The information on this page  is for the use of the faculty, staff, and students of the University of California, Riverside, Bourns College of Engineering. It is compiled from information that we believe to be reliable, but the University takes no responsibility for any errors or inaccuracies.

UCR's Office of Research posts additional opportunities at http://or.ucr.edu/RD/Federal.aspx.

November

NSF International Collaboration in Chemistry between US Investigators and their Counterparts Abroad (09-608)

Pre-proposals due November 3, 2009

This program will fund collaborations in selected chemistry topics with researchers in the following countries only: Germany, Austria, the UK, China, France, Japan, Russia, Poland, Luxembourg, and Spain.

The proposed 3-year projects must be in areas that are supported by the NSF Division of Chemistry's newly announced programs in Chemical Synthesis; Chemical Catalysis; Theory, Models and Computational Methods; Chemical Measurement and Imaging; Chemical Structure, Dynamics and Mechanisms; Macromolecular, Supramolecular and Nanochemistry; Environmental Chemical Sciences; or Chemistry of Life Process. A detailed description of these programs can be found at: http://www.nsf.gov/div/index.jsp?div=CHE.

About 20 3-year awards are expected from a $15 million pot. Pre-proposals are required and are due November 3, 2009. Full proposals will be invited and are due January 29, 2010. There is a limit of one proposal per PI.

NSF Cyber-Enabled Discovery and Innovation, 07-603

Letters of intent due November 30, 2007, and then September 30 annually; pre-proposals due January 8, 2008, and then November 4 annually.

http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2007/nsf07603/nsf07603.htm

This program will make approximately 30 awards to teams proposing revolutionary science and engineering outcomes based on innovations and advances in computational thinking. Computational thinking is defined comprehensively to encompass computational concepts, methods, models, algorithms, and tools.

Proposed projects must fall within or across the following three themes

-- From Data to Knowledge enhancing human cognition and generating new knowledge from a wealth of heterogeneous digital data.

-- Understanding Complexity in Natural, Built, and Social Systems deriving fundamental insights on systems comprising multiple interacting elements.

-- Building Virtual Organizations enhancing discovery and innovation by bringing people and resources together across institutional, geographical and cultural boundaries.

This year, there will be two classes of awards. Type I awards will support two investigators, two grad students, and materials/supplies/travel for three years. Type II awards will support three investigators, three grad students, one or two other senior personnel, and materials/supplies/travel for four years. In future years, there will be Type III proposals, which will support larger teams for up to five years.

An individual may participate in no more than two proposals in each competition.

https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=43a66ce552a5be5a384b7de75dc4e1cb&tab=core&_cview=0

All research supported under this program is intended to be fundamental, which means that the work will not be classified and there should be no restrictions on publishing or including foreign participants in the project.

White papers are accepted anytime in the next five years. However, white papers may be held and accumulated for review around certain submission windows each year. The first window is November 4, 2009. If you have something to propose, it would be wise to get it in before this date.

The six topic areas are:

Thrust Area 1: Science of WMD Sensing and Recognition: The basic science of WMD sensing and recognition is the fundamental understanding of materials that demonstrate measurable changes when stimulated by radiation or particles from WMD in the environment. This research thrust involves exploration and exploitation of interactions between materials and various photons, molecules, nuclear radiation and/or particles. These interactions and the specific form of recognition they provide are used for subsequent generation of information that provides knowledge of the presence, identity, and/or quantity of material or energy in the environment that may be significant.

Thrust Area 2: Cognitive, Information and Network Science: The basic science of cognitive and information science results from the convergence of computer, information, mathematical, network, cognitive and social science. This research thrust expands our understanding of physical and social networks and advances knowledge of adversarial intent with respect to the acquisition, proliferation, and potential use of WMD. The methods may include analytical, computational or numerical, or experimental means to integrate knowledge across disciplines and improve rapid processing of intelligence and dissemination of information.

Thrust Area 3: Science for Protection: Fundamental science for protection involves advancing knowledge to protect life and life-sustaining resources and networks. Protection includes threat containment, decontamination, threat filtering, and shielding of systems. The concept is generalized to include fundamental investigations that reduce consequences of WMD, assist in the restoration of life-sustaining functions, and support forensic science.

Thrust Area 4: Science to Defeat WMD: Fundamental Science for significantly improving energetic materials for use against WMD facilities and systems, for deeper penetration to deny the adversary sanctuary of WMD, for predictable modeling of counter-WMD munitions and simulation of in-theater scenarios with accurate lethality calculations, for minimizing collateral effects when engaging WMD and for exploiting vulnerable pathways, infrastructure etc. to eliminate the threat of WMD.

Thrust Area 5: Science to Secure WMDs: Fundamental science to support securing WMD includes: (a) environmentally responsible innovative processes to neutralize chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or explosive (CBRNE) materials and components; (b) discovery of revolutionary means to secure components and weapons; and (c) studies of scientific principles that lead to novel physical or other tags and methods to monitor compliance and disrupt proliferation pathways. The identification of basic phenomena that provide verifiable controls on materials and systems also helps arms control.

Thrust Area 6: Cooperative Counter WMD Research with Global Partners: Cooperative fundamental research to reduce the global threat of WMD in collaboration with a broad range of global research partners. This thrust area involves exploratory applied research that may have a basic research component to address opportunities to reduce, eliminate, and counter WMD across the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and High Explosive (CBRNE) spectrum. Strong international relationships will foster smooth transition of C-WMD program ownership to the partnering country. The foci are to improve international collaboration to detect, characterize, and report WMD, and to advance host nation sustainment through a culture of long-term cooperation and scientific responsibility for C-WMD programs. Multidisciplinary research in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics promotes transparency through quality research publications and continual dialogue between scientist/engineers and young researchers.

Awards typically will be $150,000 to $300,000 per year for up to five years. (posted 9/30/09)

https://www.fedconnect.net/fedconnect?doc=DE-FOA-0000143&agency=DOE

This program will make approximately 15 awards, each for up to three years at $100,000 to $500,000 per year, for development of new computational biology and bioinformatic methods and analytics to enable the Systems Biology Knowledgebase. There are four objectives: (1) develop methods to integrate together multiple data types, (2) develop new methods to infer and curate (meta)genomic functional annotations (3) develop methods to couple multiple cellular pathways and processes and (4) develop new methods to model whole cellular processes

Applications are invited in the following areas:

-- ‘Omic Data Integration: New computational methods to integrate multiple data types including (meta)genomic, proteomic, metabolomic, transcriptomic, expression and phenotypic data are desired. This could also include the development of data standards, data quality and assessment, ontologies and controlled vocabularies. Methods that significantly improve data visualization and data analysis are also encouraged. This could include new methods for complex web (internet) interfaces and third party tool development. Methods for analysis across different data types is a priority.

-- Genomic Annotation: New methods for computational gene annotation that include integration of data and information into the assignment of gene functions are encouraged. This should not be an extension of existing methods in genomic annotation, but could include cDNA, clustering and neighborhood gene analysis, expression and phenotypic data, protein folds and structures and phylogenetic profiling data in annotations. Methods for estimating and embedding uncertainty and confidence levels in annotation assignments are a priority.

-- Integrated Pathway Reconstructions: Significant improvements in methodologies to couple metabolic and regulatory pathways and including integration of data and information are encouraged. This can include new methods in correlational analysis and iterative analysis that would dynamically link data to model development. New methods in dynamical pathway reconstruction for on-the-fly pathway analysis are also encouraged. Significant improvements that support the integration of expression data with transcription and protein association and localization with pathway simulations are also encouraged.

-- Whole Cellular Simulations: New methods to model complex cellular processes are encouraged. This could include the integration of multiple data types with additional information such as two and three-dimensional imaging and spectroscopic data with cellular models or simulations.

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-09-218.html

This R01 grant program is part of the NIH Biomedical Information Science and Technology Initiative (BISTI). It will fund areas of biomedical computing that will enable progress in biomedical research. Examples of data types that could be considered include but are not limited to genomic sequences, gene expression, proteomics, pathway data, scientific and biomedical images, qualitative descriptors for health and social science, and remote sensing and geospatial images. NIH particularly encourages research in (1) tools for data acquisition, archiving, querying, retrieval, visualization, integration, and management; (2) platform-independent translational tools for data exchange and for promoting interoperability; (3) analytical and statistical tools for interpretation of large data sets; and (4) new models or simulations of complex biological processes at single and multiple levels or across multiple scales (and the development of computational or mathematical tools for the analysis of these processes).

R01 is NIH’s “plain vanilla” research program. BISTI has companion programs in biomedical computational science for small business innovation research and small business technology transfer. An R21 program, which makes smaller awards for high-risk/high-impact research, will be announced as early as this week (PAR-09-219).

NIH: Assay Development for High Throughput Molecular Screening (PAR-08-024)

Letters of intent due November 6, 2008, for proposal November 20, 2008; letter of intent March 6, 2009, for proposal March 20, 2009; letter of intent November 6, 2009, for proposal November 20, 2009; letter of intent March 6, 2010, for proposal March 20, 2010

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-08-024.html

This program will make 40 awards per year for three years for small projects to develop molecular probes employing automated high-throughput molecular screening. It is expected that screening projects will, upon completion, be submitted to the Molecular Libraries Production Centers Network for implementation. The overall goals of the Molecular Libraries and Imaging Roadmap Initiative are to facilitate expansion of the PubChem public database of biological information about small molecular structures, and the development of small molecule pharmacological tools for biological research.

Awards will be for up to $100,000 of direct costs in year 1, and up to $25,000 of direct costs in year 2. Year 2 money is available only to projects that advance to the library production centers.

NIH: Nanoscience and Nanotechnology in Biology and Medicine, PA-08-052 (R01) accepting proposals on February 5, June 5, and October 5 yearly to January 2011, and PA-08-053 (R21), accepting proposals on March 16, July 16, and November 16 nearly until January 2011

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-08-052.html

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-08-053.html

This program will make R01 research grants. (A companion program, PA-08-053, will make R21 exploratory grants of up to $275,000 (direct costs) over two years). The purpose of this program is to stimulate nanoscience and nanotechnology research approaches that have the potential to make valuable contributions to biology and medicine. The solicitation has five pages of examples of research topics from the various NIH Institutes, so I won’t try to summarize them here.

R01 proposals requesting $500,000 or more of direct costs in any year must contact the relevant Institute of Center at least 6 weeks before proposal submission.

NSF: Dynamics of Coupled Natural and Human Systems, 07-598

Due third Tuesday in November annually

http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf07598

This program will make 7 to 12 new awards of $500,000 to $1.5 million total for interdisciplinary projects that enhance fundamental understanding of the complex interactions within and among natural and human systems. Successful proposals will set forth testable hypotheses in system dynamics -- the processes through which systems function and interact with other systems. To the extent possible, projects should try to improve capabilities for predicting the responses of systems to endogenous and exogenous changes, including appropriate estimates of uncertainty in model predictions.

Proposals will be 20 pages, not 15. All proposals must include an education plan, management plan, and statement of expected project significance.

The U.S. Forest Service is a co-sponsor of this program. The Forest Service is looking for proposals focused on forest or grassland ecosystems at multiple spatial scales and across an continuum of human systems and densities ranging from urban to rural.

DOD Breast Cancer Research Program, Concept Award, Era of Hope Award, and Postdoctoral Fellowship award

Concept award: Pre-proposals October 29, 2009; full proposals November 12, 2009

Era of Hope award: Pre-proposals November 18, 2009; full proposals December 2, 2009

Postdoctoral Fellowship award: Pre-proposals November 18, 2009; full proposals December 2, 2009

http://cdmrp.army.mil, click on the Breast Cancer link

The Concept Award supports the exploration of a highly innovative new concept or untested theory that addresses an important problem relevant to breast cancer. It supports high-risk studies that have the potential to reveal new avenues for investigation. Presentation of preliminary data is not allowed. The award is for up to $75,000 (direct costs) for up to one year. Pre-proposals are due October 29, and full proposals are due November 12.

Two additional programs should be announced during October. They are:

The Era of Hope Scholar Award. This supports exceptionally talented, creative early-career scientists who have demonstrated that they are the "best and brightest" in their fields. Individuals should exhibit strong potential for leadership in the breast cancer community. The PI must hold an independent research position and must be no more than six years beyond his or her last mentored position (typically graduate student or postdoc). The award is up to $2.5 million (direct costs) over up to five years.

The Postdoctoral Fellowship Award. This supports exceptionally talented recent doctoral graduates who have the ambition and ability to pursue an independent career at the forefront of breast cancer research. Proposed research should be innovative and have the potential for high impact. Proposed training and mentorship should facilitate development of the PI as a breast cancer researcher. The award is for up to $300,000 (direct costs) for up to three years. The applicant should have no more than four years of postdoctoral experience and no more than two years at the current institution. A mentor with expertise in breast cancer research is required.

Joint Fire Science, FA-RFA010-0001

Due November 20, 2009

www.grants.gov, search by CFDA 15.232 or ask Mitch for a copy

This program will make 25-30 awards from a pot of up to $10 million for projects in the following 10 research areas pertaining to fires on federal lands. All projects must involve federal agencies in the planning and typically in the execution. The program makes awards to your federal collaborators, who make subawards to you for your part of the project.

The topic areas are:

1. Mastication fuel treatments – effectiveness and effects. 2. Conifer canopy fuels estimation. 3. Public perceptions of smoke management. 4. Improved fuels mapping in non-forested ecosystems. 5. Organizational learning – prescribed fire escapes. 6. Compatibility of fuel treatments and fire management with conservation of threatened and endangered wildlife species. 7. Fire weather forecast accuracy. 8. Fuel moisture influences on combustion. 9. Ethno-ecological fire traditions – understanding and demonstration. 10. Re-measurement opportunities – carbon budgets and insect outbreaks.

Proposals are due November 20. Proposals are submitted through a portal called www.firescience.gov. (Posted 9/30/09)

NSF CISE Cross-Cutting Programs, NSF 08-578

http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf08578

Large projects: November 1, 2009, to November 30, 2009.

Medium projects: August 1, 2009, to August 30, 2009

Small projects: December 1, 2009, to December 22, 2009.

The program will make three types of awards (large, medium, small) in three program areas:

1. Data-intensive computing. This program seeks to enhance our understanding of the capabilities and limitations of data-intensive computing. How can we best program data-intensive computing platforms to exploit massive parallelism and to serve best the varied tasks that may be executed on them? How can we express high-level parallelism at this scale in a natural way for users? What new programming abstractions can accentuate these fundamental capabilities? The program will fund projects in all areas of computer and information science and engineering that increase our ability to build and use data-intensive computing system sand applications, help us understand their limitations, and create a knowledgeable workforce capable of operating and using these systems as they increasingly become a major force in our economy and society.

2. Network Science and Engineering (NetSE). This program encourages members of all network science and engineering communities to engage in integrative thinking to advance, seed and sustain the transformation of networking research to enable the socio-technical networks of the future. The focus is on innovative research efforts that address new or as yet unsolved critical network challenges that by their nature require expertise and synergy from different areas of computing, as well as other relevant fields such as engineering, mathematics, economics, and the social sciences.

3. Trustworthy Computing. This is the successor to the NSF Cyber Trust program. This program will support projects that strengthen the scientific foundations of trustworthiness, in order to inform the creation of new trustworthy technologies. NSF seeks new models, logics, algorithms, and theories for analyzing and reasoning about all aspects of trustworthiness.

Small projects will have total budgets of up to $500,000 over up to three years. Medium projects will be $500,001 to $1,200,000 for up to four years. Large projects will be $1,200,001 to $3,000,000 over up to five years.

NSF Information and Intelligent Systems: Core Programs, 08-575

http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf08575.

Large: November 1-28 annually thereafter.

Medium:  August 1-30 annually thereafter.

Small: December 1-17 annually thereafter.

This program will make three classes of awards (small, medium, large) in three topic areas:

1. Human Centered Computing (HCC). This program encourages research on how humans perceive computing artifacts as they design and use them, and on the wider social implications of those artifacts. HCC supports social and behavioral scientists as well as computer and information scientists whose research contributes to the design and understanding of novel computing technologies and systems.

2. Information Integration and Informatics (III). This program focuses on the processes and technologies involved in creating, managing, visualizing and understanding diverse digital content in circumstances ranging from individuals through groups, organizations, and societies and from individual devices to globally distributed systems. Projects should lead to advances that are driven by specific information-technology challenges.

3. Robust Intelligence (RI). This program encompasses all aspects of the computational understanding and modeling of intelligence in complex, realistic contexts. Examples include speech and dialogue recognition, computer vision, semantics, cognitive architectures, and robotics.

Small projects are up to $500,000 for up to three years. Medium projects are $500,001 to $1,200,000 for up to four years. Large projects are $1,200,001 to $3,000,000 for up to five years.

NSF Computer and Network Systems, 08-576

http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf08576

Large: November 1-28, annually.

Medium: August 1-30 annually.

Small: December 1-17 annually.

The program will make three classes of awards (large, medium, small) in two program areas:

1. Computer Systems Research (CSR). This supports the exploration of the new frontiers of computer systems and software, focusing on systems research that explores novel ideas and expands the limits of existing paradigms, with potential for significant advances in scientific or technical understanding of future computing systems and applications.

2. Networking Technology and Systems (NeTS). This supports the exploration of innovative and possibly radical network architectures, protocols, and technologies for wired and/or wireless environments that are responsive to the evolving requirements of large-scale, heterogeneous networks and applications. The program will enable technological advances leading to the development of a new generation of high performance networking technologies and systems. The scope ranges from home networks with numerous "smart" appliances to enterprise networks, core networks, and application-level networks.

Small projects are up to $500,000 over up to three years. Medium p

NSF Information and Intelligent Systems Core Programs (Human Centered Computing, Information Integration and Informatics, and Robust Intelligence), NSF 09-557

Due August 30, November 28, and December 17, depending on size

http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2009/nsf09557/nsf09557.htm?govDel=USNSF_25

This program will make three classes of awards in three program areas. Approximately 200 awards are expected from a $90-million-per-year pool. An individual may be PI, Co-PI, or senior person in no more than two proposals in any August-December cycle.

The three core programs are:

Human Centered Computing (HCC). HCC research targets diverse computing platforms such as traditional computers, handheld and mobile devices, robots, and wearable computers, at scales ranging from an individual device with a single user to large, evolving, heterogeneous socio-technical systems that are emerging from the increasingly pervasive availability of networking technologies. Environments of interest range from physical interaction with a single device to systems in which places and people, both physical and virtual, merge. As all electronic communications media become digital and interconnected, computing is also playing a central role in how humans communicate, work, learn, and play, dramatically transcending traditional geographical and cultural boundaries. HCC research explores and improves our understanding of new human-computer and human-human interactions, collaboration, and competition, developing systems that are aware of their social surroundings and of the conceptualizations, values, preferences, abilities, special needs, and diverse ranges of capability of the people that use them. HCC researchers and educators explore systems that interact with people using various and possibly multiple modalities such as innovative computer graphics, and haptic, audio, and brain-machine interfaces. HCC research outcomes are expected to transform the human-computer interaction experience, so that the computer is no longer a distraction or worse yet an obstacle, but rather a device or environment that empowers the user at work, in school, at home and at play, and that facilitates natural and productive human-computing integration. The HCC program encourages research on how humans, in various roles and domains, perceive computing artifacts as they design and use them, and on the wider social implications of those artifacts. HCC supports social and behavioral scientists as well as computer and information scientists whose research contributes to the design and understanding of novel computing technologies and systems.

Information Integration and Informatics (III). The Information Integration and Informatics (III) program focuses on the processes and technologies involved in creating, managing, visualizing, and understanding diverse digital content in circumstances ranging from individuals through groups, organizations, and societies, and from individual devices to globally-distributed systems. Further, data are only part of a “knowledge life cycle” that progresses from data through knowledge and insight and, ultimately, to action. III funds innovative information technology research that can transform all stages of the knowledge life cycle. III-funded projects are expected to lead to advances that are driven by specific information-technology challenges. Projects directed mainly at data-collection building and use, that apply existing data technologies to (perhaps) novel data sets, or that propose other activities with limited computing and information technology research potential are not appropriate for this program. III-supported activities can range from theoretical investigations to projects grounded in multi-disciplinary collaborations where data are central to the III-area research. In the case of multi-disciplinary projects proposers should explain the utility of the proposed work to the application domain and demonstrate expertise in that domain among the project participants. Regardless of research modality, proposals should make clear what computing and information technology challenges are being addressed and how the effectiveness of the work will be assessed.

Robust Intelligence (RI). The Robust Intelligence ( RI ) program encompasses all aspects of the computational understanding and modeling of intelligence in complex, realistic contexts. In contrast to systems that use limited reasoning strategies or address problems in narrow contexts, robust intelligence may be characterized by a system’s flexibility, resourcefulness, use of a variety of modeling or reasoning approaches, and use of real-world data in real time, demonstrating a level of intelligence and adaptability seen in humans and animals. The RI program advances and integrates the research traditions of artificial intelligence, computer vision, human language research, robotics, machine learning, computational neuroscience, cognitive science, and related areas.

