Research Networks in Undergraduate Biology Education (RCN-UBE)

Research Networks in Undergraduate Biology Education (RCN-UBE) is sponsored by National Science Foundation, Directorates for Biological Sciences (BIO) and Education and Human Resources (EHR). This program aims to foster linkages between the Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO) and the Directorate for Education and Human Resources (EHR) by addressing undergraduate biology education.

NSF 22-522: Research Coordination Networks in Undergraduate Biology Education (RCN-UBE) | NSF - U.S. National Science Foundation Archived funding opportunity This solicitation is archived. 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 22-522: Research Coordination Networks in Undergraduate Biology Education (RCN-UBE) To save a PDF of this solicitation, select Print to PDF in your browser's print options.

National Science Foundation Directorate for Biological Sciences Division of Biological Infrastructure Directorate for Education and Human Resources Division of Undergraduate Education Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p. m. submitter's local time): Fourth Tuesday in January, Annually Thereafter Important Information And Revision Notes Innovating and migrating proposal preparation and submission capabilities from FastLane to Research.

gov is part of the ongoing NSF information technology modernization efforts, as described in Important Notice No. 147 . In support of these efforts, proposals submitted in response to this program solicitation must be prepared and submitted via Research. gov or via Grants.

gov and may not be prepared or submitted via FastLane. The following revisions have been made to the solicitation: An "Online Learning" and an "Evaluation and Assessment" section should now be included in all full and incubator proposals to address emerging priority areas for the program. For incubator proposals, these can be abbreviated.

An abbreviated "Management Plan" and "Coordination Plan" should now be included in all incubator proposals. Any proposal submitted in response to this solicitation should be submitted in accordance with the revised NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) ( NSF 22-1 ), which is effective for proposals submitted, or due, on or after October 4, 2021.

Summary Of Program Requirements Research Coordination Networks in Undergraduate Biology Education (RCN-UBE) The goal of the RCN-UBE program is to link biological research discoveries with innovations in biology education to improve the learning environment in undergraduate biology classrooms.

The program seeks to improve undergraduate education by leveraging the power of a collaborative network recognizing that new educational materials and pedagogies can simultaneously teach biological concepts while creating a supportive and engaging learning environment for all. The RCN-UBE program supports groups of investigators to communicate and coordinate their research, training, and education.

The theme or focus of an RCN-UBE proposal can be on any topic likely to advance this goal, and activities across disciplinary, organizational, geographic, and international boundaries are encouraged. Acknowledging that students' educational pathways vary, networks that include under-resourced institutions as full, equitable partners are highly desired.

Understanding that people from diverse backgrounds bring different experiences and viewpoints, the RCN-UBE program is interested in proposals that include individuals from traditionally underrepresented in biological research and education as members of the steering committee. Lastly, the RCN-UBE program is also interested in developing, testing, and sharing best practices that can transform the online learning environment.

These efforts supported by RCN-UBE are responsive to the national movement to revolutionize undergraduate learning and teaching in the biological sciences as described in the 2009 "Vision and Change in Undergraduate Biology Education" report.

Collectively, the RCN-UBE program has contributed to developing and disseminating educational research resources and modules, to forging new collaborations, and to sharing best practices and processes for scalability and sustainability of activities. These efforts have involved a large cadre of faculty, students, and other stakeholders.

In accord with other RCN awards, RCN-UBE awards provide opportunities to address interdisciplinary topics, to explore innovative ideas for implementing novel networking strategies, to explore collaborative technologies, and to develop community standards. RCN-UBE awards do not support existing networks or the activities of established collaborations.

Note: Because it addresses undergraduate biology education, the RCN-UBE program is offered in alignment with the NSF-wide undergraduate STEM education initiative, Improving Undergraduate STEM Education (IUSE). More information about IUSE can be found at the end of the Program Description section of this solicitation and the NSF IUSE solicitation ( NSF 21-579 ).

Depending on the scope and nature of the project, investigators should consider applying to IUSE or RCN-UBE. 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.

Joel K. Abraham, BIO/DBI, telephone: (703) 292-4694, email: jkabraha@nsf. gov Amanda A.

Simcox, telephone: (703) 292-8165, email: asimcox@nsf. gov Olivia S. Long, telephone: (703) 292-7897, email: olong@nsf.

gov Gordon E. Uno, telephone: (703) 292-2574, email: geuno@nsf. gov Applicable Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s): 47.

