CHE, MPS, and NSF Solicitations and Dear Colleague Letters


May 11, 2023

Current Funding Opportunities

NSF-DFG Lead Agency Activity in Measurements of Interfacial Systems at Scale with In-situ and Operando aNalysis (NSF-DFG MISSION; NSF 23-583)

The NSF and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation, DFG) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on research cooperation. The Division of Chemistry (CHE) and the Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental and Transport Systems (CBET) at the NSF and the Divisions of Physics and Chemistry (PC) and Engineering Sciences (ING 1) at the DFG are pleased to announce NSF-DFG MISSION.

Interfacial processes are inherently complex given the rich mix of reactions, transport phenomena, and inter-phase gradients that often characterize such systems. There is a critical need for a new generation of operando and in-situ characterization systems and tools (e.g., imaging, spectroscopy, scattering and corresponding theoretical methods) to develop a molecular understanding. The solicitation encourages novel characterization of processes occurring at interfaces under system-realistic conditions that are relevant to solving contemporary issues such as, climate solutions and sustainable chemical processes. Please consult the solicitation (NSF 23-583) for additional information.

Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitter's local time): October 31, 2023

An Expression of Interest (EOI) must be submitted to NSFDFG@nsf.gov by June 28, 2023, prior to the submission of a full proposal.

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Molecular Foundations for Biotechnology (MFB) Solicitation NSF 23-554

This solicitation calls for proposals to develop and provide proof-of-concept testing of tools, methodology and/or theory that address one or both themes below: 

 i. Accelerate fundamental discoveries about RNA structure, interactions, and functions at molecular or genome and transcriptome-wide scales, and/or

 ii. Create innovative RNA-based applications for various sectors of the bioeconomy such as agriculture, energy production, or efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change, improve environmental sustainability, and/or combat global pandemics. 

The funding opportunity will be coordinated by the National Science Foundation together with the National Institutes of Health, National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI). The focus on RNA science advances (1) Biotechnology innovation for a sustainable, safe and secure American bioeconomy; (2) the NSF 2022-2026 Strategic Plan to create new knowledge and benefit society by translating knowledge into solutions; and (3) the NHGRI 2020 Strategic Vision for improving human health at the Forefront of Genomics.

The program will support projects with a budgetary range of approximately $250,000 to $400,000 per year in direct costs and a duration of up to 3 years.

Submission Deadline Dates:

Letter of Intent Due Date(s) (required) (due by 5 p.m. submitter's local time): March 16, 2023

Full Proposal Deadline Date: May 11, 2023

Please click on link for more information: MFB solicitation NSF 23-554 (https://beta.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/molecular-foundations-biotechnology-mfb-0).

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Future of Semiconductors (FuSe) Solicitation (NSF 23-552):

The solicitation aims to cultivate a broad coalition of researchers and educators from the science and engineering communities that utilizes a holistic, co-design approach to enable rapid progress in the new semiconductor technologies. It seeks to fund collaborative team research that transcends the tradition boundaries of individual disciplines.

The three research topic areas under this FuSe solicitation are:

        Topic 1: Collaborative Research in Domain-Specific Computing

        Topic 2: Advanced Function and High-Performance by Heterogeneous Integration

        Topic 3: New Materials for Energy-Efficient, Enhanced-Performance and Sustainable Semiconductor-Based Systems

The solicitation includes several industry partners: Ericsson, IBM, Intel, and Samsung. The role of the industry partners is detailed in the solicitation.

Proposal submission deadline: April 24, 2023

NSF plans to make awards up to $2M for up to a three-year grant period, commensurate with the scope and team size.

An information webinar is being planned to be held about one month from now, with the webinar logistics to be announced at the NSF FuSe Website. For general questions about this solicitation, please email fuse1@nsf.gov, or the program directors working on the FuSe solicitation. If you have questions related to chemistry, please direct your inquiry to George Janini (gjanini@nsf.gov).

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Dear Colleague Letter: Growing Research Access for Nationally Transformative Equity and Diversity (GRANTED) Conferences and Workshops (NSF 23-037)

Dear Colleagues:

The National Science Foundation (NSF) seeks to encourage nationally transformative ideas and scalable models to strengthen the Nation’s research enterprise, particularly at emerging research and minority-serving institutions. Broadly defined, the research enterprise includes human capital, practices and processes related to research development, research administration, technology transfer and commercialization, corporate relation/public-private partnerships, research integrity, compliance and security, research policy, student research training, and research leadership.

In the past several decades, the complexity of managing externally funded activities has increased significantly. The recent pandemic has exacerbated this issue through increased attrition of research enterprise professionals and additional budget constraints. Insufficient resources hinder institutional ability to develop and manage externally funded projects, reducing the opportunity to fully realize the outcomes from creativity present in all the Nation’s institutions of higher education and their partners. Beginning in FY2023, GRANTED, a new NSF-wide initiative, will seek to address these issues.

Proposals must not request more than $100,000 in NSF support. The costs that may be included in budgets are described in Chapter II of the PAPPG. Proposals pursuant to this DCL are welcome through March 15th, 2023, but earlier submissions are encouraged. To ensure a geographically broad portfolio, institutions and organizations located in EPSCoR jurisdictions are particularly encouraged to apply.

Inquiries about this DCL and questions about submission of proposals should be directed to GRANTED@nsf.gov.

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Mathematical and Physical Sciences Ascending Postdoctoral Research Fellowships (MPS-Ascend). (NSF 23-501)

The purpose of the Mathematical and Physical Sciences Ascending Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (MPS-Ascend) program is to support postdoctoral Fellows who will broaden the participation of members of groups that are historically excluded and currently underrepresented in MPS fields in the U.S., defined in this solicitation as Blacks or African Americans, Hispanics, Latinos, Indigenous and Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians and other Native Pacific Islanders, as future leaders in MPS fields. The program is intended to recognize beginning investigators of significant potential and provide them with experience in research that will broaden perspectives, facilitate interdisciplinary interactions, and help broaden participation within MPS fields. The program funds postdoctoral Fellows in research environments that will have maximal impact on their future scientific development and facilitates their transition into a faculty appointment. Awards will support research in any scientific area within the purview of the five MPS Divisions: The Divisions of Astronomical Sciences (AST), Chemistry (CHE), Materials Research (DMR), Mathematical Sciences (DMS), and Physics (PHY). Fellowships are awards to individuals, not institutions, and are administered by the Fellows.

Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitter's local time):

     January 25, 2023

     October 18, 2023

     Third Wednesday in October, Annually Thereafter

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Quantum Sensing Challenges for Transformational Advances in Quantum Systems (QuSeC-TAQS) (NSF 22-630).

