Chapter 6 - Mathematical and Physical Sciences

Introduction
Astronomical Sciences
Mathematical Sciences
Physics
Chemistry
Materials Research

Programs in the Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS) Directorate are designed with the following goals:

to increase the knowledge base in the mathematical and physical sciences;
to improve the quality of education in the mathematical and physical sciences, chiefly in the area of graduate study, but with increasing emphasis on undergraduate activities;
to increase the rate at which advances in the mathematical and physical sciences are translated into advances in science and technology on a broad spectrum, and into societal benefits; and
to increase the diversity of people and approaches in the mathematical and physical sciences.
To help the programs meet these goals, the directorate encourages collaborations with other NSF directorates, other agencies, and industrial organizations.
Support for research and education in the mathematical and physical sciences can take many forms. Examples include the following.
standard research projects range from basic through applied and support the research of individuals and small groups with their associated students, postdoctoral researchers, equipment, etc.
Groups and centers support the research of individuals and teams within a framework of larger scope and scale, including greater expectations for outreach and interaction, shared use of facilities, and development of students and postdoctoral researchers.
Instrumentation for shared use, instrumentation development, user facilities, and construction of major research equipment provide needed infrastructure for research and education.
Activities aimed at education in the mathematical and physical sciences focus on the undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral levels, and cooperate with and complement programs in the Education and Human Resources Directorate.
MPS programs support workshops, symposia, conferences, and related activities that achieve results and focus on new directions for future work.

The operational activities of MPS are organized around divisional and disciplinary lines that cover astronomical sciences, chemistry, materials research, mathematical sciences, and physics. However, MPS recognizes that "Nature knows no boundaries." Therefore, MPS emphasizes communication among the divisions and across directorate boundaries to ensure effective support of research and education projects in emerging fields that cut across those lines. Potential proposers can gain information and access to a full range of opportunities that are open to them by contacting the division and/or program in MPS that is related to their work.

MPS is an active participant in a number of inter- and intraagency programs that focus on interdisciplinary areas of importance to the national interest. These include advanced materials and processing; biotechnology; environment and global change; high performance computing and communications; advanced manufacturing technologies; civil infrastructure systems; and science, mathematics, engineering, and technology education. Researchers and educators interested in exploring opportunities in these areas should contact the program most closely related to their own interests to learn more about submitting proposals.

Collaborative Research at Undergraduate Institutions (C-RUI) Program--Is a joint initiative between the Biological Sciences (BIO) and MPS Directorates. The program was introduced in fiscal year 1995 and is designed to support multidisciplinary collaborative research groups at primarily undergraduate institutions. These groups are composed of three faculty members who represent at least two disciplinary areas and up to 10 undergraduates who will work on a project whose subject matter is primarily in the biological and/or mathematical and physical sciences and will require a cross-disciplinary approach. Further information can be found in the publication Collaborative Research in Undergraduate Institutions (NSF 94-90). (For more information on cross-directorate programs, see chapter 9.)
For More Information
For further information, contact the appropriate division director, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, Virginia 22230.

Multidisciplinary Activities

Established in 1995, the Office of Multidisciplinary Activities (OMA) supports activities that cut across the MPS disciplines and/or bridge these disciplines with other areas of science from other NSF directorates. OMA works to intensify the directorate's support for multidisciplinary research and human infrastructure and takes advantage of new opportunities. Each year a few areas of emphasis will be targeted for high priority funding consideration. Current examples are optical science and engineering, environmental science and technology, and the Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI) initiative.

For More Information

For further information, contact the Head, Office of Multidisciplinary Activities, Mathematical and Physical Sciences Directorate, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Room 1005, Arlington, Virginia 22230, (703) 306-1800.

Astronomical Sciences

The overall objective of the Astronomical Sciences (AST) Division is to increase our knowledge of the universe. Support is given for research aimed at determining the composition, structure, and evolution of planets, stars, and galaxies, including our Sun and the Milky Way.

AST supports the development and operation of three National Astronomy Centers. These centers are equipped with radio, optical, infrared, and special telescopes that are made available to the scientific community on a competitive basis. Resident staff at the centers give technical assistance to visiting scientists, conduct studies of their own, and develop advanced instrumentation. The division also supports the Center for Particle Astrophysics, an NSF Science and Technology (S&T) Center. The S&T centers are designed to meet national needs for research in specific areas of science that require facilities, equipment, staffing, and operational support that could not appropriately be offered by a single institution.

Astronomy Projects

The Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Projects Program provides a broad base for support of fundamental research aimed at an understanding of the states of matter and physical processes in the solar system and our Milky Way galaxy, and the origin and evolution of the present universe. Proposals to support searches for extraterrestrial intelligence are not funded in the program.

Areas of Research

Advanced Technologies and Instrumentation--Supports the development and construction of state-of-the-art detectors and instruments for the visible and infrared region of the spectrum; interferometric imaging instrumentation; adaptive optics; and the application of new technology and innovative techniques to astronomy.
Education, Human Resources, and Special Programs--Coordinates research support in special areas that are astronomy related. Programs include Research Experiences for Undergraduates (Sites), Presidential Faculty Fellows, the Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program, Collaborative Research at Undergraduate Institutions, and programs for women and underrepresented minorities.
Electromagnetic Spectrum Management--Coordinates with other Government agencies to use electromagnetic spectrum for research, and frequency assignments for other telecommunications/electronics systems.
Extragalactic Astronomy and Cosmology--Supports theoretical and observational studies of extragalactic objects ranging from nearby galaxies to the most distant quasars and their relevance to galactic evolution and cosmology.
Galactic Astronomy--Supports theoretical and observational studies on the structure and evolution of the Milky Way galaxy; the distribution, positions, and motions of stars in the galaxy; the characteristics of star clusters in the galaxy; the interstellar medium; and the properties of atoms and molecular constituents of the interstellar medium.
Planetary Astronomy--Supports theoretical and observational studies of the detailed structure and composition of planetary surfaces, interiors, atmospheres, and satellites; the nature of small bodies such as asteroids and comets; and the origin and development of the solar system.
Stellar Astronomy and Astrophysics--Supports theoretical and observational studies of the structure and activity of the Sun; the physical properties of all types of stars; all aspects of star formation and stellar evolution; the effects of mass loss, rotation, and magnetic fields; and the properties of atoms and molecules that are relevant to stellar astronomy.