074 --- Biological Sciences 47. 076 --- Education and Human Resources Anticipated Type of Award: Standard Grant Estimated Number of Awards: 8 to 12 Anticipated Funding Amount: $6,500,000 to $8,000,000 pending availability of appropriations.

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. There are no restrictions or limits. Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization: There are no restrictions or limits.

Limit on Number of Proposals per PI or co-PI: An individual may be listed as a PI or co-PI on no more than one full proposal. This restriction does not apply to incubator proposals. 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. Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.

m. submitter's local time): Fourth Tuesday in January, 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 Additional award conditions apply. Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information.

Standard NSF reporting requirements apply. Discoveries in biological sciences shape and direct our understanding of the world. It is imperative that biological researchers consider how best to teach and inspire the next generation of biological researchers and to produce a biologically literate public.

For key biological discoveries and methodologies, there is the need to design, develop, test, and implement educational activities that improve scientific literacy and motivate the next generation of biologists. Because of their impact on students, educators who develop new teaching approaches and tools are just as important to a student's life as the new biological discovery itself.

Recent pedagogical literature points to critical components that will help improve biology education, including: 1) the best work is accomplished when individuals work in collaborative and supportive communities; 2) diverse voices must be present as the foundation is being built; 3) students' educational pathways vary, they engage with materials in many different educational settings, and what works for one student may not work for another; 4) educational materials and pedagogies can simultaneously teach biological concepts while also increasing a student's confidence, sense of belonging, and the feeling that they are part of a community solving real-world problems; and 5) there is the potential for collaborations to produce new knowledge about undergraduate biology education in particular, and undergraduate STEM education more generally.

The Research Coordination Networks for Biological Education (RCN-UBE) Program supports networks of investigators to link biological research discoveries with innovations in biology education to improve the learning environment in undergraduate biology classrooms.

RCN-UBEs will support networks of investigators to communicate and coordinate their education efforts across disciplinary, organizational, institutional, geographical, and/or international boundaries. They will facilitate exchange of information and resources, integrate research and education activities for biologists/educators around topics of common interest, nurture a sense of community, and maximize cooperation and impact.

The RCN-UBE program originated as a unique RCN track to "catalyze positive changes in biology undergraduate education" and is now supported by the collaborative efforts of the Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO) and the Directorate for Education and Human Resources (EHR).

It has been responsive to the national movement to revolutionize undergraduate learning and teaching in the biological sciences, which is described in the "Vision and Change in Undergraduate Biology Education" report. The RCN-UBE program seeks to leverage the power of a collaborative network to improve undergraduate biology in various areas.

Proposed networking activities directed to the RCN-UBE program should focus on a theme to give coherence to the collaboration. The theme or focus of an RCN-UBE proposal can be on any topic likely to enhance undergraduate biology education.

RCN-UBE is designed to promote new collaborations among biologists and educators with diverse expertise and who share a common interest in a new or developing area of biology education, including the interface of biology with other disciplines. RCN-UBE awards do not support primary research and are not meant to support existing networks, nor are they meant to support the activities of established collaborations.

By encouraging the formation of new interdisciplinary groups and networks, the RCN-UBE program will advance undergraduate biology education by linking research discoveries with pedagogical innovations. The RCN-UBE program is particularly interested in increasing the participation of people from groups that are underrepresented in biological research and education such as women, underrepresented minorities, and persons with disabilities.

Proposals submitted to the program are strongly encouraged to involve PIs, co-PIs, postdoctoral fellows, students, and other personnel who are members of these groups. Proposers are also strongly encouraged to consider involving veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces as part of NSF's broader effort to promote veteran involvement in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) research and education.

Proposers should review the Introduction section of the PAPPG for a general description of research topics normally outside the scope of NSF funding such as biomedical research. Proposals to create a network that is primarily to enable research in excluded topics will not be eligible for support under this program and will be returned without review.

Collectively, the projects funded by RCN-UBE have enabled a large cadre of faculty, students, and other stakeholders to share ideas and processes for scalability and sustainability of activities that improve undergraduate biology education. Successful RCN-UBE proposals often include the following topics or activities: Implementing active- and inquiry-based learning.

Incorporating authentic research experiences in introductory, mid-level, and capstone undergraduate courses. Service learning, community engagement, and internships. Integrating emerging sub-disciplines into the biology curriculum (e.g., computational biology, biotechnology, artificial intelligence and cross-scale approaches to biology, ecological forecasting).

