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Office of Research Development

Former Program Officer Talks

The Office of Research Development invites all faculty to the first three presentations in its Speaker Series, which will be of interest to faculty seeking insider perspectives on the National Science Foundation (NSF). The speakers are all Clemson faculty who are former NSF program officers.

Speakers

  • Dr. Laura Stanley: Demystifying the Funding Process at NSF
    Laura Stanley

    Dr. Laura M. Stanley
    Associate Professor, Department of Industrial Engineering
    Former NSF Program Director, CISE Directorate

    Date & Time: 
    Wednesday, November 15, 2017, 11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

    Venue:           
    Les McCraw Room, 132 Fluor Daniel Engineering Innovation Building

    Dr. Stanley recently served as a program director for the Cyber-Human Systems group in the Computer & Information Science & Engineering (CISE) directorate at NSF. She will give a general overview of the NSF structure with a brief description of directorates, divisions, and programs and how to find an appropriate home for your research. She will also explain different mechanisms available for funding such as EAGER and RAPID and address how solicitations such as Dear Colleague Letters (DCLs) come to be and keys to responding to those types of funding mechanisms.

    Presentation

    Demystifying the Funding Process at NSF

    Video

  • Dr. Cindy Lee: Positioning Yourself To Become an NSF Program Officer
    Cindy Lee

    Dr. Cindy Lee
    Professor, Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences
    Chair, Department of Engineering and Science Education
    Former NSF Program Manager, Engineering Directorate

    Date & Time:   
    Wednesday, February 7, 2018, 11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

    Venue:            
    Case Study Room, 118 Academic Success Center

    Dr. Cindy Lee served as the manager of the Environmental Sustainability program in NSF’s Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental and Transport Systems from 2006 to 2007. Her presentation focuses on the value of serving as an NSF rotator and how to chart a course that will lead to becoming a program officer.

    Presentation

    Becoming a NSF Program Ofiicer

  • Dr. Chris Paredis: How to Become a Successful NSF Principal Investigator
    Chris Paradis

    Dr. Chris Paredis
    Professor, Department of Automotive Engineering
    Former NSF Program Director, Engineering Directorate

    Date & Time:   
    Wednesday, March 14, 2018, 11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

    Venue:
    Case Study Room, 118 Academic Success Center 

    From 2014–2016, Dr. Paredis served at the National Science Foundation as a program director in the Division of Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation, where he was responsible for programs in the area of Engineering Design and Systems Engineering (EDSE). In this presentation, he will share his experiences as program director and translate them into concrete steps you can take toward becoming a (more) successful principal investigator. Topics will include: how to become part of the NSF “system,” how best to interact with your NSF program director(s), how to frame your research ideas into a winning NSF proposal, understanding the NSF review and decision process, and how best to get feedback when your NSF proposal is declined.

    Presentation

    How to Become a Successful NSF Principal Investigator

    Video