Army Basic Research Opportunities:

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Army Basic Research Opportunities DEVELOPING
WINNING PROPOSALS Finding support from the Army
for your research opportunities and
infrastructure needs Chris Arney, Ph.D. Chief,
Mathematical Sciences Division U.S. Army Research
Office Research Triangle Park, NC
27709-2211 David.Arney1_at_us.army.mil [phone]
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What is different about a mission agency

• Non-mission agency -- National Science Foundation
• Supports the development of new knowledge
• Education component
• Programs with special goals
• All proposals reviewed
• Mission agencies -- Army Research Office (ARO),
  DoE Basic Energy Sciences, Air Force Office of
  Scientific Research, Office of Naval Research,
  Defense Advanced Research Program Agency, NASA,
  etc.
• Foster research in specific areas that support
  the mission of department or service
• Missions delineated by congress
• Proposal may be rejected without review for lack
  of relevance

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How much do you need to know about applications
of your research?

• For Mission Agencies, it is essential that work
  fits in mission area, but this should be
  determined in advance of proposal submission
• Read agency web pages
• Talk to program managers
• Watch for who funds related work
• For NSF
• Education, and other special program goals
  (diversity, international, industry interest)
• Criteria 2 Broader Impact

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ARO Strategic Goals and Objectives

• Accelerate the transition of research to
  application
• Strengthen university, in-house, industry
  partnerships
• Focus research on transformational capabilities
• Exploit scientific opportunities for
  revolutionary advances
• Leverage ST of outside sources for Army benefit
• Foster SE training in disciplines critical to
  the Army
• Enhance outreach efforts for greater
  intellectual diversity

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Motivation
Today
Objective Force
lt 30 lb. effective load
100 lb. load
lt 20 tons
70 tons
0 mph
gt 40 mph
Innovation -- Accelerating the Pace of Army
Transformation
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Army Basic Research Pursuits

• Communications Information
• Processing Research
• Information fusion
• Wireless distributed communications
• Network Science

• Mathematical Sciences
• Modeling Simulation
• Intelligent systems
• Complex systems and control

• Biological Sciences
• Microbiology Biodegradation
• Physiology Performance
• Nanoscale biomechanics

• Portable power
• Low power
• Intelligent
• Microsized
• Multifunctional
• Autonomous
• Lightweight
• Logistics ease

• Chemical Sciences
• Electrochemistry
• Fast, energetic materials
• Dendritic polymers

• Physics
• Image analysis
• Nanoscience
• Photonics

• Mechanical Sciences
• Smart structures
• Rotorcraft aeromechanics
• Combustion/Propulsion

• Materials Science
• Biomimetics
• Hierarchical materials
• Smart materials

• Atmospheric and Terrestrial
• Sciences
• Atmospheric aerosol transport
• Geomorphology
• Remote sensing

• Electronics
• Low power/noise electronics
• Optoelectronic hybrids
• Quantum High Frequency Electronics

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Roles of the Armys Corporate Laboratory
Contracts
Support to Principal Customers
Technology Enhancement
Technology Transfer
Cooperative Ventures (e.g. FedLab/CTAs)
Single Investigators
Technology Generation
URIs, MURIs
DEAs, TTCP, NATO Panels
Technology Gathering
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Physical Sciences Directorate
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Engineering Sciences Directorate
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Information Sciences Directorate
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Network Science Division

• Focus on soldiers needs and the Armys
  Net-Centric Warfare capabilities
• As an Emerging Science there is tremendous need
  for basic research to develop principles
  foundation
• Focal areas include information propagation,
  modeling analysis of very large networks,
  design synthesis of networks, increasing the
  level of rigor in the process and structure,
  abstraction of common concepts across fields,
  development of metrics of network structure
• Division Programs
• Intelligent Networks
• Decision- Neuro-Sciences
• Communications Human Networks
• Multi-agent Network Control

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Computational Sciences Division

• Focus on construction of models, simulations,
  algorithms (usually on computers) to understand,
  analyze solve scientific engineering
  problems.
• Computing Sciences is considered the 3rd mode of
  science investigation, complementing
  experimentation theory.
• Division Programs
• Numerical Analysis
• Information Processing Fusion
• Computational Architectures Visualization
• Information Software Assurance

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Mathematical Sciences Division

• Focuses on concepts such as language, quantity,
  structure, process, metrics, space, and change,
  to include representations in physical,
  engineering, informational, cognitive, social,
  and life sciences.
• Division Programs
• Bio-Mathematics Informatics
• Modeling of Complex Systems
• Probability Statistics
• Cooperative Mathematics

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Examples of Some Current Basic Research
Thrusts (in Modeling, Simulation, Computation,
Complex Systems)

• Imaging Science for Automatic Target Recognition
• IED / Landmine Detection
• Information Science
• Robotics
• Sensors
• Information Assurance
• Detecting Faults, Patterns, and Anomalies
• in Streaming Data

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Reading a Broad Agency Announcement Accessing
special programs
Federal support for research is governed by
Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) and must
meet stringent standards for competitiveness.

• Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) outlines area of
  investigation for which agency would like to
  receive proposals
• General funding agency BAA
• rolling submissions
• Covers many topics (often referenced to agency
  web site)
• All submitted proposals are competitive with each
  other
• Laboratory BAA
• Allows lab to fund contracts or grants for
  collaborations, services, etc. (check the ARL/ARO
  BAA _at_ www.aro.army.mil)

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Single Investigator Proposal Evaluation
? Army interests published in open Broad
Agency Announcement
Receipt ofSolicited Proposals
PreliminaryScreening
SciencePeer Review
Army Lab/RDECReview
? Evaluates technical merit and relevance to
Army needs
? Evaluates technical merit
Analysis ofReferee Reports
? Scores given by the reviewers are analyzed
DivisionRecommendation/ManagementDecision
? One in four proposals accepted
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Preproposals (Whitepapers)

• For mission agencies, it is essential that work
  fits in mission area, and this should be
  determined in advance of proposal submission
• Read agency web pages
• Talk to program managers
• Watch for who funds related work
• Dont ask program manager what
• he/she would like you to do
• Dont talk endlessly about capabilities

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Accessing Special Programs

• Specific Solicitations (MURIs, DePSCOR, DURIP,
  HBCU/MI, Young Investigator, etc.)
• Absolute submission deadline (time day)
• Must meet all criteria
• Every word of the announcement has meaning
• Determine and address all evaluation categories
  (rigid scoring prevails)
• Identify type and amount of all cost sharing, if
  applicable

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Example PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENTTHE DEPARTMENT OF
DEFENSE (DoD)

• PROGRAM FOR
• HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AND
• MINORITY INSTITUTIONS (HBCU/MI)
• FISCAL YEAR 2008
• Broad Agency Announcement W911NF-08-R-0008
• Issued by Army Research Office (ARO)
• on behalf of the
• Office of the Director of Defense Research and
  Engineering
• (Laboratories and Basic Sciences)
• Bio-Inspired Sciences
• Information Assurance
• Counter Directed Energy Weapons
• Energy and Power Management
• Human Sciences
• Information Fusion and Decision Sciences
• Network Sciences
• Quantum Information Sciences
• Counter Weapons of Mass Destruction
• Immersive Science for Training and Mission
  Rehearsal

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ARO HBCU/MI Milestones
47 Million in FY06 and 41 Million FY08
2008
ARO Awards to HBCU/MI in FY 2005 Total 37
Million (all funding sources)
DoD HBCU/MI Funds Total gt 350 Million FY
1992-FY 2008

• Estab. Education Centers
• Univ of Houston-Downtown
• Virginia State University
• Estab. Research Centers
• CUNY The City College
• Delaware State University
• 15 Million / 5 Years

2005

• ARO awarded
• Five Cooperative Agreements for
• Battlefield Capability Enhancement Centers
• Prairie View AM University
• Tennessee State University
• Tuskegee University
• NC AT State Univ (2)
• 12 Million / 5 Years

2004

• HBCU/MI Consortia
• Research Education Centers
• 9.4 Million Each / 5 Year-Period
• Adv. Materials Structures at Tuskegee
  University
• Adv. Distributed Simulation at Grambling State
  University

Morehouse College Center of Excellence
for Science, Math, Engr Education 6.8 Million /
5 Years
2003
National Biotechnology Facility New Mexico State
Univ 8.6 M / 5 Years
1995
ARO named Lead Service for Administration of
DoD Infrastructure Support Program for HBCU/MI
Contra Costa College Center for Science
Excellence 2.5 M / 5 Years
HBCU/MI HUB (First Consortium) Adv Fuel Cell
Battery Technology Illinois Institute of
Technology 10 M / 5 Years
1994
1992
1989
ARO initiated Army High Performance Computing
Research Center (AHPCRC) Prototype for
Cooperative Programs with HBCU Subcontractors

• ARO Established FIRST
• HBCU Centers of Excellence
• 3.750 Million Each / 5 Years
• Information Sciences at
• Clark Atlanta University
• Training Research at
• Morris Brown College