Integrating quantitative reasoning in biology curriculum. Providing professional development for biology faculty and graduate students. Improving assessment of student learning and/or biology programs.

Improving the transition of students from two-year to four-year institutions. Broadening participation in undergraduate biology. Integrating teaching and research.

Novel online learning approaches RCN-UBE proposals may also include additional topics or activities, such as: Increasing biological literacy for non-majors. Mechanisms to provide under-resourced institutions access to essential biology resources such as library holdings and core research facilities. Training students to use new equipment and technology to monitor biological processes.

Innovative use of biological field stations and existing museum and specimen collections. RCN-UBE proposals can be up to five years in duration, with budgets up to $500,000. To assist initial networking efforts of scientists and educators who are developing innovative proposals for the RCN-UBE program, the RCN-UBE accepts Incubator proposals for up to $75,000 for one year.

The following information regarding the IUSE: EHR program may be helpful for investigators considering submitting proposals to this complementary program. The National Science Foundation (NSF) plays a leadership role in developing and implementing efforts to enhance and improve STEM education in the United States.

Through the NSF Improving Undergraduate STEM Education (IUSE) initiative, the agency continues to make a substantial commitment to the highest caliber undergraduate STEM education through a Foundation-wide framework of investments.

The IUSE: EHR is a core NSF STEM education program that seeks to promote novel, creative, and transformative approaches to generating and using new knowledge about STEM teaching and learning to improve STEM education for undergraduate students. The program is open to applications from all institutions of higher education and associated organizations.

NSF places high value on educating students to be leaders and innovators in emerging and rapidly changing STEM fields as well as educating a scientifically literate public.

In pursuit of this goal, IUSE: EHR supports projects that seek to bring recent advances in STEM knowledge into undergraduate education, that adapt, improve, and incorporate evidence-based practices into STEM teaching and learning, and that lay the groundwork for institutional improvement in STEM education.

In addition to innovative work at the frontier of STEM education, this program also encourages replication of research studies at different types of institutions and with different student bodies to produce deeper knowledge about the effectiveness and transferability of findings.

IUSE: EHR also seeks to support projects that have high potential for broader societal impacts, including improved diversity of students and instructors participating in STEM education, professional development for instructors to ensure adoption of new and effective pedagogical techniques that meet the changing needs of students, and projects that promote institutional partnerships for collaborative research and development.

IUSE: EHR especially welcomes proposals that will pair well with the efforts of NSF INCLUDES ( https://www. nsf. gov/news/special_reports/nsfincludes/index.

jsp ) to develop STEM talent from all sectors and groups in our society. For all the above objectives, the National Science Foundation invests primarily in evidence-based and knowledge-generating approaches to understand and improve STEM learning and learning environments, improve the diversity of STEM students and majors, and prepare STEM majors for the workforce.

In addition to contributing to STEM education in the host institution(s), proposals should have the promise of adding more broadly to our understanding of effective teaching and learning practices. NSF-IUSE serves as the framework for all investments in research and development that are critical for curricular improvement in undergraduate STEM education, within formal and informal learning environments.

The IUSE: EHR program features two tracks: (1) Engaged Student Learning and (2) Institutional and Community Transformation. For further information please see the IUSE solicitation NSF 21-579 .

RCN-UBE proposals, in accord with all RCN proposals, must conform to the following 7 guidance items: Topic/focus of research coordination: For all tracks, research coordination network (RCN) proposals should identify a clear theme as the focus of its activities.

RCN proposals should spell out the theoretical and/or methodological foundations of the network's proposed activities, specify the activities that will be undertaken, identify new groups of investigators that will be brought together, describe the products generated by network activities, and explain how information about the network and participation opportunities will be disseminated.

The proposal should also outline the expected benefits of the network's activities for advancing the field and the implications for the broader community of researchers, educators, and engineers. Principal investigator (PI): Although RCNs are expected to involve investigators from multiple sites, a single organization must serve as the submitting organization.

Only a single proposal submission is allowed, with subawards administered by the lead organization. The PI is the designated contact person and is responsible for coordinating and integrating all network activities. Strong central leadership and clear lines of responsibility are essential for successful networking.

Steering committee: Members are network participants who assume key leadership or management roles. The committee should be representative of the communities participating in the RCN. It must include all Co-PIs and any other senior personnel, including foreign collaborators serving as leaders.

Thus, the steering committee constitutes all senior personnel for the RCN proposal. The name and home organization of each member should be listed in the project summary. Biographical Sketches and Current and Pending Support statements for all members must be included.