The three project size classifications:

Small projects will be up to $500,000 total over up to three years. Small project deadline is December 17, 2009, and then December 17 annually.

Medium projects will be $500,001 to $1.2 million over up to four years. Medium project deadline is August 30, 2009, and then August 30 annually.

Large projects will be between $1.2 million and $3.0 million with budgets up to five years. Large project deadline is November 28, 2009, and then November 28 annually.

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-GM-10-009.html

Several of the National Institutes of Health have released RFA-GM-10-009, “Exceptional, Unconventional Research Enabling Knowledge Acceleration (EUREKA).” Applause to NIH’s acronym-meister.

This program will make awards of up to $800,000 (direct costs) over up to four years for exceptionally innovative research on novel hypotheses or difficult problems, solutions to which would have an extremely high impact on biomedical or biobehavioral research that is germane to the mission of one or more of the participating NIH Institutes.

The participating institutes are the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the National Institute on Aging (NIA), the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), and the National Library of Medicine (NLM). Each institute has a brief description in the solicitation of its broad research vision and mission in the context of this program. Your proposal must be relevant to the needs of at least one of these institutes.

The main body of the proposal itself is only seven pages long.  (Posted 9/25/09)

December

http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2009/nsf09604/nsf09604.htm?govDel=USNSF_25

This program will support interdisciplinary teams in pursuit of potentially transformative advances in solar energy technology. The program is essentially unchanged from last year’s. A team must consist of at least three investigators: at least one from chemistry, at least one from materials science/engineering, and at least one from mathematics. An individual may participate as PI, Co-PI, or senior person in only one proposal. NSF expects to make 3-10 awards in the neighborhood of $500,000 per year for three years.

Pre-proposals are mandatory and must be received by December 8, 2009. Full proposals will be invited and will be due March 10, 2010. Projects will begin in September 2010.

NSF East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes for U.S. Graduate Students (EAPSI) (08-603)

Due second Tuesday in December annually

http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf08603

This program is open to graduate students pursuing M.S. or Ph.D. degrees in fields that NSF supports. The student must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. The student, not the institution, submits the proposal. The program supports 8-week or 10-week (in Japan) visits by U.S. graduate students to research laboratories in Australia, China, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Singapore, or Taiwan. The student must contact a suitable host research site before submitting the proposal. NSF and its counterpart agencies can help make final arrangements for the student to be accommodated. The NSF program's web site has information about how to find host locations. A student may submit only one proposal for only one destination. Proficiency in the host country's language is not required.

NSF will provide a $5,000 stipend, round-trip air fare, and support for a mandatory two-day orientation in Washington, DC. It is expected that the foreign host site will provide additional support.

DARPA Persistent Stare Exploitation and Analysis System (PerSEAS), BAA 09-55

Due December 8, 2009

https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=f0144cfa4fb1ebbd4ac95f43a3a24540&tab=core&_cview=0

The overall goal of this program is to automatically and interactively discover actionable intelligence from wide area motion imagery (WAMI) of complex urban, suburban, and rural environments. The military has platforms now that can hover over a location for long periods; PerSEAS seeks to make it possible to automate the video images for tracking and other purposes.

Specific areas of interest are:

-- Track–to-Activity Associations -- Activity Pattern Recognition -- Cross-entity Interaction Modeling (to include Normalcy Modeling and Anomaly Detection) -- Wide Area Threat Analysis (PerSEAS Inference Engine) -- User Discernment of Actionable Intelligence (PerSEAS GUI)

The PerSEAS program will NOT fund or use any of the following technologies: face recognition, gait recognition, human identification or any form of biometrics. Proposals which use any of these technologies will be rejected.

The project will be unclassified, fundamental research. However, in later years, there will be tests on classified videos, and there will be a need to develop a transition plan so the system can operate on DOD computer systems. At this point, we would probably have to drop out of the project or hand it off to partners who can do these things. We can’t do classified research or handle classified materials. If something we develop is designated as export-controlled, we also would have to step away. (As you know, something is considered to be exported if a foreign person sees it, even if that happens in the United States.)  (posted 9/21/09)

Defense Medical Research and Development Program, Basic Research Award (W81XWH-10-DMRDP-BRA)

Pre-proposals due December 10, 2009

http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?mode=VIEW&oppId=50186

This program will make awards for basic research that advances medical science in the following areas:

-- Diagnosis and Treatment of Brain Injury -- Polytrauma and Blast Injury -- Operational Health and Performance -- Rehabilitation -- Psychological Health and Well-Being for Military Personnel and Families -- Medical Simulation Training Systems

Awards can be up to $1 million (direct costs) over up to three years. Postdoctoral researchers are eligible to apply, and young faculty are encouraged to apply.

Pre-applications are due December 10, 2009. Full proposals will be invited in January and will be due February 17, 2010.

www.onr.navy.mil/02/baa/

The Department of Defense has released ONR BAA 10-002, “Multi-Disciplinary Research Program of the University Research Initiative.” This program solicits proposals in 30 topic areas, listed below. Grants can be up to five years at $1.5 million per year. White papers (4pp) are required by December 11, 2009. Invited full proposals will be due in March 2010.  The topics:

NAVY

(1) Optical Metamaterials

(2) Adaptive Cognitive Maps for Autonomous Systems

(3) Non-linear Mediums Converting Frequencies of Propagating E/M and Pressure Waves

(4) Biofuels: Microbial Communities, Biogeochemistry and Surface Interactions

(5) Design, Synthesis, and Characterization of Electro-Active Polymers for Dielectric Energy Storage

(6) Reasoning for Image Understanding in Uncertain Environments

(7) Fundamental Study of High- and Low-K Dielectrics for III-V Electronic Devices

(8) Provably-Safe Perception-Based Control for Autonomous UAS Operations around Complex, Unstructured Terrain

(9) Dynamical Systems Theory in 4D Geophysical Fluid Dynamics

(10) Hyperspectral, Radar and EO/IR Signatures in the Littorals

AIR FORCE

(11) Novel Catalytic Mechanisms for the Chemical Reduction of Carbon Dioxide to Energy-Dense Liquids

(12) Third Order Nonlinear Optical Organics

(13) Fundamental Processes in High-Temperature Gas-Surface Interactions

(14) Propagation of Ultrashort Laser Pulses through Transparent Media

(15) Superconducting Semiconductors

(16) Human-Machine Adversarial Networks

(17) Biologically-Engineering of Adherent / Spectroscopically Interrogated Microstructures

(18) Control of Information Collection and Fusion

(19) Stable Metrics for Global Inference in Social Networks to Predict Collective Behavior

(20) Solid State Cooling

ARMY

(21) Neuronal Behavior in Primary Blast

(22) Identifying and Extracting the Mathematical Signatures of Prokaryotic Activity in DNA; Developing a Theoretical Foundation for Predicting DNA Stability

(23) Tomography of Social Networks of Asymmetric Adversaries

(24) Adaptive Perception and Agile Autonomy in Severe Environments

(25) Structured Modeling for Low-Density Languages

(26) Directed Self-Assembly of Reconfigurable Materials

(27) "Atomtronics": A generalized electronics

(28) Bio-Electronic Templates for Interfacing to the Nanoscale

(29) Ion Transport In Complex Heterogeneous Organic Materials

(30) Defect Reduction in Superlattice Materials

The solicitation has a detailed description of each topic area.

http://crcc.ucdavis.edu

The program will make awards of up to $50,000 (direct costs) for one-year projects related to cancer. The project must not be an extension of an existing project; it must be completely separate from any other funded research you have.

Half of the money is set aside for assistant professors appointed between July 1, 2005, and July 1, 2008. (If you were appointed to your faculty position after July 1, 2008, you are not yet eligible.) Also, you are not eligible if you will have more than $350,000 (direct costs) in other sponsored research during the one-year span of this project (July 1, 2010, to June 30, 2011).

The proposal itself is relatively brief, and the forms and formatting are not too tough. The program has published a Word template to use in preparing a proposal. This year, the program also has a separate template for proposal resubmissions. Because of increasing numbers of proposals, CRCC is promising to be strict this year on formatting, page limits, and timeliness.

We have had a few winners over the years, so I’m sure we can find an example or two of winning proposals to share. Also, a couple of UCR professors are members of the CRCC and might be able to help you if you have questions.

NSF Science of Science and Innovation Policy (SciSIP), 08-586

Due December 16 annually

http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=501084&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund

This solicitation comes from the NSF Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences. The goals are to understand the contexts, structures and processes of science and engineering research, to evaluate reliably the tangible and intangible returns from investments in research and development, and to predict the likely returns from future R&D investments. There could be links to our WIRED project, which is ending in November.

The program will make 15-20 awards, ranging in size from $50,000 to $400,000 total over up to three years. The emphasis areas are:

1. Models -- research proposals to develop behavioral and analytical conceptualizations, frameworks or models that have applications across a broad array of SciSIP challenges.

2. Tools -- methodologies to analyze science and technology data and related information, and to develop novel means to convey the information to a variety of audiences.

3. Data -- new data taxonomies, methods to improve comparability of data, data visualization, and similar improvements to enable a better understanding of how science investments pay off.

NSF also will accept proposals for dissertation improvement grants under this program.

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-CA-09-014.html

This program will make 3 to 5 awards, five years each, to establish multidisciplinary centers where graduate students and postdoctoral researchers from a wide range of scientific and engineering backgrounds can be trained in the many aspects of nanotechnology as it pertains to cancer.

Each award will be for up to $400,000 per year (direct costs) for up to five years. The funds should be used to provide (1) a laboratory-based mentored training program dedicated to nanotechnology innovation in cancer biology and oncology; (2) workshops, seminars, and short courses of a few days to two weeks in duration; and (3) an outreach program consisting of educational materials for the public and cancer patients.

A trainee can be supported for up to two years by the center. Trainees can be full-time or part-time, but their total involvement cannot span more than 24 months.

It is not clear how much of the money is intended for support of trainees versus how much can be used for actual research costs.

There should be linkages between these centers and the NCI Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer. I am aware of one linkage between BCOE and the Alliance, a project involving Cengiz and Mihri Ozkan through UCSD.

http://pacrim.ucsc.edu

The UC Pacific Rim Research Program has made some changes for the coming year, including larger project budgets, but narrower themes. PRRP will make three classes of awards: Faculty Initiative Grants, Faculty Research Planning Grants, and Advanced Graduate Research Fellowships.

Faculty Initiative Grants will be $30,000 to $50,000 (with no overhead) for a single year or multiple years. Proposals must focus on “Responses to Crisis in the Pacific Rim,” looking at the impacts of political and economic upheaval in the region. The Initiative Grants will fund research that explores the impact of crisis on the Pacific region, historically and in the contemporary moment. Proposals may address the social, economic, and political roots of past or present crises, their cultural ramifications, and their multiple effects. All Initiative Grant proposals must involve collaboration of scholars from more than one Pacific Rim nation or territory. and may include support of graduate students. Interdisciplinary collaborations and multi-campus participation will enhance the prospects for funding.

Faculty Research Planning Grants will be up to $25,000 for collaborative research, or research planning and pilot research, with colleagues in at least one Pacific Rim nation or territory, and may include support of graduate students. Awards are ordinarily granted for one year.

Advanced Graduate Research Fellowships support graduate students for a year of dissertation research or its equivalent. Students may apply for a maximum of $20,000 in funding for a year of research, with budget justification. Shorter periods with smaller budgets can be proposed.

Pre-proposals are submitted first to the campus, which decides which full proposals advance. The campus deadline is December 18.

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-09-016.html

This program will support development of novel molecular imaging approaches that can detect and image specific molecular activities in vivo, and have the potential for clinical applications. Novel molecular imaging approaches developed through this initiative can focus on one (or both) of the following long-term translational goals: (1) imaging the characteristic markers, and function, of normal cells in control human subjects and patients, and (2) imaging the characteristic markers, and biochemical or physiological abnormalities, of disease cells in patients. Potential abnormalities that could provide early markers for disease include (but are not restricted to): inflammation, fibrosis, immune cell activation, altered signal transduction pathways, altered gene expression pathways, and altered post-translational modification of proteins. This initiative solicits applications that explore innovative “high-impact” approaches, rather than incremental technology development that is already supported by current NIH programs.

This is an NIH R01 program, but the project description is limited to 12 pages.

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-RM-09-022.html

This program will fund groundbreaking, exceptionally innovative, high risk, original, and/or unconventional research with the potential to create new scientific paradigms or challenge existing ones. Projects must clearly demonstrate the potential to produce a major impact in a broad area of biomedical or behavioral research. Every proposal must clearly articulate (1) the fundamental issue to be addressed and its overarching importance to the scientific enterprise; (2) how the studies will either establish new paradigms or challenge existing ones, or how the research will otherwise have a transformative impact; and (3) how the proposed rationale and /or approaches significant differ from the current state of the art. A project can focus on a specific disease or condition, but the Roadmap initiative overall is aimed at transforming science, not addressing specific diseases.

Projects can be for up to five years. There is $25 million in the total pool, but no express limit on the amount you can ask for.

Letters of intent are due December 22. Full proposals will be due January 22, 2010. The body of the proposal will be limited to 8 pages.

https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=90bd1b38464ad8a432a4f67776e7a301&tab=core&_cview=1

This program is accepting white papers in the following topic areas. Before you even submit a white paper, you should call the appropriate technical person (listed in the BAA) to discuss your idea. Because many ideas are interdisciplinary, the first step is to find the right person at DHS who would be interested in funding your idea.

The BAA is open to December 31, 2009. You can submit ideas anytime this year, but, of course, sooner is better.

The topics of strategic interest are:

Explosives countermeasures -- Standoff detection of explosives. -- Defeat of improvised explosive devices. -- Data fusion and automated detection.

Chemical and biological -- Detecting chemical/biological agents and/or their delivery systems. -- Anti-bio/chemical weapons research. -- Mitigating the effects of chemical/biological attacks. -- Food/agriculture protection.

Border and maritime security -- Telling humans from animals in rugged border terrain. -- Better bullet-proof vests and helmets. -- Tools for finding secret compartments. -- Disabling vehicles with non-lethal means. -- Identifying the origin of gunfire. -- Decision-making tools (which vehicles to search at a border crossing). -- Wide-area surveillance at ports and at sea for detection, tracking, and response. -- Situational awareness of small boat activity. -- Sensors that overcome environmental clutter in ports. -- Advanced law enforcement capabilities. -- Tracking dangerous cargo. -- Data fusion tools. -- Tools to identify narcotics, weapons, etc. -- Non-intrusive cargo screening. -- Automatic target recognition. -- Detection of weapons (nuclear, chemical, biological) inside cargo containers. -- Tracking dangerous cargoes in transit.

Command, control, and interoperability -- Integrated voice/data communications. -- Information assurance and cyber security. -- Investigative tools for criminal investigations. -- Advanced reconnaissance and surveillance technologies.

Human factors/behavioral science -- Characterizing public perceptions of risk. -- Training public officials in risk warnings. -- Metrics for societal and community resilience. -- Strengthening social networks. -- Quantifying the psychosocial impacts of disasters. -- Methods to tell when people are lying. -- Technologies to automatically identify evasive behavior.

Infrastructure and geophysical -- Offshore wide-area persistent surveillance. -- Integrated incident management. -- Anticipating and preparing for catastrophic geophysical phenomena. -- Concepts for protecting 18 critical infrastructure types. -- Improving the performance of responders. -- Technologies for protecting civilian infrastructure. -- Real-time fusion of multi-source sensor measurements. -- Improving the quality of systems analysis.

January

Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Innovative Technologies and Methodologies Addressing Environmental Problems (N6258310R0315)

Proposals accepted January 1, April 1, and July 1, 2010

https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=b8e5f17691bf94e1d80e65ffa6e0bce7&tab=core&_cview=0

Proposals will be accepted January 1, April 1, and July 1, 2010, for technologies and methodologies to reduce environmental impacts from current and past Navy operations. NAVFAC ESC is interested in environmental technologies and methodologies that are either new, innovative, advance the state-of-the-art, or increase knowledge or understanding of a technology or methodology.

There are five topic areas:

1: ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT, RESTORATION AND CLEANUP. Services to assess and/or remediate existing pollution generated by military operations, including methodologies for evaluation of ecological risk, risk reduction, and/or establishing risk based cleanup goals.

2: CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES. Practices that support habitat both on land and at sea for rare and endangered species, migratory birds or marine mammals and that comply with environmental legislation and ensure protection of sensitive resources while supporting the military operations.

3: UNEXPLODED ORDNANCE (UXO). Services for explosive ordnance detection, location, de-energizing, disposal or remediation of UXO generated by military operations.

4: POLLUTION PREVENTION. Process design changes, management practices or methodologies to minimize the amount of pollution generated during present or future operations and maintenance.

5: ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE. Process design changes or management practices that facilitate or enhance the Navy's ability to comply with local, state, and federal environmental regulatory requirements.

http://epa.gov/ncer/rfa/2010/2010_p3.html#FUNDING

This program makes awards of $10,000 (direct and indirect costs) for one-year projects by interdisciplinary teams of students. P3 focuses on scientific projects and engineering designs that address the three components of sustainability: people, prosperity and the planet. The P3 Program is intended to support science-based designs developed by interdisciplinary student teams that benefit people by improving their quality of life, promote prosperity by developing local economies, and protect the planet by conserving resources and minimizing pollution.

There are five topic areas: energy, built environment, materials and chemicals, water, and agriculture.

Those teams that have won Phase I awards are eligible to compete for Phase II awards of up to $75,000. Phase I teams are also expected to travel to Washington, DC, to present their designs on the National Mall.

Proposals are due January 4, 2010, but don’t be deceived. That is the first business day of 2010. If the UC furlough plan goes through as expected, we will be closed for the last two weeks of December. This means that student teams should prepare their proposals and be ready to submit in the first or second week of December.

We have had a small but steady stream of P3 winners, so we should be able to provide examples of winning Phase I proposals to student teams.

Strategic Environmental Research & Development Program 2010-11

Pre-proposals due January 7, 2010

www.serdp.org/funding/Core-Sons.cfm

The Department of Defense and Department of Energy have released the SERDP program solicitation for FY2011. Pre-proposals (5 pp) are due January 7, 2010. A cover page registration process must be completed before you can submit your pre-proposal. This year’s statements of need are below. Full proposals will be invited in February and due in March. Oral presentations will be invited in September or October 2010, and new projects will start in spring of 2011.

It takes a lot of work to win a SERDP, but the awards are generally for five years at relatively high funding levels. We have won a few SERDPs in the past, and not won a few.

ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION

ERSON-11-01 Determination of the Environmental Impacts of Munitions Compounds in the Marine Environment

ERSON-11-02 In Situ Remediation of Perfluoroalkyl Contaminated Groundwater

ERSON-11-03 Improved Understanding of Impacts to Groundwater Quality Post-Remediation

ERSON-11-04 Improved Assessment of Munitions Constituent Source Terms on Operational Ranges

MUNITIONS MANAGEMENT

MMSON-11-01 Advanced Technologies for Detection, Discrimination, and Remediation of Military Munitions on Land Appendix A: Sensor Description Document

MMSON-11-02 Improvements in the Detection and Remediation of Military Munitions Underwater

MMSON-11-03 Tools to Support Informed Decisions on Munitions Response Sites Supporting Document: Overview of a Munitions Response Action

SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE

SISON-11-01 Impacts of Climate Change on Alaskan Ecological Systems

SISON-11-02 Behavioral Ecology of Cetaceans

SISON-11-03 Ecological Forestry and Carbon Management

SISON-11-04 Ecology and Management of Source-Sink Populations

WEAPONS SYSTEMS AND PLATFORMS

WPSON-11-01 Development of Alternatives to Copper-Beryllium and Aluminum-Beryllium Alloys for Military Applications

WPSON-11-02 Environmentally Benign, Insensitive, Castable, High-Performance, Minimum-Smoke Rocket Propellant

WPSON-11-03 Understanding the Corrosion Protection Requirements for Adhesive Bond Primers

WPSON-11-04 Combustion Science to Predict Emissions from Military Platforms Burning Alternative Fuels

WPSON-11-05 Environmentally Benign Removal Process for Low Observable Weapons Systems (NOTE: This SON is restricted to U.S. Government organizations only.)

NSF Discovery Research K-12 (09-602)

Optional pre-proposals due October 5, 2010; full proposals due January 7, 2010

http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2009/nsf09602/nsf09602.htm?govDel=USNSF_25

In NSF’s structure of K-12 programs, this program is aimed at enabling significant advances in K-12 student and teacher learning of the STEM disciplines through development and study of innovative resources, models, and technologies for use by students, teachers, administrators, and policy-makers.

