April 2017

The FAS Research Development group publishes this monthly Funding Newsletter for SEAS faculty and researchers. The newsletter includes notable Federal, private, and internal Harvard funding opportunities. To provide feedback, please complete our two-question survey .  

Questions? 
Erin Hale:  erin_hale@fas.harvard.edu |  617-496-5252 
Jennifer Corby:  jcorby@fas.harvard.edu |  617-495-1590  


For more information on our support services, please visit our  website .

Did you know?
 Harvard affiliates have access to Pivot, a funding opportunity database . 

News & Announcements
DOD Announces MURI Program
Multidisciplinary University Initiative (MURI) efforts involve teams of researchers investigating high priority topics and opportunities that intersect more than one traditional technical discipline. For many military problems this multidisciplinary approach serves to stimulate innovations, accelerate research progress and expedite transition of results into applications. Please see here for more information on this opportunity. 
New Investigator Opportunity Spotlight
Quick links to early career opportunities highlighted in this month's newsletter.
Funding Opportunities

Click on the links below to read a program synopsis
 
Internal Opportunities
External Opportunities

U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Foundation Opportunities

Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA)

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

National Science Foundation: Dear Colleague Letters  
National Science Foundation: Directorate for Engineering (NSF: ENG)

Internal Opportunities
pfic
Deadline: May 31, 2017
Award Amount: up to $25,000

The PFIC was developed to promote engagement and collaboration on topics and activities of mutual intellectual interest that connect faculty with other faculty members and/or students across multiple Harvard Schools. The fund supports a variety of projects, including but not limited to cross-School interdisciplinary course support, working groups, and small-scale conferences.  The designated faculty leader(s) must hold primary Harvard faculty appointments at the rank of Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor, and the project must engage faculty and/or students from at least two Harvard Schools. Priority will be given to applicants who have not previously received funding from the grant. Colleagues from outside Harvard may be included as well.
U.S. Department of Defense


DODDARPAMolecular
DARPA - Molecular Informatics
OSP Deadline: 5 business days prior to submission
Sponsor Deadline for Abstracts (strongly encouraged): April 17, 2017
Sponsor Deadline for Full Proposals: June 12, 2017
Award Amount: The level of funding for individual awards made under this BAA will depend on the quality of the proposals received and the availability of funds.   
 
The Defense Sciences Office (DSO) at DARPA is soliciting innovative research proposals to explore new approaches to store and process information with molecules. Molecules offer a diverse palette of structures and properties that could be harnessed for highly versatile information encoding and computing concepts, potentially enabling advanced capabilities beyond our traditional digital, logic-based approach. Such an undertaking requires close collaboration among experts in fields such as chemistry, computer and information science, mathematics and chemical and electrical engineering to develop molecular approaches to relevant computational problems and ultimately discover the computational primitives of molecules that may enable advanced, or entirely different, information processing capabilities. Anticipated outcomes of the program include: (1) New approaches to represent information and execute computational operations in molecular form; (2) Scalable strategies to extract and process information from large molecular data stores; and (3) Molecular computing concepts that provide capabilities beyond our conventional computational architectures.

Molecular Informatics is a 36-month program divided into an 18-month base period (Phase 1) and one 18-month option period (Phase 2). Molecular Informatics performers will validate their information encoding and processing strategies during the first program phase and develop a method to integrate their capabilities and demonstrate processing directly on molecular data in the second program phase (option period). DARPA anticipates multiple awards.


DODDARPAAIDA 
DARPA - Active Interpretation of Disparate Alternatives (AIDA)
OSP Deadline: 5 business days prior to submission
Sponsor Deadline for Abstracts (strongly encouraged): April 21, 2017
Sponsor Deadline for Full Proposals: June 6, 2017
Award Amount: The level of funding for individual awards made under this solicitation has not been predetermined and will depend on the quality of the proposals received  and the availability of funds.   
 
The Information Innovation Office at DARPA is soliciting innovative research proposals in the area of creating a multi-hypothesis semantic engine that generates explicit alternative interpretations of events, situations, or trends from a variety of unstructured sources, by mapping structured knowledge into a common semantic space, for use in an environment where there are noisy, conflicting, and potentially deceptive information.

