In the last Research Weekly Issue, we published NSF’s guidance on the use of AI technology in the NSF Merit Review process. Below is a quick summary of this guidance put together by Michael Littman the Director of NSF’s Division of Information and Intelligent Systems who also wrote the guidance published last week. He wrote this summary to help the research community better understand and remember NSF’s AI guidance.

• Reviewers shouldn’t enter information from proposals into GAI tools. This rule stems from existing rules on confidentiality. Reviewers who enter proposal information into a cloud-hosted GAI system relinquish control over who can access it, and that’s not ok. So, at present, uploading a proposal into a chatbot to get help with reviewing is strictly forbidden.
• Reviewers can apply GAI tools to publicly available information. For example, abstracts of funded proposals are fair game. We could imagine it being useful to generate summaries of publicly released information or quick reminders about scientific topics.
• Proposers can use GAI in the development of the proposals, but they are expected to describe, in the project description, how it was used. This rule stems from existing rules around the inclusion of text in proposals not written by the proposer—including students and professional grant writers.
• Proposers should be careful with machine-written text, however. The use of GAI-generated text carries risks in terms of accuracy and originality. Existing rules on misconduct and plagiarism are still in force, so delegating to a GAI the task of generating an original idea could very well land you in hot water.

A primary objective of the Cognitive and Neurobiological Approaches to Plasticity Center (CNAP) at Kansas State University is to support the development of junior investigators into independently funded investigators and to develop a critical mass of investigators who can compete for peer-reviewed extramural funding in neuroplasticity research. In support of this objective, CNAP invites Pilot Project proposal applications from junior investigators whose research interests include neural plasticity.

CNAP’s 2024 annual Pilot Project grant funding opportunity RFA can be downloaded here: CNAP Pilot Grant RFA Yr 8.pdf.

Note the below timeline:

February 1, 2024 (5 PM central) - Submit a letter of intent with the pilot grant title, abstract (500 words max), proposed project grant mentor(s) names, email addresses, and a brief description of qualifications. The letter should also include the names of 3-5 recommended reviewers along with their institution, email address, and a brief description of their relevant research interests.



March 1, 2024 (5 PM central) - Submit all pilot grant materials as a single compiled PDF file with items arranged in the order listed on page 2.

April 12, 2024 - Scientific review completed; grants sent to EAC for review.

May 3, 2024 - Pilot grant decisions are sent to NIGMS for approval. Note that the timeline for reviews is aspirational, as reviewers may take longer to complete their assignments, and the time frame for NIGMS approval may take longer than planned. We will do our best to adhere as closely to the timeline as possible.

June 1, 2024 - Pilot grant awards begin.

It is possible that some grantees may be asked to revise and re-submit their grants. In these cases, we will construct a new timeline in consultation with the applicant.

All materials should be submitted through the applicant’s pre-award services/research office at their host institution. The face page should be signed by the applicant organization’s signing official. Materials should be submitted as a single package via email to cnap@ksu.edu.

K-State faculty, staff and students are invited to design and facilitate a hands-on science, technology, engineering and/or math activity for middle school students at the Girls Researching Our World (GROW) workshop on Saturday, March 2, on the K-State campus in Manhattan.

Activities should incorporate the workshop theme, “STEM Superheroes.” In this Saturday Workshop, middle school students will participate in a variety of hands-on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics activities on the K-State Manhattan Campus. Each activity will showcase a "STEM superhero" (past or present) and the amazing contributions they made or are making in their field. Students may even meet some K-State research superheroes, too! Activity proposals should relate to this theme. KAWSE Program Coordinator, Stephanie Rose, is available to help brainstorm activity ideas and relate facilitators’ area of expertise to the event theme. KAWSE can also help find student volunteers to assist with the activity.

Activity sessions are 45 minutes long and attended by 8-12 middle school students at a time. Sessions begin at 10 AM, 11 AM, 1 PM and 2 PM. Facilitators may choose to host the morning sessions, afternoon sessions, or all sessions. The session should be hands-on; any presentations should be less than 10 minutes long. A GROW student employee will chaperone each group to and from sessions, and will be present during the activity to help facilitate as necessary. A free lunch is provided at noon for those facilitators who request one. Activity proposals are due by February 16, 2024. An activity proposal guide is available on the KAWSE website to help with activity development.

