September 19, 2019

Dear Colleagues:

The Division of Chemical, Biological, Environmental, and Transport Systems (CBET), within the National Science Foundation's Directorate for Engineering (ENG), announces the name change of the Molecular Separations program and the Biological and Environmental Interactions of Nanoscale Materials program. The program names have changed to the Interfacial Engineering program and the Nanoscale Interactions program, respectively.

Interfacial Engineering Program: The scope of the Molecular Separations program, PD 19-1417, will be expanded to include fundamental research on atomic- and molecular-scale interfacial phenomena and engineering of interfacial properties, processes, and materials unrelated to a separation process. The program name will be changed to Interfacial Engineering, PD 20-1417. Proposals related to chemical and biological separation processes, phenomena, and materials will continue to be accepted within the Interfacial Engineering program, as described on the program webpage.

Nanoscale Interactions Program: The scope of the Biological and Environmental Interactions of Nanoscale Materials Program, PD 19-1179, will be expanded to include nanoscale interface and surface interactions with biological and environmental media. Nanoparticles and nanostructured materials have large surface areas, and thus for the materials, products and devices into which they are integrated there are large interfacial areas. Elucidation of the constructs of these interfaces and the resulting alteration of the material and its behavior is necessary to accurately understand and predict the fate and effects of nanomaterials in biological and environmental systems. This includes understanding interfacial chemistries, spatial-temporal properties, dynamic interplays and impacts of external forces. The program name will be changed to Nanoscale Interactions, PD 20-1179.

These changes are effective September 19, 2019. Principal Investigators are strongly encouraged to discuss proposal ideas with the cognizant Program Directors prior to submission.

Sincerely,

Dawn Tilbury
Assistant Director, ENG