Monday, December 7, 2009

Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Supplemental Funding Opportunity

The NSF Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) invites its grantees to submit requests for Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) supplemental funding. Interested grantees may submit their REU supplement requests between December 1, 2009 and March 31, 2010.

In the case of a single investigator project, a CISE REU supplement typically requests support for no more than two students for one year. Research teams funded through multi-investigator projects may request support for a larger number of students, commensurate with the size and nature of their projects. For example, in projects involving four principal investigators, REU supplement support typically may be requested for about four undergraduates for one year.  As a guide for budget development, CISE REU supplement support averages about $8,000 per student per year, which might include $6,400 for student stipend support and $1,600 for administrative allowance (in lieu of indirect costs); this guideline is neither a floor not a ceiling.

In these trying economic times, REU stipend support is one means by which to retain talented students in undergraduate education while providing meaningful research experiences.  Therefore, grantees are encouraged to consider economic hardship as one key factor in student selection.  The participation of students from groups underrepresented in computing - underrepresented minorities, women and persons with disabilities - is strongly encouraged.

Investigators are encouraged to refer to the program solicitation "Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU): Sites and Supplements," for detailed information concerning submission requirements. Grantees with questions may also contact the CISE program officer managing their grant.

In the event that requests for REU support exceed funds available in CISE, requests will be considered in the order in which they are received.  Other factors influencing the funding decision include the status of the project and the number of REU requests submitted by any one principal investigator across all of her/his CISE grants.

 

Sincerely,

 

Jeannette M. Wing, Ph.D.

Assistant Director, Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering