Mid-Career Advancement (MCA) is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF). Supports mid-career researchers to enhance and advance their research programs through synergistic partnerships.

NSF 22-603: Mid-Career Advancement (MCA) | NSF - U.S. National Science Foundation Active funding opportunity This document is the current version. Important information for proposers and award recipients All proposals must be submitted in accordance with the requirements specified in the funding opportunity and in the Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) and its supplements .

All NSF grants and cooperative agreements are subject to the applicable set of NSF award terms and conditions . NSF has updated its research security policies for NSF funded projects. NSF 22-603: Mid-Career Advancement (MCA) Please refer to NSF 23-022 for Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) related to this program solicitation.

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National Science Foundation Directorate for Biological Sciences Division of Environmental Biology Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences Division of Biological Infrastructure Division of Integrative Organismal Systems Directorate for Geosciences Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences Division of Earth Sciences Division of Ocean Sciences Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences SBE Office of Multidisciplinary Activities Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences Division of Social and Economic Sciences Directorate for STEM Education Division of Graduate Education Division of Undergraduate Education Research on Learning in Formal and Informal Settings Office of Integrative Activities Submission Window Date(s) (due by 5 p.

m. submitting organization’s local time): February 01, 2023 - March 01, 2023 February 1 - March 1, Annually Thereafter Important Information And Revision Notes A pilot track in the Directorate for Biological Sciences and Directorate for Geosciences has been added that extends PI eligibility to include Full Professors (or equivalent) at Primarily Undergraduate Institutions (PUIs) only.

The page limit of the Project Description has been reduced from 15 pages to 12 pages. A 2-page Impact Statement, uploaded as a Supplementary Document, is now required. In addition to the PI, each Partner must also complete the Collaborative and Other Affiliations ( COA ) template and upload the document as a Single Copy Document.

Budget details have been clarified. Any proposal submitted in response to this solicitation should be submitted in accordance with the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) that is in effect for the relevant due date to which the proposal is being submitted.

The NSF PAPPG is regularly revised and it is the responsibility of the proposer to ensure that the proposal meets the requirements specified in this solicitation and the applicable version of the PAPPG. Submitting a proposal prior to a specified deadline does not negate this requirement.

Summary Of Program Requirements Mid-Career Advancement (MCA) The MCA program offers an opportunity for scientists and engineers at the mid-career stage (see restrictions under Additional Eligibility Information) to substantively enhance and advance their research program and career trajectory.

Mid-career scientists are at a critical career transition stage where they need to advance their research programs to ensure long-term productivity and creativity but are often constrained by service, teaching, or other activities that limit the amount of time devoted to research.

The MCA program provides protected time, resources, and the means to gain new skills through synergistic and mutually beneficial partnerships, typically at an institution other than the candidate's home institution. Partners from outside the Principal Investigator's (PI) own sub-discipline or discipline are encouraged, but not required, to enhance interdisciplinary networking and convergence across science and engineering fields.

Research projects that envision new insights on existing problems or identify new problems made accessible with cutting-edge methodology or expertise from other fields are encouraged.

A key component of a successful MCA will be the demonstration that the PI's current research program could substantively benefit from the protected time, mentored partnership(s), and resources provided through this program, such that there is a substantial enhancement to the PI's research and career trajectory, enabling scientific and academic advancement not likely without this support.

The MCA is the only cross-directorate NSF program specifically aimed at providing protected time and resources to established scientists and engineers targeted at the mid-career stage. Participating programs in the Directorates for Biological Sciences (BIO), Geosciences (GEO), Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE), and Education and Human Resources (EHR) will accept MCA proposals.

To help identify the disciplinary program in which the MCA should be reviewed, PIs are urged to investigate the research areas supported by the different directorates and participating programs. PIs are strongly encouraged to discuss the suitability of their MCA proposal with a Program Officer from the appropriate directorate (see https://www. nsf.

gov/funding/opportunities/mca-mid-career-advancement/announcements/111199 ). PIs from EPSCoR jurisdictions are especially encouraged to apply. Broadening Participation in STEM NSF has a mandate to broaden participation in science and engineering, as articulated and reaffirmed in law since 1950.

Congress has charged NSF to "develop intellectual capital, both people and ideas, with particular emphasis on groups and regions that traditionally have not participated fully in science, mathematics, and engineering." Cognizant Program Officer(s): Please note that the following information is current at the time of publishing. See program website for any updates to the points of contact.

MCA Cognizant Program Officers, telephone: (703) 292-4628, email: MCA. info@nsf. gov Leslie J.

Rissler, telephone: (703) 292-4628, email: lrissler@nsf. gov Applicable Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s): 47. 074 --- Biological Sciences 47.

075 --- Social Behavioral and Economic Sciences 47. 076 --- STEM Education 47. 083 --- Office of Integrative Activities (OIA) Anticipated Type of Award: Standard Grant Estimated Number of Awards: 35 to 45 The actual number of awards varies across disciplinary research programs.

Anticipated Funding Amount: $14,000,000 to $18,000,000 Pending availability of funding. Varies across disciplinary research programs. Who May Submit Proposals: Proposals may only be submitted by the following: Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) - Two- and four-year IHEs (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members.

Special Instructions for International Branch Campuses of US IHEs: If the proposal includes funding to be provided to an international branch campus of a US institution of higher education (including through use of subawards and consultant arrangements), the proposer must explain the benefit(s) to the project of performance at the international branch campus, and justify why the project activities cannot be performed at the US campus.

Non-profit, non-academic organizations: Independent museums, observatories, research labs, professional societies and similar organizations in the U.S. associated with educational or research activities. PIs must be a) at the Associate Professor rank (or equivalent; see Additional Eligibility Information) and b) at that rank for at least 3 years by the proposal submission date.

PIs must have current or proposed research that falls within the purview of a participating disciplinary program.

Pilot PUI Track in Directorates for Biological Sciences and Geosciences only, extends PI eligibility : Researchers at the Full Professor rank (or equivalent; see Additional Eligibility Information) at PUI institutions only and with proposed research that falls within the purview of a participating program within the Directorate for Biological Sciences or the Directorate for Geosciences may also apply.

The collaborative partner(s) may not be listed as co-principal investigator(s) on the cover page. Instead the partner(s) should be designated as senior/key personnel or consultants. Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization: There are no restrictions or limits.

Limit on Number of Proposals per PI or co-PI: There are no restrictions or limits. Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions A. Proposal Preparation Instructions Letters of Intent: Not required Preliminary Proposal Submission: Not required Full Proposals submitted via Research.

gov: NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) guidelines apply. The complete text of the PAPPG is available electronically on the NSF website at: https://www. nsf.

gov/publications/pub_summ. jsp? ods_key=pappg .

Full Proposals submitted via Grants. gov: NSF Grants. gov Application Guide: A Guide for the Preparation and Submission of NSF Applications via Grants.

gov guidelines apply (Note: The NSF Grants. gov Application Guide is available on the Grants. gov website and on the NSF website at: https://www.

nsf. gov/publications/pub_summ. jsp?

ods_key=grantsgovguide ). Cost Sharing Requirements: Inclusion of voluntary committed cost sharing is prohibited. Indirect Cost (F&A) Limitations: Other Budgetary Limitations: Other budgetary limitations apply.

Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information. Submission Window Date(s) (due by 5 p. m.

submitting organization’s local time): February 01, 2023 - March 01, 2023 February 1 - March 1, Annually Thereafter Proposal Review Information Criteria National Science Board approved criteria. Additional merit review criteria apply. Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information.

Award Administration Information Standard NSF award conditions apply. Standard NSF reporting requirements apply. Through the Mid-Career Advancement (MCA) program, the NSF is seeking proposals from mid-career scientists who wish to substantively advance their research program and career trajectory.

A primary objective of the MCA is to ensure that scientists and engineers remain engaged and active in cutting-edge research at a critical career stage replete with constraints on time that can impinge on research productivity, retention, and career advancement. The MCA provides protected time and resources to overcome existing constraints and enable advancements in creativity and productivity.

Projects that envision new insights on existing problems or identify new problems made accessible with cutting-edge methodology or expertise from other fields are encouraged, but not required. The MCA fosters innovation by supporting synergistic and mutually beneficial partnerships to catalyze convergence across different disciplines or sub-disciplines.

Scientists at the mid-career stage, post tenure, are freer than their more junior colleagues to pursue bold and innovative research ideas, but at the same time are often more constrained due to increased service and teaching responsibilities that can hamper scientific productivity.

