Physical Chemistry  (PCHEM)

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PROGRAM GUIDELINES

PD 07-3904

Important Notice to Proposers

A revised version of the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG), NSF 13-1, was issued on October 4, 2012 and is effective for proposals submitted, or due, on or after January 14, 2013. Please be advised that, depending on the specified due date, the guidelines contained in NSF 13-1 may apply to proposals submitted in response to this funding opportunity.

Please be aware that significant changes have been made to the PAPPG to implement revised merit review criteria based on the National Science Board (NSB) report, National Science Foundation's Merit Review Criteria: Review and Revisions. While the two merit review criteria remain unchanged (Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts), guidance has been provided to clarify and improve the function of the criteria. Changes will affect the project summary and project description sections of proposals. Annual and final reports also will be affected.

A by-chapter summary of this and other significant changes is provided at the beginning of both the Grant Proposal Guide and the Award & Administration Guide.

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SYNOPSIS

Experimental Physical Chemistry

Supports experimental research directed at the molecular level of understanding of the physical properties of chemical systems. Experimental methodologies employed include frequency domain and time domain spectroscopic techniques covering the entire range of the electromagnetic spectrum, time-resolved dynamical studies of state-selected and mass-selected systems, and reactive scattering in molecular beams. Chemical systems studied range from single isolated molecules or ions to clusters, liquids, and solids. Chemical properties of interest include molecular structure and the shape of the ground and excited electronic-state potential energy surfaces, chemical dynamics of unimolecular and bimolecular chemical processes, time-resolved internal energy redistribution and state-to-state dynamics in molecular systems, and solute/solvent interactions in clusters and liquids. The program has links to other programs within NSF that support chemistry research, including Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics (Physics Division, MPS Directorate); Biophysics (Molecular and Cellular Biosciences Division, BIO Directorate); Atmospheric Chemistry (Atmospheric Sciences Division, GEO Directorate); and various programs in the Materials Research Division (MPS Directorate).

Theoretical and Computational Chemistry

Supports the development of theoretical and computational methods for chemical problems.  Methods of special interest include, but are not limited to, electronic structure techniques, statistical mechanics, molecular dynamics,  and simulation methods for molecular or supramolecular systems. Areas of application span the full range of chemical systems from small molecules to macromolecules and degrees of aggregation from single molecules or small clusters to macroscopic systems. While application areas may involve any chemical system, including biological systems or materials, the goal of the program is to support the development of new theoretical and computational methodologies that will be broadly applicable to a range of chemical problems. The program has links to other programs within NSF that support chemistry research, including Physics (Physics Division, MPS Directorate); Condensed Matter and Materials Theory (Materials Research Division, MPS Directorate); and Biology (especially the Molecular and Cellular Biosciences Division, BIO Directorate).

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RELATED PUBLICATIONS

MPS/CHE Dear Colleague Letter Regarding Proposal Review Changes (NSF02-161)

Chemistry Research Instrumentation and Facilities : Cyberinfrastructure and Research Facilities (CRIF:CRF) (NSF05-555)

RELATED PROGRAMS

Cyber-Enabled Discovery and Innovation

Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program

ADVANCE: Increasing the Participation and Advancement of Women in Academic Science and Engineering Careers

Chemistry Research Instrumentation and Facilities

Collaborative Research in Chemistry

Facilitation Awards for Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities

International Research Fellowship Program

Major Research Instrumentation Program

Research Experiences for Undergraduates

RELATED URLS

Physical Chemistry Highlights

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

Map of Recent Awards Made Through This Program

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