Preparing for 2023 changes to NSF proposals and awards
Several major changes to NSF proposals and awards are taking place in 2023.
Here is a summary of the changes and how to find helpful resources.
1 - SciENcv is required to develop your biosketch and other support documents for proposals submitted on or after October 23, 2023. You cannot successfully submit a proposal to the NSF after that date without using SciENcv.
Biographical sketch and Other Support documents generated in SciENcv are tagged with identifiers indicating they were prepared using the current version of an NSF-approved format. If SciENcv is not used, you will not be able to upload your documents into research.gov.
Please also note that after a PDF file is generated, users can rename the generated file but must not export it to avoid corrupting the file's compliance data. Follow these steps to rename the file if there is not a "save" or "save as" option for the SciENcv generated PDF file:
- Close the PDF file
- Right click on the file to rename it
- Upload the PDF via Research.gov, FastLane, or Grants.gov.
The following materials are available to guide NSF users through the preparation of the NSF documents available in SciENcv:
- Duke assistance with SciENcv
- NSF Biographical Sketch Video Tutorial
- NSF Current & Pending (Other) Support Video Tutorial
- SciENcv Help Manual with NSF-specific sections
- NSF’s FAQs on the topic
- Duke SciENcv office hours
2 - A project-specific plan for creating and maintaining a Safe and Inclusive Work Environment is required for proposals with research being conducted off-campus or off-site.
- NSF defines off-campus or off-site research as, “data/information/samples being collected off-campus or off-site, such as fieldwork and research activities on vessels and aircraft.”
- More information on this topic, including a template for the plan, can be found here.
3- RECR training is required for anyone (faculty, staff, trainees) involved in NSF research, effective July 31, 2023. In addition, how the institution meets this requirement must be described in the grant proposal.
- Researchers required to do the training will be contacted by the DOSI-ASIST team. Email asist@duke.edu with questions.
- For NSF proposals involving science or engineering research/education, the sponsor requires that there is a description in the grant proposal that describes appropriate training and oversight. Researchers should include the following statement in the proposal:
- "Duke University will adhere to the Responsible and Ethical Conduct of Research training plan articulated in Duke’s RCR Program website for undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, faculty, and other senior personnel who will be supported by NSF."