There are five TAs under this BAA:
 
TA1 - Semantic Mapping and Feedback
TA2 - Common Semantic Representation
TA3 - Multiple Hypotheses
TA4 - Integration and Multiple Interpretations
TA5 - Data
 
A proposal may address any single technical area or combination of TA1, TA2, and TA3. Proposals addressing TA4 or TA5 should not be combined with any other TA.
 
It is anticipated that the AIDA program will consist of three 18-month phases. Multiple awards are anticipated for TA1, TA2 and TA3. A single award is anticipated for Technical Area 4, and a single award is anticipated for TA5.

 
DODDARPAInnovative
DARPA - Innovative Systems for Military Missions
OSP Deadline: April 21, 2017
Sponsor Deadline: April 28, 2017
Award Amount: Details below
 
The Tactical Technology Office of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is soliciting executive summaries, white papers and proposals for advanced research, development and demonstration of innovative systems for military missions. Innovative systems are platforms, weapons, integrated systems or critical systems components that often incorporate emerging advanced technologies and enable revolutionary improvements to the capability, efficiency and effectiveness of the military.
 
TTO seeks responses relating to the following Focus Areas:
 
1. Ground Systems:
a. Soldier/Squad Technologies;
b. Combat Vehicles;
c. Tactical Operations in Urban and Complex Environments.
2. Maritime/Undersea Systems:
a. Expanded Platform Performance and Cross Domain Applications;
b. Defense of Maritime Forces.
3. Air Systems: 
a. Novel Air Vehicles;
b. Hypersonic Platforms. 
4. Space Systems
a. Spacecraft Technologies;
b. Space Situational Awareness;
c. Systems for Access;
d. Future Space Operations and Architectures.
 
Proposers are strongly encouraged to submit an executive summary and, if encouraged, a white paper in advance of a full proposal.  In general, initial awards are anticipated to be for less than $1 million and less than 18 months duration, although options that follow the base effort may also be proposed.


USArmyDCISTCRA
U.S. Army Research Laboratory
Distributed and Collaborative Intelligent Systems and Technology (DCIST) Collaborative Research Alliance (CRA)
OSP Deadline: 5 business days prior to submission
Sponsor Deadline for Whitepapers (required): April 28, 2017
Sponsor Deadline for Full Proposals (if invited): July 14, 2017
Award Amount: Details below
 
The United States Army Research Laboratory (ARL) has established an enterprise approach to intelligent systems that couples multi-disciplinary internal research, analysis, and operations with extramural research and collaborative ventures. The purpose of this Program Announcement (PA) is to solicit proposals to establish a new collaborative venture - The Distributed and Collaborative Intelligent Systems and Technology (DCIST) Collaborative Research Alliance (CRA) - that seeks to advance the theoretical foundations of intelligent systems science and help fulfill the research and development goals of the U.S. Department of the Army. The PA is expected to result in a single award to a Consortium of organizations, led by an institution of higher education, that may include institutions of higher education, industrial (large and small businesses) and non-profits entities.
 
The objective of this CRA is to perform enabling basic and applied research to extend the reach, situational awareness, and operational effectiveness of large heterogeneous teams of intelligent systems and Soldiers against dynamic threats in complex and contested environments and provide technical and operational superiority through fast, intelligent, resilient and collaborative behaviors. ARL is requesting proposals that address three key Research Areas (RAs):
  • RA1: Distributed Intelligence: Establish the theoretical foundations of multi-faceted distributed networked intelligent systems combining autonomous agents, sensors, tactical super-computing, knowledge bases in the tactical cloud, and human experts to acquire and apply knowledge to affect and inform decisions of the collective team.
  • RA2: Heterogeneous Group Control: Develop theory and algorithms for control of large autonomous teams with varying levels of heterogeneity and modularity across sensing, computing, platforms, and degree of autonomy.
  • RA3: Adaptive and Resilient Behaviors: Develop theory and experimental methods for heterogeneous teams to carry out tasks under the dynamic and varying conditions in the physical world.
The period of performance will be 5 years, with an optional 5 year extension period. The anticipated total budget for the 10 Year Core Program is $58.5M. One Cooperative Agreement will be awarded as a result of this Program Announcement.

