BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

Message from the Assistant Director for Biological Sciences: New Programs Focus on Priorities of Integration, Convergence, and Broadening Participation

Dear Colleagues,

Happy New Year! As we enter into calendar year 2022, we are pleased to announce some new solicitations that will support research that addresses some of our key priorities in the Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO). Three are highlighted below and others are listed in the "Funding Opportunities" section later in this newsletter. 

The newly revised Understanding the Rules of Life: Emergent Networks (URoL:EN) solicitation builds on previous solicitations and awards under NSF's Understanding the Rules of Life Big Idea. The new solicitation supports both this Big Idea and BIO's efforts to integrate within the biological sciences, as well as NSF's efforts to support convergent science. The program will support research to understand “rules of emergence” for networks of living systems and their environments. The often-unanticipated outcomes of these interactions can be both wide-ranging and enormously impactful.

I also want to highlight the Dark Dimensions of the RNA Regulome (D2R2) Ideas Lab, for which preliminary proposals are due January 31, 2022. We are seeking a diverse set of researchers from multiple disciplines spanning biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, computer and information sciences, and engineering, to stimulate generation and execution of innovative research that advances our understanding of the origin, diversity, and functions of non-coding RNAs.

Finally, building off of our successful DCL issued last year, we are proud to announce the new Leading Cultural Change Through Professional Societies of Biology (BIO-LEAPS) solicitation. The program aims to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in biology at scale through culture change by leveraging the leadership, broad reach, and unique ability of professional societies. As we recognize that disciplines and societies may be at different points in assessing and addressing their culture, the program has three tracks -- Evaluation, Design and Plan, and Implementation. I encourage you to check NSF.gov and follow the BIO blogs for opportunities to learn more.

We are seeking two new rotating program officers to support BIO-LEAPS and other BIO programs focused on broadening participation (e.g. RaMP and BRC-BIO): one with experience in diversity, equity, and inclusion, and one with experience in education and training. I encourage you to take a look at the call and either apply or share with those you think may be interested. We will begin reviewing applications on February 17, 2022 and the opportunity will remain open until filled.

Sincerely,

Joanne Tornow
NSF Assistant Director for Biological Sciences

View Highlights from BIO Awardees

Whales are more important ecosystem engineers than previously thought Research conducted by a post-doctoral fellow supported by the Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology program illustrates how the precipitous decline of large marine mammals damaged ocean ecosystems.

Shape-shifting worm blobs could inspire future robot swarms Researchers funded by the Division of Integrative Organismal Systems used physics-based computer models show that collective movement can emerge in blackworm blobs only when conditions are just right.

Physically impaired wild mice survive and thrive Research supported by the Long-term Research in Environmental Biology program calls into question evolutionary biology assumptions.

Using microbes to make carbon neutral fuel Researchers funded by the Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences and using equipment supported by the Division of Biological Infrastructure have discovered a new way to train microbes to make a readily usable biofuel.

Reminder: Share your highlights and outcomes with your Program Officer as soon as possible. We also encourage you to illustrate how an NSF award enabled your work when discussing it publicly and promoting it.

Announcements

Recruiting Opportunity: Biological Science Administrator (Program Director) in the Division of Biological Infrastructure
(Posted December 17, 2021)

Events

January 7, 2022
Webinar: Understanding the Rules of Life: Emerging Networks (URoL:EN) Solicitation (Program Webinar)

January 13, 2022
Bioeconomy Distinguished Lecture Panel cosponsored by BIO and the Office of 
Integrative Activities (OIA) (Distinguished Lecture)

February 3, 2022
Bioeconomy Distinguished Lecture Panel cosponsored by BIO and the Division of Industrial Innovation and Partnerships (IIP) (Distinguished Lecture)

Stay Up-to-date on BIO Funding Opportunities

BIO Core Programs

As a reminder, the core programs in all BIO Divisions accept proposal submissions at any time and have no deadlines. Submissions to these programs must now be made through Research.gov or Grants.gov.

