Understanding the Rules of Life: Microbiome Interactions and Mechanisms (URoL:MIM)

Understanding the Rules of Life: Microbiome Interactions and Mechanisms (URoL:MIM) is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF). This program encourages interdisciplinary proposals to understand the interactions and mechanisms that govern the structure and function of microbiomes. It seeks to develop causal frameworks and test hypotheses about relationships within the microbiome and among the microbiome, host, and environment.

NSF 21-534: Understanding the Rules of Life: Microbiome Interactions and Mechanisms (URoL:MIM) | 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 21-534: Understanding the Rules of Life: Microbiome Interactions and Mechanisms (URoL:MIM) Posted: November 25, 2020 Download the solicitation (PDF, 0. 8mb) National Science Foundation Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p. m.

submitter's local time): Important Information And Revision Notes The program name has been changed from "Understanding the Rules of Life: Microbiome Theory and Mechanisms (URoL:MTM)" to "Understanding the Rules of Life: Microbiome Interactions and Mechanisms (URoL:MIM)". The two tracks of the previous solicitation have been combined into one supporting projects with budgets up to $3,000,000 for a duration of up to 5 years.

Letters of Intent are no longer required. Any proposal submitted in response to this solicitation should be submitted in accordance with the revised NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) ( NSF 20-1 ), which is effective for proposals submitted, or due, on or after June 1, 2020.

Summary Of Program Requirements Understanding the Rules of Life: Microbiome Interactions and Mechanisms (URoL:MIM) In 2016, the National Science Foundation (NSF) unveiled a set of "Big Ideas," 10 bold, long-term research and process ideas that identify areas for future investment at the frontiers of science and engineering (see https://www. nsf. gov/news/special_reports/big_ideas/index.

jsp ). The Big Ideas represent unique opportunities to position our Nation at the cutting edge of global science and engineering by bringing together diverse disciplinary perspectives to support convergence research.

As such, when responding to this solicitation, even though proposals must be submitted to the Division of Emerging Frontiers in the Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO/EF), once received, the proposals will be managed by a cross-disciplinary team of NSF Program Directors. Understanding the Rules of Life (URoL): Predicting Phenotype is one of NSF's 10 Big Ideas ( https://www. nsf.

gov/news/special_reports/big_ideas ) and is focused on predicting the set of observable characteristics (phenotypes) based on the genetic makeup of the individual and the nature of its environment. The Understanding the Rules of Life: Microbiome Interactions and Mechanisms (URoL:MIM) program is an integrative collaboration across several Directorates and Offices within the National Science Foundation.

The objective of URoL:MIM is to understand interactions and mechanisms that govern the structure and function of microbiomes. By integrating the wide range of accumulated data and information on microbiome structure and function, new causal models of interactions and interdependencies across scales and systems can be generated.

Elucidating these relationships will inform our understanding of the Rules of Life – the theoretical constructs and models that explain and predict the emergent characteristics of living systems, as seen in the robustness, resilience, and adaptability of the individual organisms, populations, and communities. We define a microbiome as a collection of different microbes in a specific habitat.

This may include non-host-associated microbiomes and host-associated microbiomes, such as those in humans and other organisms, where i) the microbiome impacts host physiology, behavior, development, and fitness; ii) the host influences the metabolic activity, dynamics and evolution of the microbiome, and iii) the environment (biological, chemical, physical, and social) influences and is influenced by both the host and the microbiome.

The URoL:MIM program invites integrated, interdisciplinary proposals that create new knowledge in multiple disciplines to develop causal frameworks with well-designed scientific and/or computational approaches to test hypotheses about the relationships within the microbiome, and among the microbiome, the host, and the environment.

Projects may develop new computational, mathematical, or experimental tools, and models, to: i) explain function and interactions in natural, experimental, and model microbiomes; ii) elucidate the chemical and molecular mechanisms that underlie communication between the host and the microbiome and among the members of the microbiome; and/or iii) comparatively analyze characteristics of microbiomes to discover emergent properties that provide insight into the behavior of living systems.

Successful projects will contribute to a portfolio of research that identifies general principles ("rules") that underlie a wide spectrum of biological phenomena across different spatial, complexity (e.g., molecular, cellular, organismal, population), and/or temporal scales (from sub-second to geologic).

URoL:MIM projects must be novel and innovative in more than one discipline (e.g., biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, geology, mathematics, physics, social and behavioral sciences). They must also incorporate best practices regarding protocol documentation, sample selection, data collection and analysis, as well as data sharing and accessibility.