A key component of a successful MCA will be the demonstration that the PI's current research program could substantively benefit from the protected time, mentored partnership(s), and resources provided through this special program, such that there is a substantial enhancement to the PI's research and career trajectory, enabling scientific and academic advancement not likely without this support. II.

Alignment with NSF priorities and values Broadening Participation - The mid-career stage is one where researchers may have fewer institutional resources, increased service and teaching responsibilities, and a need for retooling. More time spent on service and teaching at the expense of research can lower the likelihood of promotion to the highest academic and leadership ranks.

The MCA offers a mechanism to facilitate research productivity and creativity from these mid-career scientists and engineers. Enables Convergence Research - Scientific specialization, often accompanied by unique jargon, can impose challenges to integrative and innovative research. Effective communication across disciplines takes time and dedicated effort.

The MCA provides that protected time for PIs to work with a partner(s) to learn new scientific and technical skills. By doing so, the MCA advances convergence research ( https://www. nsf.

gov/funding/learn/research-types/learn-about-convergence-research )that integrates knowledge, theories, methods, data, and approaches across fields. Thus, the MCA enables creative and transformative research.

Strategic Workforce Development - The volume and variety of data and analytical tools available for scientific research continue to expand, creating unprecedented opportunity for discovery yet also challenging scientists to keep pace.

Mid-career researchers, already possessing deep disciplinary expertise and broad professional networks, are a critical node in the scientific workforce necessary to propagate new perspectives and techniques. Thus, the MCA will help build workforce capacity to fulfill federal initiatives that will be key to the scientific and economic leadership of the United States.

Fosters Risk Taking - The MCA supports researchers who have demonstrated success in their professional career and are primed to pursue bold and innovative ideas. The MCA reflects the importance placed by the NSF on encouraging transformative ideas that a) challenge conventional wisdom, b) lead to unexpected insights that enable novel techniques or methodologies, and/or c) redefine the boundaries of science.

The MCA program offers an opportunity for scientists and engineers at the mid-career stage (see restrictions under Additional Eligibility Information) to substantively enhance and advance their research program and career trajectory.

Mid-career scientists are at a critical career transition stage where they need to advance their research programs to ensure long-term productivity and creativity but are often constrained by service, teaching, or other activities that limit the amount of time devoted to research.

The MCA program provides protected time, resources, and the means to gain new skills through synergistic and mutually beneficial partnerships, typically at an institution other than the candidate's home institution. Partners from outside the PI's own sub-discipline or discipline are encouraged, but not required, to enhance interdisciplinary networking and convergence across science and engineering fields.

Research projects that envision new insights on existing problems or identify new problems made accessible with cutting-edge methodology or expertise from other fields are encouraged. All MCA proposals must include letters from a) the partner(s) describing the nature of the collaboration and the benefits of doing so for both parties, as well as b) the departmental chairperson (or an equivalent organizational official).

The 12-page Project Description of an MCA proposal must include the following three sections in addition to the other required elements as defined in the PAPPG (for example, Broader Impacts).

These are described in more detail under Proposal Preparation Instructions and include: Candidate's Past Research Candidate's Proposed Research Advancement and Training Plan Candidate's Long-Term Career Plans MCA proposals must also provide convincing evidence in a 2-page Impact Statement, uploaded as a Supplementary Document, that the candidate's research program could substantively benefit from the protected time and resources provided, such that there is a substantial enhancement to their research and career trajectory, enabling scientific and academic advancement not likely without this support.

Information on past or current constraints to the PI's time and resources available for research should be included. MCA proposals may request funds to support the mid-career researcher (PI) and one month of summer support for each collaborative partner (in lieu of summer support for the partner(s), other reasonable collaborative costs may be considered). Funds for the PI may include a) up to a total of 6.

5 months of salary (plus fringe benefits) over the course of the award, and b) up to $100,000 for other direct costs in support of the research advancement and training plan. The aforementioned funds (salary and direct costs) are not yearly allocations, but rather total amounts that can be expended over the course of 3 years.

The $100,000 direct cost allotment should include funds to cover the cost of attendance of one in-person 2-day awardee networking meeting held at NSF headquarters in Alexandria, VA. Costs for one partner to accompany the PI may be requested but must be included as part of the $100,000 cap on direct costs.

PIs are strongly encouraged to discuss the suitability of their MCA proposal with a Program Officer from the appropriate directorate (see https://www. nsf. gov/funding/opportunities/mca-mid-career-advancement/announcements/111199 ).