The Quantum Sensing Challenges for Transformational Advances in Quantum Systems (QuSeC-TAQS) program supports interdisciplinary teams of three (3) or more investigators to explore highly innovative, original, and potentially transformative research on quantum sensing. The QuSeC-TAQS program supports coordinated efforts to develop and apply quantum sensor systems, with demonstrations resulting in proof of principle or field-testing of concepts and platforms that can benefit society. The QuSeC-TAQS program aligns with recommendations articulated in the strategy report, Bringing Quantum Sensors to Fruition, that was produced by the National Science and Technology Council Subcommittee on Quantum Information Science, under the auspices of the National Quantum Initiative. Click on this link for more information: https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf22630 

Submission Deadlines:

Preliminary Proposal Due (due by 5 p.m. submitter's local time): December 16, 2022 

Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitter's local time): April 03, 2023

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Dear Colleague Letter (DCL): Critical Aspects of Sustainability (CAS): Innovative Solutions to Sustainable Chemistry Program (CAS-SC), https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf22111 

With this Dear Colleague Letter (DCL), the National Science Foundation (NSF) announces the establishment of the Critical Aspects of Sustainability (CAS): Innovative Solutions to Sustainable Chemistry Program (CAS-SC), under the CAS metaprogram umbrella.[1] The CAS-SC Program recognizes the importance of sustainable chemistry in addressing many societal challenges and aims to encourage the expansion of the Nation’s research capacity in this topic area through submissions of research proposals. Proposals that emphasize a detailed and quantitative understanding of sustainable chemistry and include industrial partnerships are of particular interest.

The practice of sustainability, which conscientiously exploits resource and technology development in harmony to meet human needs and aspirations, benefits society in numerous ways. Meeting growing global demands for the use of sustainable chemistry in consumer and commercial products will create significant value and an economic opportunity for U.S. manufacturing. Reducing waste and maximizing the use of resources benefit the environment and contribute to mitigating climate change. NSF also provides opportunities aimed to increase the impact of discoveries through partnerships, to develop sustainable chemistry technologies into prototypes or proof of concept designs, and to learn how to develop and implement a technology development roadmap and create a business model.

Proposals in response to this DCL should be submitted to existing programs in the participating NSF divisions, adhering to the respective submission deadlines and requirements. After any solicitation or PAPPG specific requirements, titles should include the prefix "CAS-SC:". CAS-SC proposals are expected to contain a compelling, detailed, and quantitatively-supported description of how the proposed research would address sustainable chemistry.

Prior to submission of a full proposal, potential research teams are required to submit a concept outline identifying the appropriate participating division where the primary research lies using the Program Suitability and Proposal Concept Tool (ProSPCT) webform at https://suitability.nsf.gov/s/. For more information, please see the DCL announcement for details.

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Division of Chemistry: Disciplinary Research Programs: No Deadline Pilot (CHE-DRP:NDP) (NSF 22-606).

The Division of Chemistry is piloting the removal of deadlines for the submission of proposals to the CLP, CSDM-A and CTMC Programs. 

The no-deadline pilot seeks to assess the benefits and challenges of removing deadlines in proposal submission for the chemistry research community: the removal of deadlines on proposal submission is intended to allow principal investigators (PIs) more flexibility and better facilitate interdisciplinary research. It may, however, have unanticipated consequences for PIs, reviewers, and institutions. 

This solicitation applies only to the Chemistry of Life Processes (CLP), Chemical Structure, Dynamics, and Mechanisms-A (CSDM-A) and Chemical Theory, Models and Computational Methods (CTMC) programs. Other than the following exceptions, all proposals submitted to the CLP, CSDM-A, and CTMC programs must be submitted through this solicitation, otherwise they will be returned without review. 

Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitter's local time): Proposals Accepted Anytime, starting September 1, 2022.

Please see link for more information: https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?WT.z_pims_id=506080&ods_key=nsf22606

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Division of Chemistry: Disciplinary Research Programs (CHE-DRP) (NSF 22-605).

This solicitation applies to six (of the nine) CHE Disciplinary Research Programs: Chemical Catalysis (CAT); Chemical Measurement and Imaging (CMI); Chemical Structure Dynamics and Mechanisms-B (CSDM-B); Chemical Synthesis (SYN); Environmental Chemical Sciences (ECS); and Macromolecular, Supramolecular and Nanochemistry (MSN).

All proposals submitted to these six CHE Disciplinary Research Programs (other than the following exceptions) must be submitted through this solicitation, otherwise they will be returned without review.

Submission Window Date(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitter's local time):

September 01, 2022 - September 30, 2022

September 1 - September 30, Annually Thereafter

The September window is for all proposals submitted to: Chemical Catalysis (CAT); Chemical Structure, Dynamics and Mechanisms-B (CSDM-B); and Chemical Synthesis (SYN).

 October 01, 2022 - October 31, 2022

 October 1 - October 31, Annually Thereafter

The October window is for all proposals submitted to: Chemical Measurement and Imaging (CMI); Environmental Chemical Sciences (ECS); and Macromolecular, Supramolecular and Nanochemistry (MSN).

Please see link for more information: https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?WT.z_pims_id=505537&ods_key=nsf22605

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Launching Early-Career Academic Pathways in the Mathematical and Physical Sciences (LEAPS-MPS) https://www.acpt.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf22604

The Launching Early-Career Academic Pathways in the Mathematical and Physical Sciences (LEAPS-MPS) call has an emphasis to help launch the careers of pre-tenure faculty in Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS) fields at institutions that do not traditionally receive significant amounts of NSF-MPS funding, such as some minority-serving institutions (MSIs), predominantly undergraduate institutions (PUIs), and Carnegie Research 2 (R2) universities. LEAPS-MPS has the additional goal of achieving excellence through diversity and aims to broaden participation to include members from groups historically excluded and currently underrepresented in the Mathematical and Physical Sciences, including Blacks and African Americans, Hispanics, Latinos, Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and other Native Pacific Islanders. 

Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitter's local time): January 26, 2023, and Fourth Thursday in January, Annually Thereafter.

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Dear Colleague Letter: Enabling Quantum Computing Platform Access for National Science Foundation Researchers with Amazon Web Services, IBM, and Microsoft Quantum (NSF 22-092)

The field of quantum computing has witnessed substantial progress in recent years, with the development of next-generation quantum processors in the 50- to 100-qubit range and beyond. Realizing the promise of such processors requires significant capacity-building to prepare the next generation of quantum researchers and users. In light of the quantum-computing developments in the private sector as well as the opportunity for further innovation in the academic setting, the National Science Foundation, in conjunction with Amazon Web Services (AWS), IBM, and Microsoft, is coordinating the availability of cloud-based access to quantum-computing platforms in order to advance research and build capacity in the academic setting. More information about the platforms is available at the following company websites.

With this Dear Colleague Letter (DCL), NSF's Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE), the Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS), the Directorate for Engineering (ENG), and the Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP) notify the research community of their intention to support supplemental funding requests for currently active NSF awards to enable use of these quantum-computing platforms. NSF's supplemental funding will include support for graduate students as well as fees to work on these hardware and software quantum platforms.