There are four classes of awards:

-- Exploratory: 20-25 awards expected at up to $450,000 over three years. -- Full research and development: 20-25 awards expected at up to $3.5 million over three years. -- Synthesis: 5-10 awards expected at up to $5 million over up to five years. -- Conference/workshop: 5-10 awards expected at up to $100,000 over up to two years.

Every DR K-12 project should start with a hypothesis and include plans for exploring the hypothesis; designing, testing, and developing the plan; implementing the plan; studying the efficacy and improve it; scale up; and study the effectiveness.

The program will fund development of:

Resources such as instructional and assessment materials for students and teachers. They may be in print, multimedia, networked, or virtual forms.

Models such as curricular frameworks and learning progressions, teacher education and professional development program designs, academic standards, and other guides for learning and teaching.

Technologies including tools for cyber learning such as software, labware, networking and collaboration utilities, web-based resources, on-lien gaming, virtual learning environments, and portable digital media as well as scientific tools like sensors for data capture or laboratory studies.

Of particular interest are projects that address these questions:

1. How can improved assessment of student knowledge and skills advance STEM teaching and learning from pre-K to 12th grade?

2. How can all students be assured the opportunity to learn significant STEM content?

3. How can we enhance the ability of teachers to provide STEM education?

4. How are effective innovations successfully implemented, scaled, and sustained in the schools and districts in a cost-effective manner?

NSF Biomolecular Systems Cluster, PD-04-1144

Proposals due January 12, 2010, July 12, 2010, and then every January and July

http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=12771&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund

The Biomolecular Systems Cluster, one of three thematic areas within the Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, supports fundamental research in the areas of molecular biophysics, molecular biochemistry, and metabolic biochemistry. The cluster emphasizes the relationships between structure, function, and dynamics in studies of individual macromolecules, macromolecular complexes, and metabolic pathways. Research of interest to the cluster includes novel and creative projects addressing protein folding and dynamics, natively unfolded proteins, protein design, molecular recognition, enzymology, energy transformations in living systems, and the components, architecture and flux in metabolic pathways. The cluster encourages research projects integrating theoretical, computational, and experimental approaches to discover and define basic molecular mechanisms, as well as projects developing cutting-edge technologies in the context of biological questions relevant to the cluster. The cluster also encourages multi-disciplinary research at the interface of biology with physics, chemistry, mathematics, computer science, and engineering.

NSF Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST) (09-506)

Letters of intent due and January 19, 2010; full proposals due February 12, 2010

http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf09506

This program will make four types of awards:

Research projects enrich the understanding of issues related to enlarging the STEM workforce. Studies will look at the effectiveness of intervention models designed to encourage more students to get into STEM fields, for example. This is not exactly a core competency of BCOE, but we certainly could team up with the Graduate School of Education or other assessment experts.

Strategies projects design, implement, and evaluate models for classroom, after-school, summer, virtual, and/or year-round learning experiences for students and/or teachers. The strategies are intended to encourage students’ readiness for, and their interest and participation on, the STEM workforce of the future. Strategies project proposals must describe the anticipated contribution to the research knowledge base about STEM career preparation in addition to immediate impacts on participants.

Scale-up projects implement and test models to prepare students for information technology or the STEM workforce of the future in a large-scale setting such as at the state or national level. A scale-up project must be based on evidence of demonstrated success from an existing strategy for students or teachers.

Conferences and Workshops target STEM educators, education researchers, and evaluators.

There is another class of awards, called I3, which is made at the institution level. It would be great if UCR could pull off something like this, but an I3 proposal presumably would come out of Hinderaker Hall, not Bourns Hall.

There is no limit on the number of proposals an institution may submit, but an individual may be PI on only one ITEST proposal (that is one out of the four categories, not one per category).

NSF expects to make 25 to 40 awards from a $35 million pool.

http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2009/nsf09610/nsf09610.htm?WT.mc_id=USNSF_25

This program will support small teams consisting of at least one engineer and one mathematician or statistician “to seek and develop the theoretical basis of complex systems that will result in formal methods for design and management of engineered complex systems.” Examples of complex systems are power grids, traffic systems, critical civilian infrastructure, materials, chemical industrial systems, manufacturing and service enterprises, and environmental systems (but this list is not intended to limit your thinking about the kinds of systems that could be studied). The key to the use of complex systems in science and engineering is clever exploitation of the dominant levels of description, the ones that distill, focus and transmit the system’s physical knowledge. A project should aim to answer the question, “How can we take advantage of the fundamental theories of complex systems to design resilient engineered complex systems?”

NSF expects to make 12-20 awards from a $4 million pie. Proposals are due January 19, 2010. There is a limit of two proposals per investigator. (Posted 9/21/09)

http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2010/nsf10502/nsf10502.htm?WT.mc_id=USNSF_25

This program will make three types of awards:

Area 1: Innovations in Teaching and Learning. Projects will contribute to significant breakthroughs in understanding how students learn engineering so our undergraduate and graduate programs prepare engineers to meet the needs of the changing economy and society.

Area 2: Translation of Engineering Education Research into our Classrooms. Projects will identify significant barriers to the adoption of demonstrated successful research in engineering education and propose ways to remove or overcome these barriers so the research results can be more effectively translated into practice.

Area 3: Implementation of Programs for Students Supported by the GI Bill. These projects will help engineering schools get ready to serve veterans by developing exemplary education and career development programs.

All proposals must address (1) quality, relevance, and impact; (2) expected measurable outcomes; (3) project evaluation; and (4) project reporting.

Area 1 proposals will be up to $400,000. Proposals are due January 20, 2010.

Area 2 proposals will be up to $150,000 for a single institution and $200,000 for multiple institutions. Proposals are due March 31, 2010.

NSF: Instrumentation for Materials Research

Proposals due January 10, 2007, and third Thursday of January annually

http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5452&org=MPS&from=home

This program will make 20 to 25 new awards for the acquisition or development of instrumentation that will provide new capability and/or advance current capability to (1) discovery fundamental phenomena in materials, (2) synthesize, process, and/or characterize the composition, structure, properties, and performance of materials, and (3) improve the quality, expand the scope, and foster and enable the integration of research and education in research-intensive environments.

The minimum award size for Ph.D. granting institutions is $100,000. There is no maximum on how much you can request, but the program anticipates making 20-25 awards from a $4 million pool, indicating an average award size of about $160,000. Because of limited funds, you are encouraged to contact an NSF program officer before submitting a proposal.

An individual may be PI on only one proposal and co-PI on only one more proposal.

NSF Control Systems, PD 08-1632

Proposals accepted January 15 to February 15, 2010, and September 1 to October 1, 2010, and February 15 and October 1 annually thereafter

http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=13575&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund

The CS program supports innovative research on control theory and control technology driven by real life applications. The program accepts proposals on transformative research in established topic areas such as model-based control. However, the program emphasis is on paradigm-shifting ideas for control strategies that may be inspired by nature, unconventional applications, and the combined role of feedback and uncertainty in systems that incorporate large numbers of sensors and actuators. New sensor and actuator concepts that integrate feedback and signal processing to achieve a sensing or actuation objective are also funded.

NSF Collaboration in Mathematical Geosciences, 09-520

Due March 10, 2009, and again January 22, 2010

http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?org=MPS&ods_key=nsf09520

The National Science Foundation, Division of Mathematical Sciences, Directorate for Geosciences, and Office of Polar Programs (note: no engineering divisions involved) has released Program Solicitation 09-520, “Collaboration ion Mathematical Geosciences.” This program will make 15 to 28 awards from a $12 million pie in 2009 for projects that bring together mathematical scientists and geoscientists. Three types of proposals will be accepted:

1. Research with a single coherent goal that significantly advances the understanding of an important phenomenon in the geosciences and at the same time requires significant research in one or more areas of the mathematical sciences to provide these advances.

2. Research on an important phenomenon in a domain of geosciences that involves the use of more sophisticated mathematical or statistical approaches than are currently used in that domain.

3. Research in an area of mathematics or statistics that is prompted by a problem in the geosciences.

Additionally, there are three broad themes to this program. Every proposal must address at least one of these:

1. Mathematical and statistical modeling of complex geosystems. Examples include, but are not limited to, novel techniques for the computation and analysis of multi-physics or multidisciplinary models of geosystems; novel algorithms; fast and scalable numerical algorithms and solvers.

2. Understanding and quantifying uncertainty in geosystems. Examples include novel methods for error/uncertainty quantification; error estimation in coupled nonlinear models; and uncertainty assessment in the modeling of complex environmental systems.

3. Analyzing large/complex geosciences data sets. Examples include research that links new insights about the internal dynamics of geosystems and novel methods of analyzing data sets from observations and/or large numerical models; methods and techniques for integration of multiple data types; robust mathematical/statistical methods for irregularly-sampled heterogeneous data sets; and data analysis methods that enhance the utility of geosciences observatory infrastructure.

For a proposal to be appropriate, the topic must have an intrinsic need for a non-trivial collaboration between at least one geoscientist and at least one mathematical scientist. Research groups must include at least one mathematical scientist and one geoscientist.

Proposals will be accepted February 24 to March 10, 2009, and again January 8, 2010, to January 22, 2010.

Defense Threat Reduction Agency BAA HDTRA1-08-CBDIF-CBT-BAA, FY 2008-2010 Chemical and Biological Defense Initiative Fund & Chemical/Biological Technologies Directorate Physical Sciences and Technology Division New Initiative

Open to January 2010

http://www.fbo.gov/spg/ODA/DTRA/DTRA01/HDTRA1-08-CBDIF-CBT-BAA/listing.html

The Defense Threat Reduction Agency has released BAA HDTRA1-08-CBDIF-CBT-BAA, "FY 2008-2010 Chemical and Biological Defense Initiative Fund & Chemical/Biological Technologies Directorate Physical Sciences and Technology Division New Initiative." The program is soliciting brief white papers (a quad chart plus 2-page narrative) in the following science, technology, and information-technology areas. If they like your idea, they will invite a full proposal. The program is accepting the pre-proposals on an ongoing basis until 2010. The topics have something for everyone -- chemical engineering, bioengineering, environmental engineering, aerosol science, membranes, and dispose of contaminated human remains. Enjoy!

DETECTION

CBT-09-DET-01, Highly Specific, Low-level Chemical Threat Detection.

CBT-09-DET-02, DNA Sample Prep for High-Speed, High-Throughput Sequencing Applications.

CBT-09-DET-03, In-Silico, Made-to-Order, Infrared (IR) Challenge Data Modeling and Generation.

CBT-09-DET-04, Rapid, Flow-Through Detection of non-Fluorescent Threats.

CBDIF-08-DET-05, Modular and Adaptable Sample Preparation.

INFORMATION SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY

CBT-09-IST-01, CBRN Data-Sharing among Medical and CBRN Information Systems.

CBT-09-IST-02, Information Assimilation and Fusion.

CBT-09-IST-03, Source Term for High-Altitude Release and Atmospheric Dispersal of Bulk Chemicals.

CBT-09-IST-04, Consequence Management Capabilities for Chemical and Biological Defense Program.

CBT-09-IST-05, Biological Surveillance.

CBT-09-IST-06, Epidemic Model.

CBT-09-IST-07, CB Effects on Shipborne Operations.

CBT-09-IST-08, CBRN Data on the Battlefield.

CBT-09-IST-09, Training the Warfighter for the CBRN Threat.

CBT-09-IST-010, Human Cognition and Cognitive Performance Enhancement Technologies.

CBT-09-IST-011, CBRN Information Technology Initiative.

CBT-09-IST-012, CBRN Tactical Technologies for Operational Effects and Collaboration.

CBT-09-IST-013, Operational Evaluation of Collective Protection Systems.

CBT-09-IST-014, Operational Evaluation of Contamination Avoidance Systems.

PROTECTION & HAZARD MITIGATION

CBT-09-PHM-01, "Smart" Hazard Mitigation System.

CBT-09-PHM-02, Energized Decontamination.

CBT-09-PHM-03, Residual Life Indicator.

CBT-09-PHM-04, Novel Air Filtration Media.

CBT-09-PHM-05, "Green Chemistry" Solvents and Surfactants for Dissolution of Sulfur Mustard [Bis(2-Chloroethyl) Sulfide]

CBT-09-PHM-06, Contaminated Human Remains.

CBDIF-08-PHM-07, Revolutionary Concepts for Ingress/Egress to Toxic Free Areas for Buildings and Mobile Shelters.

THREAT AGENT SCIENCE

CBT-09-TAS-01, Molecular Interactions of Chemical or Biological Warfare Agents with Environmental Materials, Biological Membranes and Fluids.

CBT-09-TAS-02, Experimental and Theoretical Studies of Particulate Transport Mechanisms Onto and Off Of Environmental Surfaces.

MEDICAL PRE-TREATMENTS

CBDIF-08-PRET-01, Development of a Broad Spectrum and/or Multivalent Vaccine Platforms.

MEDICAL DIAGNOSTICS

CBDIF-08-DIAG-01, Methodology for Completion of Genomic Sequencing Coverage of Bacterial and Viral Biothreat Agents.

NIH Innovative Molecular Analysis Technologies, multiple solicitations

Letters of intent due January 23, 2010; April 27, 2010; August 30, 2010; proposals due February 23, 2010; May 27, 2010; September 30, 2010

The National Institutes of Health have released five solicitations under its Innovative Molecular Analysis Technologies (IMAT) program.

Innovative and Early-Stage Development of Emerging Technologies in Biospecimen Science (R21) solicits grant applications proposing technically innovative feasibility studies focused on early stage development of cancer-relevant technologies that address the issues related to pre-analytical variations in the collection, processing, handling, and storage of biospecimens or its derivatives. The overall goal is to develop technologies capable of interrogating and/or maximizing the quality and utility of biospecimens or their derived samples for downstream molecular analyses. This FOA will support the development of tools, devices, instrumentation, and associated methods to assess sample quality, preserve/protect sample integrity, and establish verification criteria for quality assessment/quality control and handling under diverse conditions. These technologies are expected to have a potential to accelerate and/or enhance the research in cancer biology, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, epidemiology, and cancer health disparities, by reducing pre-analytical variations that affect biospecimen and/or sample quality. Up to 7 awards are anticipated. Maximum award is $275,000 (direct costs) over up to 2 years. Letters of intent are due January 23, 2010; April 27, 2010; August 30, 2010. Proposals are due February 23, 2010; May 27, 2010; September 30, 2010. http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-CA-10-001.html.

Validation and Advanced Development of Emerging Technologies in Biospecimen Science (R33) makes follow-on awards to the Biospecimen program. http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-CA-10-002.html.

Application and Early Stage Development of Emerging Technologies in Cancer Research is an R21 program to support exploratory research on the initial application of emerging analytical technologies as laboratory or clinical tools. An “emerging technology” is defined as one that has passed the initial development stage, but has not yet been evaluated within the context of its intended use. This program will make up to 7 awards of up to $275,000 (direct costs) over up to 2 years. Letters of intent are due January 23, 2010; April 27, 2010, and August 30, 2010. Proposals are due February 23, 2010; May 27, 2010, and September 30, 2010. http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-CA-10-003.html.

Validation and Advanced Development of Emerging Technologies for Cancer Research makes R33 awards, which are follow-ons to R21 awards for further development. NIH expects to make up to 7 awards. http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-CA-10-004.html.

Innovative Technology Development for Cancer Research (R21) solicits grant applications proposing technically innovative feasibility studies focused on early stage development of cancer-relevant technologies. If successful, these technologies would accelerate the research and understanding of basic cancer biology, cancer treatment and diagnosis, cancer prevention, cancer control and epidemiology, and/or cancer health disparities. This program will make up to 15 awards of up to $275,000 (direct costs) over up to 2 years. Letters of Intent Receipt Date(s): January 23, 2010; April 27, 2010; August 30, 2010. Proposals February 23, 2010; May 27, 2010; September 30, 2010. http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-CA-10-005.html.

February

NIH National Centers for Biomedical Computing Collaboration, PAR-08-183 and PAR-08-184

Due February, June, and October 2008-2011

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-08-183.html (R21 exploratory)

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-08-184.html (R01 research)

Both programs will support research that uses NCBC computing resources and tools to investigate health-related topics. Eligible research fields include, but are not limited to, behavioral science, biological rhythms, biomedical imaging, cell biology, demographics, developmental biology, drug design, environmental health science, epidemiology, genetics, genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, immunology, infectious diseases, informatics support for diagnosis, medical genetics, morphology, neuorbiology, pharmacology, physiology, population biology, structural biology, substance abuse, surgery, and systems biology.

The R21 program makes awards of up to $275,000 (direct costs) over two years for exploratory projects (in general, those that are new ideas without any existing preliminary data). The R01 program makes regular research awards of up to $500,000 per year (direct costs) for up to five years.

Air Force/Global Cyber Integration Center Cyber Command and Control Technologies (BAA 0809-RIKA)

Due February 1, 2009; open to 2012

https://www.fbo.gov/spg/USAF/AFMC/AFRLRRS/BAA0809-RIKA/listing.html

This solicitation is very wide-ranging and covers any aspect of the use of electronics and the electromagnetic spectrum to store, modify and exchange data via networked systems and associated physical infrastructures. The focus of this BAA is on technologies to enable command and control (C2) of cyberspace assets and integrating their effects with kinetic operations (in other words, directing weapons to their targets). Capabilities of interest include C2 collaboration, interoperability, visualization and integration of friendly orders of battle, course of action development, experimentation, integrated task order production, effects deconfliction, hybrid/joint effects, and assessment.

The Air Force expects to make multiple awards totaling $5 million in 2009. Individual awards normally do not exceed 18 months at $300,000 to $1.5 million per year.

White papers will be accepted until 2012. However, for FY 2009 funding, your white paper must be submitted by February 1, 2009. The white paper is 3-5 pages long. If they like your idea, they will invite full proposals.

http://www.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/2010/2010_star_nano.html

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and National Science Foundation are jointly sponsoring a program titled “Increasing Scientific Data on the Fate, Transport and Behavior of Engineered Nanomaterials in Selected Environmental and Biological Matrices.” This is not to be confused with a nanoparticles solicitation that NIH released last week.

The three agencies will fund a total of seven awards, each at $600,000 total over up to four years (i.e., an average of $150k/year). All proposals are submitted to U.S. EPA, and the agencies decide among themselves who will fund what.

The program will support fundamental and applied research related to engineered nanomaterials in the following two areas:

1. Evaluation of potential exposure to engineered nanomaterials including an exploration of environmental and biological fate, transport, and transformation of these materials throughout their lifetimes.

2. Increasing the scientific understanding of engineered nanoscale additives and ingredients intentionally introduced into food matrices for delivery of important micronutrients and modification of sensory attributes.

International collaboration is encouraged.

http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2010/nsf10505/nsf10505.htm?WT.mc_id=USNSF_25

The program this time around has two components: scholarships and institutional capacity building in computer security. Proposals for both types of programs are due February 2, 2010.

The scholarship track provides two-year scholarships plus stipends to undergraduates (for the junior and senior year), master’s students, or Ph.D. students (for the last two years before getting the Ph.D. degree). Scholarship recipients must agree to take summer jobs with Federal agencies, and they must agree to work in the Federal Cyber Service at a government agency or national lab for at least two years after graduation. The organization helps the student find a suitable position. The scholarship recipients must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. To be eligible to submit a proposal, we must either be designated as a Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education or have an information assurance program that meets criteria similar to those necessary for this designation (see http://www.nsa.gov/ia/academic_outreach/nat_cae/cae_iae_program_criteria.shtml).

The capacity building track provides funds to help us increase the production of high-quality information assurance and computer security professionals. Activities supported by these grants include institutional faculty development and technical experiences for faculty. Funding can be used for developing teaching labs on campus and providing technical experiences for students, too.

There is a limit of two proposals per institution. Since any proposal would have to come out of Computer Science, I don’t expect there to be a campus selection process.

http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2010/nsf10506/nsf10506.htm?WT.mc_id=USNSF_25

There are several changes for 2010, most notably that we don’t do pre-proposals anymore. There is a limit of two proposals per investigator (PI, co-PI, or senior person).

CDI is an initiative to create revolutionary science and engineering research outcomes made possible by innovations and advances in computational thinking. Computational thinking is defined comprehensively to encompass computational concepts, methods, models, algorithms, and tools. CDI research outcomes are expected to produce paradigm shifts in our understanding of a wide range of science and engineering phenomena and socio-technical innovations that create new wealth and enhance the national quality of life.

There are three themes, and three award sizes. The themes:

1. From Data to Knowledge: enhancing human cognition and generating new knowledge from a wealth of heterogeneous digital data.

2. Understanding Complexity in Natural, Built, and Social Systems: deriving fundamental insights on systems comprising multiple interacting elements.

3. Virtual Organizations: enhancing discovery and innovation by bringing people and resources together across institutional, geographical and cultural boundaries.

Type I awards are roughly sized for two investigators for three years. Type II awards are sized for three investigators for four years. Type III awards are for larger multidisciplinary teams.

