MPS Chemistry Research Programs (MPS Chem)

Synopsis

The U.S. National Science Foundation Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (NSF MPS) supports foundational research through multiple programs in the chemical sciences.

Programs include:

NSF MPS is particularly interested in intellectually ambitious and potentially transformative foundational research. Proposals need not promise a near-term product, deployment, or commercial outcome, nor need they address later-stage development to be competitive.

Program contacts

General inquiries regarding this program should be made to:

MPS Chemistry staff: cheminfo@nsf.gov

Name	Email
Chemical Catalysis	chem-cat@nsf.gov
Chemical Measurement and Imaging	chem-cmi@nsf.gov
Chemical Mech, Func & Prop	chem-cmfp@nsf.gov
Chemical Structure and Dynamics	chem-csd@nsf.gov
Chemical Synthesis	chem-syn@nsf.gov
Chemical Systems and Solutions	chem-css@nsf.gov
Chemical Theory, Mod & Comp Meth	chem-ctmc@nsf.gov
Chemistry of Life Processes	chem-clp@nsf.gov
Macromolecular, Supramolecular & Nanochem	chem-msn@nsf.gov

Awards made through this program

Browse projects funded by this program

Map of recent awards made through this program

Upcoming due dates

Full proposal accepted anytime

Full proposals are accepted anytime starting September 1, 2026.

Full proposals to the Chemistry Research Programs will be accepted anytime starting September 1, 2026.

Program guidelines

Award information

Subject to availability of funds.

Estimated number of awards

300

Proposals may only be submitted by certain types of PIs. Please see solicitation for details.

Limit on number of proposals per PI or Co-PI

There are annual limits on the number of submitted proposals that can list the same individual as either principal investigator (PI), co-PI or senior/key personnel. Beginning Sept. 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, no more than two proposals per year may list the same individual as either PI, co-PI or senior/key personnel. Additionally:

The limit applies to all proposals submitted annually (Sept 1 – August 31) across the nine disciplinary chemistry research programs covered by this solicitation (other than the exceptions below).
If two proposals list the same individual as PI, co-PI or senior/key personnel, at least one of those proposals must be a multi-investigator or collaborative proposal.

Any proposals submitted after reaching the two-proposal limit will be returned by NSF without review.

Declined proposals can be resubmitted in the same one-year period in which they were submitted, if major revisions are made and the annual submission limit described above has not been exceeded. A resubmitted proposal that has not addressed reviewers' and/or program officers’ major comments or concerns may be returned by NSF without review, as outlined in the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG).

These restrictions also cover the following funding opportunities:

Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI)
Facilitating Research at Predominantly Undergraduate Institutions (RUI and ROA-PUI)
International lead-agency opportunities, including:
- NSF-DFG Lead Agency Opportunity in Chemistry and Chemical Process and Transport Systems
- NSF and US-Israel Binational Science Foundation (BSF) Collaborative Research Opportunities
- And other such opportunities unless specified otherwise

The proposal types listed below are not subject to these limitations and may be submitted at any time after consultation with the cognizant NSF program officer:

Conferences
Supplemental funding requests to existing grants
EArly-Concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER)
Rapid Response Research (RAPID)
Research Advanced by Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering (RAISE)

Proposals submitted to other solicitations — e.g., NSF Centers for Chemical Innovation, Major Research Instrumentation, Research Experiences for Undergraduates Sites or Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) — are also not subject to the 2-proposal limit.

Proposers should contact the relevant program with any submission eligibility questions (see email alias listed in this solicitation).

Review full program guidelines and learn how to submit a proposal in the latest solicitation. Read the solicitation NSF 26-519

MPS Chemistry Research Programs (MPS Chem)

View guidelines

Important information for proposers and award recipients

Synopsis

Program contacts

Awards made through this program

MPS Chemistry Research Programs (MPS Chem)

View guidelines

Important information for proposers and award recipients

Synopsis

Program contacts

Awards made through this program

Organization(s)