Supplemental funding requests pursuant to this DCL are welcome through July 8, 2022, but earlier submissions are encouraged. This opportunity is open to PIs and co-PIs with active awards from the research areas described in this DCL. Requests should be prepared in accordance with the guidance in Chapter VI.E.5 of the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) and submitted electronically via FastLane. NSF will manage the review of supplemental funding requests and the selection of those chosen for award. Amazon Web Services, IBM, and Microsoft Quantum will have no role in the review and selection process, and proposals will not be shared with Amazon Web Services, IBM, or Microsoft Quantum.

Please click on the link for more information: https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf22092

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Dear Colleague Letter:  CHE FY22 International Supplement (NSF 22-070)

Building partnerships is an increasingly high priority across the Federal government, and its importance is highlighted as a key element of leadership for NSF in the National Science Board's Vision 2030, which states that "the U.S. must build partnership capacity at home to respond to a more competitive global S&E landscape and enhance capacity for its researchers to collaborate internationally". 

In this context, the Division of Chemistry is inviting requests for supplemental funding from its existing awardees who may wish to add a new, or strengthen an existing, international dimension of their research supported by an award from the Division, when an international collaboration advances the field of chemistry and enhances the U.S. investigator's own research and/or education objectives. Principal Investigators supported by NSF Division of Chemistry research awards are advised to consult with their cognizant NSF program director prior to submitting a supplemental funding request

To be considered in the current fiscal year, requests should be submitted by May 1, annually. Requests received after May 1 will be considered in the following fiscal year.

Please click the link for more information: https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf22070

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Dear Colleague Letter:  Research Collaboration Opportunity in Europe for NSF Awardees (NSF 22-056)

To further scientific and technological cooperation between the United States and the European Community, the National Science Foundation and the European Research Council signed an Implementing Arrangement on October 29, 2019, to enable U.S.-based scientists and engineers with active NSF awards, particularly those early in their careers, to pursue research collaboration with European colleagues supported through EU-funded European Research Council (ERC) grants.

Connecting researchers with complementary strengths and shared interests promotes scientific progress in solving some of the world's most vexing problems. This international research opportunity is mutually beneficial to the U.S. participants and their hosts through cooperative activities during research visits and establishing international research partnerships to enrich future research activities in the U.S. and Europe.

Under the Arrangement, the ERC Executive Agency (ERCEA) identifies ERC-funded research groups who wish to host NSF grantees for research visits of up to one year within their ERC funding.

Opportunity: This letter invites current NSF grantees to submit supplemental funding requests for research visits to any identified, appropriate ERC-funded European research group. NSF particularly encourages requests from NSF grantees who are early in their careers or who are still actively building their careers. Further, the letter gives instructions on how to submit supplemental funding requests and other relevant policies and requirements. For more information please, click on the link: https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf22056

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Dear Colleague Letter:  High School Student Research Assistantships (MPS-High) Funding to Broaden Participation in the Mathematical and Physical Sciences (NSF 22-041)

The mission of Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS) Directorate is to empower the collective efforts of the mathematical and physical sciences communities to address the most compelling scientific questions, educate the future advanced high-tech workforce, and promote discoveries to meet the needs of the Nation. Comprised of the Divisions of Astronomical Sciences (AST), Chemistry (CHE), Materials Research (DMR), Mathematical Sciences (DMS), and Physics (PHY), as well as the Office of Multidisciplinary Activities (OMA), MPS takes the position that diversity is an indispensable component of achieving research excellence.

Strategies to successfully broaden participation during pre-college years will help to ensure that the future MPS workforce will be a diverse pool of future students, faculty, and researchers. As part of a supplemental funding request to an existing NSF award, the five Divisions that comprise the Directorate for the Mathematical and Physical Sciences will consider requests that:

  • Foster interest in the pursuit of studies in the Mathematical and Physical Sciences; and
  • Broaden participation of high school students with particular emphasis for those who are in groups that have been traditionally underrepresented and under-served in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM enterprise, such as members of racial and ethnic groups (including Blacks and African Americans, Hispanics and Latinos, Native Americans including Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians and other Native Pacific Islanders), persons with disabilities, those identifying as LGBTQ+, persons with low socio-economic status, high schoolers who would be first generation college students, and women in sub-disciplines where they are underrepresented.

For more information, please click on link: https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2022/nsf22041/nsf22041.jsp

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New Solicitation: Expanding Capacity in Quantum Information Science and Engineering (ExpandQISE) (NSF 22-561)

The NSF Expanding Capacity in Quantum Information Science and Engineering (ExpandQISE) program aims to increase research capacity and broaden participation in Quantum Information Science and Engineering (QISE) and related disciplines. This will be achieved through the creation of a diversified investment portfolio in research and education that will lead to scientific and engineering breakthroughs, while securing a talent pipeline in a field where workforce needs of industry, government and academia continue to outgrow the available talent. The ExpandQISE program helps build and maintain a close connection between new efforts and existing impactful work done at the existing QISE Centers or leading QISE research Institutions, while creating and nurturing necessary critical mass at Institutions not yet fully involved in QISE. In keeping with the NSF goal of increasing the participation of all members of society in the scientific enterprise, institutions at which more than 50% of enrolled students come from groups that are currently under-represented in the sciences, e.g. minority-serving institutions (MSIs), are especially encouraged to apply.

Submission Deadline Dates:

Letter of Intent Due Date(s) (required) (due by 5 p.m. submitter's local time):

     April 01, 2022 - Track 2 proposals

     February 03, 2023 - Track 2 proposals

Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitter's local time):

     May 06, 2022 - Track 2 proposals

     June 03, 2022 - Track 1 proposals

     March 03, 2023 - Track 2 proposals

     April 07, 2023 - Track 1 proposals

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Dear Colleague Letter: Critical Aspects of Sustainability (CAS): Innovative Solutions to Climate Change (NSF 21-124)

This Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) encourages the science and engineering communities to develop forward-thinking research that will demonstrably aid in the Nation's goal of reaching net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and developing approaches for adapting to the change that is already occurring. CAS: Innovative Solutions to Climate Change is a call to action that encourages the submission of certain types of proposals to appropriate existing NSF core programs to lay the foundation for disciplinary and interdisciplinary research and to answer fundamental questions related to novel approaches and solutions to climate change. NSF's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs are also interested in supporting entrepreneurial efforts on these topic areas. As outlined in more detail below, research ideas focused on short- and long-term sustainable solutions are sought as are conference (workshop) proposals that identify specific gaps in existing research approaches. The project description should clearly articulate climate relevance and contribute to new approaches regarding innovative solutions that address climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Guidance on the preparation and submission of standard research proposals is contained in Chapter II of the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG). Specific guidance on the other types of proposals that may be submitted in response to this DCL (i.e., Conference, GOALI, EAGER and RAISE) can be found in PAPPG Chapter II.E. The titles for all submissions should include the prefix "CAS-Climate:", after PAPPG or solicitation specific title requirements.