NIH Bioengineering Research Partnerships

Due February 5, June 5, and October 5 through May 2010

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-07-352.html

This program supports efforts that focus on (a) proving a scientific hypothesis or (b) technology development through basic, applied, and/or translational bioengineering research that could make a significant contribution to improving human health.

Partnerships can include multiple researchers from a single institution, researchers from multiple institutions, and companies that may be involved in eventual commercialization of a new technology. NIH allows multiple PIs on this program (but still does not use the term co-PI).

Projects should involve collaborations and partnerships among the allied quantitative and biomedical disciplines. A Bioengineering Research Partnership must bring together the necessary physical, engineering, and computational science expertise with biological or clinical expertise and resources to address a significant area of bioengineering research within the mission of NIH. In addition to the benefits to be derived from the research, the collaborations and partnerships can create opportunities for trans-disciplinary communication and training for a new generation of scientists capable of interacting across traditional technical boundaries.

The maximum possible award is $2 million per year (total costs). Different NIH institutes and centers have different funding limits, and at least one (NIBIB) requires you to get approval at least six weeks before proposal submission if you plan to request more than $500,000 per year.

USDA Higher Education Challenge, USDA-NIFA-CGIP-0026744

Due February 5, 2010

http://www.csrees.usda.gov/fo/fundview.cfm?fonum=1082

This will make grants ($150,000 for a single institution or $500,000 for a multi-institution plan) to improve postsecondary education and training in food and agricultural sciences, broadly defined (see below). A proposal must address one of three Program Categories, and at least one of seven Priority Areas. The three categories are (a) baccalaureate degree-level teaching enhancement projects in the food and agricultural sciences; (b) master’s degree-level teaching enhancement projects only in multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary studies; or (c) first professional degree-level teaching enhancement projects in veterinary medicine.

The seven priority areas are:

A. Globalizing agricultural business.

B. Developing sustainable agricultural technologies and systems promoting energy conservation and efficiency, including on-farm/on-ranch renewable bioenergy and wind, solar and hydro capabilities.

C. Developing technologies and systems for sustainable crop and animal production (including genomics and plant breeding).

D. Promoting human sciences that address rural youth.

E. Increasing food safety and food defense.

F. Supporting healthy food choices and lifestyles.

G. Sustaining forest, farmland, and rangeland health and protection.

Projects should propose curricula design, materials development, faculty preparation, instruction delivery systems, student experiential learning, and student recruitment/retention. A strong evaluation plan must be included.

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-10-009.html

Proposals due February 5, June 5, and October 5 through 2012

This program supports multidisciplinary research that addresses important biological, bioengineering or medical research problems. Multi-disciplinary research performed in a single lab or by a small number of investigators that applies an integrative, systems approach to develop knowledge and/or methods to prevent, detect, diagnose, or treat disease or to understand health and behavior will be funded. A BRG application may propose hypothesis-driven, discovery-driven, developmental, or design-directed research. Proposals requesting more than $500,000 per year in direct costs must be approved at least six weeks in advance. This program will use the new NIH formatting requirements; the major change is that the main body of the technical proposal is limited to 12 pages.

NIH: Metals in Medicine, PA-08-251

Due February 5, June 5, and October 5 through September 2011

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-08-251.html

This program will make R01 grants (that is, the "normal" research grant) for projects that bridge the ares of inorganic chemistry and medicine. The objective of this program is to stimulate additional research in selected areas of bioinorganic chemistry and medicine. Areas of interest include (1) mechanisms of metal metabolism as well as the roles of metals in regulation of cell function and cell-cell interaction; and (2) basic research toward diagnostic and therapeutic applications of metal comlpexes and of metal chelators and to exploit the unique properties of metals for therapeutic applications. The emphasis of this announcement is on the ions, comlexes, and organometallic compounds of the transition metals, lanthanides and actinides, post-transition metals, and metalloid elements.

This program is open to September 8, 2011. R01 proposals normally are accepted February 5, June 5, and October 5 each year via grants.gov.

NIH Non-Invasive Methods for Diagnosis and Progression of Diabetes, Kidney, Urological, Hematological and Digestive Diseases and Hypertensive Disorders, PA-09-181

Proposals accepted February 5, June 5, and October 5 until May 2012

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-09-181.html

This R01 program will fund new approaches to diagnosing diseases non-invasively. These might include new ways to measure flux through enzymatic pathways in tissues, to measure the unique functions or specialized cells in vivo, to monitor the activity of short-lived, small molecule signals, to explore the physical environment of intracellular compartments, or to assess nerve activation in an organ. Spectroscopic techniques and computer modeling approaches also are within the scope of this program. However, the development of novel imaging or sensing technologies that may have general applications, such as imaging devices or computational methods, are outside the scope of what this program will fund.

Project sizes will vary. Durations can be up to five years. Proposals will be accepted February 5, June 5, and October 5 until May 2012.

NSF Electronics, Photonics & Device Technologies  (EPDT) (PD 10-1517)

Proposals accepted January 7 to February 7, 2010; September 7 to October 7, 2010; and February 7 and October 7 annually thereafter

http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=13379&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund

The Electronics, Photonics and Device Technologies (EPDT) program seeks to improve the fundamental understanding of devices and components based on the principles of micro and nano electronics, photonics, magnetics, organics, electro-optics, electromechanics, electromagnetics, and related physical phenomena. The program enables discovery and innovation advancing the frontiers of nanoelectronics, spin electronics, molecular electronics, bioelectronics, nonsilicon electronics, flexible electronics, photonics, optoelectronics, microwave photonics, magnetics, micro/nano-electromechanical systems (MEMS/NEMS), sensors and actuators, power electronics, and mixed signal devices. EPDT supports related topics in quantum engineering and novel electromagnetic materials-based high frequency device solutions, radio frequency (RF) integrated circuits, and reconfigurable antennas needed for communications, telemedicine, and other wireless applications. The program supports cooperative efforts with the semiconductor industry on new nanoelectronics concepts beyond the scaling limits of silicon technology. EPDT additionally emphasizes emerging areas of diagnostic, wearable and implantable devices, and supports manipulation and measurement with nanoscale precision through new approaches to extreme ultraviolet metrology. Areas of interest include:

-- Bioelectronics

-- Electromagnetics

-- Flexible Electronics

-- MEMS/NEMS

-- Micro/Nanoelectronics

-- Micro/Nanomagnetics

-- Microwave Photonics

-- Molecular Electronics

-- Nanophotonics

-- Optoelectronics

-- Power Electronics

-- Sensors and Actuators

-- Spin Electronics

NSF Integrative, Hybrid and Complex Systems (PD 10-7564)

Proposals accepted January 7 to February 7, 2010; September 7 to October 7, 2010; and February 7 and October 7 annually thereafter

http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=13381&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund

The Integrative, Hybrid and Complex Systems (IHCS) program is intended to spur visionary systems-oriented activities in collaborative, multidisciplinary and integrative research. IHCS supports innovative research and integrated educational activities in micro and nano systems, communications systems, and cyber systems. The goal is to design, develop and implement new complex and hybrid systems at all scales, including nano, micro, and macro, that lead to innovative engineering principles and solutions for a variety of application domains including, but not limited to, healthcare, medicine, the environment, communications, disaster mitigation, homeland security, transportation, manufacturing, energy, and smart buildings. IHCS also supports integration technologies at both the intra-and inter-chip levels, new and advanced radio frequency (RF), millimeter wave and optical wireless and hybrid communications systems architectures, and sensing and imaging at terahertz frequencies. IHCS supports systems research in hardware, signal processing techniques, and architectures to enable the next generation of cyber systems and to enable innovative cyber-physical systems (CPS) that leverage computation, communication, and algorithms integrated with physical domains. IHCS offers new challenges at all levels of systems integration to address future societal needs.

NSF Earth Sciences: Instrumentation and Facilities (09-517)

due February 10, 2010; and second Wednesday in February annually; and July 8, 2009, and second Wednesday in July annually

http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2009/nsf09517/nsf09517.htm?govDel=USNSF_32

This program will make five types of awards for instrumentation relevant to the mission of the Division of Earth Sciences (EAR): understanding the structure, composition, and evolution of the Earth and the processes that govern the formation and behavior of the Earth’s materials. This includes research involving environmental change; natural distribution of minerals, water, and energy resources; and prediction and mitigation of geologic hazards such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods, and landslides. Freshwater systems and interactions with the biosphere and atmosphere are within EAR’s scope. Conceivably, an engineering professor/researcher could win one of these grants alone, but I would think that it’s a better idea to team up with people from Earth Sciences.

The five types of awards available:

1. Acquisition or upgrade of research equipment. Maximum $750,000 for analytical laboratory and field instrumentation and computational equipment. (Limit of $75,000 for upgrades of research group computing facilities.) Vendor price quotes must be included with the proposal, or it will be returned without review.

2. Development of new instrumentation, analytical techniques or software. Up to $750,000 for development of instrumentation that extends current research capabilities in the Earth sciences. You need to demonstrate that the research community needs the new capability that you propose to develop, and you need to promise that the new concept will be openly available rather than proprietary.

3. Support of national or regional multi-user facilities. You are encouraged to contact a program officer before submitting a proposal. In general, this support is reserved for groups that seek to offer expensive or specialized analytical laboratory or field equipment and services to the broader geosciences community. This program will support personnel costs as well as instrumentation costs.

4. Development of cyberinfrastructure for the earth sciences (geoinformatics). Geoinformatics proposals should describe the development of enabling information technology platforms intended to facilitate the next generation of Earth sciences research. (Proposals accepted in the July cycle of odd-numbered years only.)

5. Support for early career investigators. This program will support new laboratory or field equipment facilities for tenure-track investigators. It also provides for limited support of technicians.

Proposals will be accepted in two cycles per year:

February 23, 2009; February 10, 2010; and then the second Wednesday in February, annually.

July 8, 2009; and then the second Wednesday in July annually.

Note that service contracts will not be supported with NSF funds. Some of the programs will pay nothing for technicians to operate the instrumentation, and some will pay limited amounts.

NSF Dynamical Systems, PD 09-7478

Proposals accepted January 15 to February 15, 2010 and September 1 to October 1, 2010, and February 15 and October 1 annually thereafter

http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=13574&org=ENG&sel_org=ENG&from=fund

This program supports innovative research on the theories of dynamical systems, including new analytical and computational tools, as well as the novel application of dynamical systems to engineered systems. The program is especially interested in transformative research in the area of complex systems, uncertain or stochastic nonlinear dynamical systems, model order reduction of nonlinear or infinite dimensional dynamical systems, discrete nonlinear dynamical systems, and modeling, simulation, analysis and design of multi-scale multi-physics dynamical systems.

NSF Civil Infrastructure Systems  (CIS), PD-08-1631

Full proposals accepted January 15 to February 15, 2010; September 1 to October 1, 2010; and February 15 and October 1 annually thereafter

http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=13352&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund

The CIS program supports research leading to the intelligent engineering of distributed infrastructure systems. Areas of interest include intra- and inter-dependencies in infrastructure design and operation for resilience and sustainability, infrastructure protection, and advanced information technologies for health monitoring, condition assessment, deterioration and asset management. Special emphasis is on risk analysis, life-cycle frameworks, cyber-enabled simulation, and technologies for design, construction and operation of resilient and sustainable infrastructure networks.

NSF Manufacturing and Construction Machines and Equipment  (MCME) (PD 08-1468)

Proposals accepted January 15 to February 15, 2010; September 1 to October 1, 2010; and February 15 and October 1 annually thereafter

http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=13346&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund

The MCME program supports fundamental research leading to improved machines and applications for both manufacturing and construction.  Key goals are to advance the transition of these industries from skill-based to knowledge-based activities and to develop them as activities with minimal environmental and societal impact.  To accomplish these goals the program emphasizes research leading to a fundamental understanding of the relevant physical processes resulting in better predictive models and improved manufacturing and construction decision making.  The program also supports research on solid freeform fabrication encompassing scales from microns to meters (nanometer scale additive manufacturing is supported under the Nanomanufacturing program).

NSF Manufacturing Enterprise Systems  (MES) (NSF -08-1786)

Proposals accepted January 15 to February 15, 2010; September 1 to October 1, 2010; and February 15 and October 1 annually thereafter

http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=13342&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund

The MES program supports research on design, planning, and control of operations in manufacturing enterprises.  Research is supported that impacts the analytical and computational techniques relevant to extended enterprise operations and that offer the prospect of implementable solutions.  Topics of interest include analytical and computational tools for planning, monitoring, control, and scheduling of manufacturing and distribution operations, and development of methods for optimization of manufacturing enterprises in the presence of a high degree of uncertainty and risk.

NSF Materials and Surface Engineering  (MSE) (PD 08-1633)

Proposals accepted January 15 to February 15, 2010; September 1 to October 1, 2010; and February 15 and October 1 annually thereafter

http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=13356&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund

The MSE program supports fundamental research leading to a better understanding of the effect of microstructure, surfaces and coatings on the properties and performance of engineering materials, and the ultimate control of these properties through material design. Of particular interest is materials service under conditions such as impact, temperature extremes, corrosion, oxidation, and friction. The program also supports research leading to biomedical applications of materials. Funded research includes both experimental and theoretical approaches.

NSF Materials Processing and Manufacturing  (MPM) (PD 08-1467)

Proposals accepted January 15 to February 15, 2010; September 1 to October 1, 2010; and February 15 and October 1 annually thereafter

http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=13344&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund

The MPM program supports fundamental research on the interrelationship of materials processing, structure, performance and process control. Analytical, experimental, and numerical studies are supported covering processing methods such as molding, forging, casting, welding, hydroforming, composite layup, and other materials processing approaches. Emphasis is placed on environmentally benign manufacturing and virtual manufacturing. Research leading to the development of novel processes and novel hybrid processing techniques to achieve net shape products and complex multi-scale, multi-functional products with superior quality and performance is also supported.

NSF Mechanics of Materials (MOM) (PD 08-1630)

Proposals accepted January 15 to February 15, 2010; September 1 to October 1, 2010; and February 15 and October 1 annually thereafter

http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=13355&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund

The MOM program supports fundamental research on solid mechanics including theoretical, analytical, and computational approaches, model-based simulation, and the development of constitutive models. It also supports research to link the nanostructure and microstructure mechanical behavior of materials across time and length scales, including experimental and analytical research on deformation, fatigue, and fracture, and the underlying molecular and microstructural states.

NSF Nano and Bio Mechanics  (NBM) (PD 08-7479)

Proposals accepted January 15 to February 15, 2010; September 1 to October 1, 2010; and February 15 and October 1 annually thereafter

http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=13523&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund

The NBM program supports fundamental research in biomechanics and nanomechanics.  Research on biomechanics focuses on the mechanical properties and behavior of biological materials and structures, including cells, tissue, muscles, bones, and prosthetic implants.  Research on nanomechanics focuses on the unique properties of nano-scale particles and microstructural features and their effects on the macroscopic mechanics and properties of materials, surfaces, and structures that contain them.

NSF NanoManufacturing  (NM) (PD 08-1788)

Proposals accepted January 15 to February 15, 2010; September 1 to October 1, 2010; and February 15 and October 1 annually thereafter

http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=13347&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund

The NM program supports research and education on manufacturing at the nanoscale, and the transfer  of research results in nanoscience and nanotechnology to industrial applications. The program emphasizes a systems approach to scale-up of nanotechnology for high rate production, reliability, robustness, yield and cost, and promotes integration of nanostructures to functional micro devices and meso/macroscale systems.  Special emphases are on environmental, health, and societal aspects of nanotechnology and nanomanufacturing.

http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=13340&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund

The EDI program supports research leading to design theory and to tools and methods that enable implementation of the principles of design theory in the practice of design across the full spectrum of engineered products. The program focus is on gaining an understanding of the basic processes and phenomena underlying a holistic, life-cycle view of design where the total system life-cycle context recognizes the need for advanced understanding of the identification and definition of preferences, analysis of alternatives, effective accommodation of uncertainty in decision-making, and the relationship between data and knowledge in a digitally-supported process. The program funds advances in basic design theory, tools, and software to implement design theory and new design methods that span multiple domains, such as design for the environment and for manufacturability.

NSF Structural Materials and Mechanics (PD 08-1635)

Proposals accepted January 15 to February 15, 2010; September 1 to October 1, 2010; and February 15 and October 1 annually thereafter.

http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=13357&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund

The SMM program supports fundamental research on the behavior of civil infrastructure materials and the mechanics of structural components in the built environment.  Of particular interest is research on structural components consisting of natural and synthetic materials, their response to mechanical, hydrothermal and time-dependent loads, and their impact on life-cycle performance and sustainable development of the civil infrastructure.

NSF Sensors and Sensing Systems (PD 08-1639)

Proposals accepted January 15 to February 15, 2010; September 1 to October 1, 2010; and February 15 and October 1 annually thereafter.

http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=13349&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund

The SSS program supports research on methods to acquire and use sensor data on civil, mechanical, and manufacturing systems.  The program supports fundamental research on advanced actuators, sensors, wireless sensor networks, new materials and concepts for sensing applications, power generation and energy supply for sensors and sensing systems.  Also of interest is research on the strategic incorporation of sensors into both natural and engineered systems to achieve effective data acquisition and on processing and transmission of sensor data.

NSF Geotechnical Engineering (PD 09-1636)

Proposals accepted January 15 to February 15, 2010; September 1 to October 1, 2010; and February 15 and October 1 annually thereafter.

http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=13351&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund

The GTE program supports fundamental research on geotechnical aspects of civil infrastructure, such as foundation engineering, site characterization, underground construction, tunneling, drilling, and mining engineering.  Also included is research on geoenvironmental engineering, geotechnical earthquake engineering that does not involve the use of George E. Brown, Jr. Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation (NEES) facilities, and geohazards such as tsunamis, landslides, mudslides and debris flows, scour, and erosion.  Emphasis is on issues of sustainability and resilience.

NSF Infrastructure Management and Extreme Events (PD-08-1638)

Proposals accepted January 15 to February 15, 2010; September 1 to October 1, 2010; and February 15 and October 1 annually thereafter

http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=13353&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund

The IMEE program focuses on the impact of large-scale hazards on civil infrastructure and society and on related issues of preparedness, response, mitigation, and recovery.  The program supports research to integrate multiple issues from engineering, social, behavioral, political, and economic sciences.  It supports fundamental research on the interdependence of civil infrastructure and society, development of sustainable infrastructures, and civil infrastructure vulnerability and risk reduction.

DARPA Microsystems Technology Office BAA-09-25

Accepting white papers and proposals until February 17, 2010

https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=237f4e77cbc4152cbab89d024c3a0940&tab=core&_cview=0

The DARPA Microsystems Technology Office has released BAA 09-25, its office-wide broad agency announcement for the year. DARPA will accept white papers (5 pages) in the following topic areas. If they like your idea, they will invite full proposals. White papers will be accepted anytime until February 17, 2010.

The topics of interest are below. You are encouraged to check the MTO web site’s portfolio of current projects to be sure that what you are proposing is different from what is already being supported.

1. Low power, high performance digital and analog data processing

2. Novel electronic and photonic device demonstrations

3. Novel semiconductor materials enabling new device concepts or capabilities

4. Nanophotonics and nanoelectronic device and circuit demonstrations

5. Power Electronics

6. RF technology

7. Biological and chemical sensors

8. Quantum information science and technology

9. Chip scale navigation, timing, and control

10. Three dimensional digital, rf, and imaging technologies

11. Integrated chip-scale photonics

12. Micro-scale power generation, control, and conversion

13. Infrared and ultraviolet detectors and imagers

14. Terahertz technology

15. Optical communication technology

16. Analog-to-digital conversion

17. Co-optimization of hardware and algorithms

18. Novel complex circuit design technology

19. Trusted design and hardware technology, anti-tamper technology, and information leakage prevention technology

20. Non-destructive examination of Integrated Circuits

21. Microsystems addressing challenges in complex systems architectures

22. Scaling of macro-systems to micro and nano-scale

23. Micro and NanoElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS and NEMS)

24. Spin Based Electronics

25. Microprocessor Optimization

26. Adaptive Electronics

27. Novel/Integrated Antennas

28. Microwave Photonics

29. Photonic interfaces to free-space RF

30. Wideband RF antenna technology

31. New Electronics Management Approaches

32. Advanced Laser Technology

33. Novel Vacuum Microelectronics

34. Other Microsystems Technology Topic Areas

NSF Broadening Participation Research Initiation Grants in Engineering (BRIGE) (10-509)

Due February 25, 2010

http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2010/nsf10509/nsf10509.htm

This program will make two-year awards of up to $175,000 for exploratory research investigations, acquisition of preliminary data or development of collaborations that will led to formulation of future competitive grant applications. The purpose of the award is to broaden the participation of and to increase opportunities for all engineers, including those from underrepresented groups and persons with disabilities in the engineering disciplines. Involvement of Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) is encouraged. UCR is a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), which is a type of MSI.

