Message from Associate Vice President Christine Hamble and Dean Mary Stromberger
As you may have recently seen, the National Science Foundation (NSF) has updated the requirements for all proposals submitted or due May 20, 2024, and after, and resulting awards. This has added two new requirements (PAPPG (Chapters VII.B.7 and VII.D.1.b[iv])) that apply to graduate students and/or postdoctoral scholars who receive at least one person-month of support in any grant year (mentees).
Requirement 1 – Mentoring Plans
An NSF proposal must include a Mentoring Plan for mentees that may include: orientation; career counseling; proposals, publications and presentations training; improving teaching and mentoring skills; collaboration on interdisciplinary teams; and responsible professional practices. You can download a copy of an Ohio State-specific version of the NSF Mentoring Plan template (name.# login required), which includes suggestions on how to address the required components. More training and resources are also available:
- Ohio State Mentoring Initiative: Research Mentoring Training
- Ohio State Center for Clinical and Translational Science: Research Mentor Training
- National Research Mentoring Network (online, self-paced, free courses)
Requirement 2 – Individual Development Plans (IDP)
All mentees involved on an NSF award have an IDP to help them formulate career goals and identify activities and resources that will aid them in meeting those milestones. IDPs should be considered a flexible document designed to evolve over time as trainee needs, interests and goals change.
While creation of the IDP is primarily the mentee’s responsibility, PIs and other project faculty should take a collaborative role in developing the plan. Additionally, PIs must certify in all annual and final reports that all mentees affiliated with their award have an annually-updated IDP on file that maps to their educational goals, career exploration and professional development in annual and final reporting processes.
Mentees have access to several online tools that aid in the IDP development and creation process.
- myIDP is a well-established, free, online resource for STEM scholars. The site also provides advice for creating an IDP.
- ImaginePhD is a free, online career exploration and IDP tool for social and behavioral sciences, arts and humanities, but also can be used for STEM fields.
- iBiology’s Career Planning for Early Career Scientists is a free, self-paced, online course includes nine short videos with tips for career planning.
Our teams are here to help if you have questions. For help with federal requirements for future NSF proposals, please reach out to your Sponsored Program Officer. For help with the specific tools or materials shared in this email, please email the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs.
Best,
Christine Hamble
Associate Vice President, Sponsored Programs
Enterprise for Research, Innovation and Knowledge
Mary Stromberger, PhD
Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of the Graduate School
Office of Academic Affairs