DODDARPAD3
DARPA - Pandemic Prevention Platform (P3)
OSP Deadline: May 1, 2017
Sponsor Deadline: May 8, 2017
Award Amount: Details below
 
The P3 program will create an integrated platform that delivers pandemic prevention medical countermeasures within 60 days after identification of the pathogen. The threat of infectious agents on U.S. and global national security can be mitigated if the Department of Defense (DoD) has the capability to rapidly deploy and impart near - immediate immunity to military personnel and civilian populations for known and newly emerging pathogens.
 
Based on achievements and lessons learned in previous countermeasure development efforts (DARPA and across the scientific community), three Technical Areas (TA) have been identified in which specific investments may lead to breakthroughs for countermeasure development. 

These Technical Areas are:
  1. On-demand platform to grow virus;
  2. System to evolve antibodies: rapid creation of highly potent medical countermeasures;
  3. Delivery of medical countermeasure(s): reproducible effects which lead to protective levels of product.
Multiple awards are possible. The amount of resources made available under this BAA will depend on the quality of the proposals received and the availability of funds. The P3 program will be a 4-year effort.

DODUSArmyIOBT
U.S. Army Research Laboratory
Internet of Battlefield Things (IoBT) Collaborative Research Alliance (CRA)
OSP Deadline: 5 business days prior to deadline
Sponsor Deadline for White Papers (required): May 8, 2017
Sponsor Deadline for Full Proposals (if invited): July 27, 2017
Award Amount: Details below
 
The U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) has established an Enterprise approach to address the challenges resulting from the Internet of Battlefield Things (IoBT) that couples multi-disciplinary internal research with extramural research and collaborative ventures. ARL intends to establish a new collaborative venture (the IoBT CRA) that seeks to develop the foundations of IoBT in the context of future Army operations. The Collaborative Research Alliance (CRA) will consist of private sector and government researchers working jointly to solve complex problems. The overall objective is to develop the fundamental understanding of dynamically-composable, adaptive, goal-driven IoBTs to enable predictive analytics for intelligent command and control and battlefield services.

ARL's three Research Areas and one Cross Cutting Research Issue for this program are defined as follows:
  • Discovery, Composition and Adaptation of Goal-Driven Heterogeneous IoBTs;
  • Autonomic IoBTs to Enable Intelligent Services;
  • Distributed Asynchronous Processing and Analytics of Things; and
  • Cyber-Physical Security.
The estimated total funding level for the CRA over the projected 5 year period of performance, plus optional 5 year extension period, is $52.3M. 1 Cooperative Agreement is anticipated.

DODDarpaWorld
DARPA - World Modelers
OSP Deadline: May 4, 2017
Sponsor Deadline for Full Proposals: May 11, 2017
Award Amount: The level of funding for individual awards made under this solicitation has not been predetermined and will depend on the quality of the proposals received and the availability of funds.   
 
DARPA is soliciting innovative research proposals in the area of causal modeling, forecasting, and analysis techniques. The purpose of the World Modelers program is to develop technology that will enable analysts to rapidly build models to analyze questions relevant to national and global security. Questions for analysis will typically be framed at subnational scales and look one to five years into the future, although the factors that influence outcomes of interest might operate on larger spatial and temporal scales. Food insecurity will be the initial use case for the World Modelers program, and World Modelers technologies will enable researchers to efficiently and rigorously perform analytic tasks such as "Analyze food insecurity in each district of South Sudan two years into the future." World Modelers technologies will be applied to additional (and increasingly varied) use cases as they mature through a sequence of program phases.
 