Target Dates

Proposals for research that will take place in fiscal year 1996 (after October 1, 1995) had the following target dates:

Stellar Astronomy and Astrophysics, July 1, 1995;
Extragalactic Astronomy and Cosmology, August 1, 1995;
Galactic Astronomy, September 1, 1995; and
Planetary Astronomy, September 1, 1995.

Target dates for fiscal year 1997 will be announced in the NSF Bulletin, a monthly publication produced by the Office of Legislative and Public Affairs (OLPA).

The Advanced Technologies and Instrumentation Program does not have a target date. Proposers are urged to contact a program officer in advance of submitting a proposal to any of the Astronomy programs.

For More Information

For further information, contact the Division of Astronomical Sciences, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Room 1045, Arlington, Virginia 22230, (703) 306- 1820.

National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center

NSF supports the National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center (NAIC), a visitor-oriented national research center devoted to researching radio and radar astronomy and atmospheric sciences. NAIC's headquarters are in Ithaca, New York, where it is operated and managed for NSF by Cornell University, and its principal observing facilities are 19 kilometers south of the city of Arecibo, Puerto Rico.

NAIC provides telescope users with a wide range of research and observing instrumentation including receivers, transmitters, movable line feeds, and digital data acquisition and processing equipment. The center has a permanent staff of scientists, engineers, and technicians who are available to help visiting investigators with their observing programs.

NAIC's principal astronomical research instrument is a 305-meter fixed spherical radio/radar telescope--the world's largest single radio reflector. Its frequency capabilities range from 50 megahertz to 5 gigahertz. Transmitters include an S-band (2,380-megahertz) radar system for planetary studies and a 430-megahertz radar system for aeronomy studies. A second observing site is located 9.6 kilometers from the main site and has a 30.5-meter steerable parabolic antenna that is paired with the main antenna to provide an effective interferometric S-band radar mapping system. This antenna pair is also available for radio astronomy interferometry at a wavelength of 12 centimeters.

The S-Band Planetary Radar System is now available for high-spatial resolution studies of stratospheric dynamics. A high-power ionospheric heating facility provides researchers with a unique capability to investigate nonlinear plasma phenomena in the ionosphere.

A major three-phase upgrade of NAIC's main antenna facility is presently underway. The first phase will be to erect a large reflecting screen around the periphery of the 305-meter reflector to reduce the effect of scattered ground radiation on the observations. The second phase involves the installation of a pair of wide-band aberration-correcting reflectors to replace the line feeds above 250 megahertz. The final phase involves doubling the power of the S-band radar system. The upgrade is expected to be completed in 1996.

Eligibility

NAIC facilities and instrumentation are available--on a competitive basis--to qualified scientists from all over the world. Telescope time is assigned after judgment of research proposals on the basis of scientific merit, the capability of the instruments to do the work, and the availability of the telescope during the requested time period.

For More Information

For further information, contact the Director, National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853.

Gemini 8-Meter Telescopes

The Gemini 8-Meter Telescopes Project is an international undertaking that will provide astronomers from the partnership countries--the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Chile, Brazil, and Argentina--with 8-meter telescopes in the Northern Hemisphere on Mauna Kea, Hawaii, and in the Southern Hemisphere on Cerro Pachon, in Chile. The Mauna Kea telescope will be infrared optimized and have superb image quality. The Chilean telescope will be its near twin. NSF acts as the executive agency for the partnership, and the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. (AURA)--a consortium of 20 major universities-- is managing the construction of the telescopes.

When operational, these telescopes will provide astronomers from the partnership countries with world-class observing facilities. Observing time will be assigned on the basis of scientific merit. Completion is expected in 1998 on Mauna Kea and in 2000 in Chile.

National Optical Astronomy Observatories

NSF supports the National Optical Astronomy Observatories (NOAO), a national center for research in ground-based optical and infrared astronomy and solar physics. Large optical telescopes, observing instrumentation, and data analysis equipment are made available to qualified visiting scientists. The NOAO staff of astronomers, engineers, and various support personnel are available to assist visiting scientists in their use of the facilities.

NOAO is operated and managed by AURA with headquarters located in Tucson, Arizona. NOAO has three observatories:

Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO)--The observing facilities of KPNO are located on Kitt Peak, a 2,089-meter mountain that is 90 kilometers southwest of Tucson, Arizona. The facilities include the 4-meter Mayall Telescope, a 2.1-meter general-purpose reflector, a 92-centimeter coudÈ feed (associated with the 2.1-meter), a 1.3-meter reflector instrumented for the infrared, and the Burrell Schmidt Telescope of Case Western University. A full complement of state-of-the-art spectroscopic, photometric, and imaging instrumentation is available for use on these telescopes.
Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO)--CTIO provides qualified scientists with telescopes and related facilities for astronomical research in the Southern Hemisphere. CTIO has offices, laboratories, and living quarters in the coastal city of La Serena, Chile, located about 482 kilometers north of Santiago, Chile. The observing facilities are located on Cerro Tololo, a 2,194-meter mountain on the western slopes of the Andes, about 64 kilometers inland from La Serena.
CTIO operates six telescopes including a 4-meter that is a near twin to the Kitt Peak 4-meter. The other telescopes are the 1.5-meter, the 0.91-meter, a 0.61-meter reflector, a Schmidt telescope (on loan from the University of Michigan), and a 1-meter reflector (on loan from Yale). These telescopes are equipped with instruments similar to those at KPNO.
National Solar Observatory (NSO)--NSO is devoted to research in the fields of solar physics, solar/terrestrial relationships, and related areas. NSO makes available the world's largest collection of modern optical solar telescopes and auxiliary instrumentation designed to observe the solar photosphere, chromosphere, and corona.
NSO has observing facilities atop Kitt Peak, Arizona (NSO/KP), and Sacramento Peak, New Mexico (NSO/SP). The Kitt Peak facilities consist of the 1.5-meter McMath-Pierce Solar Telescope--the world's largest solar research instrument--and a solar vacuum telescope/magnetograph. The McMath complex is designed primarily for solar observations and is also used for planetary and stellar observations and for laboratory high-resolution spectroscopy.
NSO/SP is located in Sunspot, New Mexico, at an elevation of 2,800 meters on a crest of the Sacramento Mountains. The principal instruments are the 0.76-meter aperture Solar Vacuum Tower Telescope, equipped with spectrographs, optical benches, and the Advanced Stokes Polarimeter; and the Evans Solar Facility, equipped with a 40-centimeter aperture coronagraph, spectrographs, and a coronal photometer.