For more information click on one of the available formats:  HTML: https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2021/nsf21124/nsf21124.jsp?WT.mc_id=USNSF_32&WT.mc_ev=click
PDF: https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2021/nsf21124/nsf21124.pdf?WT.mc_id=USNSF_32&WT.mc_ev=click

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Re-entry to Active Research Program (RARE) Solicitation (NSF 20-586, https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2020/nsf20586/nsf20586.htm)

The Division of Chemistry (CHE) joins the Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems (CBET) and is participating in the Re-entry to Active Research (RARE) program to reengage, retrain, and broaden participation within the academic workforce. The primary objective of the RARE program is to catalyze the advancement along the academic tenure-track of highly meritorious individuals who are returning from a hiatus from active research. By providing re-entry points to active academic research, the RARE program will reinvest in the nation’s most highly trained scientists and engineers, while broadening participation and increasing diversity of experience. A RARE research proposal must describe potentially transformative research that falls within the scope of participating CBET or CHE programs.

Proposals are Accepted Anytime. There is no deadline for this solicitation. Proposals must be submitted for consideration by one of the CHE Disciplinary Research Programs.

Please visit the program page at: https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=505477 for more information.

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Dear Colleague Letter: Career-Life Balance (CLB) Supplemental Funding Requests https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2021/nsf21021/nsf21021.jsp?WT.mc_id=USNSF_25&WT.mc_ev=click

With this Dear Colleague Letter (DCL), NSF draws attention to the opportunity for supplemental funding to help researchers, who are confronted with a short-term increase in dependent care responsibilities, ensure that the research activities supported by an NSF award can continue. Historical information about CLB may be found on the Foundation's website for this initiative: https://www.nsf.gov/career-life-balance/.

NSF recognizes that primary dependent care responsibilities and other family considerations pose unique challenges to the STEM workforce. The purpose of this DCL is to announce NSF's continued interest in CLB supplemental funding requests, with two key changes from CLB DCLs issued in FY 2013: 1) an increase in the amount and duration of salary support that may be requested; and 2) an extension of the opportunity to Principal Investigators (PIs) and co-PIs of all active NSF grant or cooperative agreements.

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Dear Colleague Letter: MPS Graduate Research Supplement for Veterans (MPS-GRSV), https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2020/nsf20097/nsf20097.jsp?org=NSF

The National Science Foundation recognizes that veterans represent a potential underutilized workforce for America's research and industrial communities. The Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS), including the Division of Chemistry (CHE), at the National Science Foundation (NSF) is now accepting supplemental funding requests to support one (additional) Ph.D. student per award, as long as the student is a United States (U.S.) veteran. The proposed MPS-GRSVs will afford veterans an opportunity to conduct research towards a doctoral degree with an NSF MPS Directorate active awardee. Please see DCL for additional information.

Submission Deadline: There is no deadline for submissions; supplemental requests may be submitted at any time.

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Dear Colleague Letter: Non-Academic Research Internships for Graduate Students (INTERN) Supplemental Funding Opportunity (NSF 21-013, https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2021/nsf21013/nsf21013.jsp?)

NSF continues to promote growth of a globally competitive and diverse research workforce and advances the scientific and innovation skills of the Nation. As part of this effort, NSF will consider supplemental funding requests for up to an additional six months of graduate student support on active NSF grants. Principal Investigators supported by NSF Division of Chemistry awards are advised to consult with their cognizant NSF program director prior to submitting a supplemental funding request.

Supplemental funding requests may be submitted at any time with a target date of April 15th for each Fiscal Year.

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Dear Colleague Letter: MPS Alliances for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP) – Graduate Research Supplements (GRS) (NSF 20-083) 

The Directorate of Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS) has long promoted efforts to recruit and retain students from underrepresented groups in all areas of the mathematical and physical sciences. AGEP-GRS is a mechanism by which a current MPS research awardee is able to support one (additional) Ph.D. student in an ongoing MPS-funded research project.  The goal is to create an opportunity to engage additional students in research, to develop a positive learning environment for students, and to improve diversity and retention at the doctoral level within the mathematical and physical sciences.  This opportunity is available to PIs with current MPS research awards whose institutions and/or academic units are either currently participating in the EHR-sponsored AGEP program; or whose institutions and/or academic units have participated in the AGEP program in the past (AGEP Legacy institutions).  Such PIs may apply to MPS for a supplement to defray the costs for: stipend, tuition, benefits, and indirect costs for a graduate research student working on the MPS-funded research.

While the main focus of the AGEP-GRS program is support of graduate students in a doctoral program, the program will also consider support for a graduate student in a Master’s degree-only granting program, provided that the student is both a) doing a research - based masters project and b) planning on joining a doctoral program within 12 months. Such support is limited to the last year of the Master's student's work.

There is no deadline for submissions; supplemental funding requests may be submitted at any time.  For additional detail, please refer to the web site and the contacts listed there.

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 Critical Aspects of Sustainability (CAS) (CAS Program Description - PD 19-1902)

The Critical Aspects of Sustainability (CAS) program seeks to support basic research through core disciplinary programs aimed at improving the sustainability of resources for future generations while maintaining or improving current products within a global society.

Partnering with other participating NSF Divisions, the Division of Chemistry (CHE) welcomes proposals to its Disciplinary Research Programs, including Chemical Catalysis (CAT), Chemical Measurement and Imaging (CMI), Chemical Structure, Dynamics and Mechanisms-A (CSDM-A), Chemical Structure Dynamics and Mechanisms-B (CSDM-B), Chemical Synthesis (SYN), Chemical Theory, Models and Computational Methods (CTMC), Chemistry of Life Processes (CLP), Environmental Chemical Sciences (ECS), and Macromolecular, Supramolecular and Nanochemistry (MSN). 

Note: All proposals should be submitted with the “CAS:” prefix in the title and must be on chemical aspects of sustainability.

Selected Topics:

  • The design, preparation and reactivity studies associated with new catalysts and catalytic processes that employ earth-abundant and benign elements and raw materials; advanced catalytic methods for the reduction of dinitrogen to ammonia and water splitting are also invited; Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI) proposals, where such advances are connected directly to industrial considerations, are also encouraged.
  • Understanding the molecular mechanisms of the two-way communication between the environment and living systems as well as between organisms situated in changing environments; design and test methods that could confer resilience and/or could foster adaptability of living systems subject to changing environments.
  • Innovative measurement and imaging approaches that can improve the efficiency of manufacturing processes, including advances in separation science targeting reduced energy consumption or generation of less waste.   
  • Fundamental studies related to sustainable energy such as chromophores based on earth abundant elements, advanced electrolytes for battery, water splitting, and carbon dioxide conversions.
  • Understanding the environmental chemical degradation of contaminants, including emerging contaminants.
  • Transformative approaches to efficient and inexpensive synthesis of polymers or nanostructures using renewable feedstocks or earth abundant elements; and innovative research that enhances the understanding of efficient use and recycling of polymers and critical elements or the conversion of energy from renewable sources.
  • The development of new synthetic methods using earth-abundant and inexpensive chemicals, fundamental studies that improve our understanding of rare earth elements; the conversion of non-petroleum-based resources into useful building blocks; and new environmentally-friendly chemical syntheses that improve on current practice by requiring less energy, fresh water, reagents, and/or organic solvents.
  • Other CHE programs also welcome proposals on this general topic, as long as the proposals fit the scope of the program.

