Dear CISE community.

As 2024 ends, it is with mixed emotions that I share Michael Littman, the U.S. National Science Foundation Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (NSF CISE) division director for Information and Intelligent Systems (IIS) has been appointed the inaugural Associate Provost for Artificial Intelligence at Brown University. The search for a new IIS division director is now underway. For details, please refer to the "Career opportunities" section of this newsletter and share this opportunity with your colleagues and networks.

Since joining NSF CISE in 2022, Michael has been an exceptional voice in the principal investigator and academic communities, championing the AI revolution and highlighting NSF's pivotal role in driving innovation in emerging technologies that profoundly impact our lives. His wisdom, expertise, charisma and approachability have made complex ideas about CISE’s mission and research relatable, illustrating the relevance of our work and its tangible presence in the technologies we rely on every day.

While Michael’s departure from CISE in the summer of 2025 will be deeply felt, we are excited about the contributions he will undoubtedly make in his new role. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with him, united by the shared goal of advancing impactful technologies that shape our world for the better.

I am also thrilled to announce the publication of the NSF Security, Privacy, and Trust in Cyberspace (NSF SaTC 2.0) solicitation. This new program re-envisions the high-level goals of NSF's flagship Secure and Trustworthy Cyberspace (NSF SaTC) program in the context of the current and future cyber ecosystem. Over the last decade, the impact of NSF SaTC-funded research in addressing problems of national and societal importance has been outstanding, and we expect to continue to enable these impactful advances in this new program. The NSF SaTC 2.0 effort, which was initiated in 2022, is informed by multiple community-driven workshop reports and interagency strategic plans and roadmaps.

SaTC 2.0 supports interdisciplinary research that addresses not just the properties of computer systems and data but the many elements of our complex cyber ecosystem, and with richer and interrelated notions of trust and deeper integration of new technologies, applications, social contexts and understanding of human behavior.

Last but not least, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recently released the 2024 Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Work report. Requested under the 2021 "National Defense Authorization Act," the report provides an in-depth look at how AI is transforming the workforce and the challenges and opportunities it presents. As I read its findings, I reflected about the vital role our community plays in ensuring this transformation benefits everyone.

The report reminds us of the broader challenges we face. As AI continues to advance, we must ask ourselves: How can we ensure its benefits are distributed equitably? How can we create AI systems that are trustworthy? As researchers and innovators, we are uniquely positioned to address many of these challenges. Whether it’s developing AI systems that are more transparent and accountable, exploring how these technologies interact with the labor market or designing educational tools to prepare the next generation of talent, our work will shape the trajectory of this transformation.

The future of work and building trust in our digital ecosystems are deeply intertwined. As we navigate these complex challenges and opportunities, your contributions as researchers, educators and innovators are more critical than ever.

Thank you for your continued dedication to advancing knowledge and innovation. We look forward to seeing your contributions to these transformative efforts.

I wish you and your families a happy and safe holiday season.

Greg Hager
Assistant Director for CISE

Funding Opportunities and Deadlines

NSF Safety, Security, and Privacy of Open-Source Ecosystems.

Supports projects that enhance the safety, security, and privacy characteristics of the open-source product and its supply chain.

Preliminary proposal deadlines:

January 14, 2025.

Full proposal deadline:

April 22, 2025.

NSF Security, Privacy, and Trust in Cyberspace.

Supports interdisciplinary research and education to develop a secure, resilient and trustworthy global cyber ecosystem by addressing vulnerabilities, improving trust in cyber systems and cultivating a well-trained cybersecurity workforce.

Proposals accepted anytime with first target submission date: September 29, 2025.

NSF Pathways to Enable Open-Source Ecosystems.

Supports new managing organizations to catalyze distributed, community-driven development and growth of open-source ecosystems.

Full proposal deadlines:

January 14, 2025. Phase 1 proposals.

September 2, 2025. Phase 1 and 2 proposals.

NSF Quantum Leap Challenge Institutes.

Supports large-scale interdisciplinary research projects focused on advancing quantum information science, engineering and technology through collaboration, education and innovation, as part of the National Quantum Initiative.

Letter of intent deadline:

February 7, 2025.

Preliminary proposal deadline:

March 7, 2025.

Dear Colleague Letter: NSF-led National AI Research Resource Pilot seeks datasets to facilitate AI education and researcher skill development.

Seeks datasets to help researchers and educators build AI skills in classrooms, workshops, and other learning environments, supporting the growth of the nation’s AI workforce.

Submission deadline:

February 7, 2025.

NSF Civic Innovation Challenge.

Supports planning and implementation of community-university partnerships for significant near-term impacts in one of two focus areas: building climate-resilient communities and bridging the gap between essential resources and services and community needs.

