CEDAR email: intern opportunity at AFRL

Fri Aug 16 08:02:33 MDT 2019

NSF-AF graduate student research training via the INTERN program

Re:   NSF Funding opportunity for graduate students to work in AFRL labs for
6 months

The Air Force and the National Science Foundation have pledged to work
together to train graduate students in order to fortify the nation's science
and engineering workforce of the future. 

As part of this effort we call your attention to the INTERN program. If you
have an active NSF award, you may be eligible for a supplement of up to $55K
to enable you to send a graduate student to conduct research at an AFRL Lab
for up to six months. Almost any NSF PI can apply to the INTERN program, but
AFOSR program communities may be especially appropriate because they often
have many AFRL Lab PIs, many academic PIs funded by both agencies, and a
well-developed network of ties within the community formed via annual review
meetings.

Background:

The Air Force has a renewed focus, outlined in its 2019 Science and
Technology Strategy: Strengthening USAF Science and Technology for 2030 and
Beyond, on training the next generation of scientists who can advance the
Air Force research mission. 

Given that over half of the U.S. S&E professionals work in non-academic
settings, NSF developed the INTERN program to provide non-academic research
experience to graduate students to prepare them for multiple possible career
pathways. NSF has committed funds for this program through FY2020.

The two agencies signed a letter of intent to partner to coordinate mutual
research interests, focusing on four initial areas: space operations and
geosciences, advanced material sciences, information and data sciences, and
workforce and processes. (emphasis added)

Interested?

Please read the INTERN Dear Colleague Letter
(https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf18102 ) carefully
for more details about the Program.

You can talk with your AFOSR PO if you need suggestions for possible AFRL
hosts.

You must talk with your NSF PO before submitting a supplement request.

Remember - mentoring is an important part of this activity, so be sure that
the AFRL Lab host describes mentoring arrangements.

DRAFT  FAQs re NSF-AF graduate student research training via the INTERN
program:

General:

Is there a limit on the number of such supplements that can be made under
the NSF-AF agreement?

The number of supplements will be limited by the available funding at NSF
within the programs where the supplements are submitted; however, the number
of supplements may be limited more by the interests and schedules of the
graduate students, and potentially by the citizenship requirements for
working in AFRL labs.

Must the AFRL Lab scientist be funded by AFOSR in order to host an
INTERN-funded student?

No, there is no such requirement. Rather, the AFRL Lab PIs might be a good
starting point for exploring possible recipient AFRL Labs for graduate
students.

For AFOSR POs:

Can any AFOSR PO send INTERN information to their PIs?

At least for now the Air Force is focusing on using the INTERN mechanism in
research areas covered under the AF-NSF letter of agreement (i.e., space
operations and geosciences, advanced material sciences, and information and
data sciences), in part because in these research communities there is also
considerable funding from NSF and funding of multiple strong Lab Tasks. 

 Does the AFOSR PO have to do the matching?

No. You can let your academic and Lab PIs communicate with each other. You
can play matchmaker if you wish.

Does the AFOSR PO need to talk with the NSF PO?

No, although if you know each other, it might be helpful. This would also
help alert the NSF disciplinary points of contact that such supplement
requests may be forthcoming.  The AFOSR Lab host for the student, however,
will need to provide a letter of commitment to the NSF PI.

For PIs:

NSF usually limits the total supplemental funding available for a project to
20% of the original award. Is this the case for INTERN supplements?

No, the INTERN supplement is not limited to 20% of the original award, nor
does it count towards the 20% limit for other supplements.

Are master's and doctoral students eligible?

This opportunity is open to PIs who are supporting graduate students through
any active NSF award, though there are special conditions in the Directorate
for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE), the Directorate
for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS), and the Office of Integrative
Activities (OIA). Please see the table in the Dear Colleague Letter for the
participating divisions or programs within these organizations and any
special conditions for the supplemental funding requests. 

Julie Moses

Program Officer, Space Science

AFOSR/RTB

875 N Randolph St Suite 3000

Arlington, VA 22203

(703)696-9586

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