Polymers (POL)

The DMR Polymers Program supports fundamental research and education on polymeric materials and polymer science. The Program portfolio is mainly experimental and highly diverse with components of materials science, chemistry, physics, and other related disciplines. While interdisciplinarity is stressed, a central goal includes developing and advancing the foundations of polymer science across the wide horizon of the polymer field through innovative research and education projects.  Polymers are studied from the molecular level through the nano-to-macro continuum using fundamental materials-focused scientific approaches. Such approaches are experimental but may also partly integrate theoretical, modeling, and computational aspects.  Broad areas addressed include synthesis and assembly, characterization, phase behavior, structure, morphology, and properties.  Particular focus is on transformative approaches to innovative materials with superior properties, on advancing polymer fundamentals and optimizing structure-property relationships, as well as on basic polymer research addressing major societal challenges.  High-quality proposals that integrate research, education, and other broader impacts are invited.  Projects focused on processing, manufacturing, engineering, devices, or applications of polymers are generally more suitable for programs in the NSF Engineering Directorate.