Ethnography at a Distance Faculty Working Group
January 2021 Meetings

NSF Data Analysis and Statistics Summer Internships

Apply Today!

Deadline: March 31, 2021 4:00PM EST

The National Science Foundation (NSF), National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) provides policy makers and the public high-quality information on the science and engineering enterprise.

This internship is for participants in a wide variety of fields including, but not limited to: Business Management, Communications and Graphic Design, Computer Sciences, Economics, Marketing, Mathematics and Statistics, and Survey Methodology.

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Be currently pursuing or have received an Associate's degree, Bachelor’s degree, Master's degree, or Doctoral degree from an accredited college or university.
• Be 18 years of age or older at the time of application.

What will I be doing?

As a Research Ambassador intern, you will have the opportunity to explore a federal career and gain a competitive edge as you apply your education, talent and skills in a variety of settings. You will learn and collaborate on projects that make use of expertise from a variety of fields, including survey methodology, survey statistics, economics and other social science disciplines to design, study, implement and conduct national surveys to measure the science and engineering enterprise.  You will also be engaged in research projects, evaluation initiatives, surveys, data collection and specialized analyses.  

What is the anticipated start date?

Exact start dates will be determined at the time of selection and in coordination with the selected candidates. Appointments are typically between May and September. 

Where will I be located? Alexandria, VA (Washington D.C. area)

Appointments may result in a virtual placement due to COVID-19 impacts.

What are the benefits?

You will receive a competitive stipend for living and other expenses as determined by NSF. Stipends are typically based on academic standing, discipline, and experience. You may also be eligible to receive a health insurance allowance and reimbursement for travel expenses.

Learn more about the NCSES Research Ambassadors Program at https://orise.orau.gov/ncses/. 

Questions? Email NSF-NCSES@orise.orau.gov                            

Clarification on Prohibition on Expending NIH Grant Funds for Covered Telecommunications Equipment or Services

Notice Number: NOT-OD-21-041

https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-21-041.html

Purpose

Effective August 13, 2020, the Office of Management and Budget revised 2 Code of Federal Regulations Part 200 to align with Section 889 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public Law 115-232). This new section, 2 CFR 200.216, Prohibition on certain telecommunication and video surveillance services or equipment, prohibits Federal award recipients from using government funds to procure or obtain, or enter contracts to procure or obtain equipment, services, or systems that use covered telecommunications equipment or services.

The following term of award is therefore applicable to all NIH grants and cooperative agreements issued on or after August 13, 2020. As such, this notice modifies the terms and conditions of award for grants issued on or after that date. The NIH Grants Policy Statement will be updated at the time of its next publication to incorporate this term and condition into Section 4– Public Policy Requirements, Objectives and Other Appropriation Mandates.

In accordance with the newly revised 2 CFR 200.216 and 200.471, recipients and subrecipients are prohibited from expending grant funds to:

1.       Procure or obtain;

2.       Extend or renew a contract to procure or obtain; or

3.       Enter into a contract (or extend or renew a contract) to procure or obtain equipment, services, or systems that use covered telecommunications equipment or services as a substantial or essential component of any system, or as critical technology as part of any system. As described in Public Law 115-232, section 889, covered telecommunications equipment is telecommunications equipment produced by Huawei Technologies Company or ZTE Corporation (or any subsidiary or affiliate of such entities).

i.                     For the purpose of public safety, security of government facilities, physical security surveillance of critical infrastructure, and other national security purposes, video surveillance and telecommunications equipment produced by Hytera Communications Corporation, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Company, or Dahua Technology Company (or any subsidiary or affiliate of such entities).

ii.                   Telecommunications or video surveillance services provided by such entities or using such equipment.

iii.                  Telecommunications or video surveillance equipment or services produced or provided by an entity that the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Director of the National Intelligence or the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, reasonably believes to be an entity owned or controlled by, or otherwise connected to, the government of a covered foreign country.