The PI must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident with a Ph.D. in an engineering discipline, and with three years or less in a tenure-track faculty position. Also, the PI must not already be PI on any research grant or contract valued at $50,000 or more. (I’m not sure everyone receiving this message meets those tests, but I don’t want to make the mistake of missing someone who might be eligible.) There is a limit of one proposal per person per cycle. Co-PIs are not allowed, but collaborations are encouraged. Proposals are due February 25, 2010. We have one BRIGE winner among us, Julia Lyubovitsky, and we can look to her example for guidance.

http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2010/nsf10508/nsf10508.htm?WT.mc_id=USNSF_25

This program is a continuation of the NSF Middleware Initiative.  This program supports software development across five major software areas: system software and tools for High Performance Computing (HPC) environments; software promoting NSF's strategic vision for digital data; network software to support distributed software,  software in the form of middleware capabilities and services, and cybersecurity. SDCI funds software activities for enhancing scientific productivity and for facilitating research and education collaborations through sharing of data, instruments, and computing and storage resources. The program requires open source software development. NSF expects to make 25-30 awards (5-10 in each of the five major software areas) from a $15 million pool. There is a limit of two proposals per investigator as PI, Co-PI, or Senior Person.

Naval Air Systems Command, Structures and Materials Research and Development (N00421-08-R-0049)

First round pre-proposals due May 31, 2008; open to February 2010

http://www.fbo.gov/spg/DON/NAVAIR/N00421/N00421-08-R-0049/listing.html

The program will make multiple awards for projects that will enhance naval aviation capabilities through advances in metals, ceramics, polymers, and composites. The areas of interest are:

-- Structures and materials. -- Structural and material concepts. -- Structural analysis. -- Modeling and simulation. -- Materials processing.

Specific areas of interest include, but are not limited to: development and application of new and improved structural concepts, analytical modeling and simulation, life tracking, resins, structural reinforcing fibers, core and foam materials, adhesives, and sealants/coatings for naval aviation applications; new and/or lower cost manufacturing processes for structural components (including tooling); new and novel materials, processes and design methods for structural repair; process modeling; engineered materials for low-observable applications; high temperature resins/adhesives; structural and non-structural adhesives, Applique and paint replacement film materials, environmentally compliant surface preparations for bonding, non-chromated and organic corrosion inhibitors for sealants and/or adhesives, novel approaches to toughened resins for prepregs and adhesives; composite property/life prediction and related technologies; fracture phenomena of polymers & composites; galvanic corrosion ; Optical materials and coatings for aircraft transparencies and their repair; and structural and multifunctional (structure + function) materials. Ideas outside of the advertised focused areas will be considered in scope provided they have the potential for radical improvement to national security and are within the interest of the office.

The Navy will accept abstracts of up to 15 pages until February 2010. However, the cutoff for consideration in the first round is May 31, 2008. If they like your abstract, they may invite you to give a briefing on your concept. After that, they will invite a full proposal.

https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=87435decd84f74eacb6259b22a2ce09a&tab=core&_cview=0

This program will make multiple awards for the development, implementation, and evaluation of curriculum (elementary, secondary, and/or college) designed to prepare more people to work in science and technology pertinent to homeland security. Areas of interest are:

1. Explosives Detection, Mitigation, and Response. 2. Social and Behavioral Sciences. 3. Risk, Economics, and Decision Sciences. 4. Human Factors. 5. Chemical Threats and Countermeasures. 6. Biological Threats and Countermeasures. 7. Food and Agriculture Security. 8. Transportation Security. 9. Border Security. 10. Immigration Studies. 11. Maritime and Port Security. 12. Infrastructure Protection. 13. Natural Disasters and Related Geophysical Studies. 14. Emergency Preparedness and Response. 15. Communications and Interoperability. 16. Advanced Data Analysis and Visualization.

DHS requires a white paper (up to 8 pages). If they like your idea, they will invite a full proposal. White papers will be accepted anytime until about January 2010. Invited full proposals will be accepted until February 28, 2010. There is a possibility that some of the projects will be selected promptly but not funded until later.

March

NSF Research to Aid Persons with Disabilities (PD 10-5342)

Proposals accepted February 1 to March 3, 2010

http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=501021&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund

The Research to Aid Persons with Disabilities (RAPD) program supports research that will lead to the development of new technologies, devices, or software for persons with disabilities.  Research may be supported that is directed to the characterization, restoration, and/or substitution of human functional ability or cognition, or to the interaction of persons with disabilities and their environment.  Areas of particular recent interest are disability-related research in neuroscience/neuroengineering and rehabilitation robotics.  Emphasis is placed on significant advancement of fundamental engineering and scientific knowledge and not on incremental improvements.  Proposals should advance discovery or innovation beyond the frontiers of current knowledge in disability-related research.  Applicants are encouraged to contact a program director prior to submitting a proposal. Undergraduate Engineering Design Projects are also supported, especially those that provide prototype "custom-designed" devices or software for persons with disabilities.  The education of undergraduate engineering students is enhanced through Undergraduate Engineering Design Projects' awards supported by the RAPD program.

NSF Process and Reaction Engineering (PD 10-1403)

Proposals accepted February 1 to March 3, 2010

http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=13361&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund

This is under the Engineering Directorate. The Process and Reaction Engineering program supports fundamental and applied research on:

-- Rates and mechanisms of important classes of catalyzed and uncatalyzed chemical reactions as they relate to the design, production, and application of catalysts, chemical processes, biochemical processes, and specialized materials

-- Chemical and biochemical phenomena occurring at or near solid surfaces and interfaces

-- Electrochemical and photochemical processes of engineering significance or with commercial potential

-- Design and optimization of complex chemical and biochemical processes

-- Dynamic modeling and control of process systems and individual process units

-- Reactive processing of polymers, ceramics, and thin films

-- Interactions between chemical reactions and transport processes in reactive systems, and the use of this information in the design of complex chemical and biochemical reactors

NSF Biomedical Engineering, PD-10-5345

Proposals accepted February 1 to March 3, 2010

http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=501023

The mission of the Biomedical Engineering (BME) Program is to (1) provide opportunities to develop novel ideas into discovery-level and transformative projects that integrate engineering and life science principles in solving biomedical problems that serve humanity in the long-term, and (2) advance both engineering and life sciences with biomedical engineering projects that are at the interface of engineering and biomedical sciences. The BME program supports projects in the following BME themes:

-- Neural engineering (brain science, computational neuroscience, neurotech, cognitive engineering).

-- Cardio/pulmonary systems engineering.

-- Gene and drug delivery systems.

-- Cellular and tissue engineering (cellular biomechanics, genetically engineered stem cell differentiation with long-term impact in tissue repair and regenerative medicine).

-- Biomaterials and biomimetics.

-- Computational modeling, multiscale modeling, biocomplexity [applied to only the theme(s) above].

NSF Biosensing (PD-10-7909)

Proposals accepted February 1 to March 3, 2010

http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503353&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund

The Biosensing Program supports innovative, transformative, and insightful investigations of fundamental problems with broad long term impact and applications that require novel use of bio-inspired engineering principles and sophisticated devices to meet the engineering and technology needs of the nation.  The program is targeting research in the area of the monitoring, identification, and/or quantification of biological phenomena and will support potential technological breakthroughs that exist at the intersection of engineering, life science, and information technology. Projects submitted to the Program must advance both engineering and life sciences. Projects in the program may range from single investigator to multi-investigator collaborative research efforts. The development of these novel principles and devices will require highly collaborative interactions between engineers, life scientists, and experts in nanotechnology, biomaterials, bioinformatics, and the chemical and physical sciences.  The program recognizes the important role of education and workforce development specifically relevant to the multidisciplinary nature of the area of biosensing.  Interdisciplinary teams are essential and must be fostered from discovery to application.

NSF Biophotonics, Advanced Imaging, and Sensing for Human Health, PD-10-7236

Proposals accepted from February 1 to March 3, 2010

http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=501025&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund

Innovative basic research in photonics, imaging, and sensing that is very fundamental in science and engineering is needed to lay the foundation for new technologies beyond those that are mature and ready for application in medical diagnostics and therapies. Developing molecularly specific sensing (molecular photonics), imaging, and monitoring systems with high sensitivity and resolution would be an enormous accomplishment with powerful applications to both biology and medicine. Low cost diagnostics will require novel integration of photonics, molecular biology, and material science. Complex biosensors capable of detecting and discriminating among large classes of biomolecules could be important not only to biology and medicine, but also to environmental sensing and homeland security.

NSF Biotechnology, Biochemical, and Biomass Engineering  (BBBE), PD 10-1491

Proposals accepted February 1 to March 3, 2010

http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=501024&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund

The Biotechnology, Biochemical, and Biomass Engineering (BBBE) program deals with fundamental problems involved in the processing and manufacturing of products of economic importance by effectively utilizing renewable resources of biological origin and bioinformatics originating from genomic and proteomic information. The BBBE program emphasizes basic engineering and biological research that advances the fundamental knowledge base that contributes to a better understanding of cellular and biomolecular processes (in vivo, in vitro, and/or ex vivo) and eventually to the development of generic enabling technology and practical application. Quantitative assessments of bioprocesses and their rates at the levels of gene regulation and expression, signal transduction pathways, posttranslational protein processing, enzymes in reaction systems, metabolic pathways, cells and tissues in cultivation, and biological systems including animal, plant, microbial and insect cells, etc. are considered vital to the successful research projects in the BBBE program. Research projects supported through the BBBE program include, but are not limited to:

-- Fermentation technology

-- Enzyme technology

-- Recombinant DNA technology

-- Cell culture technology

-- Ex vivo and therapeutic stem cell culture technology

-- Metabolic engineering

-- Tissue engineering

-- Nanobiotechnology

-- Quantitative systems biotechnology

NSF Combustion, Fire, and Plasma Systems, PD 10-1407

Proposals accepted February 1 to March 3, 2010

http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=13366&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund

The Combustion, Fire, and Plasma Systems program supports fundamental research and education relevant to these subjects. Among the broader societal impacts of the program are cleaner global and local environments, enhanced public safety, improved energy and homeland security, useful new materials, and more efficient manufacturing. This program is not an applied research program, but rather it provides broad, basic knowledge that can be used by others in development of systems for combustion and plasma applications and for mitigating the effects of fire. Broad-based tools - - computational, experimental, or diagnostic - - that can be applied to a variety of problems in combustion, fires, and/or plasmas are major products of this endeavor. Note that the plasma science is generally in support of plasma processing; atmospheric-science or fusion-energy plasmas are funded elsewhere. Areas of interest include:

-- Gas, liquid, and solid combustion in premixed, non-premixed, partially premixed, or flow-reactor configurations

-- Laminar and turbulent combustion over a range of temperatures and pressures and length scales

-- Structure and dynamics of flames and plasmas

-- The science needed to enable use of domestically generated alternate fuels

-- Improved understanding of flame spread, inhibition, and suppression

-- Atmospheric-pressure plasmas and other emerging plasma-processing methods relevant to biotechnology, material synthesis, and other industrial applications

-- Mitigation of combustion-generated pollution

-- Basic climate-change technology research directly related to combustion, fire, or plasma systems

-- Development of diagnostic tools and the needed underlying science

-- Projects that intersect nanotechnology and combustion, fire, or plasma-processing science

-- Projects that combine combustion and plasma science or contribute to both fields of research are encouraged

-- Projects relevant to combustion, fires, or plasma processing that contribute to the emerging cyberinfrastructure for scientific information technology

NSF Chemical and Biological Separations (CBS), PD 10-1417

Proposals accepted February 1 to March 3, 2010

http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=13363&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund

The Chemical and Biological Separations (CBS) program supports fundamental research on novel methods and materials for separation processes. These processes are central to the chemical, biochemical, materials, energy, and pharmaceutical industries. A fundamental understanding of the interfacial, transport, and thermodynamic behavior of multiphase chemical systems as well as quantitative descriptions of processing characteristics in the process-oriented industries is critical for efficient resource management and effective environmental protection. The program encourages proposals that address emerging research areas and technologies, have a high degree of interdisciplinary thought coupled with knowledge creation, and integrate education and research. Areas of emphasis include separation of biological molecules and separations that lead to environmentally benign processing. Much of the current work involves the investigation of new membrane materials such as novel polymers, zeolites, mixed matrix materials, carbon nanotubes, biological and biomemetic materials, and glasses. Projects on modeling transport processes - - especially at the molecular level - - in membranes are supported by the program. For the hydrogen economy, membranes that selectively transport atomic, molecular, or ionic hydrogen and oxygen are required. Current membrane materials often lack sufficient selectivity to eliminate critical contaminants from the hydrogen stream. Membrane materials to prevent fuel crossover in fuel cells are also being sought. Adsorption on materials ranging from hydrogels to micas is being studied. New processes for drinking water purification rely on the development of new materials for membranes and adsorbents, which are supported by CBS.

NSF Particulate and Multiphase Processes  (PD 10-1415)

Proposals accepted February 1 to March 3, 2010

http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=13364&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund

The Particulate and Multiphase Processes program supports fundamental and applied research on mechanisms and phenomena governing particulate and multiphase processes, including granular and granular-fluid flows, particle/bubble/droplet interactions, aerosol science and technology, suspensions, micro- and nano-structured fluids, self- and directed-assembly of nanostructures involving particulates, and related instrumentation and diagnostics.  Innovative research is sought that contributes to improving the basic understanding, design, predictability, efficiency, and control of particulate and multiphase processes with particular emphasis on: new frontiers in nanotechnology, novel manufacturing techniques, nano-metrology, multiphase transport in biological systems, environmental sustainability, critical infrastructure systems, and complex engineering systems.  Collaborative and interdisciplinary proposals are encouraged; proposals that include a combination of experimental and theoretical approaches are more likely to receive funding than solely theoretically or experimentally oriented work.  Highly reviewed projects generally demonstrate a strong scientific basis together with clear practical applications. Unsolicited proposals in the above and related areas are encouraged.  Investigators are also encouraged to find industrial partnerships and make GOALI submissions. Current research focus areas include:

-- Multiphase flow phenomena (particle/bubble/droplet dynamics), structured fluids (colloids, ferro-fluids), and self and directed assembly of particles into functional devices

-- Particle science and technology (aerosols, production of particles with engineered properties, assembly of particles into functional materials and devices, environmental issues, nanotoxicology)

-- Multi-scale models of multiphase systems (emphasis on novel approaches connecting micro- and nano-scale phenomena and properties with process-level variables)

-- Multiphase transport in biological systems (emphasis on applications of functionalized nanostructures in clinical diagnostics and therapeutics)

NSF Thermal Transport Process (PD 10-1406)

Proposals accepted February 1 to March 3, 2010

http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=13367&org=CBET&from=home

The Thermal Transport Processes program supports engineering research aimed at gaining a basic understanding of the microscopic and macroscopic levels of thermal transport phenomena (heat and mass transfer) in energy conversion and conservation, the synthesis and processing of materials, cooling and heating of infrastructure and equipment, the interaction of industrial processes with the environment, the propulsion of air and land-based vehicles, and thermal phenomena in biological and environmental systems.  The program supports fundamental research and engineering education in transport processes that are driven by thermal gradients, and manipulation of these processes to achieve engineering goals. Currently, basic research in conduction and convection heat and mass transfer with and without phase change, heat and mass transfer at nano- and molecular scales, radiative transport, and the fundamental characterization of material properties important to these processes are especially relevant to this program.  Priority is given to insightful investigations of fundamental problems with broad engineering and societal impact, and to novel use of heat and mass transfer principles to meet the engineering needs of the nation.

NSF Energy for Sustainability (PD 10-7644)

Proposals accepted February 1 to March 3, 2010

http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=501026&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund

The Energy for Sustainability program supports fundamental research and education in energy production, conversion, and storage and is focused on energy sources that are environmentally friendly and renewable.  Most world energy needs are currently met through the combustion of fossil fuels.  With projected increases in global energy needs, more sustainable methods for energy production will need to be developed, and production of greenhouse gases will need to be reduced. Sources of sustainable energy include Sunlight, Wind/Wave, Biomass, and Geothermal.

NSF Environmental Engineering (PD 10-1440)

Proposals accepted February 1 to March 3, 2010

http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=501029&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund

The Environmental Engineering program supports fundamental research and educational activities across the broad field it serves.  The goal of this program is to encourage transformative research which applies scientific principles to minimize solid, liquid, and gaseous discharges into land, inland and coastal waters, and air that result from human activity, and to evaluate adverse impacts of these discharges on human health and environmental quality.  The program fosters cutting-edge scientific research based on fundamental science for identifying, evaluating, and developing new methods and technologies for assessing the waste assimilative capacity of the natural environment and for removing or reducing conventional and emerging contaminants from polluted air, water and soils.  The program is based on four types of engineering tools - - measurement, analysis, synthesis, and design.

NSF Environmental Implications of Emerging Technologies (PD 10-1179)

Proposals accepted February 1 to March 3, 2010

http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=501030&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund

The Environmental Implications of Emerging Technologies program provides support to develop and test the environmental effects of new technologies. Fundamental and basic research is sought to establish and understand outcomes as a result of the implementation of new technologies such as nanotechnology and biotechnology.  The program also supports research on the development and refinement of sensors and sensor network technologies that can be used to measure a wide variety of physical, chemical, and biological properties of interest in characterizing, monitoring, and understanding environmental impacts. The program emphasizes engineering principles underlying technology impacts.  Innovative production processes, waste reduction, recycling, and industrial ecology technologies are of interest.   All of these have implications that would be relevant to this program. Current areas of support include: 

-- Understanding and mitigating how new developments in nanotechnology and biotechnology will interact with the environment

-- Nanotechnology environmental, health, and safety implications and applications

-- Predictive methodology for the interaction of nanoparticles with the environment and with the human body, including predictive approaches for toxicity

-- Fate and transport of natural, engineered, and incidental (by-product) nanoparticles

-- Risk assessment and management of the effect of nanomaterials in the environment

-- Sensor and sensor network technologies as they relate to the measurement of these environmental implications

NSF Environmental Sustainability (PD 10-7643)

Proposals accepted February 1 to March 3, 2010

http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=501027&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund

The Environmental Sustainability program supports engineering research with the goal of promoting sustainable engineered systems that support human well-being and that are also compatible with sustaining natural (environmental) systems.  These systems provide ecological services vital for human survival.  The long-term viability of natural capital is critical for many areas of human endeavor.  Research in Environmental Sustainability typically considers long time horizons and may incorporate contributions from the social sciences and ethics. This program supports engineering research that seeks to balance society's need to provide ecological protection and maintain stable economic conditions.  There are four principal general research areas which are supported, but others can be proposed:

-- Industrial Ecology

-- Green Engineering

-- Ecological Engineering

-- Earth Systems Engineering

NSF Interfacial Processes and Thermodynamics (PD 10-1414)

Proposals accepted February 1 to March 3, 2010

http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=13362&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund

The Interfacial Processes and Thermodynamics program supports fundamental research in engineering areas related to (1) interfacial phenomena, (2) mass transport phenomena, and (3) solution phase equilibrium thermodynamics. Currently, emphasis is placed on molecular engineering approaches at interfaces, especially as applied to the processing of soft materials.  Molecules at interfaces with functional interfacial properties are of special interest.  These interfacial molecules may have biomolecular functions at the micro and nanoscale.  Interfacial materials are generally formed through molecular self-directed, -templated, and/or -assembly, and they are driven primarily by thermodynamic intermolecular forces.  In some cases, these interfacial processes may also be supplemented by weak chemical reactions.

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-10-010.html

Proposals are due March 16, July 16, and November 16 through 2012

This program will support innovation and high/risk/impact bioengineering research in new areas. Applications should clearly indicate the significance of the proposed work and the soundness of the proposed research and/or development plan. An EBRG may propose hypothesis-driven, discovery-driven, developmental, or design-directed research. The research proposed under this program can explore approaches and concepts new to a particular substantive area; research and development of new technologies, techniques or methods; or initial research and development of data upon which significant future research may be built. Awards are limited to $275,000 (direct costs) over two years. This program will use the new NIH formatting requirements, including a 6-page limit on the technical section.

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-ES-09-012.html

This program will make four to five awards to interdisciplinary research centers studying aspects of toxic contamination and human health. New proposals will be competing against renewals. A new proposal may request up to $1.8 million (direct costs) for year 1.

The goal of this program is to improve public health by supporting integrative research that is multidisciplinary in nature and includes the ability to identify, assess, and evaluate the potential health effects and risks of exposure to hazardous substances; to develop innovative detection and monitoring techniques for site assessment; and to develop innovative remediation technologies for reducing potential exposure to hazardous substances. A proposal must include a minimum of two biomedical projects and two non-biomedical projects.

NIEHS is looking for (1) advanced techniques for the detection, assessment, and evaluation of the effect on human health of hazardous substances; (2) methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances; (3) methods and technologies to detect hazardous substances in the environment; and (4) basic biological, chemical and physical methods to reduce the amount and toxicity of hazardous substances.