PIs from EPSCoR jurisdictions are especially encouraged to apply. Anticipated Type of Award: Standard Grant Estimated Number of Awards: 35 to 45 The actual number of awards varies across disciplinary research programs. Anticipated Funding Amount: $14,000,000 to $18,000,000 Varies across disciplinary research programs.

Estimated program budget, number of awards and average award size/duration are subject to the availability of funds. IV. Eligibility Information Who May Submit Proposals: Proposals may only be submitted by the following: Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) - Two- and four-year IHEs (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members.

Special Instructions for International Branch Campuses of US IHEs: If the proposal includes funding to be provided to an international branch campus of a US institution of higher education (including through use of subawards and consultant arrangements), the proposer must explain the benefit(s) to the project of performance at the international branch campus, and justify why the project activities cannot be performed at the US campus.

Non-profit, non-academic organizations: Independent museums, observatories, research labs, professional societies and similar organizations in the U.S. associated with educational or research activities. PIs must be a) at the Associate Professor rank (or equivalent; see Additional Eligibility Information) and b) at that rank for at least 3 years by the proposal submission date.

PIs must have current or proposed research that falls within the purview of a participating disciplinary program.

Pilot PUI Track in Directorates for Biological Sciences and Geosciences only, extends PI eligibility : Researchers at the Full Professor rank (or equivalent; see Additional Eligibility Information) at PUI institutions only and with proposed research that falls within the purview of a participating program within the Directorate for Biological Sciences or the Directorate for Geosciences may also apply.

The collaborative partner(s) may not be listed as co-principal investigator(s) on the cover page. Instead the partner(s) should be designated as senior/key personnel or consultants. Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization: There are no restrictions or limits.

Limit on Number of Proposals per PI or co-PI: There are no restrictions or limits. Additional Eligibility Info: PIs must be a) at the Associate Professor rank (or equivalent; see below) and b) at least three years in that position by the proposal submission date. PIs must have current or proposed research that falls within the purview of a participating disciplinary program.

Pilot PUI Track in Directorates for Biological Sciences and Geosciences only, extends PI eligibility : Researchers at the Full Professor rank (or equivalent) at PUI institutions only , and with proposed research that falls within the purview of a participating program within the Directorate for Biological Sciences or the Directorate for Geosciences, may apply.

The collaborative partner(s) may not be listed as co-principal investigator(s) on the cover page. Instead the partner(s) should be designated as senior/key personnel or consultants. In addition, only PIs who propose research topics that fall under the purview of one of the participating NSF programs for the MCA are eligible.

Additional Eligibility Restrictions for the Pilot PUI Track in the Directorates for Biological Sciences and Geosciences only: Under the Pilot PUI track, PI eligibility is extended to include the Full Professor rank (or equivalent) but only for researchers at Primarily Undergraduate Institutions (PUIs).

PUIs are accredited colleges and universities (including two-year community colleges) that award Associates degrees, Bachelor's degrees, and/or Master's degrees in NSF-supported fields, but have awarded 20 or fewer Ph. D. /D.

Sci. degrees in all NSF-supported fields during the combined previous two academic years. The required Departmental Letter must certify that the PI's institution is a PUI if submitting as a Full Professor (or equivalent) .

Under the Pilot PUI track, PIs at the Full Professor rank must be engaged in a research program that is under the purview of one (or more) of the participating programs in the Directorate for Biological Sciences or the Directorate for Geosciences. PIs are urged to contact a Program Officer prior to submission to ensure that the research topic is appropriate.

Note that biological research on mechanisms of disease in humans, including the etiology, diagnosis, or treatment of disease or disorder, is normally not supported. Biological research to develop animal models of such conditions or to develop or test procedures for their treatment is also not normally eligible for support. Such proposals are not appropriate for the Directorate for Biological Sciences and will be returned without review.

Associate (or Full, only under Pilot PUI Track) Professor Equivalency - For a position to be considered an Associate or Full Professor equivalent position, it must meet all of the following requirements: (1) the employee has a continuing appointment that is expected to last for at least the duration of the grant; (2) the appointment has substantial research and educational and/or service responsibilities; and (3) the proposed project relates to the employee's career goals and job responsibilities as well as to the mission of the department or organization.