The KAWSE office is happy to provide letters of support to grant agencies for those who collaborate with us.

Event capacity is limited to 100 middle school students, grades 6-8. The GROW program is organized by the K-State Office for the Advancement of Women in Science and Engineering. Event registration information is available on the GROW website. Office staff can be reached by email (kawse@ksu.edu), phone (785-532-6088) or in person (215 Fairchild Hall) to answer any questions.

Deadline: March 4, 2024 by 5:00 p.m.



The Office of Research Development announces the spring 2024 Faculty Development Award, or FDA, and University Small Research Grants, or USRG, call for proposals for K-State tenured or tenure track faculty who are interested in receiving assistance in their scholarly activities and professional development.

Note: faculty must have at least some percentage of their appointment devoted to research.

The Faculty Development Awards program provides support for travel to international meetings — primarily at international locations — or to meet with program officers from potential external sponsors.

The University Small Research Grants program is a seed grant program to support early research, scholarly activity, and other creative efforts.

More information about the program can be found here.

Please contact the Office of Research Development if you have any additional questions: ord@k-state.edu or 785-532-6195. 

John W. Fountain, U.S. Scholar to Ghana, 2022

In February 2024, the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program will launch our 2025-26 competition! Hundreds of awards across all world regions will allow academics, professionals and artists to teach, research, and carry out professional projects abroad.  

Curious to see what awards in 2025-26 have to offer? Join our first webinar of the year to learn more about the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program, awards and the application process:



The Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program: Opportunities for 2025-26

Thursday, February 15 1:30-2:30 p.m. CT

Register here to join us!

Already know a region, country or award that interests you? Register to join our webinars featuring specific Fulbright U.S. Scholar opportunities.  Visit our Webinar Schedule for events throughout the competition starting with:

• February 28: South and Central Asia
• February 29: East Asia and the Pacific
• March 6: Europe and Eurasia
• March 11: Fulbright Public Policy Fellowship
• March 13: Western Hemisphere
• March 20: Sub-Saharan Africa
• March 27: Middle East and North Africa

Future Manufacturing Webinar

NSF will host a webinar to introduce and answer questions related to the 2024-2025 Future Manufacturing program solicitation (NSF 24-525) on Friday, February 2, 2024, from 12-1 p.m.

The goal of the Future Manufacturing program is to support fundamental research, education, and training of a future workforce to overcome scientific, technological, educational, economic, and social barriers in order to catalyze new manufacturing capabilities that do not exist today.

During the webinar, program directors will discuss the research thrusts, types of proposals, proposal requirements and evaluation criteria specific to this solicitation.

Register here.

Office Hours: Intro to America’s Seed Fund at NSF

February 6, 2024, 1-2 p.m.

February 20, 2024, 1-2 p.m.

March 28, 2024, 1-2 p.m.

See additional dates and times on nsf.gov

Join this question-and-answer session to learn more about America’s Seed Fund powered by the National Science Foundation. A Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer program director will answer questions about how to get started, the basics of eligibility and what they look for when they review project pitches.

Register for the Intro to America's Seed Fund webinar on Zoom.

Thursday, February 8th

8:30 a.m.

Kraft Heinz scientists will be discussing their partnering opportunities on Halo and answering questions directly from researchers. Opportunities can be viewed below:

Natural food preservation ingredients against molds and yeasts

Kraft Heinz is seeking natural ingredients and technologies that can replace artificial preservative ingredients in foods to inhibit spoilage microorganisms like molds and yeasts including the acid-tolerant yeast Zygosaccharomyces bailii.

Encapsulation technologies for probiotics in low pH beverages

Kraft Heinz is seeking encapsulation of probiotics to allow for long-term stability of probiotics in a low pH, shelf-stable beverage.

Register for the webinar here.

February 12, 2024 from 6-7:30 p.m.

February 15, 2024 from 8-9:30 a.m.

February 21, 2024 from 11-12:30 p.m.

February 22, 2024 from 4-5:30 p.m.

Catalyzing Across Sectors to Advance the Bioeconomy (CASA-Bio) is a collaborative, facilitated activity, inspired by the Executive Order (EO) on Advancing Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Innovation for a Sustainable, Safe, and Secure American Bioeconomy.