Eligibility

The NOAO facilities and instrumentation are available on a competitive basis to all qualified U.S. scientists and occasionally to foreign visitors. Telescope time is assigned on the basis of scientific merit, the capability of the instruments to do the work, and the availability of the telescope during the requested time period.

For More Information

For further information, contact the Director, National Optical Astronomy Observatories, P.O. Box 26732, Tucson, Arizona 85726.

National Radio Astronomy Observatory

NSF supports the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO), which makes radio astronomy facilities available to qualified scientists. The NRAO staff help visiting scientists use the large radio antennas, receivers, and other equipment needed to detect, measure, and identify radio waves from astronomical objects.

The headquarters of NRAO are located in Charlottesville, Virginia. Observing sites are located in Green Bank, West Virginia; Kitt Peak near Tucson, Arizona; a site 80 kilometers west of Socorro, New Mexico; and 10 sites in the continental United States and on the islands of Hawaii and St. Croix, on the latter of which individual antennas of the Very-Long-Baseline Array (VLBA) are located. NRAO is supported under the terms of a cooperative agreement between NSF and Associated Universities, Inc. (AUI), the organization responsible for the operation and management of the observatory.

Only one telescope is currently operated at the Green Bank site. It is a 43-meter aperture instrument that permits the study of spectral lines at centimeter wave lengths and is an integral part of the Very-Long-Baseline-Interferometer network. This network studies quasars and is involved in the high-resolution mapping of galactic objects based on simultaneous observations by combinations of telescopes over transcontinental and intercontinental distances. Currently under construction at Green Bank is a 100-meter telescope that is expected to be fully operational in 1996, at which time the 43-meter telescope will be retired.

A 12-meter millimeter-wavelength telescope is located on Kitt Peak to take advantage of the high altitude and dry climate necessary for short radio wavelengths. This telescope is capable of both continuum and spectral-line studies at wavelengths from 1 centimeter to as short as 1 millimeter.

The Very Large Array (VLA) telescope located west of Socorro, New Mexico, consists of 27 antennas and is available for use in an interferometric mode for aperture synthesis observations of faint radio sources. Both continuum and spectral-line observations at wavelengths of 1.3, 2, 6, and 20 centimeters can be made. The VLBA operates on the basis of the same physical principles as the VLA, but because of the much larger distances between antennas, the data are recorded at each site and compared later at Socorro, New Mexico. Because of its larger antenna separation, the VLBA is capable of resolving much smaller details in astronomical sources than is the VLA.

Eligibility

NRAO makes observing time on each instrument available for all qualified U.S. scientists and occasionally foreign visitors. Telescope time is assigned after judgment of research proposals on the basis of scientific merit, the capability of the instruments to do the work, and the availability of the telescope during the requested time period.

For More Information

For further information, contact the Director, National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Edgemont Road, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903.

Mathematical Sciences

The Division of Mathematical Sciences (DMS) supports a wide range of projects aimed at developing and exploring the properties and applications of mathematical structures. Most of these projects represent the research programs of single investigators or small groups of investigators working with graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. The Mathematical Sciences Infrastructure Program and the Special Projects Program handle a variety of different activities falling outside this mode.

The following activities cut across all disciplinary programs.