The five technical areas for the World Modelers solicitation are:
  • TA1:  Build Qualitative Models from Online Sources.  Machine-assisted construction of comprehensive, targeted, causal, qualitative, analysis graphs.  "Which factors should be in a particular analysis and how are they related?"
  • TA2:  Workflow Compiler (for Integration of Quantitative Models).  Machine-assisted marriage of qualitative with quantitative analysis.  "Which quantitative models should be in the analysis and how do they connect to each other and run in a common computational environment?"
  • TA3:  Parameterize Models.  Machine-assisted foraging for data from multiple sources, machine-assisted translation of available data into proxies for required parameters. "Where are the data to parameterize quantitative models, and what are the mappings between available data and required parameters?"
  • TA4:  From Scenarios to Actions.  Interfaces for humans to specify scenarios, machine-assisted recommendation and testing of interventions. "What will be the effects of particular actions under particular conditions?"
  • TA5:  Uncertainty Reports.  Machine-assisted, thorough analysis of sources of uncertainty and efforts to reduce it. "Can the analysis be trusted, and what can be done to improve it?"
Subject to the availability of funding, World Modelers is planned for 48 months (4 years), and is structured as two 18-month phases, and one 12-month phase. Multiple awards are anticipated.


DODArmyBSS
Department of the Army -- Materiel Command
Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences Broad Agency Announcement for Basic Scientific Research (2017)
OSP Deadline: 5 business days prior to submission
Sponsor Deadline for White Papers (strongly encouraged): May 7, 2017
Sponsor Deadline for Full Proposals: June 30, 2017
Award Amount: No award floor or ceiling thresholds have been established for individual awards under this BAA.    
 
The U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences is the Army's lead agency for the conduct of research, development, and analyses for the improvement of Army readiness and performance via research advances and applications of the behavioral and social sciences that address personnel, organization, training, and leader development issues. The basic research program supports research projects that are designed to expand fundamental knowledge and discover general principles in the behavioral and social sciences. In addition to looking for proposals that provide for programmatic efforts to develop and evaluate psychological and behavioral theory, applicants are strongly encouraged to propose novel, state-of-the-art, and multidisciplinary approaches that address difficult problems. A key  consideration in the decision to support a research proposal is that its findings are likely to stimulate new, basic behavioral research, which in turn, will lead to improved performance of Army personnel and their units. Proposals may address both traditional behavioral issues as well as psychophysiological (to include neuroscience) and network science approaches to social phenomena, memory, cognition, and personality. ARI cannot support proposals through this BAA that are primarily applied research projects (e.g., human factors studies or training program evaluations) or purely focused on physiology, psychopathology or behavioral health. While all proposals will be considered, ARI has identified the following six domains as particularly germane to its basic research needs: 1. Learning in Formal and Informal Environments; 2. Leader Development; 3. Personnel Testing and Performance; 4. Organizational Effectiveness; 5. Culture; and 6. Individual Differences.
 
The funding opportunity is divided into two types of proposals for basic research: (1) Standard
Basic Research proposals and (2) Early Career Basic Research proposals. Most basic research awards are awarded in response to Standard Proposals provided by Applicants with experienced researchers. In recent years, the performance period of these has typically been two to three years, with a median total award of $556,000.00. Standard Proposals may be formulated as either a complete effort, or as a base effort plus option(s) that may be exercised by ARI, if initial results are promising. To foster the development of innovative and creative researchers, ARI solicits Early Career Basic Research proposals from Applicants with individuals who are early in their research careers and have never received ARI funding as a Principal Investigator. Projects should be designed for one year of funding. Note that optional research (one to two additional years) may be included in the proposal and may be funded should the initial work prove promising. The Principal Investigator must have received their Ph.D. within five years of the time of proposal submission, and not previously received funding from ARI as a Principal
Investigator. While there is no specific amount of funding set aside for these proposals, initial budgets  should be modest: approximately $110K for the initial year.
 
Both single-investigator and collaborative research efforts are encouraged. Multidisciplinary approaches are especially encouraged. In some cases, where a proposal is of interest, but the underlying theory or research approach needs additional development, ARI may choose to offer an award designed to help the investigator develop his/her ideas. Such awards are made at the discretion of ARI, and will be in the $20-25K range for one year.


DODAFRL
Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL)
Expanded Multidisciplinary Analysis and Design Optimization (MADO) for Effectiveness Based Design Technologies (EXPEDITE) program
OSP Deadline: May 15, 2017
Sponsor Deadline for Full Proposals: May 22, 2017
Award Amount: An estimated $6.8M will be made available over a 44-month project period.
 