Stakeholders from Federal agencies, industry, and non-profits have identified a group of Subtheme Challenges that span the five Bioeconomy EO Themes: climate change, food and agriculture, supply chain resilience, human health, and cross cutting areas to advance all these areas.

In February, we will host four virtual Town Hall meetings to hear from the research community about the ideas they view as having exciting potential to advance the bioeconomy. Share your ideas for research on these or other areas that have the potential to advance the bioeconomy.

If you are able to attend, register for a Town Hall to collaborate with others on developing research ideas, and share your individual ideas ahead of the Town Hall.

If you are unable to attend, we would still love to hear our research ideas, so please share online.

EPSCoR Webinar: The Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships

The Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP) advances use-inspired and translational research in all fields of science and engineering, giving rise to new industries and engaging all Americans — regardless of background or location — in the pursuit of new, high-wage jobs in science, technology, engineering and math. There are many cross-cutting TIP activities. Our webinar will focus on several of them, including Regional Innovation Engines and Enabling Partnerships to Increase Innovation Capacity.

• Register here to join the webinar at 2pm ET on February 12

February 13, 2024, 10-11 a.m.

Please join the U.S. National Science Foundation Directorate for Engineering on February 13, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. CT for a Distinguished Lecture by Intel Fellow Dr. Ravi Mahajan on “How Advanced Packaging Will Shape the Semiconductor Industry.”

Register in advance for this virtual event: 

Please join the Decision Risk Management Sciences office hour to discuss questions about the program with the program directors. 

Office hours take place over Zoom monthly, generally on Wednesdays. Please see upcoming dates listed below.

February 14, 2024, 1-2 p.m.

March 13, 2024, 1-2 p.m.

April 17, 2024, 1-2 p.m.

To join, use the Decision Risk Management Sciences office hour Zoom link

• All meetings during office hours are 1-on-1. Guests are seen in the order they join. You may have to wait if others join before you.
• If you need captions or other accommodations, please contact Claudia Gonzalez-Vallejo or Bob O'Connor in advance. 

For more information about the program, visit the Decision Risk Management Sciences program page.

Wednesday, February 14, 2024

11 a.m. - 12 p.m.

This webinar will give an overview of NIJ’s Graduate Research Fellowship, which invites applications for doctoral dissertation research on preventing and controlling crime, advancing knowledge of victimization and effective victim services, or ensuring the fair and impartial administration of criminal or juvenile justice in the United States. This solicitation will be open to doctoral students in all science and engineering fields.

The presenters will discuss program scope, eligibility, application elements, and frequently asked questions.

Register to attend and to be notified when materials are available online.

Join us Thursday February 15, 2024, 12-1 p.m. for this month’s IOS Virtual Office Hour.

This month’s Virtual Office Hour will outline NSF opportunities that early career investigators, from graduate students to Assistant Professors.

Register here.

February 15, 2024, 1-2 p.m.

February 29, 2024, 1-2 p.m.

See additional dates and times on nsf.gov

Join this open-ended session to ask questions about what’s needed when creating a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) proposal. A SBIR/STTR program director will answer questions and point you to resources.

Register here.

Cognitive behavioral therapy alters brain activity in children with anxiety

Researchers at the National Institutes of Health have found overactivation in many brain regions, including the frontal and parietal lobes and the amygdala, in unmedicated children with anxiety disorders. They also showed that treatment with cognitive behavioral therapy led to improvements in clinical symptoms and brain functioning. NIH



Democratizing the future of AI R&D: NSF to launch National AI Research Resource pilot

The U.S. National Science Foundation and collaborating agencies launched the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource pilot, a first step towards realizing the vision for a shared research infrastructure that will strengthen and democratize access to critical resources necessary to power responsible AI discovery and innovation. NSF

AI and the Roman Empire

NSF-powered researchers are using machine learning to uncover previously unattainable information from human history. NSF

Switching to Vegan or Ketogenic Diet Rapidly Impacts Immune System

NIH Study Finds Distinct Immune Responses Occur Quickly When Diets Change, More Research Needed to Determine Health Effects. NIH

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