any thoughts? I know of others who received their rejection notices back when I received questions and a request for an abstract.

[tobehappyprof]

Thanks a lot! Your words are very comforting.

Hope everyone enjoys the weekend.

My panel was in late September. Does it mean "no news is bad news" at this point?

Good thing that fastlane is down so I don't need to check for a few days..

I think it probably just means no news at this point.  There's only been a little over a month after the panel, and I am not sure how NSF budgets are being affected by the continuing resolution situation...

Fastlane being down was certainly a welcome enforced break!  Now I am back to daily (occasionally more) status checks.... :)

[bazinga58]

Thanks for the reassurance! I think (but am not positive) that my new PD held their panel later than my original PD. I'm hoping that they'll include mine in their funding decisions but I also know there's a chance that my proposal might bounce off of the bubble due to this switch. I guess I will just have to wait and see as worrying won't do anything to influence the outcome.

For my last NSF grant, the PD changed to a person who was more closely in my area. Then it got funded.
My *guess* is that the first PD saw value in your proposal but it may not be the best fit, and s/he transferred it to a PD who can better evaluate your proposal.

I applied to ENG, was contacted by the PM who seemed pretty excited about my proposal, and was asked to respond to questions and submit a public abstract at the beginning of October. There hasn't been any activity since a few days later, when I assume my submission was updated with these materials. The PM indicated satisfaction with what I sent in. I thought that proposals moved to the Recommended category soon after that, if they were going to be recommended at all, but this hasn't been the case. Any guesses as to whether I still have a shot?

My experience with non-CAREER NSF so far (two awarded, three declined) is that if they ask you for the abstract, start date, current/pending, etc., then it's almost guaranteed that it will be awarded. I've had long (7 weeks+) periods between this request and the official "recommended" flag on Research.gov, and then another month+ before an award is official. So I'd say you're still in good shape.

In the past two weeks, my PD was updated, and my original PD has started awarding grants. No other status update or communication. I have no idea what this means. Any thoughts? I know of others who received their rejection notices back when I received questions and a request for an abstract.

[bazinga58]

Just a stray observation: It looks like ENG proposals are getting funded at well below the $500k minimum. I wonder if they are expecting budget cuts for FY2020.

[lightofhope]

how do you find out this?

[hazelshade]

Just a stray observation: It looks like ENG proposals are getting funded at well below the $500k minimum. I wonder if they are expecting budget cuts for FY2020.

Are those full award amounts or just the first of several increments? We've had CAREER grants be funded either all in one shot or in a couple of chunks. If I recall correctly, in the latter case, the "amount funded to date" would have just been the first increment until the second one was awarded.

[bazinga58]

That's a really good point. I am not sure. I wonder if they are doing just a first increment up front on a lot of grants until the FY20 budget is passed.

Just a stray observation: It looks like ENG proposals are getting funded at well below the $500k minimum. I wonder if they are expecting budget cuts for FY2020.

Are those full award amounts or just the first of several increments? We've had CAREER grants be funded either all in one shot or in a couple of chunks. If I recall correctly, in the latter case, the "amount funded to date" would have just been the first increment until the second one was awarded.