Network participants: Network size will vary depending on the theme and activity needs. Networks may be regional, national, or international and should include investigators from diverse organizations. Inclusion of new researchers, postdocs, graduate students, and undergraduates is encouraged.

Specific efforts to increase participation of underrepresented groups (women, minorities, persons with disabilities) must be described. The initial network of likely participants should be identified, with mechanisms to maintain openness and promote participation by others outside the initial group.

Coordination/management mechanism: The proposal should include a clearly defined management plan outlining the roles and responsibilities of the PI and steering committee. The plan should specify fund allocation, including support for the steering committee. It should allow flexibility as membership and network foci evolve.

Mechanisms for assessing progress and effectiveness of networking activities should be included. Information and material sharing: Proposals should clearly define rights to ideas, data, and materials generated by the award. Infrastructure supporting communication and collaboration should be described.

For community resources (e.g., databases, unique materials), the proposal should include plans for timely release, sharing beyond RCN members, and long-term maintenance without assuming continued NSF support. Details must be included in the Data Management Plan, a required Supplementary Document. International participation: NSF encourages international collaboration.

Many RCNs will include participants, including steering committee members, from outside the US. International collaboration should strengthen project activities. NSF funds predominantly support US participants; international participants should seek support from their own funding organizations.

NSF funds may not support expenses of international scientists or students at their home institutions.

NSF funds may be used for: Travel expenses for US scientists and students participating in exchange visits integral to the RCN project RCN-related expenses for international partners to participate in networking activities while in the US In addition to the RCN-specific guidance above, RCN-UBE proposals should also address how the network will: evaluate and assess the network, its activities, and its products; engage its partners, grow, evolve and be sustained; identify metrics and contribute to infrastructure beyond traditional products (such as papers); and develop and maintain a website for dissemination of RCN activities.

Estimated Number of Awards: 8 to 12; varies across disciplinary research programs and RCN tracks. Anticipated Funding Amount: $6,500,000 to $8,000,000, pending availability of appropriations. Past RCN-UBE awards can be found on the RCN program page at: https://www.

nsf. gov/funding/pgm_summ. jsp?

pims_id=11691 . 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. There are no restrictions or limits. Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization: There are no restrictions or limits.

Limit on Number of Proposals per PI or co-PI: An individual may be listed as a PI or co-PI on no more than one full proposal. This restriction does not apply to incubator proposals. Additional Eligibility Info: Although the research coordination networks are expected to be multi-organizational, a single organization must serve as the lead and all other organizations as subawardees.

Organizations ineligible to submit to this program solicitation may not receive subawards. If they are part of the proposed network, their participation is expected to be supported by non-NSF sources. 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. C. 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. Proposers interested in submitting RCN-UBE proposals are strongly encouraged to contact the appropriate NSF program prior to proposal submission for guidance and to determine project suitability for a network approach.

An informative title for the proposed project, that begins with "RCN-UBE:", or "RCN-UBE Incubator:" as appropriate, must be provided. For proposals with an international dimension, the country or countries involved should be reported on the cover sheet. Entries on the Cover Sheet are limited to the principal investigator and a maximum of 4 co-principal investigators .

Additional senior personnel on the steering committee should be listed in the Overview section of the Project Summary page. These other senior personnel should also be entered as Senior Investigators; this allows their Biographical Sketches and Current and Pending Support statements to be included in the FastLane proposal.

Project Summary (1 page): May not be more than one page in length, and must include the following sections labeled as they are here: Overview that includes a description of the proposed RCN-UBE theme, activities and objectives, and a listing of each of the steering committee members along with their home organizations.

Intellectual Merit of the proposed RCN-UBE project, indicating how it will advance biology education and the integration of education and research. Broader Impacts of the proposed work, including mechanisms for actively promoting participation by all interested parties.

Project Description (Full proposals maximum length 15 pages, Incubator proposals maximum length 8 pages): All RCN-UBE proposals must describe the objectives, rationale, specific networking activities, network management, coordination, participant diversity and other special features stated in Section II above and as described below within the project description.

All major organizational collaborations should be described and justified in terms of how each serves the needs or enhances the goals of the network. Note: Incubator proposals should have abbreviated Management, Coordination, and Evaluation plans. The following exceptions and additional items should be noted: If a section is not applicable, please include the section and then state 'not applicable'.