All questions regarding proposals to CHE should be addressed to the cognizant Program Officers for the Program to which submission is contemplated (see CHE Program webpages).

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Dear Colleague Letter: Enabling Quantum Computing Platform Access for National Science Foundation Researchers with Amazon Web Services, IBM, and Microsoft Quantum (NSF 20-073)

NSF's Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) and the Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS) support supplemental funding requests for active awards to enable the use of quantum-computing cloud platforms. NSF's supplemental funding will support graduate-student time to work on these platforms. In parallel, Amazon Web Services, IBM, and Microsoft Quantum intend to make platform use available to recipients of these supplemental awards at no financial cost, pending a mutually agreeable arrangement between the principal investigators (PIs) and a given company.

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Archived Funding Opportunities

Science and Technology Centers:  Integrative Partnerships (STC) Discovery and Innovation to Address Vexing Scientific and Societal Challenges (NSF22-521): https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2022/nsf22521/nsf22521.pdf?WT.mc_id=USNSF_30&WT.mc_ev=click

The Science and Technology Centers (STC): Integrative Partnerships program supports exceptionally innovative, complex research and education projects that require large-scale, long-term awards. STCs focus on creating new scientific paradigms, establishing entirely new scientific disciplines and developing transformative technologies which have the potential for broad scientific or societal impact. STCs conduct world-class research through partnerships among institutions of higher education, national laboratories, industrial organizations, other public or private entities, and via international collaborations, as appropriate. They provide a means to undertake potentially groundbreaking investigations at the interfaces of disciplines and/or highly innovative approaches within disciplines. STCs may involve any area of science and engineering that NSF supports. STC investments support the NSF vision of creating and exploiting new concepts in science and engineering and providing global leadership in research and education.

Submission Deadline: Preliminary Proposal Due Date(s) (required) (due by 5 p.m. submitter's local time): February 01, 2022 

Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitter's local time): August 29, 2022

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Chemistry Disciplinary Research Programs (CHE-DRP) Solicitation: (NSF 21-589): https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf21589

All proposals to: Chemical Catalysis (CAT); Chemical Structure, Dynamics and Mechanisms-A (CSDM-A); Chemical Structure, Dynamics and Mechanisms-B (CSDM-B); Chemical Theory, Models and Computational Methods (CTMC); and Chemical Synthesis (SYN): September 1, 2021 – September 30, 2021.

All proposals to: Chemical Measurement and Imaging (CMI); Chemistry of Life Processes (CLP); Environmental Chemical Sciences (ECS); and Macromolecular, Supramolecular and Nanochemistry (MSN): October 1, 2021 – November 1, 2021.

The NSF Division of Chemistry (CHE) supports a large and vibrant research community engaged in fundamental discovery, invention, and innovation in the chemical sciences. The projects supported by CHE explore the frontiers of chemical science, develop the foundations for future technologies and industries that meet changing societal needs, and prepare the next generation of chemical researchers. 

This solicitation covers individual investigator and small team proposal submission to the nine CHE Disciplinary Research Programs (DRP).  The submission windows for the CHE-DRP remain unchanged. 

Please note the following changes from the previous CHE-DRP:

As a revision from previous Division of Chemistry: Disciplinary Research Program Solicitations (NSF 21-589) and previous), the number of submissions per investigator per funding cycle has been clarified. An investigator can serve as a PI, Co-PI, or senior personnel on at most two proposals provided at least one is a collaborative proposal (with at least one other PI, Co-PI, or Senior Personnel). Both proposals may be collaborative.

Program element codes are provided to facilitate using the NSF Awards Search engine.

Updates have been made to areas supported by CHE.

Proposals for EAGER, RAPID, RAISE, and conferences, as well as supplemental funding requests to existing grants, are not subject to this limitation and may be submitted at any time after consultation with the cognizant NSF Program Officer.

Proposals submitted to other solicitations (e.g., Centers for Chemical Innovation, Major Research Instrumentation, Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Sites, or CAREER) are also not subject to the limit on proposal submissions.

Proposals submitted in response to this solicitation should be submitted in accordance with the revised NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) (NSF 20-1), which is effective for proposals submitted, or due, on or after June 1, 2020. 

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New Solicitation: Pathways to Enable Open-Source Ecosystems (POSE) (NSF 22-572)

NSF is introducing a new program called “Pathways to Enable Open-Source Ecosystems” (POSE). The purpose of the program is to harness the power of open-source development for the creation of new technology solutions to problems of national and societal importance. The POSE program aims to support managing organizations that will facilitate the creation and growth of sustainable high-impact open-source ecosystems around already-developed open-source research products. In particular, POSE constitutes a new pathway to translate research results, akin to the Lab-to-Market Platform that NSF has pioneered over many decades. There are two Phases, each with their own deadline. See the solicitation for more information.

 Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitter's local time):

     Phase 1 - May 12, 2022

     Phase II - October 21, 2022

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New Solicitation: Future Manufacturing (NSF 22-568)

The global manufacturing ecosystem has evolved dramatically in recent decades, driven by forces of technology and globalization and steered by the pursuit of greater efficiencies at scale. The goal of Future Manufacturing is to support fundamental research and education of a future workforce to overcome scientific, technological, educational, economic, and social barriers in order to catalyze new manufacturing capabilities that do not exist today. The solicitation supports two different award tracks in three thrust areas: Future Cyber Manufacturing Research, Future Eco Manufacturing Research, and Future Biomanufacturing Research.  See the solicitation for more information.

Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitter's local time): May 10, 2022

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Dear Colleague Letter: NSF Options to Address Helium Supply Shortage Concerns. (NSF 22-088)

This Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) is written in response to concerns about a national and global helium shortage that is increasingly impacting the NSF-funded research community. Liquid helium is required for the ongoing operation and maintenance of a range of sophisticated research instruments, especially advanced nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy systems, Fourier-transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance (FT-ICR) Mass Spectrometry, and other instruments with cooled magnets. Unfortunately, the national and global supply of helium is severely disrupted, and researchers are increasingly challenged to find adequate helium supplies. The supply issues are driven by shifts in global production systems, national reserve policy and ongoing geopolitical events. So, the current supply issues may extend for the foreseeable future and are a threat to funded projects across the NSF portfolio, especially research supported by the Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO) and the Division of Chemistry in the Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS/CHE). Given that helium is essential expensive, and non-renewable, proper stewardship of this limited resource is critical. One key step to ensure responsible resource utilization is to minimize waste. Commercially available helium recovery systems can be installed to efficiently recycle and re-use helium, but such systems are expensive.

Submission Deadline: For proposals from institutions where the majority of users are supported by NSF/MPS/CHE, to ensure full consideration, proposals should be submitted between October 1 and October 31, 2022 for consideration for FY2023 funds. Proposals should be submitted to the current version of the PAPPG, and proposers should direct the proposal to the Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences, the Division of Chemistry, and the Chemical Measurement and Imaging (CMI) Program. Proposals submitted outside of this window will be returned without review.