Mathematical Sciences Research Groups--Mathematics thrives on the sharing of ideas among researchers. In recent years, groups of investigators organized around a common-problem agenda or intellectual theme have produced significant results from their research projects in active areas of mathematical sciences. Research groups are successful due to the advantages of combined insight and awareness as well as the number of members in the group. This is particularly important in research that requires input across the traditional subdisciplinary boundaries within the mathematical sciences or that cuts across major scientific disciplines.
Although individual efforts continue to be the core of the mathematics research enterprise, it is appropriate to recognize organized groups as a viable complement. Mathematical Sciences Research Groups provide support for collaborative, multiinvestigator research in all programs within and across the purview of DMS and jointly with other programs in the Foundation or at other federal agencies. Group activities should envision work well beyond what could be accomplished by investigators working individually during a comparable time period.
Cross-Disciplinary Interactions--A number of areas in science and engineering have problems of great mathematical and statistical complexity or obscurity that are creating a demand for mathematical and statistical cooperation. The depth of these problems being raised often exceeds that of the training of the scientists and engineers currently in mathematical and statistical theory. To progress in solving these problems, mathematical scientists themselves must be sought to work in tandem with other scientists. At the same time, it is frequently the case that the problems posed stimulate interesting, new, and deep mathematical and statistical questions that deserve attention. DMS hopes to foster interactions that require the participants to go well beyond their respective areas of expertise, to nurture young talent in the interdisciplinary mode of research, and to involve underrepresented groups whenever possible. The following are some of these exciting research opportunities.
--In the area of biosciences, striking advances in biology, computer science, and the mathematical sciences are creating opportunities to collaborate on research work with fields such as molecular biology, neuroscience, and ecosystems, and offer challenging computational and analytical problems. Biological sciences interaction may extend significantly into the core areas of mathematics, such as topology, operator algebras, probability, and nonlinear dynamical systems, as well as the more traditional areas of applied mathematics and statistics.
--Projects designed to offer research opportunities are being undertaken in the geosciences, geography, and mathematical sciences. These projects involve teams of investigators from two or more of the targeted disciplines, including mathematical sciences, atmospheric sciences including climate dynamics and atmospheric chemistry, earth sciences, geography and regional sciences, and oceanography.
--Other opportunities include research in the areas of high performance computing and communications; mathematical and statistical aspects of materials behavior and theoretical continuum mechanics; advanced manufacturing technologies; mathematical sciences related to the biotechnology area; and mathematical, statistical, and computational aspects of global change research. Research in the area of materials includes interaction of thermal and mechanical effects; phase transition and formation of microstructures and crystals; foundations of nonlinear elasticity and electromagnetic materials; composite materials; and related mathematical questions such as control, optimization, and studies of differential equations arising in these contexts. Research opportunities in advanced manufacturing particularly emphasize simulation, modeling, and analysis of manufacturing processes and devices; applications to manufacturing of deterministic and stochastic quality control; and optimization. Mathematical sciences research related to bioprocessing and bioconversion, bioelectronics and bionetworks, agricultural applications, and marine biotechnology is especially encouraged.
--Global change research supports critical development of modeling, analysis, simulation, and prediction in the context of the total Earth system, with emphasis on analytical and computational methods for stochastic and deterministic partial differential equations and statistical techniques that encompass the full range of temporal and spatial scales. There are also opportunities in environmental technology, including pollution prevention, monitoring, and remediation. Researchers should be aware of implications of their efforts toward such activities.
Group Infrastructure Grants--DMS makes awards to groups of three or more investigators for nonsalary infrastructure needs. The awards are to enhance the research environment of the group. A significant factor in the evaluation of these proposals will be the added value and impact of the additional infrastructure support. The anticipated program deadline date for proposal submission will be in January 1996. Contact the division for further details.
Algebra and Number Theory--Supports research in algebra including algebraic struc- tures, general algebra, and linear algebra; number theory including algebraic and analytic number theory, quadratic forms, and automorphic forms; and combinatorics and graph theory and algebraic geometry.
Applied Mathematics--Supports research in any area of mathematics except probability or statistics. Research is expected to be motivated by or have effect on problems arising in science and engineering, although intrinsic mathematical merit is the major decision factor. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to, partial differential equations modeling natural phenomena or arising from problems in science and engineering; continuum mechanics; reaction-diffusion and wave propagation; dynamical systems; asymptotic methods; numerical analysis; variational methods; control theory; optimization theory; inverse problems; mathematics of biological or geological sciences; and mathematical physics.
Classical Analysis--Supports research on properties and behavior of solutions of differential equations; variational methods; approximations and special functions; analysis of several complex variables and singular integrals; harmonic analysis and wavelet theory; Kleinian groups and functions of one complex variable; and real analysis.
Computational Mathematics--Computation is increasingly important in all sciences. Mathematics plays a unique role in providing the development of basic algorithms and techniques that are necessary to carry out computations. Proposals from interdisciplinary teams of mathematical, computer, and general scientists are encouraged in an effort to develop critical computational techniques from algorithm development through implementation. Proposals for innovative computational methods within the mathematical sciences are also encouraged.
Geometric Analysis--Supports research on differential geometry and its relation to partial differential equations and variational principles; aspects of global analysis including the differential geometry of complex manifolds and geometric Lie group theory; geometric methods in modern mathematical physics and dynamical systems; and geometry of convex sets, integral geometry, and related geometric topics.
Modern Analysis--Research areas currently supported include Banach spaces, Banach algebras and function algebras, Lie groups and their representations, harmonic analysis, ergodic theory and dynamical systems, some aspects of mathematical physics such as Schroedinger operators and quantum field theory, and operators and algebras of operators on Hilbert space.
Statistics and Probability--Statistical theory and methods are used to plan scientific experiments and to understand and analyze data. Major subfields include parametric and nonparametric inference, sequential analysis, multivariate analysis, Bayesian analysis, experimental design, time series analysis, resampling methods, and robust statistics. Almost all of these subfields have become computationally intensive in recent times.
Probability theory is the study of mathematical structures that provide tractable models to statistics and many diverse areas such as physics, chemistry, biology, and engineering. Major subfields include stochastic processes, limit theory, infinite particle systems, stochastic analysis in Banach spaces, martingales, and Markov processes.
Topology and Foundations--Supports research on algebraic topology including homotopy theory, ordinary and extraordinary homology and cohomology, cobordism theory, and K-theory; topological manifolds and cell complexes, fiberings, knots, and links; differential topology and actions of groups of transformations; general topology and continua theory; and mathematical logic including proof theory, recursion theory and model theory, foundations of set theory, and infinite combinatorics.
General Conferences, Workshops, Symposia, Special Years, and Related Activities--Proposals for general conferences, workshops, symposia, special years, and related activities should be submitted to the appropriate disciplinary program. Proposals should be submitted one year in advance of the start of the activity. Contact the division for information on proposal requirements.

Target Dates

The division will continue to have two target dates for proposals submitted to the following programs.

October 11, 1995:: Algebra and Number Theory
Applied Mathematics (except Mathematical Biology)
Classical Analysis
Modern Analysis
November 9, 1995:: Computational Mathematics
Geometric Analysis
Statistics and Probability
Topology and Foundations
Mathematical Biology

The above dates do not apply to the activities of the Mathematical Sciences Infrastructure Program or the Special Projects Program, since most of these activities have specified target or deadline dates.

For More Information

The following program descriptions are necessarily brief. Program officers assign proposals to the appropriate program, and the programs cooperate in reviewing proposals of mutual interest.

For further information, contact the Division of Mathematical Sciences, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Room 1025, Arlington, Virginia 22230, (703) 306- 1870.