As stated in the Proposal Preparation Instructions, the Departmental Letter must affirm that the candidate's appointment is at a mid-career level equivalent to Associate status (or Full, if applying under the Pilot PUI Track), and the Departmental Letter must also clearly and convincingly demonstrate how the candidate's appointment satisfies all the above (1-3) requirements of equivalency. V.

Proposal Preparation And Submission Instructions A. Proposal Preparation Instructions Full Proposal Preparation Instructions : Proposers may opt to submit proposals in response to this Program Solicitation via Research. gov or Grants.

gov. Full Proposals submitted via Research. gov: Proposals submitted in response to this program solicitation should be prepared and submitted in accordance with the general guidelines contained in the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG). The complete text of the PAPPG is available electronically on the NSF website at: https://www.

nsf. gov/publications/pub_summ. jsp?

ods_key=pappg . Paper copies of the PAPPG may be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, telephone (703) 292-8134 or by e-mail from nsfpubs@nsf. gov .

The Prepare New Proposal setup will prompt you for the program solicitation number. Full proposals submitted via Grants. gov: Proposals submitted in response to this program solicitation via Grants.

gov should be prepared and submitted in accordance with the NSF Grants. gov Application Guide: A Guide for the Preparation and Submission of NSF Applications via Grants. gov .

The complete text of the NSF Grants. gov Application Guide is available on the Grants. gov website and on the NSF website at: ( https://www.

nsf. gov/publications/pub_summ. jsp?

ods_key=grantsgovguide ). To obtain copies of the Application Guide and Application Forms Package, click on the Apply tab on the Grants. gov site, then click on the Apply Step 1: Download a Grant Application Package and Application Instructions link and enter the funding opportunity number, (the program solicitation number without the NSF prefix) and press the Download Package button.

Paper copies of the Grants. gov Application Guide also may be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, telephone (703) 292-8134 or by e-mail from nsfpubs@nsf. gov .

See PAPPG Chapter II. D. 2 for guidance on the required sections of a full research proposal submitted to NSF.

Please note that the proposal preparation instructions provided in this program solicitation may deviate from the PAPPG instructions. Collaborative proposals submitted as separate submissions from multiple organizations are not permitted. Mid-Career Advancement (MCA) 1) The title of an MCA proposal must begin with "MCA:", followed by the substantive title.

If submitting under the Pilot PUI Track (see Additional Eligibility Info), the title must begin with "MCA Pilot PUI:", followed by the substantive title. 2) In addition to requirements in the PAPPG, including the separate section labeled "Broader Impacts," the Project Description of MCA proposals must also include the following three sections within a 12-page limit. Please note that if submitting via Research.

gov, the section header for Broader Impacts must be on its own line with no other text on that line. Section 1. Candidate's Past Research : All MCA proposals must describe the past (and current) research efforts and accomplishments of the candidate to their field of science or engineering.

In this section, the candidate should include a list of no more than 6 publications. Each should be followed by a brief explanation of its significance, the candidate's role in the research, and funding source(s). This discussion should be incorporated into the section on Results of Prior NSF Support, when appropriate.

It is not necessary to list the full citation of these articles in the Project Description; full citations of the articles discussed should be listed as a separate group in the References Cited section (see below). Section 2.

Candidate's Proposed Research Advancement and Training Plan: All proposals must describe the scientific research and training enhancement experiences to be undertaken, and how the collaboration between the candidate and partner(s) is likely to be mutually beneficial and create "added value" beyond that which would occur through a typical collaboration (for example, by opening new avenues of inquiry).

The candidate and partner(s) should be engaged in a research project that addresses fundamental questions and challenges in the scientific discipline to which the proposal is submitted (see participating programs) and is likely to result in publications and a foundation for future competitive proposals.

The candidate should include enough information to permit an evaluation of the intellectual merit of the research advancement and training plans, including their novelty, creativity, and significance.

Section 3: Candidate's Long-Term Career Plans: This forward-looking section should describe how the proposed work builds upon past (and current) research and related accomplishments of the candidate to enable a productive long-term scientific career extending well beyond the award period.

This section should also include a timeline for present and future career enhancement activities and associated products, including expected outcomes from the MCA-funded activities that will serve as a foundation for future research endeavors. 3) The References Cited section must include references to the articles discussed in Item 2, Section 1 above, grouped separately under a heading labeled "Past Research".

4) Biographical Sketches: The Principal Investigator and each partner must submit a biographical sketch. The biographical sketches should be prepared following the instructions in the PAPPG. If the partner(s) is listed as senior/key personnel, a bio-sketch will automatically be required.