1980
ARO Began HBCU/MI Set Aside (0.5M)
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ARO FUNDING FOR MIs

• 1.2 Million Set Aside Annually for MI
  participation in AROs Basic Research Program
• Participation is encouraged in all aspects of ARO
  program including
• Research (typically single-investigator, 3-years
  _at_ 100K per year)
• Short Term Innovative Research (STIR) (50K for
  up to nine months)
• Young Investigator Program (NTE 100K/yr for 3
  years PIs who have held graduate degree less
  than five years)
• Conferences / Workshops (10K to 30K)

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MI PROGRAMS DoD INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT
PROGRAMAdministered by Army Research Office
Pursuant to the Defense Authorization Act of
1991, Public Law 101-510, Sec 832, the
Infrastructure Program aims to build
infrastructure in science, mathematics, and
engineering programs at Minority Institutions and
enhance their participation in Defense research
programs. Toward that goal, Infrastructure
program grants have been made in the following
areas - Instrumentation/equipment for
research and/or education programs - Research
and/or education centers and consortia -
Single-investigator research projects with
scholarship and fellowship augmentation -
Collaborative research programs with defense
laboratories and/or other universities -
Technical assistance programs and -
Undergraduate scholarships, graduate fellowships,
and faculty research fellowships.
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ISPEvaluation Criteria (Research)

• Scientific and technical merits of the proposed
  research
• Potential contributions of the proposed research
  to the mission of the ARO or AFOSR
• Likelihood of the research to develop new
  capabilities or enhance existing capabilities and
  to broaden the university research base in
  support of national defense, and the potential to
  contribute to the education of future scientists
  and engineers in disciplines critical to the
  Department of Defense
• The potential to contribute to the education of
  future scientists and engineers in disciplines
  critical to the DoD mission
• Qualifications, capabilities, experience, and
  research accomplishments of the PI and other key
  personnel whose involvement is critical to
  achieving the objectives of the proposal
• Proposed involvement and interaction with DoD
  laboratories, other federal laboratories,
  industry, or other research centers
• Budgetary realism and cost effectiveness of the
  proposal.

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Finding support for what you want to do vs.
trying to do what you can get support for.Dos

• Participate in conferences and workshops funded
  by agencies
• Be aggressive to find the right program manager
• Keep trying.
• Search broadly. Some application-oriented
  agencies fund research.
• Be aware of and respond to special programs
  (where appropriate).
• Consider spending a summer in government lab or
  industry
• Enjoy your work and let that enjoyment show.

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Finding support for what you want to do vs.
trying to do what you can get support for.Donts

• Dont ask program manager what he/she would like
  you to do.
• Dont talk endlessly about capabilities.
• Dont ask program manager how much funding you
  should ask for. (He/she will tell you about
  budget limitations when appropriate)

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Writing an irresistible proposalGeneral advice

• Sell the science ideas first. Infect reviewer
  with enthusiasm for your work. Try to get
  reviewer curious about potential outcome.
• Then show how capabilities allow ideas to be
  tested. Dont discuss capabilities first, or in
  too much detail.
• Have original ideas. Dont propose to duplicate
  ongoing work. Funding limitations often preclude
  funding multiple approaches.
• Describe impact. Where will field be if all
  objectives are met?
• Be able to defend cost items in budget in terms
  of efforts. Program managers do not give away
  money, they support efforts.
• Ask for feedback on unsuccessful proposals.

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Writing an irresistible proposalSpecial advice
for young investigators

• You dont have a track record. The reviewer
  doesnt know you. YOU should be revealed in
  proposal. Dont make it too formal and remote.
• Its probably a bad idea to justify something
  because everyone is doing it or it is an area
  of great current interest
• That something is not understood is not a
  priori a reason to study it.
• Not everything that can be known is worth
  knowing, or worth the resources to find it out.
• Dont say you will study or investigate
• Try writing a description that would entice your
  best friend from graduate school to join you in
  this research.

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ARO Research Programs

• MURI Centers (Multi-Disciplinary Research
  Initiative)
• UARC (University Affiliated Research Center)
• DURIP (Equipment and Instrumentation Program)
• DEPSCoR (Under-funded States)
• SBIR, STTR (Small Business Programs)
• HBCU/MI (Historically Black College and
  University and Minority Institution Program)
• PECASE (Young Investigator Program)

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DoD HBCU/MI Programs

• For information contact
• Evelyn Kent
• DoD HBCU/MI Program Manager
• [phone]
• Evelyn.Kent_at_osd.mil
• Peggy Lacewell
• ARO HBCU/MI Program Manager
• [phone]
• Peggy.Lacewell_at_us.army.mil

QUESTIONS?????? Chris Arney --
David.Arney1_at_arl.army.mil