Full proposal deadline:

March 3, 2025.

Dear Colleague Letter: Supplemental Funding Requests to Conduct Experimental Research on the NSF-funded Platforms for Advanced Wireless Research.

Supports supplemental funding requests for active research awards to conduct experimental research on NSF-funded Platforms for Advanced Wireless Research program.

Deadline:

Supplemental funding requests may be submitted at any time. However, the deadline for submission for consideration in a fiscal year is June 15 of that year. 

Dear Colleague Letter: Planning Grants to Create Artificial Intelligence-Ready Test Beds.

Supports planning grants designed to develop AI-ready test beds that researchers can use to test AI methods in real-world settings.

Dear Colleague Letter: Supporting Foundational Research in Robotics (FRR).

This joint effort between NSF and the United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture advances foundational research in agricultural robotics. 

Dear Colleague Letter: NAIRR Pilot Expansion: Researcher Training, Community Outreach, and Classroom Education.

Calls for proposals that expand the NAIRR Pilot community under two different focus areas: community outreach and training, and inclusive AI educational experiences in classrooms. 

News & Announcements

The competition empowering and transforming U.S. communities. The NSF CIVIC program demonstrates that it's possible to accelerate the process of connecting communities with cutting-edge research by fostering collaboration.

The Year in Computer Science. Researchers got a better look at the thoughts of chatbots, amateurs learned exactly how complicated simple systems can be, and quantum computers passed an essential milestone.

Brown names Michael Littman inaugural associate provost for AI. Michael Littman, CISE division director for Information and Intelligent Systems, has been appointed as Brown University's inaugural Associate Provost for Artificial Intelligence. In this new role, he will lead AI policies and priorities to advance the university's AI initiatives.

NITRD NCO announces Kirk Dohne as deputy director. Kirk Dohne joins the National Coordination Office for the Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Program as deputy director, bringing extensive leadership expertise from the National Institute of Standards and Technology in advanced technology, cybersecurity and resilient infrastructure.

AI & Education Workforce. Join NSF experts and members of various government agencies for a discussion on how federal agencies are teaming up to educate and empower the next generation of AI researchers.

Researchers call for sustainable governance as groundwater resources become scarce. Researchers from the NSF Institute for Geospatial Understanding through an Integrative Discovery Environment project are investigating groundwater depletion in the Western U.S., emphasizing the global ripple effects of local water policies, such as potential shifts in agricultural production.

Framework for Considering Data Infrastructure and Interconnectivity in Research and Development Infrastructure Projects. This report provides a framework comprising key questions to ask when planning and upgrading data infrastructure for large science facilities and collaborations. It also highlights key challenges and encourages collaboration on data sharing and interoperability.

Events

NAIRR Pilot Data DCL Webinar.

This webinar will review the Dear Colleague Letter: National AI Research Resource (NAIRR) Pilot seeks datasets to facilitate AI education and researcher skill development.

January 8, 2025. 1-2 p.m.

2025 NSF CC* PI Workshop.

Join us for the NSF 2025 Campus Cyberinfrastructure PI Workshop, co-located with The Quilt Winter Member Meeting, February 3, 2025, at Tempe Mission Palms Hotel, Tempe, AZ.

February 3-5, 2025.

Distinguished Lecture: Breakthrough Technological Innovations and AI-Integrated Solutions for Complex Societal Challenges.

Ilkay Altintas, Ph.D., chief data science officer at the San Diego Supercomputer Center, University of California, San Diego, will highlight the transformative potential of advanced cyberinfrastructure and AI in fostering collaborative, interdisciplinary solutions to complex societal challenges.

February 27, 2025. 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

Career Opportunities

Computer Scientist (Program Director)

NSF Division of Computing and Communication Foundations.

Closes February 10, 2025.

Division Director

Division of Information and Intelligent Systems.

Closes March 18, 2025.

IPA application link: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/824485800.

SES Limited Term application link: https://www.usajobs.gov/job/824486700.

Program Director (Information Integration and Informatics)

IPA assignment.

NSF Division of Information and Intelligent Systems.

Open until filled.

Computer Scientist (Program Directors)

IPA assignment.

NSF Division of Computing and Communication Foundations.

Open until filled.

Computer Scientist (Program Director)

NSF Division of Computing and Communication Foundations.

Open until filled.

CISE Units

Division of Computer and Network Systems (CNS)
Supports research and education in computer systems and networks, hardware and software systems, future-generation computing and communication systems, cyber-physical systems, and secure and trustworthy cyberspace.

Division of Computing and Communication Foundations (CCF)
Supports research and education in mathematical, scientific and technological foundations of computing communication, hardware, software, and emerging technologies.