Mathematical Sciences Infrastructure Program--Supports activities different from the usual research project such as the work of research institutes. Activities include

Regional Conferences. Operated by the Conference Board of the Mathematical Sciences, these conferences feature a principal speaker who gives 10 one-hour talks on a particular subject during a week-long session. The deadline for proposal submission is April 1, 1996.
Scientific Computing Research Environments in the Mathematical Sciences. Offers moderate grants for computing equipment that will benefit groups of researchers of outstanding quality who are highly productive but whose work has been seriously impeded by the lack of computing facilities. The deadline for proposal submission is the first Monday in December.
Undergraduate Activities. Awards are made in conjunction with NSF-wide undergraduate efforts including Research Experiences for Undergraduates, cooperative activities with the Directorate for Education and Human Resources, and other related activities. See the chapters "Education and Human Resources" and "Other Research Activities" for more on NSF's undergraduate efforts.
Mathematical Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellowships. These fellowships will be awarded to between 30 and 40 new fellows in fiscal year 1996. Tenure provides a research instructorship option. These fellowships will be offered only to persons who
1. are citizens, nationals, or lawfully admitted permanent resident aliens of the United States as of January 1, 1996;
2. will have earned by the beginning of their fellowship tenure a doctoral degree in one of the mathematical sciences listed above or have had research training and experience equivalent to that represented by a Ph.D. in one of those fields;
3. will have held the doctorate for no more than five years as of January 1, 1996; and
4. will not previously have held any other NSF postdoctoral fellowship.
Each applicant will be required to submit a research plan for the tenure period requested. The fellowships are not intended to support the preparation of prior research results for publication or the writing of textbooks. Anticipated deadline for submission is October 17, 1995.
University/Industry Cooperative Research Programs in the Mathematical Sciences. Technical innovations flourish through a symbiotic relationship between academia and industry. The mathematical sciences provide a foundation for the scientific progress that generates technical innovations. It is important to provide more opportunities to conduct research and training in an industrial environment and for industrial scientists to return periodically to academia. In order to facilitate both research and training, the division provides Mathematical Sciences University/Industry Postdoctoral Research Fellowships, Mathematical Sciences University/Industry Senior Research Fellowships, and Industry-Based Graduate Research Assistantships and Cooperative Fellowships in the Mathematical Sciences.
The deadline date for submission of proposals is expected to be November 13, 1995. Contact the division for further details.
For More Information
For further information, contact the Program Officer, Infrastructure Program, Mathematical Sciences Division, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Room 1025, Arlington, Virginia 22230, (703) 306-1870.

Physics

The Physics (PHY) Division supports a wide range of programs, many of which for the most part, support individual investigators and small groups. The division operates a few large-scale facilities including the Cornell Electron Storage Ring (CESR), the Indiana University Cyclotron Facility (IUCF), and the Michigan State University National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL). The PHY Division is supervising the construction of the Laser Interferometer Gravity Wave Observatory (LIGO) and also operates several smaller centers specializing in optical physics and various aspects of theoretical physics. Programs in Elementary Particle Physics and Nuclear Physics benefit greatly from the use of the large accelerator facilities that are constructed by the Department of Energy.

The division, in cooperation with other MPS divisions, has begun small-scale initiatives in Biological Physics and in Particle Astrophysics.

The research activities in PHY are inextricably linked to education. PHY supports about 1,000 graduate students who are fully engaged in research programs. Some of these programs also involve substantial numbers of undergraduate students, especially in the summer activities that are centered around the Research Experiences for Undergraduates Program. Research activities at four-year colleges are supported through the Research at Undergraduate Institutions Program. In addition, PHY's support of about 500 postdoctoral fellowships represents a significant training opportunity for young people.

Atomic, Molecular, Optical, and Plasma Physics--Supports research in Atomic and Molecular Physics including (1) the electronic structure of isolated neutral and ionized atoms and molecules, their interparticle collision dynamics, and their interactions with charged particles and with electromagnetic radiation; and (2) the collective behavior of atoms, molecules, and their ionization products in general and collisionless plasma environments. In Optical Physics, a rapidly growing part of the program, specific current interests include the nonlinear response of isolated atoms to intense, ultrashort electromagnetic fields; the structure of "exotic" atoms; and ultraprecise tests of basic atomic properties and the laws of quantum electrodynamics using well-characterized electromagnetic fields. The Center for Ultrafast Optics, at the University of Michigan, has been extremely successful in its outreach to commercial corporations and new companies. The recently established Center for Light Force Dynamics is a consortium of several universities, government laboratories, and private corporations. Its purpose is to study the fundamental physics of light/matter interactions and to use that knowledge in the development of new science and technology.
Elementary Particle Physics--Supports research on the properties and interactions of elementary particles; the experimental explanation of the most fundamental building blocks of matter including quarks and leptons; and the interactions among elementary constituents. Research involves the use of high-energy beams from large accelerators or cosmic rays. Support goes primarily to university groups to conduct research at major accelerator laboratories worldwide or to specialized university-based facilities. The program supports the Cornell Electron Storage Ring (CESR), which produces electron and positron colliding beams that allow detailed studies of b-meson physics and upsilon physics; and an aggressive program of synchrotron radiation research at the Cornell High-Energy Synchrotron Source, which is operated by the Division of Materials Research. The CESR facility is in the process of being upgraded to produce higher luminosity, and upon completion the accelerator will be among the most powerful in the world.
The division also supports, in partnership with the Elementary Particle Physics and Nuclear Physics Programs, an aggressive effort in particle and nuclear astrophysics.
Gravitational Physics--Emphasizes the theory of strong gravitational fields and its applications to astrophysics and cosmology; the fine details of weak gravitational fields; gravitational radiation; and gravitational interaction with quantum mechanical systems. This program also supports a number of experimental investigations. Oversight of the Foundation- wide LIGO project is carried out in this program.
Nuclear Physics--Supports studies of properties of nuclei and nuclear matter under extreme conditions. This includes studies with heavy ions from low to relativistic energies; the structure and dynamics of nucleons, nuclei, and nuclear excitations, studied with light and heavy ions, neutrons, and electrons, from low to multi-GeV energies; roles of meson and quark degrees of freedom in nuclei; and basic interactions and fundamental symmetries investigated at the interface between particle and nuclear physics. Other important components include accelerator physics, interdisciplinary efforts, and applications to other fields. The program supports university user groups executing experiments at a large number of laboratories in the United States and abroad and also two national user facilities--a light- ion cyclotron and booster/storage ring facility at Indiana (IUCF) and a superconducting heavy-ion cyclotron facility at Michigan State (NCSL).
Theoretical Physics--Supports the development of qualitative and quantitative understanding of fundamental physical systems ranging from the most elementary constituents of matter through nuclei and atoms to astrophysical objects. This includes formulating new approaches for theoretical, computational, and experimental research that explores fundamental laws of physics and the behavior of physical systems; formulating quantitative hypotheses; exploring and analyzing the implications of such hypotheses computationally; and in some cases interpreting the results of experiments. The program supports research in elementary particle physics, nuclear physics, atomic and molecular physics, astrophysics and cosmology, mathematical physics, computational physics, nonlinear dynamics, chaos, statistical physics, and plasma physics, and includes a considerable number of interdisciplinary grants.
Special Programs--Supports activities in conjunction with Foundation-wide programs such as the Presidential Faculty Fellows and the Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program, Research Experiences for Undergraduates, and those programs that are aimed at women and underrepresented minorities (see the chapters "Education and Human Resources" and "Other Research Activities"). In addition, the division supports activities that improve the education and training of physics students (both undergraduate and graduate) and are not included in specific programs elsewhere in the Foundation. This includes curriculum development for upper-level physics courses. The initiative in Biological Physics is a part of this program. Other nascent science areas are monitored in Special Programs.