NSF BIO and MPS/CHE recognizes the significant community concerns related to the helium shortage and seeks to remind potentially impacted research facility managers that the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) has provisions to support the acquisition of specialized equipment through submission of equipment proposals (see PAPPG Chapter II.E.10).

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New Solicitation: Future of Semiconductors (FuSe) (NSF 22-589)

The objective of this solicitation is to catalyze a fundamentally new approach in semiconductors research and workforce development.  Closing that gap between the essential components in the semiconductors technology stack, from materials through devices to systems, is now required to ensure further progress. The materials, devices and systems need to be co-designed, that is, designed with simultaneous consideration of as many elements of the technology chain as possible, spanning materials, devices, circuits, architectures, software, and applications.  Furthermore, developing a sufficient pool of diverse and multi-disciplinary talent suitable for workforce participation in the US is also essential for the future success of the semiconductor microelectronics field.

Initially, the solicitation calls for team forming proposals that should span convergent, use-inspired research across several or all of NSF CISE, ENG, EHR, MPS and TIP directorates. 

Teaming Grants are for durations of up to two years and up to $100,000 per participating organization, with a minimum of 3 organizations per project.

For more specific information on the focus areas of this solicitation see the Program Solicitation here: https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf22589

Proposal Deadline:  July 18, 2022

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New Solicitation: 2022 Signals in the Soil (SitS) (NSF 22-550)

Understanding of dynamic changes in soils is hampered by the inability to make site-specific measurements of key variables, in situ, and by the lack of integration among dynamic measurements of biological, chemical, and physical properties at various spatial and temporal scales. This solicitation encourages research proposals that integrate basic science and engineering approaches in a convergent manner to: (1) develop the next generation of sensors and/or instruments capable of measuring biological, chemical, and physical variables in situ with minimal disturbance; (2) advance the state of the science for biosensing to close the development gap with chemical- and physical-sensing, (3) improve our understanding of signaling molecules and interactions that would allow prediction of large scale ecosystem behavior, and (4) integrate, as appropriate, human dimensions of soil knowledge and use. The development of sensor systems that include all the needed components to operate the sensor, communicate its signals, integrate these signals with other data streams, and perform analytics needed to produce observations at desired temporal and spatial scales are within the scope of the solicitation. Research that uses sensor technologies to address mechanisms of biological signaling between organisms in the soil (microbes, fungi, plants, animals, or any combination) is also within the scope of this solicitation. The focus can be either natural or managed soil systems or both.

For more information see the solicitation and program web site: https://beta.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/signals-soil.

Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitter's local time): April 14, 2022

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New Solicitation: Molecular Foundations for Biotechnology (MFB 2.0): Partnerships to Transform the Industries of the Future (NSF 22-554)

Molecular Foundations for Biotechnology (MFB 2.0): Partnerships to Transform the Industries of the Future initiative calls for fundamentally new approaches in molecular sciences to drive new directions in biotechnology, a critical and emerging technology of the 21st century. This is the second year of a campaign targeting broad annual themes to be pursued through collaborative high risk/high reward projects.

This year’s solicitation calls for synergistic scientific research collaborations that involve innovative machine learning (ML) methods to foster advances in research on the function of biomolecular systems and have the potential to drive innovation in biotechnology. The solicitation seeks to catalyze synergistic and innovative work at the interface of ML/AI on one hand and the biological, physical, and mathematical sciences and engineering on the other hand that goes beyond sequence-structure relationships and addresses standing challenges in biology. The funded research should have potential implications for biotechnology.

The solicitation calls for synergistic, interdisciplinary research endeavors that:

(1) bring together computer science expertise in ML/AI on one side and Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Engineering, and/or Mathematics on the other side, 

(2) focus on integrated, convergent research projects that create new mechanism-guided machine learning frameworks for the prediction and detailed characterization of the function of biological macromolecules (e.g., protein, nucleic acids, and macromolecular assemblies of both protein and nucleic acids)

(3) test the validity, specificity, and generalizability of the proposed ML frameworks with robust experimental platforms.

For more specific information on the focus areas and application for this solicitation see the Program Solicitation here: https://beta.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/molecular-foundations-biotechnology-mfb.

Submission Deadline: Letter of Intent Due Date (required): February 14, 2022

Full Proposal Deadline:  April 14, 2022

MFB Virtual Office Hour to answer questions about the solicitation is scheduled for Friday, January 28, at 4 PM EST. Register in advance here: https://nsf.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_jGqzXj5STwmBBOqv0zmYfQ

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New Solicitation: Ethical and Responsible Research (ER2) NSF 22-526

NSF is seeking innovative project ideas that will contribute to understanding what fosters, hinders, or challenges ethical STEM research in all STEM fields. ER2 aims to support the formation, reproduction, and dissemination of ethical academic and research practices and to cultivate institutional cultures that value, expect, and reward academic and research integrity. Chemistry, as the central science, has a lot to offer in this core value area, and we welcome new project ideas for building a strong positive ER2 culture in the STEM community.

Four types of proposals are solicited: (i) institutional transformation research grants, (ii) research grants, (iii) incubation (e.g., pilot/workshop) projects, and (iv) conference projects. Proposals may be submitted by institutions of higher education, and non-profit, non-academic organizations such as professional societies and research laboratories.

The submission deadline is February 17, 2022.  A recording of a recently held ER2 webinar may be found at: https://nsf.gov/events/event_summ.jsp?cntn_id=303956&org=NSF.

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Dear Colleague Letter: CHE Mid-scale Research Infrastructure Planning Workshops https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf21117  Have you been considering submitting a proposal for a mid-scale facility?

Advances in chemistry increasingly rely on cutting-edge research infrastructure. In FY2020, the National Science Foundation released two mid-scale solicitations that supported infrastructure projects ranging from $6 million - $20 million (Mid-scale RI-1, NSF 21-505) and $20 million - $70 million (Mid-scale RI-2, NSF 21-537). In addition to strong scientific merit, successful mid-scale proposals must also serve an identified need for a broad research community. To help teams establish this need, the Division of Chemistry is inviting researchers to propose planning workshops on specific infrastructure projects. For more information, see the recently released Dear Colleague Letter: CHE Mid-scale Research Infrastructure Planning Workshops (NSF 21-117).

The target date for proposal submission is January 14, 2022, 5 p.m. local submitter's time.

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Partnerships for Research and Education in Chemistry (PREC) Program Solicitation: (NSF 21-620): https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf21620

The CHE Partnerships for Research and Education in Chemistry (PREC) program aims to enable, build, and grow partnerships between minority-serving institutions (MSIs) and CHE-supported Centers for Chemical Innovation, NSF's ChemMatCARS, the Molecular Sciences Software Institute (MolSSI), or the Molecule Maker Lab Institute (MMLI) to increase recruitment, retention and degree attainment (which defines the PREC pathway) by members of those groups most underrepresented in chemistry research, and at the same time support excellent research and education endeavors that strengthen such partnerships.

