National Science Foundation Reverses BIO Directorate Submission Restrictions for Principal Investigators

The National Science Foundation (NSF) recently announced that it is reversing the decision to limit researchers to only one proposal submission per year to the biology directorate’s three core tracks in which they are listed as a principal investigator (PI) or co-PI.

In August of this year, the NSF’s BIO directorate released new solicitations restricting the number of proposals PIs could submit, citing a high number of qualified submissions but limited funds as the reason. A statement released by the NSF at the time explained “We sought an objective way to limit proposal submissions to carefully considered, unique research ideas, while removing barriers to collaboration by allowing unlimited involvement on proposals with potential to receive budgets.”

This announcement was met with an overwhelmingly negative reaction, along with a precipitous drop in submissions. Consequently, the NSF has decided to reverse this decision, as announced in a recent statement. “Having listened to community concern and tracked the current low rate of submission, and following extensive internal consultation, BIO is lifting all PI or co-PI restrictions on proposal submission for FY 2019, effective immediately.”

To view the decision in full, click here: https://oadblog.nsfbio.com/2018/11/15/submission-limits/