Chemistry

The Chemistry (CHE) Division supports research activities and research infrastructure development in most of the principal subdisciplines of the chemical sciences. However, support is also available from the Divisions of Atmospheric Sciences (atmospheric chemistry); Molecular and Cellular Biosciences (biochemistry, biophysics); Chemical and Transport Systems (chemical engineering); Earth Sciences (geochemistry); and Materials Research (solid- state and polymer science).

CHE supports research activities in emerging areas of national interest that cut across "traditional" subdisciplines. These areas include biological chemistry and biotechnology; the chemistry of advanced materials; environmental chemistry including research in greenhouse gas dynamics, an activity in the Environmentally Benign Chemical Synthesis and Processing Program (see program announcement NSF 92-13) that is jointly supported with the Engineering Directorate and the program in Environmental Geochemistry and Biogeochemistry (see program announcement NSF 95-49); high performance computing and communications; and advanced manufacturing including fundamental research underpinning chemical and pharmaceutical manufacture. Many of these activities are part of research programs that are coordinated through the National Science and Technology Council.

Research in subdisciplinary areas is also a vital part of the Chemistry Research Project Support investment portfolio. These areas include the following:

Analytical and Surface Chemistry--Supports fundamental chemical research directed toward the characterization and analysis of all forms of matter. This program includes studies of elemental and molecular macrocomposition and of the microstructure of both bulk and surface domains. Investigations designed to probe the interphase region that exists between different forms of matter are the responsibility of this program.
Inorganic, Bioinorganic, and Organometallic Chemistry--Supports research on the synthesis, structure, and reaction mechanisms of molecules containing metals, metalloids, and nonmetals encompassing the entire periodic table of the elements. Included are studies of stoichiometric and homogeneous catalytic chemical reactions; bioinorganic and organometallic reagents and reactions; and the synthesis of new inorganic substances with predictable chemical, physical, and biological properties. Such research provides the basis for understanding the function of metal ions in biological systems, for understanding the synthesis of new inorganic materials and new industrial catalysts, and for systematic understanding of the chemistry of most of the elements in the environment.
Organic Chemical Dynamics--Supports research on the structures and reaction dynamics of carbon-based molecules, metallo-organic systems, and organized molecular assemblies. Research includes studies of reactivity, reaction mechanisms, and reactive intermediates, and characterization and investigation of new organic materials. Such research provides the basis for understanding and modeling biological processes and for developing new or improved theories relating chemical structures and properties.
Organic Synthesis--Supports research on the synthesis of carbon-based molecules, metallo-organic systems, and organized molecular assemblies. Research includes the development of new reagents and techniques for organic synthesis and characterization and for investigation of new organic materials and natural products. Such research provides the basis for designed synthesis of new materials and natural products and for preparation of compounds important to the chemical and pharmaceutical industries.
Experimental Physical Chemistry--Supports experimental investigations of the physical properties of chemical systems. Scientific issues range from the nature and properties of individual molecules to the behavior of molecules in the aggregate. Areas of current activity include spectroscopy and clusters of molecules, the elastic and inelastic scattering of molecules and photons, the thermodynamics and statistical mechanics of fluids and fluid mixtures, and the kinetics of chemical reactions.
Theoretical and Computational Chemistry--Supports the development of chemical theory including quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, and dynamics. This area has applications to all fields of chemistry including support of computer code development.

Much of the CHE Division's support for instrumentation and infrastructure is coordinated through the Office of Special Projects. Among these activities is a program of portable Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Chemistry (see announcement NSF 94-82); a nationwide network of 60 sites for Research Experiences for Undergraduates (see program announcement NSF 93-112); Research Planning Grants for women and minorities; grants for Faculty Early Career Development; and occasional grants for special purposes in education, curriculum development, and graduate training.

The Chemical Instrumentation and Facilities Program (see program announcement NSF 93- 94) supports infrastructure and instrumentation investments and provides funds to research institutions and consortia thereof for the purchase of multiuser instruments, for major instrumentation development and construction, and for the establishment and support of multiuser research facilities in the chemical sciences. This program is designed to support the following types of academic instrumentation needs:

the purchase or upgrade of shared multiuser instruments (requires a one-third to one-half cost contribution from the grantee institution);
the development plans for multiyear instrument centers in chemistry departments;
instrumentation development including the construction of new prototype instruments; and
the establishment and support of unique national and regional instrumentation facilities.