The PREC program includes two Tracks to catalyze the development of research and educational endeavors at MSIs as well as to improve the PREC pathway. Track 1 focuses efforts on establishing and strengthening the PREC pathway through smaller research and education collaborations. Track 2 includes improvements and expansions of the PREC pathway while also building larger collaborations and capacity for research at the MSIs with support for the integration of research and education efforts.

Any proposal submitted in response to this solicitation should be submitted in accordance with the revised NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) (NSF 22-1), which is effective for proposals submitted, or due, on or after October 4, 2021.

Due Date: Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitter's local time): January 21, 2022.

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Launching Early-Career Academic Pathways in the Mathematical and Physical Sciences (LEAPS-MPS) (NSF 22-503): https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf22503

The Launching Early-Career Academic Pathways in the Mathematical and Physical Sciences (LEAPS-MPS) call has an emphasis to help launch the careers of pre-tenure faculty in Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS) fields at institutions that do not traditionally receive significant amounts of NSF-MPS funding, such as some minority-serving institutions (MSIs), predominantly undergraduate institutions (PUIs), and Carnegie Research 2 (R2) universities. LEAPS-MPS has the additional goal of achieving excellence through diversity and aims to broaden participation to include members from groups underrepresented in the Mathematical and Physical Sciences, including Blacks and African Americans, Hispanics, Latinos, Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and other Native Pacific Islanders.

Submission Deadline: January 07, 2022 (due by 5 p.m. submitter's local time).

Note: The deadline has been moved to earlier in the year from June to January. Proposals submitted in response to this solicitation are submitted directly to the appropriate program in one of the five MPS Divisions. The list of cognizant Program Officers is updated.

Please click on one of the below links for more information: https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2022/nsf22503/nsf22503.htm  https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2022/nsf22503/nsf22503.pdf

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Mathematical and Physical Sciences Ascending Postdoctoral Research Fellowships (MPS-Ascend) (NSF 22-501):  https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf22501

The purpose of the Mathematical and Physical Sciences Ascending Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (MPS-Ascend) program is to support postdoctoral Fellows who will broaden the participation of groups that are underrepresented in MPS fields in the U.S. including Blacks or African Americans, Hispanics, Latinos, Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians and other Native Pacific Islanders as future leaders in MPS fields. The program is intended to recognize beginning investigators of significant potential and provide them with experience in research that will broaden perspectives, facilitate interdisciplinary interactions and help broadening participation within MPS fields. The program funds postdoctoral Fellows in research environments that will have maximal impact on their future scientific development and facilitates their transition into a faculty appointment. Awards will support research in any scientific area within the purview of the five MPS Divisions: the Divisions of Astronomical Sciences (AST), Chemistry (CHE), Materials Research (DMR), Mathematical Sciences (DMS), and Physics (PHY). Fellowships are awards to individuals, not institutions, and are administered by the Fellows.

Submission Deadline: January 06, 2022 (due by 5 p.m. submitter's local time).

Note: The deadline was moved from June to January. Cognizant Program Officers have been updated.

Please click on one of the below links for more information: https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2022/nsf22501/nsf22501.htm  https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2022/nsf22501/nsf22501.pdf

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NSF-DFG Lead Agency Activity in Chemistry and Transport in Confined Spaces (NSF-DFG Confine) (NSF 21-626): https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?WT.z_pims_id=505800&ods_key=nsf21626 

Recognizing the importance of international collaborations in promoting scientific discoveries, the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation, DFG) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on research cooperation. The MoU provides an overarching framework to enhance opportunities for collaborative activities between US and German research communities and sets out the principles by which jointly-supported activities might be developed. To facilitate the support of collaborative work between US researchers and their German counterparts under this MoU, the Division of Chemistry (CHE) and the Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental and Transport Systems (CBET) at the NSF and the Divisions of Physics and Chemistry (PC) and Engineering Sciences (ING 1) at the DFG are pleased to announce a Lead Agency Opportunity in the areas of Chemistry and Transport in Confined Spaces.

For more information, please click on the below link: https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?WT.z_pims_id=505800&ods_key=nsf21626

An Expression of Interest (EOI) must be submitted to NSFDFG@nsf.gov by November 29, 2021, prior to the submission of a full proposal.

Due Dates: Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitter's local time): March 07, 2022

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The Centers for Chemical Innovation (CCI) Program (NSF 21-587, replacing 20-574) is now available at here.

The CCI program supports research centers focused on major, long-term fundamental chemical research challenges. CCIs that address these challenges will produce transformative research, lead to innovation, and attract broad scientific and public interest. CCIs are agile structures that can respond rapidly to emerging opportunities through enhanced collaborations. CCIs integrate research, innovation, education, broadening participation, and informal science communication.

The CCI Program is a two-phase program. Both phases are described in this solicitation. Phase I CCIs receive significant resources to develop the science, management and broader impacts of a major research center before requesting Phase II funding. Satisfactory progress in Phase I is required for Phase II applications; Phase I proposals funded in FY 2022 will seek Phase II funding in FY 2025.

The FY 2022 Phase I CCI competition is open to projects in all fields supported by the Division of Chemistry, and must have scientific focus and the potential for transformative impact in chemistry. The NSF Division of Chemistry particularly encourages fundamental chemistry projects aligned with articulated budget priorities, including Advanced Manufacturing, Artificial Intelligence, Biotechnology, Climate Research and Sustainability, and Quantum Information Science. More

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Mid-scale Research Infrastructure-2 (Mid-scale RI-2) (NSF 21-537) https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2021/nsf21537/nsf21537.htm

The Mid-scale RI-2 Program emphasizes projects that have strong scientific merit, respond to an identified need of the research community, demonstrate technical and managerial readiness for implementation, include a well-developed plan for student training in the design and implementation of mid-scale research infrastructure, and involve a diverse workforce in mid-scale facility development, and/or associated data management. Training of students in design and implementation, not just in scientific exploitation of the infrastructure, is essential.

Mid-scale RI-2 will consider only the implementation (typically construction or acquisition) stage of a project, including a limited degree of final development or necessary production design immediately preparatory to implementation. It is thus intended that Mid-scale RI-2 will support projects in high states of project and technical readiness for implementation, i.e., those that have already matured through previous developmental investments.

Letter of Intent Due Date(s) (required) (due by 5 p.m. submitter's local time): February 03, 2021

Preliminary Proposal Due Date(s) (required) (due by 5 p.m. submitter's local time): March 05, 2021

Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitter's local time): September 20, 2021

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Mid-scale Research Infrastructure-1 Solicitation (Mid-scale RI-1, NSF 21-505) https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2021/nsf21505/nsf21505.htm

The NSF Mid-scale Research Infrastructure-1 Program (Mid-scale RI-1) supports the design or implementation of unique and compelling RI projects. Mid-scale RI-1 projects should fill a research community-defined scientific need or enable a national research priority to be met. Mid-scale RI-projects should also enable US researchers to remain competitive in a global research environment and involve the training of a diverse workforce engaged in the design and implementation of STEM infrastructure.