The Expanded Multidisciplinary Analysis and Design Optimization (MADO) for Effectiveness Based Design Technologies (EXPEDITE) program seeks to advance MADO technologies that support obtaining complex design problem solutions. High level EXPEDITE goals include performing comprehensive integrated multidisciplinary analysis and design optimization to produce solutions of operational interest, bringing time-domain design models into a computationally efficient MADO design framework, and unifying multidisciplinary design teams that collaborate across geographic distances and various technical disciplines. This program is not as much concerned about traditional aerostructural shape design, as it is about the expansion of MADO to include other important disciplines in addition to aerodynamics and structures. These are, but are not limited to, parametric geometry for both the outer mold line and inner mold line, installed propulsion, power management systems, thermal management systems, aircraft performance, manufacturability analysis, reliability, and cost. Finding robust solutions during the short timeframes associated with the conceptual design phase using holistic aircraft MADO is a complex balancing act. EXPEDITE will develop those technologies that will facilitate overcoming these significant challenges and advance MADO to face design issues of the future.
 
The Air Force anticipates making one award under this program. Interested applicants are asked to submit an "Intent to Propose" email to the Contracting Point of Contact listed in the BAA by April 20, 2017.


DARPADREAM
DARPA - Dynamic Range-enhanced Electronics and Materials (DREaM)
OSP Deadline: May 17, 2017
Sponsor Deadline for Full Proposals: May 24, 2017
Award Amount: The amount of resources made available under this BAA will depend on the quality of the proposals received and the availability of funds.   
 
The Microsystems Technology Office at DARPA seeks innovative proposals aimed at creating the next generation of high frequency high dynamic range electronic devices. Specifically, DARPA is interested in material and transistor architectures to enable breakthrough dynamic range, radio frequency (RF) power density, efficiency, and linearity. The DREaM program will develop new materials and integrate them into devices to make the next leap in RF transistor performance for future high-dynamic-range RF systems.  DREaM will contain two technical areas (TAs) that target the development of high power density and high linearity transistors in parallel paths.
 
The DREaM program is expected to span the course of five years and will be divided into three separate phases. Multiple awards in each technical area are anticipated. DARPA anticipates a funding level of approximately $40M for the DREaM program.

 
DODONRSSBN
Office of Naval Research (ONR)
SSBN Security Technology
OSP Deadline: May 23, 2017
Sponsor Deadline for Full Proposals: May 31, 2017
Award Amount: approximately $400,000 per year
 
The Office of Naval Research (ONR) and the Undersea Influence, Counter-USW Branch (N974B) of the Chief of Naval Operations' (CNO) Undersea Warfare Division (N97) are interested in receiving proposals focused on the identification of science and physics based signal detection technologies that, individually or as a system, can impact the security of the SSBN and submarines in general. Passive and active detection technologies with near term (0-5 years), mid-term (5-10 years) and far term (10-20 years) implications will be considered. As part of its effort to understand the impact of technology on submarine security and survivability, the SSBN Security Technology Program (SSTP) may entertain proposals focused on improving the understanding of the generation, radiation, propagation, scatter, and detection of a variety of signal types (acoustic, chemical, optical, electromagnetic, hydrodynamic and radiological) associated with a submarine's operation.
 
White Papers are required prior to submitting a Full Proposal. Full proposals will be subsequently encouraged from those Offerors whose proposed technologies have been identified as being of particular value to the Navy.


DODAFOSR
Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR)
Fiscal Year 2018 Air Force Young Investigator Research Program (YIP)
OSP Deadline: May 25, 2017
Sponsor Deadline for Full Proposals: June 1, 2017
Award Amount: Typical awards will be funded at $150,000 per year for 3 years. Exceptional proposals may be considered individually for higher funding levels and/or a longer duration.   
 
The Fiscal Year 2018 Air Force Young Investigator Research Program (YIP) intends support for scientists and engineers demonstrating exceptional ability and promise for conducting basic research. Individual awards are made to U.S. institutions of higher education, industrial laboratories, for-profit businesses, or non-profit research organizations where the principal investigator is a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident by 01 October 2017; employed on a full-time basis and holds a permanent position. All PIs and co-PIs must meet all general eligibility requirements and one of the following criteria:(1) Received a Ph.D. or equivalent degree on 1 April 2012 or later; or, (2) Received a Ph.D. or equivalent degree between 1 April 2010 and 1 April 2012, be presently in a tenure-track position and have served as a tenure-track faculty member for no more than two years prior to 1 April 2017. Examples of other interim appointments after receiving Ph.D. include: post-doctoral or research associate positions, serve as active duty service member for the U.S. Armed Forces, or maternity/paternity leave.
 