URoL:MIM projects must provide workforce development and/or innovative undergraduate or graduate education opportunities that increase the pipeline for MIM in higher education and train the next generation of microbiome scientists. Projects should benefit society through engagement of the public and/or enhancement of K-12 STEM education. URoL:MIM supports basic science research projects of different scales and scope.

Projects may have a total budget of up to $3,000,000 and an award duration of up to 5 years. 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.

Catalina Achim, MPS, telephone: (703) 292-2048, email: microbiome@nsf. gov Robert Mayes, EHR, telephone: (703) 292-7267, email: microbiome@nsf. gov Mamta Rawat, BIO, telephone: (703) 292-7265, email: microbiome@nsf.

gov Karl J. Rockne, ENG, telephone: (703) 292-5356, email: microbiome@nsf. gov Christopher Sanford, telephone: (703) 292-7512,email: microbiome@nsf.

gov Michael E. Sieracki, GEO, telephone: (703) 292-7585, email: microbiome@nsf. gov Sylvia J.

Spengler, CISE, telephone: (703) 292-8930, email: microbiome@nsf. gov Applicable Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s): 47. 049 --- Mathematical and Physical Sciences 47.

070 --- Computer and Information Science and Engineering 47. 074 --- Biological Sciences 47. 075 --- Social Behavioral and Economic Sciences 47.

076 --- Education and Human Resources 47. 079 --- Office of International Science and Engineering 47. 083 --- Office of Integrative Activities (OIA) Anticipated Type of Award: Standard Grant or Continuing Grant Estimated Number of Awards: 4 to 8 Anticipated Funding Amount: $12,000,000 to $15,000,000 Contingent upon availability of funds.

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: 1 An individual may appear as Principal Investigator (PI) co-PI, or Senior Personnel on only one proposal submitted in response to this solicitation. If an individual is listed as PI, co-PI, or Senior Personnel on more than one proposal to this solicitation, all proposals received after the first submission involving the individual will be returned without review.

Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions A. Proposal Preparation Instructions Letters of Intent: Not required Preliminary Proposal Submission: Not required Full Proposals submitted via FastLane: 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 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): 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. It is now well-established that microbiomes are widespread on earth and play important roles in shaping the function of ecosystems.

Microbiomes are living systems that are an essential part of organisms and provide additional genomes that contribute to the phenotype of the host organisms. Large scale projects such as the Human Microbiome Project and the Earth Microbiome Project have cataloged microbes and identified specific correlations among microbes, the host, and/or the environment.

A grand challenge is to move beyond this descriptive, correlative research to establish explanatory and predictive relationships between and among the members of the microbiome, the host, and the environment.

A conceptual framework of the microbiome that accounts for chemical, physical, physiological, structural, ecological, and evolutionary mechanisms underlying the function of microbiomes, and the interaction of the microbiome with the environment is necessary. In the case of host-associated microbiomes, understanding the host-microbiome association and the interactions among the microbiome, host, and the environment is needed.

How these complex interactions give rise to emergent properties of/in host-associated and non-host-associated microbiomes is also of major importance. Understanding these mechanisms will have significant benefits to society, including increased agricultural production, bio-economic advances, improved human health and well-being, and stronger and more resilient protection from national security threats, among many others.

URoL:MIM is a cross-directorate program of the National Science Foundation that aims to foster the understanding of mechanistic relationships within and among the microbiome, the host (if any), and the environment.

The URoL:MIM program portfolio will support projects that collectively cross levels of complexity (e.g., molecular, cellular, organismal, population), span spatial and temporal scales (from sub-second to geologic), and address interactions with taxa from anywhere within the tree of life, including humans. The interdisciplinary focus of URoL:MIM requires the advancement of knowledge in more than one discipline.

This includes development of novel experimental methods, comparative approaches integrating knowledge from different areas, predictive modeling, new mathematical, computational, and data science approaches, and integrated multi-disciplinary education and/or outreach activities that foster workforce development.

Investigators wishing to inquire about the suitability of potential projects for URoL:MIM are encouraged to email a one-page summary with rationale, specific research objectives, intellectual merit, and broader impacts to microbiome@nsf. gov .

The URoL:MIM program defines a microbiome as a community of microorganisms with more than one type of organism, including bacteria, archaea, fungi, protists, and viruses that inhabit a particular habitat. The habitat can be a living host or a particular environment, broadly defined to include the biological, chemical, physical, and/or social state, settings, or conditions.

The URoL:MIM Program is focused on the causal and mechanistic understanding of the structure and function of these microbiomes and the connections, interactions, and interdependencies within and among the microbiome, the host, and the environment (biological, chemical, physical, and social).