Letters of intent are due March 16, 2010, and full proposals are due April 15, 2001. The earliest anticipated start date for a new center is April 1, 2011.

There is a limit of one proposal per institution. I will contact Jane Schultz about a down-selection process or perhaps a process to bring all interested people together to collaborate on a single proposal.

Although the requirements for this proposal will be fairly elaborate, the new NIH proposal formatting guidelines will apply. The main body of the technical proposal will be 12 pages.

https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=b8ed7b191aa52aadeb0604c78324ad4a&tab=core&_cview=1

This program solicits new concepts in five technology areas:

BAA 901. Prognostics, Diagnostics, and Health Monitoring. The Navy is seeking to develop propulsion and power system prognostic, diagnostic, and health monitoring technologies to improve aircraft safety, reliability, maintainability, affordability, and availability. These technologies will be applicable to new, derivative or current Naval aircraft. Specifically sought are technology developments that enhance capability in the area of propulsion and power system prognostics, diagnostics, and health monitoring, with fault detection and isolation for any or all components of engines and drive systems. The technologies to be developed shall provide improved capability for identification of actual or impending faults, generation of appropriate cockpit and/or maintenance messages, improved fault isolation capability, and automated data-driven ground-based analysis capability. The technologies may be applicable to either complete prognostic/diagnostic systems or subsystems thereof.

BAA 902. Advanced Aircraft Power Systems. The Navy seeks to develop and demonstrate advanced power system technologies that will significantly improve power density, available power, efficiency, reliability, readiness, service life, environmental compliance, safety-of-flight, and ownership costs. The Navy seeks to develop power system technologies in the areas of generation, distribution, conversion and control, energy storage, thermal management, and subsystem interactions. Technology development areas include, but are not limited to, fuel cell systems, novel generators and motors, engine and generator integration, wiring and power system diagnostics/prognostics, arc fault circuit breakers, high temperature components, advanced wiring materials, batteries and other advanced energy storage devices, thermal management and advanced cooling techniques, and power conversion/control.

BAA 903. Fuel and Energy Conservation Technology: Certification Of Alternative Fuels. As part of the Navy’s Tactical Alternative Fuels Strategy the Navy seeks to utilize fuels derived from non-petroleum sources. Protocols currently under development outline test requirements necessary to allow implementation of alternative fuels into the Navy’s JP-5 and F-76 specifications. Navy seeks capabilities to conduct test requirements as outlined in the protocols.

BAA 904. Alternative Fuel Test And Certification Methodology Improvements. Navy has been developing test and certification protocols to obtain the necessary data required to approve alternative fuels into the JP-5 and F-76 specifications. Protocol testing is currently labor and fuel intensive. Navy is seeking alternative test or analysis technologies that could be substituted into current protocols to obtain required data while reducing cost and fuel requirements.

BAA 905. Aircraft Energy Conservation. The Navy seeks innovative concepts that can introduce applications for aircraft energy conservation and carbon footprint reduction with the potential for rapid transition to Fleet. Technologies for consideration may utilize a wide array of approaches and technologies and are not restricted to only propulsion and power.

The Navy requires a white paper (less than 30 pages, and typically 8-15 pages) describing your idea. If they like the idea, they will invite a full proposal. No deadline is given for white papers. Awards will be contracts, not grants.

Air Force, Computing Architecture Technologies (BAA-09-03-RIKA)

Open to March 2013

https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=a216c9566044cceaf10bdf491799bc38&tab=core&_cview=0

This program is open until 2013 to accept proposals in the following topic areas. You start by submitting a white paper (3-5 pp) and then will be invited to submit a full proposal. For consideration this fiscal year, white papers should be submitted by March 1, 2009.

Of particular interest are technologies that support architectures for high assurance, trusted/secure architectures, increased computational sophistication, more complex system functionality with improved quality, dramatic improvements in the performance/cost of systems, embedded processing and high productivity computing. Also of interest are technologies that can reduce warfighter decision latencies/response time, decrease system costs and system development times, automate the labor-intensive/error-prone and costly aspects of system software development, improved reliability, longevity, and usability of new and legacy military computing systems.

The overall objective of this BAA is to develop, integrate, and demonstrate computing architecture technologies and applications. This effort will investigate the research, application and/or development of computing architecture technologies, products and standards as they relate to the following technical areas:

(1) Development of appropriate information technology to enhance the processing capabilities of current and future Air Force C4I systems: This area encompasses all information processing technology both hardware and software that could potentially contribute to enhancing the functionality, performance, reliability, longevity, scalability and usability of legacy or planned Air Force C4I processing systems. Examples of hardware technologies include multi-core processing architectures with emphasis on hardware support for semantic operations, power reducing/power management/power aware processing architectures, high assurance/trusted/secure processing architectures, high productivity computing systems, self-aware computing systems, data storage, performance optimization visualization tools, mobile and wireless networks and technologies necessary to achieve exa-scale computing. Examples of software technologies include High Performance Computing (HPC) programming languages both new and existing, data retrieval/mining, data management, data delivery, software/system monitors, publish/subscribe mechanisms, decision making techniques, distributed databases, static and dynamic runtime optimization and resource management.

(2) Multiple Independent Levels of Security (MILS): This area consists of research into the implications of state-of-the-art commercially available processor architectures (including multi-core, GPU's, FPGA's, etc.) and development of solutions for associated security issues to alleviate the impact on the Separation Kernels that are being developed by the real-time operating system vendors for use in environments requiring high assurance. Advance the state of the art through research and development of high assurance middleware technologies for insertion in mission critical embedded systems in order to enhance system interoperability and capability to support cross domain solutions that will enable delivery of superior and timely information to the warfighter. Develop protection profiles according to the Common Criteria for middleware security components in the Multiple Independent Levels of Security/Safety architecture.

(3) Software Producibility/Software Intensive Systems: Software is a prime enabler of complex weapons systems and command and control infrastructure, yet it is the least well understood and the most problematic element of large-scale systems. Software project failures dominated by unmet requirements and cost and schedule overruns abound, in large part due to little underlying science, a minimal engineering knowledge base and a lack of understanding of the physics of software. The complexity of today's system lies in greater than 105 requirements, greater than 107 lines of code, thousands or more component interactions, greater than 30 year product life cycles and stringent certification standards. Technologies, methodologies, techniques, and tools to specify, design, build, verify and test software that will enable the development and affordable, timely, and predictable acquisition of complex, software-intensive systems is being sought. Areas of interest include: software and systems composability with guaranteed system interoperability for provably trusted components and systems; model-based development for predictable software attributes with provably correct code generation and automatic software and system analysis; dynamic, scalable and adaptive software debugging; software mechanisms to fully exploit emerging technology, such as multi-core, in producing new software or modernizing legacy systems; mechanisms to fight through software failures; technology that will increase our understanding of software; and the development of an infrastructure for software-intensive systems modeled after the Software Considerations in Airborne Systems and Equipment Certification Guideline DO-178B.

(4) Formal architectures for the development of verifiably secure systems: This area includes the development of formal, architectural approaches for the design and development of secure systems. The principle research in this area should study powerful, new notions and related formal methods to underlie the approach, including appropriate forms of composition, model transformation, refinement, and general characterizations of security properties. This research must include the demonstration of the feasibility of the approach, and the development of a proof of concept.

(5) High Assurance/Trusted Computing Architectures: The objective of this topic is to investigate the necessary building blocks for high assurance computing environments (environments where compelling evidence is supplied to determine a high level of trustworthiness), including both the underlying hardware and software to support it. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to: (a) the problems and challenges with current processor designs for trustworthiness and their solutions; (b) the problems and challenges with current computer architectures for trustworthiness and solutions to them; (c) the Operating System level constructs, objects and functions that must be provided to complement the hardware to enable a trustworthy computing base; (d) the state of the art software-based assurance designs, methodologies or concepts which are better suited for implementation in hardware than software. This area is also interested in research and development for increasing the level of trustworthiness of integrated circuit designs, commodity integrated circuits and currently available systems as a whole. Finally, this area is also interested in research in the implications of state-of-the-art commercially available processor architectures (including multi-core, GPUs, FPGAs, etc.) and specially designed processor architectures in support of Separation Kernels and other secure micro-kernels being developed by real-time operating system vendors for use in environments requiring high assurances, develop solutions for such implications, and also research and develop supporting software, e.g. high assurance middleware technologies, in order to enhance system interoperability and capability to support cross domain solutions that will enable delivery of trustworthy, superior and timely information.

NSF: Biomedical Engineering, Research to Aid Persons with Disabilities, and Biophotonics Program (NSF 06-566)

Due March 1, yearly

http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=NSF06566

The National Science Foundation has revised its biomedical engineering program and released it as Program Solicitation 06-566, "Biomedical Engineering, Research to Aid Persons with Disabilities, and Biophotonics Program."

The program is soliciting projects that apply engineering principles to problems in biology and medicine while advancing the engineering knowledge base. Integration of engineering expertise with life science principles is an essential requirement for advances in the field.

The program is particularly interested in biomedical photonics, novel tissue characterization schemes, new cellular and tissue engineering concepts, the innovative integration of multidisciplinary technologies for new imaging and biosensing systems, and point-of-care technologies related to chronic illness, persons with disabilities, and the aging.

Biomedical Engineering (BME) projects and Research to Aid Persons with Disabilities (RAPD) projects are funded at $80,000 to $110,000 each.

Biophotonics projects can be funded at up to $200,000 each. The program also will make awards of $2,000 to $25,000 to support undergraduate senior design projects in these fields.

Proposals are due September 15, 2006. The program continues indefinitely at least until 2009. The next proposal window is February 1 to March 1, 2007, and then proposals will be accepted February 1 to March 1 each year.

Air Force, Special Capabilities in Information and Surveillance, BAA 08-07-RIKA

Open to March 2012 but 1st round white papers due June 12, 2008

https://www.fbo.gov/spg/USAF/AFMC/AFRLRRS/BAA-08-07-RIKA/listing.html

The Air Force Materiel Command, Rome (NY) Research Site, has released BAA 08-07-RIKA, "Special Capabilities in Information and Surveillance." This multi-year program will make multiple awards in sensors, materials, and information systems. There are seven major program areas, and multiple technology needs under each program area:

1. Space and Near-Space Sensors and Systems.

2. Strategic and Tactical Networks.

3. Information Assurance.

4. Counter Underground Facilities.

5. Small Unit Operations.

6. Maritime Operations.

7. Core Strategic Technologies.

White papers (3-5 pp) will be accepted until March 2012. However, to be considered in the first year, you should submit a white paper by June 12, 2008 -- only a couple of weeks! If they like your idea, they will invite a full proposal. And if you get money in year 1, you are well positioned to get follow-on money for several years.

DARPA Strategic Technology Office BAA 09-22

Open to March 10, 2010

at https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=cc0c2f08ccaba497eb0664df71bbedc6&tab=core&_cview=0

The DARPA Strategic Technology Office has released DARPA-BAA-09-22, Strategic Technology Office Broad Agency Announcement. This program will remain open until March 10, 2009. It solicits ideas in a large number of areas, listed below. If you have an idea, you first submit a one-page abstract, and then likely have a conversation with the program manager. This results in an invitation for a full proposal. The topics:

               I.      Space and Near-Space Sensors and Systems

a.       Active damping and smart materials for precision control of space structures;

b.      Concepts for space systems, sensors, structures, components and materials;

c.       Concepts supporting affordable access–and thus proliferation–of high-performance space sensors and systems;

d.      Extremely large space apertures and structures, including large space structures that have extremely small payload volumes (e.g., rigidized inflatables, isogrid composites, etc.);

e.      Global tailored tactical surveillance;

f.        High performance micro- and picosat systems;

g.       Innovative sensor systems for space control applications including extremely large, lightweight and stowable aperture technologies;

h.      Large distributed array remote sensing systems, both space based and ground based for space object location and identification;

i.         Lightweight and low-mass active/passive membranes;

j.        Next generation power generation systems including electrodynamic and momentum tethers, advanced solar systems, and others;

k.       Next generation space technologies & systems;

l.         Novel space-based sensor modalities and systems;

m.    Novel systems and enabling technologies for high-resolution, deep sub-canopy surveillance;

n.      Remote optical sensing technologies;

o.      Technologies supporting next-generation tactical space operations including rapid access, SSA, protection, servicing, robust anti-jam SATCOM, and persistent tactical grade sensing approaches;

p.      Wide-area urban tracking architectures;

q.      Space environmental awareness and space weather forecasting;

r.        Temporary systems to quickly duplicate the mission capabilities of damaged satellites;

s.       Manufacturing technologies for the development of large space apertures.

             II.      Strategic and Tactical Networks

a.       Free space optical communications and supporting technologies;

b.      Applications, architecture, control and management, and hardware systems for multi-terabit, fiber-optic core, edge and mobile-platform networks;

c.       Approaches to inter-connect wave-division multiplexed backbone communications infrastructures with IP-based metropolitan networks (may include route discovery/distribution and new addressing schemes);

d.      Approaches to make tactical networks auto-configuring for both voice and data with the goal of reducing the manpower requirements (may include the complete replacement of IP as the underlying data protocol);

e.      Distributed, grid, and networked computing systems;

f.        Hybrid passive/active radar systems that are agile over available bandwidth;

g.       Information and communication technologies to enable "power to the edge" for air, land, space and maritime systems;

h.      Innovative urban sensing systems and networked architectures;

i.         Miniature, low power sensors and networks;

j.        Network centric warfare, including novel approaches to the development, implementation, and control of networked weapons systems;

k.       Network storage and caching protocols for reducing long-haul communications loads;

l.         New approaches to self-forming, wireless, mesh networks of over 10,000 devices with high throughput (at least 50 Mbps across the network between two end-points.  This may include work on multiple frequencies, graph partitioning, and sub-net allocations;

m.    Novel approaches for the development, implementation and control of heterogeneous networks of human decision makers and human-operated or autonomous sensors and weapons;

n.      Novel approaches to effect collaboration among human decision makers in heterogeneous, coalition environments;

o.      Novel approaches to monitor, visualize and recommend alternative courses-of-action in the management and defense of massive, heterogeneous wide-area networks (5 million nodes);

p.      Signature reduction (low probability of detection/intercept);

q.      Size-weight-power reduced soldier electronics and communications devices;

r.        Sensing and communication applications in high multipath urban environments;

s.       Unmanned systems – Heterogeneous networks of vehicles and sensors.

           III.      Information Assurance

a.       Autonomous protection or reconstitution of large network environments from cyber attacks;

b.      Computer forensic and software protection technologies;

c.       Quantum Key Distribution and Quantum Data Encryption across a long-haul fiber optic network

d.      Low-cost military grade encryption mechanisms / devices;

e.      Novel approaches to derive confidence of identity of remote information, users, processes, and devices in dynamic, untrusted, networked environments;

f.        Novel approaches to measure, compare, and assess alternative information operations tools and effects;

g.       Novel approaches to quantify information assurance security;

h.      Novel methods to deter cyber adversaries;

i.         Novel microprocessor/computing architectures to support secure computing;

j.        Trustworthy computing in mobile environments;

k.       Wide area network firewalls and proxies, capable of dealing with asymmetric data flows and speeds in excess of 40Gbps;

l.         Distributed multi-static sensor networks;

m.    Novel technologies to revolutionize cyber security testing and evaluation;

n.      Methods to protect against network disruption.

           IV.      Counter Underground Facilities

a.       Close-in and standoff sensor concepts;

b.      Determining structural layout or locations of specific vulnerabilities;

c.       Development and demonstration of technologies to find unknown facilities, on both strategic and tactical timelines;

d.      Identification of facility function;

e.      Monitoring pace of activity;

f.        Enhancing post-attack bomb damage assessment (BDA);

g.       Exploitation algorithms and signal processing;

h.      Exploitation of novel observables or substantially improved methods of detecting/analyzing observables, including active source methods;

i.         Improved communications across rugged terrain among assets, and for exfiltration uplinks;

j.        Improved deployable ground and airborne sensors;

k.       New methods for characterizing activities associated with tunnels and caves, to include small and unimproved sites, in both urban and rural areas;

l.         New methods for sensor and system modeling;

m.    Large geophysical inversions of multi-source data;

             V.      Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Defense

a.       Chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and environmental sensors and deconflict;

b.      Defense against chemical, biological, and radiological weapons;

c.       Sensing approaches for material identification;

d.      Collection technology for atmospheric, terrestrial, and marine samples;

e.      Automated chemical analysis of trace materials;

f.        Devices and methods for managing biological heat stress;

g.       Proximate sensing using cellular automata;

h.      Long-Range Sensing of WMD Development and Deployment; Countermeasures.

           VI.      Small Unit Operations

a.       Advanced explosives for special operations;

b.      Advanced sighting systems for tactical operations;

c.       Detection of indirectly fired mortars and RPGs;

d.      Direction finding capabilities for urban applications;

e.      GPS-free guidance and navigation;

f.        Low-cost (<$100) expendable GPS sensors;

g.       Low cost stand-off concealed weapons detection;

h.      Miniature, low power sensors and networks;

i.         Non-acoustic bullet detection and tracking technology;

j.        Non-cooperative LPD building interior imaging systems;

k.       Non line-of-sight designation and elimination of urban targets;

l.         Novel approaches for the development and implementation of asymmetric warfare;

m.    Novel laser remote sensing, laser radar, LADAR and LIDAR systems concepts, techniques and enabling technologies;

n.      Novel methods for tracking, localization, and identification;

o.      Novel miniature, low cost RADAR system concepts;

p.      Novel precision navigation and real-time targeting systems concepts and technologies;

q.      Novel systems and enabling technologies for high-resolution, deep sub-canopy imaging;

r.        Novel technologies to enable tactical, operational, and strategic level distributed operations;

s.       Personal navigation and high precision targeting technology in GPS-denied and -compromised environments;

t.        Positive detection of urban threats;

u.      Signature reduction (low probability of detection/intercept);

v.       Size-weight-power reduced soldier electronics and communications devices;

w.     Soldier survivability materials, systems, and devices;

x.       Tactical lighting and imaging devices and technologies (including both visible and IR spectrum);

y.       Tactical optical systems that aid and enhance the ability of the warfighter;

z.       Technologies and systems for the detection of suspicious urban vehicles;

aa.   Vehicle survivability materials, systems, and devices;

bb.  Wide-area urban tracking architectures;

cc.    UAV and aircraft icing detection and risk mitigation technologies;

dd.  Novel technologies and systems to identify threats prior to building entry;

ee.  Stand off explosive detection;

ff.     Novel technologies for the translation of information requirements to sensor parameters, and optimization of sensor suites for addressing information needs;

gg.   Sensor systems for determining building layouts and personnel within buildings;

hh.  Denial and demilitarization of munitions and facilities;

ii.       Medical mobility and disaster relief support technologies;

jj.      RPG and unguided rocket identification and defeat technologies for ground and air vehicles;

kk.   RPG/line of sight threat prelaunch detection;

ll.       Novel low weight/high efficiency power generator technologies;

mm.                      All-weather terrain following and obstruction avoidance systems;

nn.  Ultra-fast sensors for tracking EFP fragments;

oo.  Ultra-fast active protection technologies for EFP mitigation;

pp.  Maintenance of human physiology as though at sea-level in any environment;

qq.  Warfighter self-sustainment;

rr.     Dense nutritional supplements;

ss.    Potable water harvesting;

tt.     Anti-icing;

uu.  Portable manufacturing;

vv.   Non-kinetic RSTA;

ww.                       Universal, symbol-based command and control;

xx.   Standoff health monitoring;

yy.   Standoff health care;

zz.    Field survival pack for any environment;

aaa.                        Bio-hardening;

bbb.                      Field medic test diagnostics;

ccc. Broad spectrum detection and characterization of bio-hazard indicators.

         VII.      Maritime Operations

a.       Maritime surveillance systems and technologies;

b.      Miniature, low power underwater (water column and bottom-mounted) sensors and networks;

c.       Novel approaches to significantly reduce the cost of undersea warfare, without compromising capability;

d.      Novel underwater high-maneuverability propulsion system;

e.      Unmanned long-duration, high-speed underwater vehicles;

f.        Concepts supporting an affordable replacement for submarine organic sensors with a single hull-mounted sensor to include: sensor, materials, processing and support technologies and systems; supporting physics and mathematical concepts and modeling;

g.       Active and passive ship board detection systems for ship board protection and maritime contraband detection technology;

h.      Unique concepts for tagging, tracking, and locating;

i.         Signature reduction (low probability of detection/intercept);

j.        RPG and unguided rocket identification and defeat technologies for sea vehicles;

k.       Non-traditional approaches for active low-power sonar;

l.         Solutions for rapid deployment of multiple small-scale sensors;

m.    Novel communications for distributed sensors and platforms over expansive maritime operating areas;

n.      Novel submarine signature exploitation for detection and classification;

o.      High-power density air independent propulsion;

p.      Revolutionary drag reduction technologies;

q.      Shock mitigation for high speed maritime platforms;

r.        Unmanned systems for riverine applications;

s.       Submarine laser communications;

t.        Non-acoustic anti-submarine warfare.