COVERED FOREIGN COUNTRY means the People’s Republic of China.

Under the National Public Policy Requirements (See NIH GPSSection 4) NIH requires applicants and recipients to certify compliance, by signing the face page of the application. The Authorized Organization Official is the responsible party for doing so. Recipients further certify compliance at the time of drawdown of funds from the Payment Management System. Recipients must maintain documentation on file to demonstrate that they have not used grant funds to procure equipment or services or enter into contracts prohibited by this part and maintain appropriate internal controls to ensure ongoing compliance. Should NIH determine non-compliance, NIH will take appropriate enforcement actions, which may include termination of award.

If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Sponsored Programs @ ospa@umbc.edu.

NIH Implementation of the Revised Federal-wide Research Terms and Conditions

Notice Number: NOT-OD-21-029

https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-21-029.html

Purpose

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) mandated awarding agencies adopt recent revisions to 2 CFR §200; Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance) effective November 12, 2020. Accordingly, the Federal-wide Research Terms and Conditions (RTCs) have been revised by the participating agencies, including NIH, for consistency with the revised 2 CFR §200. The National Science Foundation hosts and maintains the RTC website on behalf of all of the participating agencies.

As outlined in the NIH Agency Implementation Statement, effective November 12th, 2020, the RTCs apply to all NIH grants and cooperative agreements with the exceptions noted in the NIH Agency Specific Requirements. NIH implementation of these Federal-wide RTCs is outlined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, Section 3.1, and fully incorporates the revised 2 CFR §200. The RTCs serve as standard terms and conditions of all NIH awards. There are no significant changes in the requirements or terms and conditions for NIH recipients. Recipients are encouraged to review the updated documents, which include the RTC overlay, the Prior Approval Matrix, Subaward Requirements, National Policy Requirements, and the NIH Agency Specific Requirements.

Please note that the previous version of the RTCs incorporated the full set of OMB Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) by reference. The FAQs have not yet been updated to align with 2 CFR §200, and, as such have been deleted from the RTC Overlay.

If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Sponsored Programs @ ospa@umbc.edu.

Fulbright Accelerator Workshop for CAHSS Faculty

Friday, February 12, 2021, Noon-1:00pm (invitation with a registration link will be sent in January)

Online

Please save the date for this overview of the Fulbright Core Scholar Program and other exciting Fulbright opportunities for UMBC faculty. The workshop will include information on the upcoming competition and provide tips for short- and long-term planning and preparing strong Fulbright applications. Time will be given for Q&A.

We will be joined by a Program Officer from the Institute of International Education (IIE), which develops and implements the Fulbright programs. Brian Souders, Associate Director for Global Engagement Opportunities in UMBC’s Office of International Education Services, will discuss UMBC’s support for faculty applicants. CIRCA Director and Professor of Visual Arts Lynn Cazabon will share her experiences as a Fulbright Scholar in Latvia in 2015. There, she developed and taught classes in the New Media Arts Program at Liepaja University while pursuing her own project, a series of photographic and text portraits of Liepaja residents at the edge of the Baltic Sea.

The 2021 Fulbright Accelerator Workshop is co-sponsored by the CAHSS Dean’s Office; the Center for Social Science Scholarship; the Center for Innovation, Research, and Creativity in the Arts; the Dresher Center for the Humanities; and the Office of International Education Services.

Save the Date: 
Fulbright Accelerator Workshop for CAHSS Faculty

Please save the date for this overview of the Fulbright Core Scholar Program and other exciting Fulbright opportunities for UMBC faculty. The workshop will include information on the upcoming competition and provide tips for short- and long-term planning and preparing strong Fulbright applications. Time will be given for Q&A.

We will be joined by a Program Officer from the Institute of International Education (IIE), which develops and implements the Fulbright programs. Brian Souders, Associate Director for Global Engagement Opportunities in UMBC’s Office of International Education Services, will discuss UMBC’s support for faculty applicants. CIRCA Director and Professor of Visual Arts Lynn Cazabon will share her experiences as a Fulbright Scholar in Latvia in 2015. There, she developed and taught classes in the New Media Arts Program at Liepaja University while pursuing her own project, a series of photographic and text portraits of Liepaja residents at the edge of the Baltic Sea.