The major objective of URoL:MIM is to develop an integrated understanding of how microbiome organisms communicate and interact with each other, with their hosts, and with their environments, across various spatial and temporal scales. This includes mechanisms underlying how the microbiome affects the phenotypes of organisms and their robustness, resilience, and adaptability.

How the underlying relationships among the microbiomes, hosts, and physical, social, and built environments ultimately emerge as properties that affect phenotype of the microbiome, the host, or both is of interest.

The URoL:MIM program includes participation from the Directorates for Biological Sciences (BIO), Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE), Education and Human Resources (EHR), Engineering (ENG), Geosciences (GEO), Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS), Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (SBE), and the Office of Integrative Activities (OIA) at the National Science Foundation.

The goal of the program is to foster crosscutting, interdisciplinary science that integrates perspectives and research approaches from multiple directorates and offices. Projects must give rise to novel science in more than one discipline.

The URoL:MIM strongly encourages research to i) identify causal relationships among members of the microbiome, and among the microbiome, host (if any), and the environment; ii) investigate how these relationships affect the robustness and adaptability of organisms and communities; and iii) determine how these interactions affect the observable characteristics of the environment and vice versa.

Many basic research opportunities could lead to new understanding of the interactions between members of the microbiome, between microbiomes and the environment, between microbiomes and their hosts, and among microbiomes, hosts, and the environment.

The projects considered by the program could address, but are not restricted to, the following topics: The development of innovative biological, chemical, physical, engineering, computational, mathematical/statistical, and social science approaches to understand the molecular mechanisms that underlie the communication among the microorganisms in a microbiome and between the microbiome and the host New combination of approaches, including biological, chemical, physical, engineering, computational, mathematical/statistical, and social science methods, to understand scale-invariant principles as well as temporal and spatial variation in microbiome structure and function Leveraging novel engineering, mathematical/statistical, and computational approaches to understand the ecology and evolution of microorganisms in microbiomes and the co-evolution of microorganisms, environment, and host The development of innovative data science and control theory approaches to understand functional redundancy and the role it may play in microbiome diversity and resiliency to changing environmental conditions New biological, chemical, physical, computational, engineering, and/or social networking approaches to understand and predict how a host's genetic composition, physiology, and/or behavior influence the genetics, physiology, and behavior of the microbiome and vice versa Novel socio-technical approaches to understand the nature and function of microbiome-brain-behavior relationships in humans and other species New models and cross-disciplinary approaches to understand, predict, and control how horizontal gene transfer affects the function and evolution of microbiomes and/or hosts The development of novel experimental model or synthetic microbiomes in defined and controlled environments to elucidate microbiome structure and function Comparative analysis of microbiomes using novel methods of analysis of existing microbiome, host and environmental data in order to develop novel models and elucidate relationships among the microbiome, the host, and the environment The URoL:MIM program also strongly encourages inclusion of research in pedagogy, curriculum development, and broadening participation that accelerates the pace of microbiome science and workforce development, as a complement to the proposal's research on microbiome interactions and mechanisms.

Research projects that stress workforce development, integrate training and outreach activities in their research plan, provide interdisciplinary training opportunities, develop novel teaching modules, and/or provide explicit plans to integrate primarily undergraduate institutions and broaden participation of under-represented groups in science are also encouraged.

Successful research is expected to develop causal frameworks and to employ experimental and/or computational approaches to increase our understanding of microbiomes. Successful projects are anticipated to have compelling validation and verification plans for the models or methods of analysis in the proposed research.

The Project Description must include clear statements on: How the research will lead to generalizable concepts that can be applied to systems beyond the microbiome of study. The use of interdisciplinary approaches that develop new science in more than one research discipline (e.g. biology, chemistry, physics, computer science, engineering, mathematics, social and behavioral sciences, education).

Reproducibility and replicability of sample collection and preparation, experimental design, data analysis, model generation, and/or validation of mathematical and computational methods. Proposals must align with or advance community best practices to produce scientifically defensible results. Workforce development as part of the intellectual merit and/or broader impacts.

Investigators are encouraged to develop collaborations with researchers with complementary expertise to facilitate an interdisciplinary approach to address the overarching research question(s). Proposals that fall within the purview of other federal granting agencies such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Department of Energy (DOE), and others are discouraged.