       VIII.      Strategic Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance

a.       Advanced 3D image processing, analysis and feature extraction approaches;

b.      Lensless and Computational Imaging;

c.       Enabling active electro-optical sensing technology and system concepts for advanced sensing and countermeasures;

d.      Ultra-sensitive R.F. receivers;

e.      Remote detection of concealed explosives;

f.        Long-range laser radar systems;

g.       High-resolution 3-D imaging systems;

h.      Arctic Indications and Warnings technologies and systems;

i.         3-D imaging of ice flows;

j.        Non-kinetic ISR;

k.       Large-scale data fusion of heterogeneous phenomenologies;

l.         Standoff sensing through buildings, weather, water, foliage, and other challenges to conventional sensing approaches;

m.    Standoff detection and characterization of weapons, explosives, as well as chem/bio/radiological/nuclear threats.

           IX.      Core Strategic Technologies

a.       Advanced electronic vision and situation awareness devices, algorithms, and systems;

b.      Biofabrication processes for improved nanostructured devices and materials;

c.       Biomimetic object-vision recognition;

d.      Innovative methods to visualize complex, self-organizing systems;

e.      Novel three-dimensional data visualization and projection methods;

f.        Power harvesting technologies and devices;

g.       Self assembly and/or manufacture techniques;

h.      Exploitation of human visual physics and physiology of visual perception for efficiently conveying or hiding information;

i.         Materials and composites with spatially tunable elastic properties;

j.        Radiation damage to microelectronic systems;

k.       Applied quantum mechanics;

l.         Energy-related power systems and portable power technologies;

m.    Core technology development for medical and disaster relief and preparedness.

n.      Advanced methods of large-scale electromagnetic field generation and exploitation;

o.      Breathalyzer for rapid and sensitive determination of human health;

p.      Remote environmental sensing technologies;

q.      High-power pulsed lasers;

r.        Non-mechanical laser beam steering and zooming;

s.       Advanced battlefield forensic techniques to track highly mobile insurgent forces;

t.        Geothermal energy systems;

u.      Energy harvesting, generation, conversion, storage, distribution, and control;

v.       Technology for deterrence operations;

w.     Technology for systems to adapt rapidly to changing operational and/or environmental needs;

x.       Technology for tamper-resistant systems;

y.       Assured operations in austere environments;

z.       Rapidly deployable infrastructure.

Air Force Security Forces Innovation (BAA09BAASFI-1)

Open to March 31, 2009

https://www.fbo.gov/spg/USAF/AETC/LackAFBCS/FY09BAASFI-1/listing.html.

The Air Force has released BAA09BAASFI-1, Air Force Security Forces Center, Innovation Division. This program solicits innovative ideas in the following technical areas. If you have an idea, you submit a one-page quad chart. If they like the concept, they will invite a full proposal.

Integrated Entry/Access Control (800) Unmanned Ground Vehicles (801) UAVs and Counter-UAVs (802)

Directed Energy Weapons (803)

Vehicle Movement Operations (804)

Detect and Interrogate Personnel and Vehicles (805)

Individual Equipment (806)

Command and Control (807)

Red Force Tracking (808)

Wireless power transmission capabilities (809)

Active denial technologies (810)

Acoustics (811)

Vehicle disabling (812)

Electro muscular incapacitation (813)

Kinetics, non-kinetics, munitions (814)

Mal-odorants (815)

Lasers (816)

High-powered microwaves (817)

Riot control agents (818)

Modeling and Simulation (819)

Military Working Dogs (820)

Force Health Protection (821)

Improve Expeditionary Health (822)

Other Areas of Interest (823)

Air Force Broad Agency Announcement, open until at least March 2010

https://www.fbo.gov/download/a30/a30e14da0a9ff0e9de00e9823f82320d/AFOSR-BAA-2009-1.pdf

The Air Force Office of Scientific Research has released BAA 2009-1, its research broad agency announcement for the year. There appear to be few changes from 2008. The Air Force is looking for ideas in the following areas. If you have an idea, you contact the program officer, then generally submit a white paper, and then submit an invited full proposal. The program is open until further notice.  The topics:

a. Aerospace, Chemical and Material Sciences (NA) 1) Mechanics of Multifunctional Materials & Microsystems 2) Structural Mechanics 3) Surface and Interfacial Science 4) Organic Materials Chemistry 5) Theoretical Chemistry 6) Molecular Dynamics 7) High Temperature Aerospace Materials 8) Low Density Aerospace Composites 9) Hypersonics and Turbulence 10) Flow Control and Aeroelasticity 11) Space Power and Propulsion 12) Combustion and Diagnostics

b. Physics and Electronics (NE) 1) Electro Energetic Physics 2) Atomic and Molecular Physics 3) Physical Mathematics and Applied Analysis 4) Electromagnetics 5) Laser and Optical Physics 6) Remote Sensing and Imaging Physics 7) Space Sciences 8) Quantum Electronic Solids 9) Adaptive Multi-Mode Sensing and Ultra-High Speed Electronics 10) Semiconductor and Electromagnetic Materials 11) Optoelectronics: Components, Integration and Information Processing and Storage 12) Sensing, Surveillance, Navigation

c. Mathematics, Information and Life Sciences (NL) 1) Bioenergy 2) Complex Networks 3) Computational Mathematics 4) Information Fusion and Distributed Intelligence 5) Dynamics and Control 6) Mathematical Modeling of Cognition and Decision 7) Natural Materials and Systems 8) Optimization and Discrete Mathematics 9) Sensory Information Systems 10) Collective Behavior and Socio-Cultural Modeling 11) Systems and Software 12) Information Operations and Security

e. Other Innovative Research Concepts

f. Education and Outreach Programs 1) United States Air Force/National Research Council Resident Research Associateship (NRC/RRA) Program 2) United States Air Force-Summer Faculty Fellowship Program (SFFP) 3) Engineer and Scientist Exchange Program (ESEP) 4) Air Force Visiting Scientist Program 5) Window on Science (WOS) Program 6) Window on the World (WOW) Program 7) National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship Program – this is a good one for domestic graduate students to look at: a 3-year fellowship 8) The Awards to Stimulate and Support Undergraduate Research Experiences (ASSURE) – this is a good one, too – about $100,000 for a program to stimulate undergraduate research in areas of interest to AF

g. Special Programs 1) Small Business Technology Transfer Program (STTR) 2) Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Institutions (HBCU/MI) Program 3) Young Investigator Research Program (YIP)

h. University Research Initiative (URI) Programs 1) Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP) 2) Multidisciplinary Research Program of the University Research Initiative (MURI) 3) The Department of Defense Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (DEPSCoR) (we’re not eligible) 4) Presidential Early Career Award in Science & Engineering (PECASE) 5) Partnerships for Research Excellence and Transition (PRET)

i. Conferences and Workshops

NIH: Bioengineering and Obesity (NIH PA-07-354)

Open to March 2010

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-07-354.html

The objective of this program is to develop and validate new and innovative engineering approaches to address clinical problems related to energy balance, intake, and expenditure. Novel sensors, devices, imaging, and other technologies, including technologies to detect biochemical markers of energy balance, are expected to be developed and evaluated by collaborating engineers, physical scientists, mathematicians, and scientists from other relevant disciplines with expertise in obesity and nutrition.

The program envisions "the engineering approach" as the application of knowledge of physical and biological sciences and mathematics to address specific practical problems, in this case energy balance and obesity. The approach incorporates the following elements in a systematic way

-- System identification.

-- Empirical understanding of behavior and response.

-- Modeling of physics.

-- Simulation of physical behavior.

-- Experimental validation.

The program will accept proposals three times a year until March 2010 March 5, July 5, and November 5.

April

https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=7ee5cfd874ed5408b43123981e490337&tab=core&_cview=0

This program seeks innovative new technologies in six core areas, which are listed below.

White papers (3 pages plus a quad chart) will be accepted from January 10 to April 10, 2010. Full proposals will be invited and will be due around August 2010.

(1) Electro-Optical Sensors (EO)

(2) Communications relays

(3) Wide area persistent surveillance with automatic false alarm rejection, moving target indicator and cuing outputs

(4) Radio-Frequency (RF) Sensors

(5) Tethered aerostats & Airships

(6) Wide area threat detection and location

Examples of technologies sought include, but are not limited to, Ruggard Affordable Fiber Optic Technologies, High Resolution Day/Night Imaging Sensors, Hyperspectral Sensors and Systems, Magnetic Anomaly Detectors and Systems including Optically Pumped Sensors, Night Vision Devices, FLIR Systems, IRST Systems, Long Standoff Reconnaissance and Surveillance Systems (both Visible and IR), Acoustic Sensor, Antennas and radomes, Phased / electronically scanned / conformal array antenna concepts, electronically scanned and advanced mechanically scanned radar solutions to the surveillance problem involving small surface and airborne targets, Scattering and diffraction, including rough surface, Computational electromagnetics (with emphasis on antenna design and antenna-platform interaction), Remote sensor telemetry and miniaturized RF telecommunication transceivers, Photonics and monolithic microwave integrated circuits, High power broadband T/R modules and associated subassembly/device technologies, Direct digital synthesis exciter concepts, Advanced receiver and data acquisition concepts, Space-time adaptive processing (STAP) techniques for arrays, Massively parallel processing architectures for multi-channel STAP, Software engineering, Advanced signal processing of radar data, Advanced image processing and exploitation, Moving target imaging techniques, Automatic target recognition and classification, Advanced signal processing concepts for multi-mode sensor operation, and equipment installation techniques solutions.

May

Naval Research Laboratory Broad Agency Announcement BAA-N-00173-01

Open until at least May 1, 2010

http://heron.nrl.navy.mil/contracts/baa/index.htm

The Naval Research Laboratory has renewed its broad agency announcement (BAA-N00173-01) and is accepting concept papers and proposals for at least the next year. The technical topics are listed at http://heron.nrl.navy.mil/contracts/baa/index.htm and copied below. When you click on a topic, you get a page or two of description about it, plus the name of the technical point of contact.

NRL asks for concept papers (up to 30 pages!) before submission of a formal proposal. Instructions for the concept paper are on this web site, too (there’s a little pull-down menu at the top of the screen). If you need any help with any of this, just let me know. Thanks.

SYSTEMS DIRECTORATE - CODE 5000 TOPICS

CODE 5300 - RADAR DIVISION 53-09-01 HIGH FREQUENCY RADAR 53-09-02 ADVANCED RADAR TECHNOLOGY 53-09-03 LOW-COST WIDEBAND ANTENNA ARRAY TECHNOLOGIES 53-09-04 ADVANCED COMPUTATIONAL ELECTROMAGNETICS

CODE 5500 - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DIVISION 55-09-01 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TECHNOLOGIES 55-09-02 HIGH FREQUENCY RADIO WAVES IN SPACE 55-09-03 FEDERATED, DISTRIBUTED INFRASTRUCTURE 55-09-04 INFORMATION MANAGEMENT AND DECISION ARCHITECTURES 55-09-05 ADVERSARIAL MODELING AND DECISION SUPPORT

CODE 5600 - OPTICAL SCIENCES DIVISION 56-09-01 VIS-IR GLASS WINDOWS AND HEAVY METAL OXIDE GLASSES 56-09-02 LOW LOSS, NEAR AND MID-IR TRANSMITTING FIBERS 56-09-03 LASER THREAT COUNTERMEASURE TECHNOLOGY 56-09-04 IMAGING SEEKER ADVANCED COUNTERMEASURES 56-09-05 OPTICAL SCIENCES R&D

CODE 5700 - TACTICAL ELECTRONIC WARFARE DIVISION 57-09-01 INNOVATIVE ANTI-SHIP MISSILE - ELECTRONIC WARFARE SIMULATION TECHNOLOGY 57-09-02 ADVANCED SIMULATION FOR ELECTRONIC WARFARE 57-09-03 HIGH POWER MICROWAVE TECHNOLOGY 57-09-04 AIRBORNE ELECTRONIC WARFARE 57-09-05 TOWLINE IMPROVEMENT TECHNOLOGIES 57-09-06 ADVANCED DISTRIBUTED SENSOR TECHNOLOGIES 57-09-07 OFFBOARD COUNTERMEASURES 57-09-08 MILLIMETER WAVE SOLID-STATE POWER AMPLIFIER AND POWER COMBINING IMPROVEMENT TECHNOLOGIES 57-09-09 SHIPBOARD ELECTRONIC WARFARE

MATERIALS SCIENCE AND COMPONENT TECHNOLOGY DIRECTORATE - CODE 6000 TOPICS

CODE 6100 - CHEMISTRY DIVISION 61-09-01 DEVELOPMENT OF MICROSENSORS AND MICROSYSTEMS FOR PHYSICAL, CHEMICAL, AND BIOCHEMICAL APPLICATIONS 61-09-02 POWER SOURCE MATERIALS AND SYSTEMS 61-09-03 COMBUSTION DYNAMICS - SUPPRESSION 61-09-04 CORROSION PROCESSES, CONTROL, MITIGATION, AND TECHNOLOGY 61-09-05 APPLICATIONS OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, BIOCHEMISTRY, ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY AND ADVANCED LASER TECHNIQUES 61-09-06 INNOVATIVE APPLICATIONS OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE 61-09-07 COMPUTATIONAL CHEMISTRY 61-09-08 AFFORDABLE DAMAGE CONTROL TECHNOLOGY FOR NEXT GENERATION NAVAL PLATFORMS

CODE 6300 - MATERIALS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DIVISION 63-09-01 SPINS IN SEMICONDUCTORS 63-09-02 QUANTUM INFORMATION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 63-09-03 CHEMICAL, BIOCHEMICAL, AND PHYSICAL SENSING MATERIALS, TRANSDUCERS, AND SENSOR SYSTEMS 63-09-04 MATERIALS SCIENCE OF ENERGETIC THIN-FILM DEPOSITION PROCESSES 63-09-05 SUPERCONDUCTING MATERIALS 63-09-06 MATERIALS PERFORMANCE, PROCESSING, AND MODELING 63-09-07 COMPUTATIONAL MATERIALS SCIENCE 63-09-08 TUNABLE ELECTOMAGNETIC DIELECTRICS

CODE 6400 - LABORATORY FOR COMPUTATIONAL PHYSICS AND FLUID DYNAMICS 64-09-01 HIGH PERFORMANCE COMPUTING ON MASSIVELY PARALLEL ARCHITECTURES

CODE 6700 - PLASMA PHYSICS DIVISION 67-09-01 BASIC AND APPLIED RESEARCH IN HIGH TEMPERATURE PLASMAS

CODE 6800 - ELECTRONICS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DIVISION 68-09-01 RF VACUUM ELECTRONICS 68-09-02 RADIATION EFFECTS RESEARCH

CODE 6900 - CENTER FOR BIO/MOLECULAR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 69-09-01 RESEARCH IN BIO/MOLECULAR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING

OCEAN AND ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DIRECTORATE - CODE 7000 TOPICS

CODE 7100 - ACOUSTICS DIVISION 71-09-01 PHYSICAL/STRUCTURAL/ACOUSTICS 71-09-02 ACOUSTIC SIMULATION, MEASUREMENTS AND TACTICS 71-09-03 ACTIVE SONAR SIGNAL PROCESSING BASED ON TIME-REVERSAL OR PHASE-CONJUGATION

CODE 7200 - REMOTE SENSING DIVISION 72-09-01 REMOTE SENSORS AND IMAGING SYSTEMS 72-09-02 OPTICAL INTERFEROMETRY 72-09-03 OPTICAL REMOTE SENSING OF THE COASTAL REGIME 72-09-04 LOW FREQUENCY RADIO INTERFEROMETRY 72-09-05 COASTAL REMOTE SENSING CLASSIFICATION 72-09-06 OCEANOGRAPHIC REMOTE SENSING 72-09-07 REMOTE SENSING OF THE LITTORAL ZONE 72-09-08 PASSIVE MICROWAVE REMOTE SENSING

CODE 7300 - OCEANOGRAPHY DIVISION 73-09-01 OCEAN DYNAMICS AND PREDICTION OCEANOGRAPHY

CODE 7400 - MARINE GEOSCIENCES DIVISION 74-09-01 AIRBORNE AND SHIPBOARD DATA ACQUISITION AND ANALYSIS 74-09-02 SEAFLOOR SCIENCES 74-09-03 MAPPING, CHARTING, AND GEODESY

CODE 7500 - MARINE METEOROLOGY DIVISION 75-09-01 ATMOSPHERIC EFFECTS, ANALYSIS, AND PREDICTION

CODE 7600 - SPACE SCIENCE DIVISION 76-09-01 RESEARCH INTO SPACE - ITS IMAGING AND MODELING

NAVAL CENTER FOR SPACE TECHNOLOGY - CODE 8000 TOPICS

CODE 8200 - SPACECRAFT ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT 82-09-01 SPACECRAFT & SPACE SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY 82-09-02 TACTICAL COMMUNICATIONS

June

July

NSF Expeditions in Computing (07-592)

Letter of intent due July 10 annually

http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf07592

This is a new and very large program from the CISE directorate -- it will make five-year awards of up to $2 million per year for integrative projects that identify compelling, transformative research that promises disruptive innovations in computing and information for many years to come.

The Expeditions program has three goals

1. To catalyze far-reaching explorations motivated by deep scientific questions or hard problems in the computing and information fields, and/or by compelling applications that promise significant societal benefits.

2. To inspire current and future generations of Americans, especially those from under-represented groups, to pursue rewarding careers in computer and information science and engineering.

3. To stimulate significant research and education outcomes that, through effective knowledge transfer mechanisms, promise scientific, economic and/or other societal benefits.

Very brief letters of intent (60 words, plus a list of participating organizations) are due November 5, and preliminary proposals (10 pages of technical content) are due December 30. This is a relatively short time to put together something of this scope, but let me know if you want to pursue it. NSF anticipates conducting this competition every year for the next five years. The next cycle is letters of intent on July 10, 2008, and pre-proposals on September 10, 2008.

www.usamraa.army.mil and click on the BAA button for all of the details

This program will make a limited number of awards in the following technology areas. You start by submitting a white paper, and they invite a full proposal if they like the idea. Please look particularly at section F – there are topics in there that might be of interest to all BCOE departments. I don’t know why regenerative medicine is listed twice in this program.

A. MILITARY INFECTIOUS DISEASES RESEARCH PROGRAM

1. Research and Development of Preventive Measures for Infectious Diseases.

2. Research and Development of Therapeutic Measures for Infectious Diseases.

B. COMBAT CASUALTY CARE RESEARCH PROGRAM

1.A. Research and development of technologies to stop blood loss, to resuscitate the casualty, and to limit the immediate, short- and long-term deleterious consequences of severe hemorrhage.

1.B. Research and development of technologies to diagnose and to limit the immediate, short- and long-term impairments that follow traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury.

2. Secondary damage to organs after trauma.

3. Additional aspects of casualty care.

C. MILITARY OPERATIONAL MEDICINE RESEARCH PROGRAM

1. Injury prevention and reduction.

2. Psychological health and resilience.

3. Environmental health and protection.

4. Physiological health.

D. MEDICAL BIOLOGICAL DEFENSE RESEARCH PROGRAM

1. Viral toxin and bacterial studies.

2. Drug development.

3. Identification and diagnosis.

E. MEDICAL CHEMICAL DEFENSE RESEARCH PROGRAM

1. Maintain the Technologic Capability to meet present requirements and counter future chemical warfare agent threats.

2. Provide medical countermeasures.

3. Provide medical management of chemical casualties.

F. TELEMEDICINE AND ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM

1. Medical robotics.

2. Health information technologies.

3. Medical imaging technologies.

4. Advanced prosthetics and human performance.

5. Computational biology.

6. Biomonitoring technologies.

7. Simulation and training technology.

8. Genomics and proteomics.

9. Chronic disease and integrative medicine.

10. Infectious disease.

11. Neuroscience.

12. Regenerative medicine.

13. Nanomedicine and biomaterials.

14. Trauma.

15. Medical logistics.

G. CLINICAL AND REHABILITATIVE MEDICINE RESEARCH PROGRAM

1. Rehabilitation of neuromusculoskeletal injuries.

2. Vision restoration and rehabilitation.

3. Hearing and balance restoration and rehabilitation.

4. Chronic pain management.

5. Regenerative medicine.

There is no guidance in the BAA about the dollar amounts available. Pre-proposals may be submitted anytime between now and July 2010.