The program's objective is to foster creative basic research in science and engineering; enhance early career development of outstanding young investigators; and increase opportunities for the young investigator to recognize the Air Force mission and related challenges in science and engineering. AFOSR seeks unclassified proposals from qualified and responsible applicants in the research areas of interest identified in the most recent Broad Agency Announcement titled "Research Interests of the Air Force Office of Scientific Research" published on Grants.gov at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/search-grants.html?keywords=baa-afrl-afosr-201* . These areas of interest include: Engineering and Complex Systems; Information and Networks; Physical Sciences; and Chemistry and Biological Sciences.
 
Approximately 36 awards will be made under this program.  

DODDARPAAmbient
DARPA - Atomic Magnetometer for Biological Imaging In Earth's Native Terrain (AMBIIENT)
OSP Deadline: May 25, 2017
Sponsor Deadline for Full Proposals: June 1, 2017
Award Amount: The level of funding for individual awards made under this solicitation has not been predetermined and will depend on the quality of the proposals received
and the availability of funds.   
 
The Microsystems Technology Office at DARPA seeks innovative proposals for the development of magnetic gradiometers with sensitivity exceeding 1 femtoTesla/cm/ Ö Hz for application to biological imaging outside of shielded environments. Proposed research should investigate novel physical mechanisms or architectures that directly measure field gradient. Specifically excluded is research that primarily results in evolutionary improvements to the existing state of practice, particularly the development of individual high-performance scalar sensors arranged in a gradiometric configuration. The AMBIIENT program consists of a single technical area with the objective of developing a magnetic gradiometer demonstrating its defined performance, small size, weight, and power (SWaP), and environmental requirements.

The program consists of three phases including proof of concept, physics integration, and complete device integration. The base period will be 18 months and options 1 and 2 are 12 months each. Multiple awards are anticipated. A total of $30M is expected in funding for this program.


DODArmyBAAAQuantum
U.S. Army Research Office
Broad Agency Announcement for Quantum Computing Research in New and Emerging Qubits & Cross-Quantum Systems Science & Technology
OSP Deadline: May 30, 2017
Sponsor Deadline: June 6, 2017
Award Amount: Details below
 
The U.S. Army Research Office (ARO) in collaboration with the Laboratory for Physical Sciences (LPS) is soliciting proposals for research in two focused topic areas: (A) new and emerging qubit science and technology (NEQST) and (B) cross quantum technology systems (CQTS).
 
NEQST is soliciting proposals in three research areas. A proposal may address more than one of these research areas and, in some cases, may be required to address more than one area to achieve proposed research milestones: 1) New qubits, operating regimes, and environments; 2) Fundamentally new methods of fabrication; and 3) New methods of design, control, or operation.
 
The CQTS research topic seeks to combine distinct qubit technologies either to enhance the performance of the original qubit type or to add important new functionality. One of the main challenges to be addressed in cross-quantum technology is to develop schemes that avoid degrading the performance of the original individual quantum technologies after integration. CQTS also solicits proposals in three research topics: 1) Quantum - state - transfer from microwave to optical wavelengths; 2) Classical, highly efficient, microwave - to - optical conversion; and 3) Hybrid qubit systems. 

Research Topic 3 awards will be made up to $500,000 for 1-3 years for both NEQST and CQTS. Awards in CQTS Research Topics 1 and 2 will be made up to $1M for 1-4 years.