Projects that would be supported normally through regular core programs of the participating NSF Directorates and Offices are also discouraged. Proposals that are not responsive to this solicitation or that fall outside the purview of NSF will be returned without review, as described in the Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide Introduction, A. About the National Science Foundation ( https://www.

nsf. gov/pubs/policydocs/pappg20_1/index. jsp#A ): "Research with disease-related goals, including work on the etiology, diagnosis, or treatment of physical or mental disease, abnormality, or malfunction in human beings or animals, is normally not supported.

Animal models of such conditions or the development or testing of drugs or other procedures for their treatment also are not eligible for support. However, research in bioengineering or information technology with diagnosis- or treatment-related goals that applies engineering or computer science principles to problems in biology and medicine while advancing engineering or computer science knowledge is eligible for support.

Bioengineering and assistive information technology research to aid persons with disabilities also is eligible." Research on microbiomes related to organism dysfunction in an ecological context will be considered. URoL:MIM provides support for projects with a total budget (including indirect costs) of up to $3,000,000 and award duration of up to 5 years.

Projects are required to submit a Student Training Plan and Management Plan as part of Supplementary Documentation. International collaborators are encouraged to seek support from their respective funding organizations.

Funding guidelines for involving international collaborators allow the following expenses to be included in the NSF budget: Travel expenses for U.S. scientists and students participating in exchange visits integral to the project. Project-related expenses for international partners to engage in research activities while in the U.S. as project participants.

Project-related expenses for U.S. participants to engage in research activities while abroad. The Program estimates a Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 budget of $12,000,000 to $15,000,000 and expects to make 4-8 awards. 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: 1 An individual may appear as Principal Investigator (PI) co-PI, or Senior Personnel on only one proposal submitted in response to this solicitation. If an individual is listed as PI, co-PI, or Senior Personnel on more than one proposal to this solicitation, all proposals received after the first submission involving the individual will be returned without review. 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 FastLane, Research. gov, or Grants.

gov. Full proposals submitted via FastLane: Proposals submitted in response to this program solicitation should be prepared and submitted in accordance with the general guidelines contained in the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & 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 . Proposers are reminded to identify this program solicitation number in the program solicitation block on the NSF Cover Sheet For Proposal to the National Science Foundation.

Compliance with this requirement is critical to determining the relevant proposal processing guidelines. Failure to submit this information may delay processing. 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 . In determining which method to utilize in the electronic preparation and submission of the proposal, please note the following: Collaborative Proposals.

All collaborative proposals submitted as separate submissions from multiple organizations must be submitted via FastLane or Research. gov. PAPPG Chapter II. D.

3 provides additional information on collaborative proposals. 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.

Special instructions for submitting to this Big Idea solicitation FastLane Users : Proposers are reminded to identify the program solicitation number (located on the first page of this document) in the first block on the NSF Cover Sheet. Compliance with this requirement is critical to determining the relevant proposal processing guidelines.

Please note that even though proposals must be submitted to BIO/EF, once received the proposals will be managed by a cross-disciplinary team of NSF Program Directors. Research. gov Users : The Prepare New Proposal setup will prompt you for the program solicitation number (located on the first page of this document).

Compliance with this requirement is critical to determining the relevant proposal processing guidelines. As stated previously, even though proposals must be submitted to BIO/EF, once received the proposals will be managed by a cross-disciplinary team of NSF Program Directors. Grants.

gov Users : The program solicitation number will be pre-populated by Grants. gov on the NSF Grant Application Cover Page, however you will need to locate the Division Code, Program Code, Division Name, and Program Name for the specific solicitation you are applying to by visiting https://www. fastlane.

nsf. gov/pgmannounce. jsp .

As stated previously, even though proposals must be submitted to BIO/EF, once received the proposals will be managed by a cross-disciplinary team of NSF Program Directors. Proposal Preparation Instructions The following information SUPPLEMENTS (not replaces) the guidelines provided in the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG).

Proposal Title: Titles of proposals submitted to URoL:MIM should begin with MIM: followed by a substantive title. When responding to this solicitation, even though proposals must be submitted to the Division of Emerging Frontiers in the Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO/EF), once received, the proposals will be managed by a cross-disciplinary team of NSF Program Directors.

Exception: Proposals led by PIs from Primarily Undergraduate Institutions should be submitted through the RUI/ROA solicitation ( https://www. nsf. gov/funding/pgm_summ.

jsp? pims_id=5518 ) by the deadline for the URoL:MTM program. In addition to the requirements of the RUI program, proposals should follow the guidance in this solicitation.

2.

Project Description (up to 15 pages): For all proposals, the project description must include: A description of how the project integrates and advances knowledge in two or more diverse and complementary (i.e. interdisciplinary) disciplines to further a mechanistic and causal understanding of the structure and function of microbiomes, and the connections, interactions and interdependencies within and among the microbiome, the host, and the environment.

