SaTC Aspiring PI Workshop 2025

About

The NSF/SaTC Aspiring PI Workshop is a 1.5-day workshop (December 15-16, 2025) designed for researchers interested in participating in NSF’s Security, Privacy, and Trust in Cyberspace (SaTC 2.0) program. Participation in the workshop is open to those with research interests in all sub-fields of security, privacy, and trustworthy computing who have never been funded by SaTC or any of its predecessor programs (e.g., Trustworthy Computing and/or Cyber Trust). The workshop will be held at the George Washington University (GW) in Washington, D.C.

For a brief list of topic areas considered relevant, please see the keywords listed in the SaTC 2.0 solicitation.

The purpose of this workshop is to provide individuals who have never received a SaTC award with tips and tools for navigating the NSF’s proposal review process, with a focus on SaTC 2.0’s goals, thereby increasing both the quality of their proposal submissions and, in turn, the number of proposals funded. To that end, workshop participants will have opportunities to attend panels and sessions covering topics such as:

  • Developing research ideas to create proposals
  • Strategies for structuring proposals
  • The merit review process
  • Common proposal mistakes
  • …and more!

The workshop will also allow participants to receive feedback (via mock panels) on short proposal drafts, which participants will submit ahead of the workshop and revise during the workshop. Participants will also meet and network with mentors who have SaTC experience.

See the Call For Participants for more details on participation. Importantly, if selected to participate, travel expenses to Washington, DC and GW will be reimbursed.

Applications are closed.

Draft Schedule

Monday December 15

Time Activity
8:30 am       Arrival, registration, breakfast
9:00 am Opening remarks, introductions, icebreakers
9:45 am What is SaTC, what’s new in 2.0?
10:15 am Questions we ask ourselves when applying for funding
10:45 am Coffee Break
11:15 am Activity: Elevator pitches
12:00 am Proposal design: strategies, norms, tips and tricks
12:45 pm Working lunch
2:00 pm Interactive work sessions, small group meetings
3:30 pm Coffee break
4:00 pm The NSF review process
4:45 pm Interactive work session continues
6:00 pm Wrapup / outbrief day 1
6:30 pm Dinner and professional networking
8:30 pm Adjourn


Tuesday December 16

Time Activity
8:00 am Arrival, breakfast
8:30 am Opening remarks, instructions
8:45 am Mock panels, session 1
10:15 am Coffee Break
10:45 am Mock panels, session 2
12:00 pm Wrap up, box lunches

Location and Travel

All events will take place at the George Washington University (GW) in Science and Engineering Hall (SEH), 800 22nd St NW, Washington, DC 20052.

Directions by metro and driving are provided here.

When you arrive at SEH, head down the stairs/elevator one level to B1. We will be in SEH B1220, B1270 and the adjacent “Green Wall” space.

Please note that SEH is nominally a tap-access only building. You will likely be able to follow someone in. If you find yourself stuck outside, please email satc_aspire_pi@gwu_edu and someone will come let you in.

Hotel Information

Participants in the room block will be staying at:

ARC HOTEL D.C.
824 New Hampshire Ave NW
Washington, D.C. 20037

The hotel is a short, 5-minute walk to SEH

Workshop Organizers

Contact Us

Please send correspondence to satc_aspire_pi@gwu_edu

NSF Policy on Harassment and Hate

The National Science Foundation (NSF) will not tolerate sexual harassment, harassment based on ethnicity, race, gender, or disability, other forms of harassment, or sexual assault, within the agency, at awardee organizations, field sites or anywhere science or education is conducted. As a NSF sponsored workshop, we will uphold these values. To find out more about the NSF policies and procedures, please visit their website.