"Results from Prior Support" need not be included unless the proposed activity is clearly a logical extension of an activity supported by NSF, in which case describe (up to 5 pages to be counted within the 15-page limit) the prior activity and how it relates to the proposed activity. The remaining sections below must be included in the project description. Increasing Diversity.

A research coordination network benefits from the voices and experiences of investigators from underrepresented groups (women, underrepresented minorities, and persons with disabilities), early-career investigators, and investigators from different types of organizations.

The proposal should include: (1) how the plans for increasing diversity are integrated within the proposed project plan; (2) a well-designed plan to increase participation of members of under-represented groups that is specific to the proposed project; (3) a plan to involve investigators at a variety of institution types; and (4) if applicable, a plan to include different faculty employment streams (e. g.

adjunct faculty members, faculty on 2 or 3-year contracts), post-docs, and students. Management plan. Mechanisms for allocating funds, such as support for the work of the steering committee, should be clearly articulated.

The PI should include formal mechanisms to ensure fair and equitable allocation of group resources. The procedures used for the selection of initial network participants, the plans for maintaining an appropriate degree of openness and for continually encouraging the involvement of additional interested parties should be clearly delineated.

The plan should include provisions for flexibility to allow the structure of the participant group to change over time as membership and the network's foci evolve. There may be an advisory committee. If one is included, the members, roles and responsibilities of the advisory committee should be clearly articulated.

Means for self-evaluation of progress toward the network goals should be presented as an important part of the management plan. Coordination Plan: PIs are strongly encouraged to communicate and interact with other established networks.

If the proposed network will interface with an established network or group, or if there is a similar activity being planned or ongoing, the plans for coordination and cooperation among the relevant networks must be described in detail. Incubator proposals must also determine whether there are similar existing activities to what they are proposing.

PIs are encouraged to do a search of funded NSF RCN-UBE projects to help identify other networks to connect with. For more information on funded NSF RCN-UBE projects, see https://www. nsf.

gov/awardsearch/simpleSearchResult? queryText=RCN-UBE . Evaluation and Assessment Plans.

An appropriate evaluation plan should be included for all projects, along with project personnel dedicated to the evaluation of project activities. The metrics used to measure success toward the goals of the project (both Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts) should be identified and the process for their collection and evaluation provided.

The assessment plan should detail the ways in which the network activities and products will be assessed. For all full proposals, evaluation and assessment plans must be conducted by an external evaluator who is unaffiliated with the network. For incubator proposals, evaluation activities may be conducted by an evaluator internal to any of the steering committee members' institutions.

For both cases, a brief description of the qualifications of the evaluator is required. Note that none of the members of the steering committee can serve as the evaluator. Sustainability.

For all full proposals, the PI must provide details on how the project will be sustained beyond the life of the award. The PI should include strategies to advance the expansion and sustainability of the network such as pursuing funding sources within and beyond NSF. Broader Impacts.

In accordance with the guidance in the PAPPG, all proposals must have a separate section labeled "Broader Impacts". Networks that adopt best practices to increase the participation of underrepresented groups in biological sciences are encouraged. Activities that promote broadening impacts, such as targeted professional development and/or the creation, use and aggregation of appropriate materials may also be proposed.

Other submission instructions: Budget. Provide yearly budgets for the duration of the proposed project. When subawards are involved, yearly budgets are required for each subaward.

Research. gov or Grants. gov will generate cumulative budgets for the lead and subaward organizations.

A budget justification of no more than five pages for the lead organization and for each subaward organization is required. Organizations ineligible to submit to this program solicitation may not receive subawards. If they are part of the proposed network, their participation is expected to be supported by non-NSF sources.

Allowable costs for international collaboration are described in Section V. Program Description. Funds may be requested to promote collaborative activities, such as sharing of unique facilities, establishment of a public web site and learning community, network retreats, support of workshops uniquely tied to the network activities, etc. Any well-justified activity that fulfills the goals of the Program will be considered.

Innovative ideas for implementing novel networking strategies to promote collaborations and enable new directions or advancement of a field are especially encouraged. Funds from this program may not support independent, individual research projects of the participants; nor are they to be used as a mechanism for a mini-grant awarding program .

RCN-UBE proposals should provide resources for the full involvement of steering committee members from under-resourced institution(s). To adequately support these individuals, funds should be allocated to ensure their equitable participation in the network (i.e., the purchase of instructional materials for their home institution, access to library facilities and other services).

Note that funds requested to support activities of the network participants, such as participant travel, materials and supplies for the network projects, and network retreats should be