If the partner(s) are not listed as senior/key personnel because they are designated as consultants or funded through a subaward, the bio sketch of each partner must be prepared in accordance with the guidance in the PAPPG and uploaded in the Supplementary Documents section of the proposal.

5) Additional Supplementary Documentation Required for Mid-Career Advancement Proposals: Either scan the signed originals of the following documents and upload them as separate PDF files into the Supplementary Documents section of the proposal or upload digital copies with official digital signatures directly.

Requests for letters should be made by the PI well in advance of the proposal submission target date because they must be included at the time of submission. a) MCA Impact Statement: This statement should provide details on why (and how) an MCA award would substantially enhance the PI's research and career trajectory enabling scientific and academic advancement not likely without such support .

Any proposal that does not include the MCA Impact Statement will be returned without review .

The statement should be no more than 2 pages in length and include: Information on past or current constraints to the PI's time and resources available for research; and The impact of an MCA award on the PI's research and career trajectory, and if relevant, more far-reaching impacts including those on the PI's discipline(s), department, and/or institution.

b) Letter of Collaboration by the Partner(s): Competitive MCA proposals will demonstrate the potential for a synergistic and mutually beneficial collaboration between the mid-career PI and their chosen partner. If there is more than one partner, each person should include a letter. Partners can be at any academic rank but must hold a faculty appointment or equivalent at their institution.

In addition, research partnerships with scientists and engineers in industry are possible. Any proposal submitted without this Letter of Collaboration by the Partner(s) will be returned without review. The letter must be on letterhead, signed, and no more than 2 pages in length.

The content should include: A brief description of the research projects and expertise of the partner(s); A description of the role the partner will play in the proposed research, training, and (mutually beneficial) mentorship plans; and An acknowledgement that the partner and PI have discussed and agree on the plans as written in the MCA proposal.

c) Departmental Letter: To demonstrate the department's support of the mid-career candidate, the proposal must include one letter from the department chairperson (or equivalent organizational official). Any proposal that does not include a Departmental Letter will be returned without review. The letter must be on letterhead, signed, and no more than 2 pages in length.

The content should include: A description of the PI's past successes in terms of scholarship, service, teaching, and mentorship of students, faculty, etc.; An acknowledgment that the PI's protected time request will be honored if an award is made and a description of how the PI's duties (research, service, and training) will be balanced during the award duration since awards may require the PI to spend some time in the partner's lab or institution for the career enhancement experience; An assessment of the potential value of the proposed activity for advancing the PI's research program and academic career; and A statement to the effect that the PI is eligible for the MCA program as defined in the eligibility criteria specified in this solicitation.

(If the PI is applying under the Pilot PUI track, the Departmental Letter must affirm that the institution is a PUI.) 6) Budget: MCA may request funds to support the mid-career researcher (PI) and one month of summer support for each collaborative partner (in lieu of summer support for the partner(s), other reasonable costs may be considered).

Because the MCA is designed to advance the research and career trajectory of the mid-career scientist, the collaborative partner(s) may not be listed as co-principal investigator(s) on the cover page. Rather, the one-month summer salary support for the partner(s) should be requested in the senior/key personnel or consultant services budget line items of the proposal, or as a subaward to the other institution.

Funds for the PI may include a) up to a total of 6. 5 months of salary (plus fringe benefits) over the course of the award, and b) up to $100,000 for other direct costs in support of the research advancement and training plan. The aforementioned funds are not yearly allocations, but rather total amounts that must be expended over the course of the grant.

The $100,000 direct cost allotment should include funds to cover the cost of attendance of the PI to one in-person 2-day awardee networking meeting held at the NSF headquarters in Alexandria, VA. Costs for one partner to accompany the PI may be requested but must be included as part of the $100,000 direct cost cap. Collaborators & Other Affiliations (COA) Information.

As detailed in the PAPPG, information regarding collaborators and other affiliations must be provided for each individual identified as senior/key personnel on the project. Please note that if submitting via Research. gov, the COA form for individuals identified as senior/key personnel must be included in the Senior/Key Personnel Documents section.

While there will not be a separate space for partners who are designated as consultants, COA information for these individuals must also be uploaded as Additional Single Copy Documents. The COA information must be provided through use of the COA template . Suggested Reviewers.

PIs