This program focuses on shared instruments and facilities. Specialized equipment dedicated for use in particular chemistry research project or projects is funded as part of individual investigator awards, along with personnel and other direct project costs in programs in the CHE Division.

Materials Research

The Division of Materials Research (DMR) supports a wide range of programs that address fundamental phenomena in materials, materials synthesis and processing, materials structure and composition, materials properties and performance, and materials education. Formal research program areas are Metals, Ceramics, and Electronic Materials; Materials Theory; Condensed Matter Physics; Solid-State Chemistry and Polymers; and Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers. Investments in research infrastructure in materials science are also made through the National Facilities and Instrumentation Program.

DMR plays a significant role in various interdisciplinary areas and programs, including the Advanced Materials and Processing Program (AMPP), High Performance Computing and Communications (HPCC), and Advanced Manufacturing Technology (AMT). DMR is also a participant in the Biotechnology, Civil Infrastructure Systems, and Environmental Research Initiatives. DMR's interest in HPCC ranges from computational approaches to real materials and processes to materials for new or advanced computational and communications devices and systems. In AMT, DMR's interests range from the understanding of the fundamental materials science basis of phenomena (e.g., lubrication, adhesion, joining, forming, packaging) that broadly crosscuts strategically significant industrial sectors--to materials for specific manufacturing processes and applications. In addition to the impact of materials on manufacturing, DMR also has an interest in the impact of advanced manufacturing technologies on materials research, such as the cost-effective enhancement of the instrumentation and equipment infrastructure for materials research. In Environmental Research, the division is concerned with the preparation of innovative materials, with new processes that are more environmentally benign, and with novel concepts for reuse or recycling of materials.

DMR funding modes include support for individual investigators, groups, centers, national facilities, and instrumentation. Individual investigator proposals do not have to be confined or targeted to a specific program. Staff and management work to facilitate the co-funding of highly meritorious proposals across appropriate program, division, or directorate boundaries.

