Reminder: Changes in NIH and NSF procedures in effect 1/25/16

On the NSF side of things: The new 2016 Grant Proposal Guide (GPG) is now in effect. You can find it here.

Any unsolicited proposals sent in response to the GPG need to reflect this change on the cover sheet -- in the "Program Announcement/Solicitation/Program Description Number" box, make sure to use NSF 16-1. Solicited proposals should of course continue to use the number provided in the program announcement or description.

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On the NIH side of things: Many changes! All are listed in NIH notice number NOT-OD-16-058, here is a summary:
• information about rigor and transparency in research must be included in applications;
• the vertebrate animals section has been simplified;
• the definition of "child" has been changed from a threshold of 21 to 18 years of age;
• Forms Version C application packages have been updated and the new versions should now be used;
• Instructions for Version C packages have been updated and should be followed.

These changes are just phase I for the time period January 25 through May 24. Notices regarding phase II, starting May 25, will be released shortly.

Fashion for women in STEM

Etsy store Shenova specializes in fashion inspired by the STEM disciplines, including chemistry, medicine, astrophysics, neuroscience, math and computer science.

I think my favorite is the Space Time Warp dress.

via Neatorama

NIH salary cap raised for 2016

The maximum salary on an NIH award has increased to $185,100 effective 1/10/16. This figure represents a base salary over a 12-month calendar, so to figure out whether your 9-month academic year base salary is at or above the cap, use a 9-month figure of $138,825. If your academic year salary is at or above this amount, you must use this figure when calculating salary costs on an NIH grant proposal.

More information on this calculation may be found in the Fordham Research Manual.
More information on the NIH salary cap may be found at this notice: NOT-OD-16-145.