DODNavalPostgrad
Naval Postgraduate School
FY17 Acquisition Research Program
OSP Deadline: 5 business days prior to deadline
Sponsor Deadline for White Papers (required): June 1, 2017
Sponsor Deadline for Full Proposals (if invited): August 1, 2017
Award Amount: Up to $120,000 for 1 year
 
The Acquisition Research Program (ARP) at the Naval Postgraduate School is interested in stimulating and supporting scholarly research in academic disciplines that bear on public procurement policy and management. These include economics, finance, financial management, information systems, organization theory, operations management, human resources management, risk management, and  marketing, as well as the traditional public procurement areas such as contracting, program/project management, logistics, test and evaluation and systems engineering management. The ARP primarily supports scholarly research through assistance vehicles that will benefit the general public and/or private sector to a larger extent than any direct benefits that may be gained by the Government. Studies of government processes, systems, or policies should also expand the body of knowledge and theory of processes, systems, or policies outside the government. Awardees must deliver an unclassified project abstract and Technical Report shortly after the period of performance ends.


DODDURIP
Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Army Research Office, and Office of Naval Research, in cooperation with The Office of the Director for Basic Research in the Office of the Secretary of Defense
Fiscal Year 2018 Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP)
OSP Deadline: June 29, 2017
Sponsor Deadline: July 7, 2017
Award Amount: $50,000-$1,500,000 for 1 year
 
DURIP is designed to improve the capabilities of accredited U.S. institutions of higher education to conduct research and to educate scientists and engineers in areas important to national defense, by providing funds for the acquisition of research equipment or instrumentation. Applicants may submit a single DURIP proposal to more than one administering agency; however, only one administering agency will fund it, if selected. Information about each agency's research interests is available here:
  • Army Research Office: Select "Broad Agency Announcements" in the "For the Researcher" section to see the most recent ARL or ARO Core Broad Agency Announcement for Basic and Applied Scientific Research. An announcement for Army 2018 interests is expected by early spring 2017.
  • Office of Naval Research: Select "Contracts and Grants" and then "Funding Opportunities" to see the Long Range Broad Agency Announcement for Navy and Marine Corps Science and Technology, BAA N00014-17-S-B001.
  • Air Force Office of Scientific Research: Navigate to http://www.grants.gov to view the "Research Interests of the Air Force Office of Scientific Research" BAA. The current funding opportunity number for our general research interests is BAA-AFRL-AFOSR-2016-0007. An announcement for Air Force 2018 interests is anticipated in late spring or early summer 2017. You do not have to wait for the update to prepare your proposal.
Approximately $47 million will be awarded under this DURIP competition for fiscal year 2018, subject to availability of funds.


DODMURI
Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), Army Research Office (ARO) and Office of Naval Research (ONR)
Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 Department of Defense Multidisciplinary Research Program of the University Research Initiative (MURI)
OSP Deadline: 5 business days prior to submission
Sponsor Deadline for White Papers (encouraged): July 17, 2017
Sponsor Deadline for Full Proposals: November 1, 2017
Award Amount: Typical annual funding per grant is in the $1.25M to $1.5M range for up to 5 years of support.
 
The Department of Defense (DoD) Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI), one element of the University Research Initiative (URI), is sponsored by the DoD research offices. Those offices include the Office of Naval Research (ONR), the Army Research Office (ARO), and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR). The MURI program supports basic research in science and engineering at U.S. institutions of higher education that is of potential interest to DoD. The program is focused on multidisciplinary research efforts where more than one traditional discipline interacts to provide rapid advances in fields of the physical, engineering, environmental, and life sciences related to long-term national security needs. DOD's MURI program addresses high risk basic research and attempts to understand or achieve something that has never been done before. Detailed descriptions of topics of interest to AFOSR, ARO and ONR are listed in the program solicitation.
 
The total amount of funding for five years available for grants resulting from this MURI FOA is estimated to be approximately $170 million dollars pending out-year appropriations.


DODAFLArmament
Air Force Research Laboratory, Munitions Directorate
Armament Technology Broad Agency Announcement
OSP Deadline: 5 business days prior to submission
Sponsor Deadline for Full Proposals: March 12, 2022
Award Amount: Award amounts will vary.
 
AFRL/RW is the primary Air Force organization concerned with conventional munitions technology development. AFRL/RW plans and executes research, development, and test of conventional munitions, and supports conventional munitions Weapons Program Offices. There are three divisions within the Munitions Directorate that conduct research and development (R&D). They are the Ordnance Division, the Strategic Planning and Integration Division, and the Weapon Engagement Sciences Division.
 