Preliminary Proposal Due Date(s) (required) (due by 5 p.m. submitter's local time): January 07, 2021

Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitter's local time): April 23, 2021, By Invitation Only

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Future Manufacturing (21-564)
https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2021/nsf21564/nsf21564.pdf?WT.mc_id=USNSF_25&WT.mc_ev=click

As stated in the Strategy for American Leadership in Advanced Manufacturing, worldwide competition in manufacturing has been dominated in recent decades by the maturation, commoditization, and widespread application of computation in production equipment and logistics, effectively leveling the global technological playing field and putting a premium on low wages and incremental technical improvements. The next generation of technological competition in manufacturing will be dictated by inventions of new materials, chemicals, devices, systems, processes, machines, design and work methods, social structures and business practices. Fundamental research will be required in robotics, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, materials science, sustainability, education and public policy, and workforce development to take the lead in this global competition. The research supported under this solicitation will enhance U.S. leadership in manufacturing far into the future by providing new capabilities for established companies and entrepreneurs, improving our health and quality of life, and reducing the impact of manufacturing industries on the environment.

The goal of this solicitation is to support fundamental research and education of a future workforce that will enable Future Manufacturing: manufacturing that either does not exist today or exists only at such small scales that it is not viable. Future Manufacturing will require the design and deployment of diverse new technologies for synthesis and sensing, and new algorithms for manufacturing new materials, chemicals, devices, components and systems. It will require new advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning, new cyber infrastructure, new approaches for mathematical and computational modeling, new dynamics and control methodologies, new ways to integrate systems biology, synthetic biology and bioprocessing, and new ways to influence the economy, workforce, human behavior, and society.

Full Proposal Deadline Date:  May 14, 2021

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Molecular Foundations for Biotechnology (MFB): Partnerships to Transform the Industries of the Future(NSF 21-540) https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2021/nsf21540/nsf21540.htm

This solicitation will support teams of researchers conducting chemistry-led, synergistic collaborative studies in the area of small molecule-protein interactions that are potentially foundations of new biotechnology. Chemistry lies at the heart of many of the challenges confronting burgeoning biotechnology industries, and yet meeting those challenges requires varied expertise, as well as the perspective to facilitate translation of solutions into the Industries of the Future. The specific focus areas for this solicitation are described in the Program Description.

Submission Window Date(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitter's local time):

Letter of Intent Due Date(s) (required): January 14, 2021

Full Proposal Deadline(s):  March 16, 2021

A MFB virtual office hour is scheduled to answer questions about the solicitation for Friday, December 11 at 4 PM EST (see more information about the virtual office hour at https://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=300572&org=CHE.)

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Designing Materials to Revolutionize and Engineer our Future (DMREF) (NSF 21-522) https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2021/nsf21522/nsf21522.htm?WT.mc_id=USNSF_25&WT.mc_ev=click

DMREF will support activities that significantly accelerate materials discovery and development by building the fundamental knowledge base needed to advance the design and development of materials with desirable properties or functionality. The proposed research must involve a collaborative and iterative 'closed-loop' process wherein theory guides computational simulation, computational simulation guides experiments, and experimental observation further guide theory.  This FY 2021 solicitation is open to all materials research topics. The Division of Chemistry is participating in the 2021 DMREF competition.

Submission Window Date(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitter's local time): January 11, 2021 - January 25, 2021

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NSF issued an updated solicitation on Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) Includes the description of NSF Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) (NSF 20-525)

The Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program is a Foundation-wide activity that offers the National Science Foundation's most prestigious awards in support of early-career faculty who have the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education and to lead advances in the mission of their department or organization. Activities pursued by early-career faculty should build a firm foundation for a lifetime of leadership in integrating education and research. NSF encourages submission of CAREER proposals from early-career faculty at all CAREER-eligible organizations and especially encourages women, members of underrepresented minority groups, and persons with disabilities to apply.

Submission Deadline Dates (due by 5 p.m. submitter's local time):  July 27, 2020

NSF also issued the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for the Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program for Submission in Years 2020 – 2025 (NSF 20-025).

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Dear Colleague Letter: Catalyzing Industry-University Collaboration in Chemical Research through Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers (IUCRCs) (NSF 21-036) https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2021/nsf21036/nsf21036.jsp

The Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS) Directorate through the Division of Chemistry (CHE) and the Engineering Directorate (ENG) through the Division of Industrial Innovation and Partnerships (IIP) at NSF are coordinating efforts to promote strong partnerships among academic scientists, national laboratory researchers, and industrial practitioners to enable more efficient technology transfer that helps to maintain global economic competitiveness, improves the sustainability of the chemical industry, and better prepares the chemical workforce.  With this DCL, CHE is encouraging submissions of Planning or Phase I proposals to build a portfolio of CHE-centered IUCRCs in response to the recent release of the new IUCRC solicitation (NSF 20-570). All CHE-supported research areas are encouraged, with special emphasis on research foci that align with the Industries of the Future (IotF) topics, such as Advanced Manufacturing (including Sustainable Chemistry), Artificial Intelligence, Biotechnology, and Quantum Information Science.

The deadline for Planning Grant preliminary proposals is March 10, 2021 for FY 2021 funding consideration (see NSF 20-570 for more details on the IUCRC Program, its structure, and requirements). 

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Dear Colleague Letter: Interdisciplinary Frontiers of Understanding the Brain (NSF 21-031) https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2021/nsf21031/nsf21031.jsp

NSF has posted a request for information about new opportunities, at the interface of neuroscience and other science and engineering disciplines, that are poised to reshape brain research and its applications. As detailed in Dear Colleague Letter NSF 21-31, NSF invites your input describing these new interdisciplinary frontiers and the perspectives and interactions needed to pursue the new opportunities most effectively. Responses to this request will inform future NSF investments that address the opportunities identified. Individual researchers, collaborating groups or networks, and organizations are all welcome to respond.

For further information, please see https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf21031, which includes a link to the official submission form. Contributions must be received by March 31, 2021. Questions should be directed to brain-frontiers@nsf.gov.”

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NSF Dear Colleague Letter: 2020 CHE International Supplement (NSF 20-013)

The Division of Chemistry is inviting requests for supplemental funding from its existing awardees who may wish to add a new, or strengthen an existing, international dimension of their award when such collaboration advances the field of chemistry and enhances the U.S. investigator's own research and/or education objectives. Principal Investigators supported by NSF Division of Chemistry awards are advised to consult with their cognizant NSF program director prior to submitting a supplemental funding request.

Proposal Deadlines:
May 1, 2020, 5 p.m., submitter's local time.

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The U.S. National Science Foundation propels the nation forward by advancing fundamental research in all fields of science and engineering. NSF supports research and people by providing facilities, instruments and funding to support their ingenuity and sustain the U.S. as a global leader in research and innovation. With a fiscal year 2023 budget of $9.5 billion, NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 2,000 colleges, universities and institutions. Each year, NSF receives more than 40,000 competitive proposals and makes about 11,000 new awards. Those awards include support for cooperative research with industry, Arctic and Antarctic research and operations, and U.S. participation in international scientific efforts.

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