Division of Biological Infrastructure (DBI)

• Infrastructure Innovation for Biological Research (Innovation)
• Infrastructure Capacity for Biological Research (Capacity)
• Sustaining Infrastructure for Biological Research (Sustaining)

Division of Environmental Biology (DEB)

• DEB Core Programs

Division of Integrative Organismal Systems (IOS)

• IOS Core Programs
• Plant Biotic Interactions
• Plant Genome Research Program (PGRP)

Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences (MCB)

• MCB: Investigator-initiated research projects
• Transitions to Excellence in Molecular and Cellular Biosciences Research (Transitions)

Newly released

• Dear Colleague Letter: NSF-DFG Lead Agency Opportunity in Molecular and Cellular Biology
• Dear Colleague Letter: Organismal Systems and Infection Biology (OSIB)
• Understanding the Rules of Life: Emergent Networks (URoL:EN) (Full proposal deadline: March 1, 2022)
• Leading Culture Change through Professional Societies of Biology (BIO-LEAPS) (Full proposal deadline: July 1, 2022)
• Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) (Full proposal deadline: March 23, 2022)

Upcoming Deadlines

• Macrosystems Biology and NEON-Enabled Science (MSB-NES) (Full proposal deadline: January 10, 2022)
• Biology Integration Institutes (BII) (Full proposal deadline: January 12, 2022)
• Research and Mentoring for Postbaccalaureates in Biological Sciences (RaMP) (Full proposal deadline: January 20, 2022)
• Research Coordination Networks in Undergraduate Biology Education (RCN-UBE) (Full proposal deadline: January 25, 2022)
• Integrative Research in Biology (IntBIO) (Full proposal deadline: January 25, 2022)
• Dark Dimensions of the RNA Regulome (D2R2): An Ideas Lab Activity (Preliminary proposal deadline: January 31, 2022)
• Building Research Capacity of New Faculty in Biology (BRC-BIO) (Full proposal window closes: January 31, 2022; Future proposal window June 1-30, 2022)
• Designing Synthetic Cells Beyond the Bounds of Evolution (Designer Cells) (full proposal deadline: February 1, 2022)
• Mid-Career Advancement (MCA) (Full proposal deadline: February 7, 2022)
• Integrative Strategies for Understanding Neural and Cognitive Systems (NCS) (Full proposal deadline: February 14, 2022)
• Enabling Discovery through GEnomics (EDGE) (Full proposal deadline: February 17, 2022)
• Organismal Response to Climate Change (ORCC) (Full proposal deadline: March 1, 2022)
• Biodiversity on a Changing Planet (BoCP) (Full proposal deadline: March 25, 2022)

Check Out More Science Stories

From broader impacts to innovative ways to explain biological science, NSF and the community are communicating the value of fundamental research. Check out these recent stories!

Science Matters: NSF supports researchers through the  COVID-19 pandemic As part of the national effort to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, NSF has been helping scientists, engineers and STEM educators to continue their important work and to get support through these difficult times

Discovery Files Radio Features Several BIO-funded discoveries have been selected for inclusion in NSF's Discovery Files radio features. Click the links below to hear about the various topic. Ray Gun Biology: A team of researchers are using a device resembling a futuristic ray gun to record how different plant leaves on Alaskan mountains reflect light.  Snap! And Just Like That!: Researchers studying the physics of finger snapping have learned that friction plays an intricately important role in the process.

Science Matters: NSF supporting marine mammal science around the world To celebrate the upcoming 50th anniversary of the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act, Science Matters highlights some of the groundbreaking marine mammal science supported by NSF, including by BIO.

NSF: year of discovery and innovation From innovations that improve our lives to unlocking the mysteries of the universe, 2021 was an incredible year for discoveries made possible by support from NSF. Learn more about them, including BIO-supported advances, in this post (and video) from Science Matters.

Connect with BIO: Virtual Office Hours

Each division hosts regular office hours on topics of relevance to the community that provide investigators the opportunity to communicate with and ask questions of program officers. Notices are posted on NSF.gov, and more information is available on each division's blog. 

• Division of Biological Infrastructure - Third Tuesday of each month
  from 3-4 p.m.
• Division of Environmental Biology - Second Monday of each month
  from 1-2 p.m.
• Division of Integrative Organismal Systems - Third Thursday of each 
  month from 1-2 p.m.
• Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences - Second Wednesday 
  of each month from 2-3 p.m.

To get the latest on what’s happening in BIO and learn about announcements, opportunities, upcoming deadlines and more, visit our directorate page.

BIO Divisions

Division of Biological Infrastructure (DBI)
DBI supports development and enhancement of resources for research, human capital, and mid-to-large-scale infrastructure and centers to promote advances in all areas of biological research.

Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences (MCB)
MCB supports quantitative and interdisciplinary approaches to deciphering the molecular underpinnings of complex living systems.

Division of Environmental Biology (DEB)
DEB supports fundamental evolutionary and ecological research on species, populations, communities and ecosystems, across all spatial and temporal scales.

Emerging Frontiers (EF)
EF supports multidisciplinary research opportunities and networking activities that arise from advances in disciplinary research.

Division of Integrative Organismal Systems (IOS)
IOS supports fundamental research aimed at understanding organisms as units of biological organization, encouraging the use of integrative, interdisciplinary approaches to solving complex problems in organismal biology