Metals, Ceramics, and Electronic Materials--Projects are composed primarily of experimental activities but may incorporate some related theoretical and computational research. The objective is to increase the understanding and predictive capabilities for relating synthesis, processing, and microstructure of these materials to their properties and performance in various applications and environments.
Research in the metals component encompasses broad areas of physical and mechanical metallurgy such as phase transformations; thermodynamics and phase equilibria; microstructural characterization and morphology; fundamentals of solidification; nonequilibrium and amorphous materials; nanostructured metal alloys; high performance metal alloys; metallic thin films; surface structure and properties; interface and grain boundary structure; corrosion and oxidation; defects; deformation and fracture of metals and their composites; surface modification; and advanced materials processing.
The ceramics component includes research on structural and electronic (functional) ceramics and glasses. Research support includes synthesis and processing of advanced ceramics; fundamental studies in ceramics; low-temperature chemical synthesis and processing; ceramic thin films; toughening mechanisms; novel analytical characterization techniques; advanced atomic-scale characterization of defects, interfaces, and microstructures; mechanical behavior of ceramics and ceramic composites; computational modeling of mechanical behavior; behavior under complex stress states and in extreme environments; chemical stability, reactivity, and kinetics; defect structures; and transport properties.
Examples of research in the electronic materials component are electronic, magnetic, ferroelectric, and optical behavior of inorganic materials, semiconductors, superconductors, insulators, and nonlinear optical materials; synthesis and processing of thin films; hetero- epitaxial layers, nanostructures, and superlattice structures; fundamentals of epitaxy; atomic structure of defects and interfaces; beam/solid interactions; beam and field processing; ion implantation doping; supersaturated semiconductor alloys; novel processing routes and precursors; in situ low-temperature processing and diagnostics; and characterization of electronic and optical behavior of defects and defect arrays.
Materials Theory--Provides support for theoretical grants in the research areas mentioned in the program descriptions for Metals, Ceramics, and Electronic Materials; Condensed Matter Physics; and Solid-State Chemistry and Polymers. This program also supports research that helps to advance theoretical methods and a broad spectrum of analytical and computational research in condensed matter physics, solid-state chemistry, and advanced materials. The emphasis is on an atomistic approach to materials research ranging from the electronic to the microstructural/mesoscopic level.
Research is presently supported on surface and interfacial phenomena; systems far from equilibrium; phase transformations and transitions; nanostructured materials; complex fluids; strongly correlated systems; nonlinear and dynamical systems; biomolecular materials; applications of advanced computing to real materials; electronic structure calculations; materials growth; predictive capabilities for structure/property relationships; modeling of atomic structure of defects, interfaces, and grain boundaries; electronic, optical, magnetic, and thermal properties; and superconductivity.
Condensed Matter Physics--Provides support for fundamental experimental research into the physical properties of amorphous, ordered, and nanostructured solids; classical, quantum, and partially ordered fluids; and the interfaces of such condensed phases. Materials being investigated include metals, insulators, semiconductors, amorphous solids, liquid crystals, and biomolecular materials. Phenomena of interest include phase transitions; localization; electronic, magnetic, and lattice structure of solids; superconductivity; elementary excitations including electronic, magnetic, plasma, and lattice; transport and optical properties; and nonlinear dynamics.
Current topics of interest include the study of surfaces, interfaces, thin films, nanostructures, quantum fluids, nonequilibrium systems, and phenomena exhibited by systems of reduced dimensionality or reduced crystalline perfection. The development of new experimental techniques is an important part of this activity. Synthesis, characterization, and analysis of new materials by novel methods are also of interest. In addition, support will include experimental research on condensed matter under extreme conditions such as low or ultralow temperatures, ultrahigh pressures, and high magnetic fields.
Solid-State Chemistry and Polymers--Is largely experimental and multidisciplinary with strong components of chemistry, physics, and materials science. Emphasis is placed on synthesis, processing, characterization, and structure/property relationships of materials at the molecular level with particular focus on new materials or materials with superior properties. The solid-state chemistry component of the program supports research in the following areas: innovative synthetic routes to new inorganic and organic solid-state and mesophase materials; characterization of new materials with novel electronic, optical, magnetic, and chemical behavior; relationships among bulk, surface, interface, and defect structures and properties such as chemisorption, transport, and reactivity; and materials preparation, processing, and optimization by chemical means. The creation of innovative materials exhibiting new phenomena is emphasized within selected classes of advanced materials such as biomolecular, magnetic, and superconducting, and with emphasis on special issues such as environmental concerns related to the processing and utilization of potentially functional materials.
The polymers component of the program supports basic research in polymer science with a special emphasis on the specific chemical and physical properties that distinguish macromolecules from small molecules. Topics of interest include the synthesis of novel high- polymeric materials, particularly those with well-defined structures; synthesis and processing of polymer films; unconventional polymerization processes; the characterization of the chemical and physical structure of polymers by state-of-the-art instrumentation methods; the arrangements of macromolecules and the morphology in amorphous, crystalline, and cross- linked polymers; the compatibility and phase relations in block polymers and mixtures of polymers; the chain dynamics and relaxations in macromolecules; the relation of macromolecular characteristics to electronic, optical, surface, solid-state, liquid-crystalline, solution, and other properties; and the fundamental polymer science and surface science of organic-matrix composites. The polymers studied are principally synthetic, but there is an increasing interest in biomolecular materials.
Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers (MRSECs)--Supports interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary materials research and education while addressing fundamental problems in science and engineering that are important to society. In deciding to support new research opportunities, MRSECs require outstanding research quality, intellectual breadth, and interdisciplinary flexibility; support for research infrastructure; and full integration with the academic programs of the participating institutions. These centers have strong links to industry and other sectors, and ultimately they will lead to a national network of university-based centers in materials research. MRSECs address fundamental materials research topics of intellectual and strategic importance; contribute to national priorities by fostering an active collaboration between universities and other sectors; and enable researchers to address problems of a scope or complexity that requires the advantages of scale and of interdisciplinary interaction that can be provided by a campus-based research center.
The MRSEC Program supersedes the Materials Research Laboratories (MRL) and the Materials Research Groups (MRG) Programs while encompassing the activities of Science and Technology Centers in the materials field. Thus, it accommodates programs that currently are separate and provides an evolutionary path to a more coordinated approach. The research undertaken is of a scope and complexity that would not be feasible under traditional funding for individual research projects. Each MRSEC encompasses one or more interdisciplinary research groups, with the scope of its activities depending on the capabilities of the participating institution(s). The larger centers are expected to initiate a broad program of research and education that may involve several interdisciplinary groups as well as programs to stimulate interdisciplinary education and the development of human resources; active collaboration with industry and other sectors and institutions; and support for shared experimental facilities. NSF encourages the use of MRSEC funds to include support for junior faculty and high risk research and to foster emerging areas of interdisciplinary materials research. NSF currently supports 11 MRSECs, 5 MRLs, and 13 MRGs.
National Facilities and Instrumentation--Supports the development and acquisition of state-of-the-art instrumentation to carry out advanced materials research and for the operation of national facilities. The program also administers the new National High Magnetic Field Laboratory; and, in cooperation with the Division of Electrical and Communications Systems in the Engineering Directorate, provides partial support for a National Nanofabrication Users Network, which is distributed among five institutions: the University of California at Santa Barbara, Cornell University, Howard University, Pennsylvania State University, and Stanford University.
This program offers support for major shared instruments essential to the needs of researchers conducting research in two or more disciplinary areas within the purview of DMR; and for instrumentation required by one or more investigators conducting research in a single disciplinary area within the purview of DMR and costing $100,000 or more. Examples of major equipment are electron microscopes, scanning tunneling microscopes, x-ray diffractometers, SQUID magnetometers, dilution refrigerators, instrumentation for surface and bulk spectroscopies such as NMR spectrometers and laser systems, instrumentation for synchrotron radiation beamlines, equipment for materials synthesis and growth such as MBE systems, hot-isostatic presses, ion implantation equipment, mechanical testing equipment, and electron-beam lithography systems. Proposals for the development of new instruments that have the potential to solve important materials problems or significantly advance measurement capabilities, or that will lead to new discoveries, are strongly encouraged. To obtain current guidelines for submission of instrumentation proposals, contact the Division of Materials Research, (703) 306-1810.
National Facilities are research facilities with specialized instrumentation available to the scientific research community, particularly the materials research community. These facilities provide unique research capabilities that can be located at only a very few of the Nation's laboratories. Examples include facilities and resources for research using high magnetic DC and pulsed fields, ultraviolet and x-ray synchrotron radiation, small-angle neutron scattering, and nanofabrication.

For More Information

For further information, contact the following National Facilities:

Center for High-Resolution Neutron Scattering
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Reactor Radiation Division
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899
(301) 975-6242

Cornell High-Energy Synchrotron Source
Wilson Laboratory
Cornell University
Ithaca, New York 14853
(607) 255-7163

National High Magnetic Field Laboratory [operated by Florida State University, the University of Florida, and Los Alamos National Laboratory]
Florida State University
1800 E. Paul Dirac Drive
Tallahassee, Florida 32306-4005
(904) 644-6257 or (904) 644-4068

Synchrotron Radiation Center
University of Wisconsin at Madison
3731 Schneider Drive
Stoughton, Wisconsin 53589-2200
(608) 877-2000

National Nanofabrication Facility
Knight Laboratory
Cornell University
Ithaca, New York 14853
(607) 255-2329
FAX: (607) 255-8601

Stanford Nanofabrication Facility
CIS Building
Stanford University
Stanford, California 94305-4070
(415) 725-6266 or (415) 725-NANO
FAX: (415) 725-6278