Catalysis and Biocatalysis

PROGRAM GUIDELINES

Apply to PD 10-1401 as follows:

For full proposals submitted via FastLane: standard Grant Proposal Guidelines apply.
For full proposals submitted via Grants.gov: NSF Grants.gov Application Guide; A Guide for the Preparation and Submission of NSF Applications via Grants.gov Guidelines apply (Note: The NSF Grants.gov Application Guide is available on the Grants.gov website and on the NSF website at: http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=grantsgovguide)

Please be advised that the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) includes revised guidelines to implement the mentoring provisions of the America COMPETES Act (ACA) (Pub. L. No. 110-69, Aug. 9, 2007.) As specified in the ACA, each proposal that requests funding to support postdoctoral researchers must include a description of the mentoring activities that will be provided for such individuals. Proposals that do not comply with this requirement will be returned without review (see the PAPP Guide Part I: Grant Proposal Guide Chapter II for further information about the implementation of this new requirement).

DUE DATES

Full Proposal Window:  February 1, 2010 - March 3, 2010

Full Proposal Window:  August 15, 2010 - September 23, 2010

SYNOPSIS

The Catalysis and Biocatalysis program primarily supports fundamental and innovative applied research on the following topics:

• Kinetics and mechanisms of important catalyzed chemical reactions as they relate to the production of chemicals, fuels, and specialized materials
• Characterization of chemical and biochemical phenomena occurring at or near solid surfaces and interfaces
• Kinetic modeling and theory of heterogeneous, homogeneous, and biocatalysis
• Fundamental catalytic or biocatalytic studies of the processes for conversion of biomass to fuels and chemicals
• Synthesis of novel compositions and structures for use in heterogeneous, homogeneous or biocatalysts
• Electrocatalytic processes having engineering significance or commercial potential, particularly for fuel cell applications
• Fundamental aspects of reactive deposition and processing for thin film materials

This program promotes multidisciplinary research in all of the above areas.

Typical research topics include:

• Catalytic conversion of biorenewables to fuels or chemicals
• Environmentally beneficial chemical process alternatives
Ultra selective reactions and catalysts for fine chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and specialty chemical products
• Catalyst design for reaction engineering of chemical, photo-, electro-, and bio-catalytic processes
• Synthesis and characterization of novel catalytic structures for chemical conversions from the atomic through the nanoscale
• Mechanisms and kinetics of reactions at solid surfaces and at interfaces (gas-solid, liquid-solid including aqueous-solid)
• Ab initio and semiempirical kinetic theory and dynamic simulation of complex reactions
• Utilization of new catalysts for producing nanomaterials
• Utilization of catalytic materials in sensors, electronic devices, coatings; incorporation of components from the nano to micron scale
• Materials and mechanisms in electrocatalysis and fuel cell applications

Proposals should address the novelty of the concept being proposed, compared to previous work in the field.  Also, it is important to address why the novelty might be important in terms of engineering science, as well as to also project the potential impact on society and /or industry of success in the research.  The information requested in this paragraph should be included, as a minimum, in the Project Summary of each proposal.

The duration of unsolicited awards is generally one to three years.  The average annual award size for the program is $100,000.  Small equipment proposals of less than $100,000 will also be considered and may be submitted during these windows.  Any proposal received outside the announced dates will be returned without review.

The duration of CAREER awards is five years.  The submission deadline for Engineering CAREER proposals is in July every year.  Please see the following URL for more information: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2008/nsf08051/nsf08051.jsp.

Proposals for Conferences, Workshops, and Supplements may be submitted at any time, but must be discussed with the program director before submission.

Grants for Rapid Response Research (RAPID) and EArly-concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER) replace the SGER program.  Please note that proposals of these types must be discussed with the program director before submission.  Further details are available in the PAPPG download, available below.

Please refer to the Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG), January 2010, (NSF 10-1) when you prepare your proposal.  The PAPPG is available for download at:  http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf101

THIS PROGRAM IS PART OF

Chemical, Biochemical, and Biotechnology Systems

What Has Been Funded (Recent Awards Made Through This Program, with Abstracts)

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