Look for an invitation with a registration link in January.
 
The 2021 Fulbright Accelerator Workshop is co-sponsored by the CAHSS Dean’s Office; the Center for Social Science Scholarship; the Center for Innovation, Research, and Creativity in the Arts; the Dresher Center for the Humanities; and the Office of International Education Services.

Questions? Rachel Brubaker, Assistant Director for Grants and Program Development, Dresher Center

National Science Foundation
Build and Broaden Program

Applications are due by March 5, 2021.

Continued innovation and economic growth in the U.S. depend on training and supporting the next generation of scientists and expanding opportunities to conduct vital research. To help fill that critical need, the U.S. National Science Foundation’s Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences has launched the Build and Broaden program supporting transformative research, training opportunities and new research infrastructure at minority-serving institutions throughout the country.

The Build and Broaden program supports cutting-edge research in the social, behavioral and economic sciences at minority-serving institutions, including historically Black colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions and tribal colleges and universities.

Minority-serving institutions educate millions of Americans, including many who will go on to join the U.S. science and technology workforce. However, NSF receives few grant proposals from minority-serving institutions. As a result, innovative and potentially groundbreaking scientific work at those institutions is left unfunded and unpursued.

The Build and Broaden program seeks to increase proposal submissions from minority-serving institutions by fostering research partnerships centered on those institutions, thus growing their scientific infrastructure and capacity while expanding the overall diversity of social, behavioral and economic science disciplines.

“Minority-serving institutions make critical contributions to our nation’s STEM enterprise by producing some of our most talented scientists and engineers,” says Kellina Craig-Henderson, deputy assistant director of NSF’s Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences, “Build and Broaden will help to grow research capacity in the social, behavioral and economic sciences at minority-serving institutions.”

Proposals are welcome from individual researchers and groups at minority-serving institutions. Researchers at other institutions may also submit proposals if they are collaborating with scientific staff at a minority-serving institution and if their proposal includes a focus on fostering scientific partnerships or capacity-building at those institutions.

For full details on how to submit a proposal, see the Build and Broaden program.

For additional information on NSF’s efforts to increase the diversity and effectiveness of the STEM workforce, read “I’ve been there. Fighting stereotypes in the world of science.” in NSF’s Science Matters blog.

For researchers pursuing external funding, the Center for Social Science Scholarship maintains a list of general social science RFPs as well as those specific to COVID-19.  More information is also available here.

For assistance with proposal preparation and submissions:  Social science PIs generally obtain pre-award and post-grant management assistance from MIPAR. To set up an appointment, email mipar_info@umbc.edu. For faculty submitting proposals to foundations, please consult Bruce Lyons in UMBC’s Office of Institutional Advancement.  

Save the Date: 2021 Health Disparities Research Institute

The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) will host the Health Disparities Research Institute (HDRI) virtually August 9-13, 2021. Applications will be accepted from February 1 - March 8, 2021! HDRI aims to support the research career development of promising early-career minority health and health disparities research scientists, and to stimulate research in disciplines supported by health disparities science.

The program will feature:

• Lectures on minority health and health disparities research
• Mock grant review
• Seminars and small group discussions

Institute participants will also have the opportunity to engage in sessions with NIH scientific staff involved in health disparities research across the various NIH Institutes and Centers.

Please note that applications will only be accepted from extramural scientists who meet NIH’s Early Stage Investigator (ESI) eligibility criteria. NIH and HHS staff, including persons in fellowships/training at NIH or an HHS agency, are not eligible to apply.

Visit the HDRI webpage to learn more about the target audience, eligibility, selection criteria, and how to apply.

For questions or more information, email HDRI@nih.gov