Frequently Asked Questions

The NSF Public Access Repository (PAR) is the designated repository where NSF-funded investigators deposit peer-reviewed journal articles, juried conference proceedings and juried conference papers (either the final accepted version or the version of record, as defined in NSF's public access plan). PAR also provides search mechanisms to enable you to find and use these articles and papers. Find more information about NSF PAR located here.

By typing in key words or search terms, the basic search will look for items within the NSF Public Access Repository including the title, publisher, author, etc. The system can also search for NSF Award IDs and Digital Object Identifiers. The advanced search includes additional features as well.

The advanced search tool helps you narrow down search results by using specific criteria instead of a single search bar. You can either search broadly across all record information or target exact data fields –

1. Search Across Multiple Fields: Subject(s) / Keyword(s), Identifier Number
2. Search a Specific Field: Journal Name, Publisher or Repository Name, Description/Abstract, Award ID, Title, Author/Creator, Date Published, Date Updated, Resource Type

"Search Across Multiple Fields" provides two options for searching –

• “Subject(s)/Keyword(s)” searches across all fields where a user has supplied the information (either directly or through a DOI), but it does not search the full text located inside any of the PDF/As attached to a product. When the search is executed, it weighs the results towards the Title and Description/Abstract fields.
• "Identifier Number" searches all identifier numbers, including, but not limited to: PAR ID, Award ID, and DOI number.

• For example (Journal Name, Publisher or Repository Name, Description/Abstract, Award ID, Title, Author/Creator, Date Published, Date Updated, Resource Type)

Yes. You can target specific bibliographic fields to isolate information unique to a particular document.

Bibliographic data is information unique to and descriptive of a particular document. Basic bibliographic data includes the title, author(s), editor(s), publication date, and journal name. This metadata improves online search and retrieval and helps ensure preservation of the document.

There are several options. If the item is available electronically from the publisher (Version of Record), a hyperlink will be available for the publisher-maintained site. Links to the final accepted version of the manuscript (AAM) are also available free of charge after initial publication. There are also various citation export options available on the bibliographic details screen for each result, including an option for machine readable XML under the section labeled “Text Encoded Conversion”.

If a DOI has been associated with the Product that was entered, then you will be taken to an external site maintained by the publisher, that is linked to the DOI. If there is no DOI associated with the Product, then the “Full Text Available” link will take you directly to the document that was uploaded in PAR.

Once the publication is deposited, you will have access to the PAR ID of your publication. You can either search for the publication from the public site (https://par.nsf.gov/) or via the PAR Research Products link after logging into Research.gov.

From the public site, you can search via the title or the award ID of the deposited publication on the https://par.nsf.gov/. You can also use the advanced search option to search for the PAR ID via the Identifier Numbers field.

From Research.gov My Desktop, select the 'PAR Research Products' link. You will be able to search, sort, and edit deposited publications that are tied to your awards.

You will need to login to https://www.research.gov/ and select the PAR Research Products link on the 'My Desktop' screen of Research.gov.