August

NSF Environmental Chemical Sciences (PD 09-6882)

Proposals accepted July 1 to August 2, 2010, and November 1 to November 30, 2010

http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503416&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund

Note that this is a Division of Chemistry program, not Engineering. The Environmental Chemical Sciences (ECS) Program supports basic research in chemistry that promotes the understanding of natural and anthropogenic chemical processes in our environment.  Projects supported by this program enable fundamentally new avenues of basic research and transformative technologies. The program is particularly interested in studying molecular phenomena on surfaces and interfaces in order to understand the inherently complex and heterogeneous environment.  Projects utilize advanced experimental, modeling and computational approaches, as well as developing new approaches.  Topics include studies of environmental surfaces and interfaces under laboratory conditions, the fundamental properties of water  and water solutions important in environmental processes, dissolution, composition, origin and behavior of molecular scale systems under a variety of naturally occurring environmental conditions, chemical reactivity of synthetic nanoparticles and their molecular level interactions with the environment, and application of theoretical models and computational approaches to discover and predict environmental phenomena at the molecular scale. The ECS program supports research in basic chemical aspects of our environment. Programs in the Biological Sciences, Engineering and Geosciences Directorates as well as other federal agencies address other aspects such as field studies.

NSF Theory, Models, and Computational Methods (chemistry) (PD 09-6881)

Proposals accepted July 1 to August 2, 2010, and November 1 to November 30, 2010

http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503420&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund

Note that this is a Division of Chemistry program, not Engineering. The Theory, Models and Computational Methods program supports the discovery and development of theoretical and computational methods to address a range of chemical challenges, with emphasis on emerging areas of chemical research.  Proposals that focus on established methods should involve innovative approaches that substantially broaden their applicability.  Methods of interest include, but are not limited to, those addressing electronic structure, quantum reaction dynamics, statistical mechanics, molecular dynamics, and simulation techniques for molecular or supramolecular systems.  Areas of application span the full range of chemical systems from small molecules to macromolecules and degrees of aggregation from single molecules or small clusters to nanoscopic and even larger systems.  While application areas may involve any chemical system, including biological systems or materials, the goal of the program is to support the development of new theoretical and computational methodologies that will be broadly applicable to a range of challenging problems. We are particularly interested in fundamental areas of research that are difficult or impossible to address using current synthetic, experimental, and/or computational methodologies. Proposals that utilize well-established theoretical and modeling approaches to solve chemical problems may be more appropriate for other Divisional programs.  Proposals that focus primarily on addressing biological or biomedical problems may be more appropriate for the Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences (MCB) or the National Institutes of Health, respectively.  Proposals whose major focus is on the development of methods to improve the properties of materials should be directed to the Division of Materials Research.

NSF Chemical Measurement and Imaging  (CMI), PD  09-6880

Proposals accepted July 1 to August 2, 2010 and November 1 to November 30, 2010

http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503413&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund

The Chemical Measurement and Imaging Program supports research focusing on chemically-relevant measurement science and imaging, targeting both improved understanding of new and existing methods and development of innovative approaches and instruments. Research areas include but are not limited to sampling and separation science; electrochemistry; spectrometry; frequency- and time-domain spectroscopy; sensors and bioassays; and microscopy. Imaging and measurement tools probing chemical and physical properties and processes across a wide range of spatial scales - from macroscopic structures down to single molecules - are supported, as are innovations enabling the monitoring and imaging of rapid chemical and electronic processes and new approaches to data analysis and interpretation, including chemometrics. Proposals addressing established techniques must seek improved understanding and/or innovative approaches to substantially broaden applicability. Proposals for applying established methods to applications should be directed to programs focused on the application. There are closely-related programs in other Divisions; where to submit depends on the primary focus of the proposed research.

NSF Macromolecular, Supramolecular and Nanochemistry (PD 09-6885)

Proposals accepted July 1 to August 2, 2010, and November 1 to November 30, 2010

http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503422&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund

Note that this is a Division of Chemistry program, not Engineering. This program focuses on basic research in chemistry that addresses interactions leading to the assembly of macromolecular, supramolecular and nanoscopic species and other organized structures that show unique chemical and physical properties and reactivities.  Research of interest to this program includes: the study of forces which are responsible for spatial organization in organic, inorganic or hybrid systems; novel synthesis relevant to the program topics; innovative surface functionalization chemistry; and the formation of clusters, aggregates, nanoparticles and large molecular architectures.  Interactions that give rise to molecular self assembly, metal organic frameworks, template-directed syntheses, and chemically dynamic systems like molecular machines are also appropriate for this Program.  Investigations may utilize experimental and/or computational methods to predict and/or understand the chemical structure, properties and reactivities of these unique structures. One objective of the MSN Program is to bridge the gap between molecular chemistries and material science and engineering.  The MSN Program works closely with NSF Divisions of Materials Research (DMR) and Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation (CMMI) to evaluate proposals at these interfaces.

NSF Social-Computational Systems (09-559)

Due August 31, 2010; last Tuesday in August annually beginning 2011

http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2009/nsf09559/nsf09559.htm?govDel=USNSF_25

This program will make 20-35 awards of up to $250,000 over up to three years for research into how computers enable human networking.

The program will support research into socially intelligent computing arising from human-computer partnerships that range in scale from a single person and computer to an Internet-scale array of machines and people. The program seeks to create new knowledge about the capabilities these partnerships can demonstrate.

The solicitation cites examples such as wikis and open-source software as examples of human-computer networks. The program seeks to understand the “rules” governing such collaborations.

Successful proposals probably will require collaboration between computer scientists and social scientists.

There is a limit of one proposal per investigator per cycle. Proposals are due September 21, 2009; August 31, 2010; and the last Tuesday in August annually after that.

USSOCOM Science and Technology, F2VUG0-BAA-USSOCOM-20090817

Open to August 2010

https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=2d0e2c01ab318c48b8614e8b225c267b&tab=core&_cview=0

The U.S. Special Operations Command has released solicitation F2VUG0-BAA-USSOCOM-200900817, seeking a wide variety of technologies, which are listed below. The agency supports development of technologies that can support the Department of Defense mission, from basic to demonstration stages.

If you have an idea to propose, you prepare a white paper of up to five pages. If they like the idea, they invite a full proposal. White papers are accepted via e-mail on an ongoing basis until August 2010.

Research Area I - Mobility Platforms (Ground/Air/Maritime)

-- Advanced situational awareness in all environments

--Increased operational capacity and capabilities

-- Low Observable (LO) and counter LO technologies

-- Advanced mobility platforms to access sensitive or denied areas

-- Multi-domain mobility platforms

-- Shock-mitigating technologies

-- Enhanced guidance/geo-location systems

-- Advanced unmanned system

Research Area 2 - Power and Energy

-- Lightweight, alternative power sources/technologies

-- Advanced surface craft power systems

-- Advanced energy storage for underwater vehicles

-- Submersible, multi-fuel engine

Research Area 3 - Weapons

-- Precision guided munitions

-- Tunable weapons

-- Advanced ammunition

-- Advanced breaching technologies

-- Advanced integrated day/night fire control

-- Advanced materials/coatings

-- Remotely operated weapons/technologies

-- Increased electronic attack capabilities and capacity; portable systems

Research Area 4 - Materials

-- Advanced lightweight armor/materials

-- Transparent ballistic armor for mobility platforms

-- Personnel identification technologies

-- Signature reduction technologies

-- Personnel monitoring technologies

-- Individual protection

-- Advanced adhesive

Research Area 5 - Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Exploitation

-- Tagging, Tracking, and Locating devices/technologies

-- Advanced micro-/nano-scale sensors

-- Advanced visual augmentation systems

-- Persistent surveillance including unattended sensors

-- Advanced unmanned systems

-- Foliage penetrating technologies

-- Automated threat detection and cueing

Research Area 6 - Command, Control, Communications, and Computers (C4)

-- High bandwidth technologies

-- Secure mesh, self-forming mobile ad-hoc networks

-- Multi-level security systems

-- Advanced multi-function software defined radios

-- Advanced data management

-- Information assurance

-- Advanced antennas

-- Cyberspace operations-exploitation and counter-threat technologies

Research Area 7 - Intelligence

-- Advanced information processing techniques

Research Area 8 - Modeling and Simulation

-- Tailored virtual training for language and regional expertise capability

-- Advanced visualization, training, and mission planning/rehearsal systems

-- Integrated signature modeling for Infrared (Near, Short Wave, Long Wave), thermal, acoustic, and radar cross sections

Research Area 9- Influence Technologies

-- Psychological Operations; advanced multi-media techniques

Research Area 10 - Environmental Forecasting

-- Lightweight, highly localized weather forecasting systems/technologies

NSF Advances in Biological Informatics (08-563)

Due second Tuesday in August 2009-2011

http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2008/nsf08563/nsf08563.htm?govDel=USNSF_25

This program formerly was known as "Biological Databases and Informatics."

This program will make approximately 20-25 awards from a $20-million-per-year pool for projects that enable the use of biological data to make new discoveries. Disease-relegated research is not supported. Examples of research of interest include the following:

-- New data types, algorithms, and methods for recognizing and understanding complexity and connectivity in biological systems across multiple scales of organization from molecules to ecosystems;

-- Algorithms, software or ontologies related to the retrieval, integration, and use of heterogeneous biological information, for example, data-mining, search, portals, semantic integration or visualization;

-- Tools that can facilitate biological research work-flows, analytic pathways, or integration between the field and the laboratory, or between observation, experiments and models;

-- Software and methods for making use of new technologies for the acquisition , communication or visualization of biological data;

-- New methods and tools for the construction, operation, and utilization of biological databases, including research into database architectures and infrastructures, data standards designed to be extendable to different biological domains, and data structures for new types of biological information; and

-- Informatics tools and approaches that bridge interdisciplinary differences in concepts and data between biology and other sciences.

The ABI program encourages proposals which conduct collaborative and planning activities such as workshop series, network retreats, exchange visits, and the development of virtual organization frameworks. Those activities which promote interaction between the computational sciences and biology communities, as well as innovative networking strategies that foster research collaborations or enable new research directions, are especially encouraged. Activities which increase participation of colleagues at small institutions, minority-serving institutions, community colleges, and secondary school teachers are also recommended.

Recognizing that the use of computational and informatics tools and the creation of databases to disseminate results have become increasingly integral to activities supported by all BIO programs, the ABI program will place a higher priority on proposals that create computational / informatics tools and database architectures which are applicable to multiple biological domains. Proposals to build databases largely geared towards the public dissemination of sub discipline-specific biological research results or tools which operate on specialized sets of data should be submitted to the relevant BIO programs that support that research.

NSF Strategic Technologies for Cyberinfrastructure (06-7231)

Due third Thursday in February and August annually

http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=500066

The primary purpose of the STCI program is to support work leading to the development and/or demonstration of innovative cyberinfrastructure services for science and engineering research and education that fill gaps left by more targeted funding opportunities. In addition, it will consider highly innovative cyberinfrastructure education, outreach and training proposals that lie outside the scope of targeted solicitations.

Proposals should include a clear and compelling description of why the proposed work has the potential to significantly advance research or education capabilities in multiple areas of science and engineering. Proposals should also provide a convincing explanation of why the project is not suitable for other NSF programs or solicitations. Projects appropriate for this program should:

-- Be activities that include a demonstration of the potential impact on science or engineering research or education.

-- Generate outcomes not currently under development elsewhere.

-- Meet a clearly described cyberinfrastructure need not met elsewhere.

-- Generate outcomes that will be of interest to a range of science and engineering communities.

September

U.S. DOE Office of Science Broad Agency Announcement

Due September 30; renews annually

http://www.science.doe.gov/grants/progdesc.html

The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science has released its annual announcement of research topic areas. They are unchanged from last year

1. BASIC ENERGY SCIENCES

A. Materials science and engineering.

B. Chemical sciences.

C. Geosciences.

D. Energy biosciences.

2. HIGH ENERGY PHYSICS

A. High energy physics.

B. Advanced accelerator research and development.

3. NUCLEAR PHYSICS

A. Medium energy nuclear physics.

B. Heavy ion nuclear physics.

C. Low energy nuclear physics.

D. Nuclear theory.

4. ADVANCED SCIENTIFIC COMPUTING

A. Applied mathematics.

B. Computer science.

C. Network environment research (i.e., research in network environments, not networks for environmental research).

5. FUSION ENERGY SCIENCE

6. BIOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH

A. Life sciences.

B. Climate change.

C. Environmental remediation.

D. Medical applications and measurement science.

7. PLANNING AND ANALYSIS

Instructions vary by program. You are encouraged to contact the technical officer before submitting anything.

Army Intelligence and Information Systems Programs Science and Technology, BAA H92222-07-BAA-SOAL-II

Open to September 2010

http://www.fbo.gov/spg/ODA/USSOCOM/SOAL-KB/H92222-07-BAA-SOAL-II/listing.html

or https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=2af216241be6596b1e2003a70efb0645&tab=core&_cview=1

The BAA identifies 14 areas of technological and scientific importance, and 17 areas of interest. If you have an idea in any of these areas, you first produce a one-page quad chart and a five-page white paper. If they like the idea, they will invite a full proposal.

The 14 areas of importance are

-- Low-power, low-noise amplifiers (LNAs) Technology LNAs with ultra-high linearity and higher dynamic range RF front-ends for use in command, control, and communication systems without compromising system sensitivity (noise figure).

-- Digital Receiver/Transceiver and Antenna Technology Next generation of digital receivers/transceivers and antennas with greatly enhanced capabilities including reduced size, weight and power; enhanced programmability, flexibility and performance; and reduced life cycle cost.

-- Mobile Ad-Hoc Networking Technology Robust, affordable, mobile ad-hoc networking data link technologies suitable for use by sensors, tactical unmanned air vehicles (UAV's), and dismounted ground units in small battery powered applications.

-- Secure Mesh Technology A secure type 1 accredited device to allow the establishment of secure self-forming, ad-hoc networks for tactical units on the move.

-- Distributed Data System Technologies that provide for automatic data synchronization, fusion and indexing of data collected by widely dispersed tactical teams.

-- Virtual Training Technologies to provide the capability to format virtual training classes that adapt to the individual's knowledge level.

-- Small Conformal AM Antenna Array Technologies that provide a small, lightweight AM transmit antenna for mounting on UAV systems.

-- Sonic Projection Technologies that provide the capability to direct sound waves to long distances (1.5 km) to target an individual or a group with a specific audible message using a "beam of sound".

-- Electronic Paper (EP) EP technologies that allow the production of dispersible media payloads that use a "paper" format that incorporates audio and/or video containing PSYOP messages.

-- Personnel Identification Technologies that provide a small form factor capability to rapidly identify (< 2 minutes) personnel at short to long distances in all environmental conditions.

-- Power Systems Technologies that provide longer lasting, lighter, more robust power sources for the tactical users. Technologies include but are not limited to long lasting power sources for laptop computers, smaller more capable Uninterrupted Power Sources (UPS) for local area networks, and power scavenging and harvesting.

-- Micro-miniaturized Sensors Technologies which provide significant size and weight reduction in visual, acoustic, RF, IR sensor capabilities.

-- Datalinks Technologies that provide improvements in the cost, weight, and bandwidth capability to enable more datalink access, particularly by disadvantaged access users.

-- Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) Technologies that enable an end user to subscribe to relevant data. SOA technologies to support logical infrastructure components (e.g., registries, management system, enterprise service bus, security and data transformation services, human interface services, and sensor services (e.g., discovery, alerts, collection, tasking, observation, and planning).

The 17 areas of interest are data visualization; signals processing (e.g., Next Generation IBS); downsized/miniaturized radio and imaging technology; advanced digital image processing and compression techniques; unattended persistent surveillance; stand-off biometrics; tagging, tracking, and locating devices/systems; volumetric and holographic technology; 3D active sensors; C3 wireless technology; precision DF-geo-locating; nanotechnology; net-centric enterprise systems and interoperability; multi-level security; metadata management, catalog performance, and interface; media planning and production software tools; and long-range autonomousd leaflet dispensing systems.

October

Air Force Research Laboratory, Airbase Technologies BAA

Open until at least October 1, 2010

https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=b6f83dfa62cb306445deffa848f09ab0&tab=core&_cview=0

The Air Force Research Laboratory, Airbase Technologies Division, has released BAA BAA1001TYN-LGCB, its broad agency announcement for research and development for the coming year. The BAA solicits new concepts in the following areas. You first submit a white paper (up to 10 pp), and they invite a full proposal if they like your ideas. There is no information about deadlines, which means that white papers should be accepted on an ongoing basis for at least the next 12 months. (posted 10/14/09)

The topics:

--Blast-Ballistic Protection of Forces/Assets

--Toxic Material Protection of Forces/Assets

--Airbase and Perimeter Defense

--Security Technologies

--Aircraft Operating Surfaces

--Deployed Energy Systems

--Robotic Systems

--Fire Fighting

--Bioderived Energy Conversion Processes

--Biofunctionalized Materials

NSF Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation 2010, 09-606

Letters of intent due October 9, pre-proposals November 13, 2009, and full proposals March 31, 2010

http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2009/nsf09606/nsf09606.htm?govDel=USNSF_25

This program will make approximately 14 awards of $500,000 per year for four years – that is, each award will be up to $2 million over four years, plus supplements along the way.

There are two topic areas this year: Renewable Energy Storage and Science in Energy and Environmental Design: Engineering Sustainable Buildings.

The Energy Storage topic focuses mainly on storing electricity from renewable resources. The research theme is to understand the atomic and molecular-level mechanisms that govern the efficient utilization of energy storage systems. A proposal in this topic area must address the following five elements:

R1. Cost effectiveness and technical feasibility of a large-scale (10 MW minimum) energy storage capability of a solar and/or wind energy conversion site.

R2. Identification of key existing barriers in achieving the goals in R1.

R3. Multidisciplinary approaches needed to overcome the barriers.

R4. Outcomes and impacts that the proposed work will have on the EFRI topic as well as other applications.

R5. The potential impact of the proposed work to address major societal needs, to revolutionize the area of large-scale energy storage/regeneration, and to improve U.S. competitiveness.

The Sustainable Buildings topic is interested in materials, sensing, modeling/simulation, and concepts for autonomy and independence. The research will enable a building owner to model and control, in real time, the critical flows and fluxes of power, heat, water, light, sound, air and occupants in a building, and create new paradigms for designing, constructing, operating, maintaining, and retiring buildings that will minimize fossil fuel consumption and adverse environmental effects. A proposal in this topic area must address the following five elements:

S1. Define a unifying intellectual focus for synergistic innovation involving interdisciplinary research on the EFRI SEED topic, or their integration.

S2. Provide a unique framework through which components of diverse disciplines can connect and relate to each other.

S3. Address the need for interdisciplinary research.

S4. Address the anticipated research outcome and questions on how the resulting new discoveries will provide answers to problems leading to transformative science for next-generation sustainable buildings.

S5. Identify new motivations, new instruments and tools, and new validation vehicles for advanced sustainable buildings.

NSF/DOE Partnership in Basic Plasma Science and Engineering, NSF 08-589

Due October 22, 2008, 2009, 2010

http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2008/nsf08589/nsf08589.htm?govDel=USNSF_25

This is a continuation of a program created in 1997. It will support individual investigators and small teams in projects to enhance plasma research and education. Projects related to fusion energy studies are not eligible. Topics of interest include:

-- Chaos, turbulence and structure in plasmas. -- Strongly coupled Coulomb systems in plasmas. -- Dusty plasmas. -- Non-neutral plasmas. -- Flows in plasmas, their interaction and interpenetration. -- Plasmas in magnetic fields. -- Intense field matter interactions in plasmas. -- Advanced methods for plasma modeling and simulation. -- Control of plasma processes. -- Plasma transport and surface interactions -- Plasma diagnostics. -- Plasma modification, synthesis and processing of materials. -- Atmospheric pressure plasmas and microplasmas. -- Plasmas in environmental science and technology. -- Astrophysical and solar plasmas, plasmas in interplanetary space, earth and other planetary magnetospheres and atmospheres. -- Plasma science and engineering experiments at the Basic Plasma Science Facility at UCLA.

Awards will range from $25,000 to $250,000 per year for up to three years.

NSF Partnerships for Innovation (08-583)

Letters of intent due October 31 annually, proposals due December 31 annually

http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5261&org=IIP&sel_org=IIP&from=fund

The program has been revised significantly this year.

The program will make 12-15 awards of up to $600,000 for up to 3 years (that is, an average of $200,000 per year) for programs that bring together academic institutions, companies, and possibly other organizations. The outcome of these partnerships is innovation, not the collaborations themselves. Projects may encompass any combination of (1) research, knowledge transfer, and/or commercialization, (2) workforce education and training, and (3) establishing the infrastructure to accomplish or enable innovation. Eligibility is extremely restricted. Every partnership must include one "graduated" Partnership for Innovation institution -- that is, a former Partnership for Innovation recipient that has completed its grant. This institution can be lead or sub. You can find a list of current and graduated PFIs at http://ulysses.qrc.com/pfi-public/. Additionally, the PI or Co-PI on the proposal must be a dean or higher-ranking university official. An individual may be PI or Co-PI on only one proposal.