The project description must address how the research leads to generalizable concepts that can be applied to systems beyond the microbiome of study. Reproducibility and replicability in sample and data collection, experimental design and methodology, and data analysis that align with community best practices must be included. Workforce development as part of the intellectual merit and/or broader impacts must be addressed.

Results from Prior NSF Support Please note that per guidance in the PAPPG, the Project Description must contain, as a separate section within the narrative, a section labeled "Broader Impacts". PIs can decide where to include this section within the Project Description. Project Descriptions without this specifically labeled section will be returned without review.

3. Budget : Proposals Requiring Research Facilities: Budgets should include all costs charged to the project for platforms and facilities supporting the proposed research, except those facilities separately supported by NSF (e.g., research aircraft or field equipment).

Principal investigators are responsible for filing the appropriate requests for major research platforms; a copy of the request must be attached as a Supplementary Document. 4. Special Information and Supplementary Documentation : A.

Data Management Plan (up to two pages): Each proposal must include, as a supplementary document, a data management section with the specific details of data standards, accessibility, electronic dissemination, and preservation.

Of particular importance (where applicable) are: plans for data collection and analysis; plans for dissemination of data and archiving; details of collaborative efforts; information about necessary permits; and information about access to resources that are not immediately under the investigator's control (e.g., museum collections, research sites, computing facilities).

Further information about Data Management Plans can be found in the PAPPG . Proposals that do not comply with this requirement will not be accepted or will be returned without review. Data management plans should follow community best practices.

B.

Student Training Plan (up to two pages): The URoL:MTM Program seeks to build a diverse, interdisciplinary, globally engaged, scientific workforce capable of transforming and communicating our understanding of the mechanisms that underlie structure and function of microbiomes (including host-associated microbiomes), the interactions within the microbiome and with the environment and/or host, and the resultant, robustness, and adaptability of organisms, populations, and communities.

Each proposal that requests funding to support undergraduate and/or graduate students should include, as a supplementary document, a description of the training activities that will be provided for such individuals. Training should promote intellectual and methodological cross-fertilization and encourage a systems/integrative perspective towards a mechanistic and causal understanding of the microbiome.

The goal of the Student Training Plan is to prepare students to develop broad hypotheses and to become well versed in all aspects of interdisciplinary microbiome research. This may be accomplished, for example, through lab rotations among PI institutions, cross-training plans, and/or integrative training workshops.

NSF believes that student research experiences have their greatest impact in situations that lead the participants from a relatively dependent status to an independent status as their competence warrants. A training plan should be included that explains the approach, depth and breadth of instruction. The training plan must not exceed two pages.

Proposers should describe specifically how the proposed training plan will enhance the future workforce for the field of interdisciplinary microbiome research and how trainees will be better able to engage in emerging research areas employing newly developing methods and tools. Only one Student Training Plan should be submitted for each project, even if it is a collaborative project. C.

Project Management Plan and Role of Project Personnel (up to two pages): Each proposal must include a detailed management plan describing the role and expertise of each investigator, what each person brings to the project leadership team, reporting relationships, means of communication and interaction among the members of the project team, oversight and accountability mechanisms, metrics to evaluate the success of the project. D.

Letters of Collaboration : If the project involves collaborative arrangements of significance, these arrangements should be documented through letters of collaboration. Letters of collaboration should be limited to stating the intent to collaborate and should not contain endorsements or evaluation of the proposed project.

Letters of collaboration should follow the single-sentence format: "If the proposal submitted by Dr. [insert the full name of the Principal Investigator] entitled [insert the proposal title] is selected for funding by the NSF, it is my intent to collaborate and/or commit resources as detailed in the Project Description or the Facilities, Equipment or Other Resources section of the proposal."

Requests for letters of collaboration should be made by the PI well in advance of the proposal submission deadline, because they must be included at the time of submission. Please note that letters of recommendation for the PI or other letters of support for the project are not permitted. Inclusion of voluntary committed cost sharing is prohibited.

Other Budgetary Limitations: URoL:MIM supports projects with a total budget (including indirect costs) of up to $3,000,000 and award duration of up to 5 years. Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p. m.

submitter's local time): D. FastLane/Research. gov/Grants.

gov Requirements For Proposals Submitted Via FastLane or Research. gov: To prepare and submit a proposal via FastLane, see detailed technical instructions available at: https://www. fastlane.

nsf. gov/a1/newstan. htm .

To prepare and submit a proposal via Research. gov, see detailed technical instructions available