This BAA is set up in two parts: (1) Basic Open BAA, in which white papers may be submitted at any time during the open period, and (2) CALL BAA, in which proposal CALL announcements may be issued. These subsequent CALLS will contain specific objectives and descriptions of the specific topic area to be addressed, anticipated period of performance, information peculiar to the specific topic area, and the expected dollar range for proposals received under a CALL.
 
This BAA solicits white paper submissions. Those offerors whose white papers are found to be consistent with the intent of this BAA may later be invited to submit a technical and cost proposal.
 
It is anticipated that the cumulative amount for awards issued under this BAA will not exceed $500,000,000.


DODBAAs
Other DoD Opportunities:

I f you are interested in DoD funding opportunities, please note:
The  Defense Innovation Marketplace  is a centralized source for Department of Defense science and technology (S&T) planning, acquisition resources, funding, and financial information. 


U.S. Department of Energy


DOESSAA
Department of Energy
National Nuclear Security Administration
Stewardship Science Academic Alliances (SSAA) Program
Sponsor Deadline: April 30, 2017
Award Amount: $1-3M/year for five years
 
The Stewardship Science Academic Alliances (SSAA) Program was established in 2002 to support state-of-the-art research at U.S. academic institutions in areas of fundamental physical science and technology of relevance to the Stockpile Stewardship Program (SSP) mission. The SSAA Program provides the research experience necessary to maintain a cadre of trained scientists at U.S. universities to meet the nation's current and future SSP needs, with a focus on those areas not supported by other federal agencies. It supports the DOE/NNSA's priorities both to address the workforce specific needs in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and to support the next generation of professionals who will meet those needs.
 
The research areas of interest in the SSAA Program are: properties of materials under extreme conditions and/or hydrodynamics (condensed matter physics and materials science, and fluid dynamics); low energy nuclear science; radiochemistry; and high energy density physics. Only applications for cooperative agreements awards will be accepted for this solicitation, no grant applications will be considered.
 
The objectives of the SSAA Program are to:  
  • Support the U.S. scientific community by funding basic research activities at universities that are of relevance to stockpile stewardship goals (see Section III.A for eligibility requirements);
  • Provide opportunities for intellectual challenge and collaboration by promoting scientific interactions between the academic community and scientists at the DOE/NNSA National Laboratories; and
  • Develop and maintain a long-term recruiting pipeline supporting the DOE/NNSA laboratories by training and educating the next generation of scientists in fundamental research of relevance to stockpile stewardship goals, increasing the visibility of the DOE/NNSA scientific activities to the U.S. academic communities. 

DOEOther
Other DOE Opportunities

Environmental Protection Agency


EPAWildland
Wildland Fires Sensor Challenge
Harvard OSP Deadline: November 15, 2017
Sponsor Deadline: November 22, 2017
Prototype Submission Deadline: January
Award Amount: Up to $60,000
 
Six federal agencies have announced a Wildland Fire Sensors Challenge seeking an accurate, lower-cost, and low-maintenance air quality monitoring system that can be used during a wildfire or controlled fire. The data provided by the sensor system will help federal, state, local and tribal agencies protect the health of first responders and communities affected by the smoke. Developers are encouraged to submit a prototype sensor system that measures fine particulate matter (PM2.5), carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O3) and carbon dioxide (CO2). The system should be capable of rapid deployment and continuous real-time monitoring of highly dynamic air pollution levels during a fire event. Developers should also aim for designs that are easy to use and self-powered; include location data; and wirelessly transmit data to a central data-receiving station. 
 
Informational Webinars:
May 8th at 1:00 pm Eastern (5:00 pm GMT):  http://epawebconferencing.acms.com/wildlandfire/ and Audio: 1-866-299-3188, code: 919 541 1894
May 16th at 8:00 am Eastern (12:00 pm GMT):  http://epawebconferencing.acms.com/wildlandfire/ and Audio: 1-866-299-3188, code: 919 541 1894

Foundation Opportunities

FoundationsChan
Pilot Projects for a Human Cell Atlas
Pre-Proposal Deadline: April 17, 2017
Award Amount: Application budgets must reflect the actual needs of the proposed project. Projects should be one year in duration with a projected start date of no earlier than August 1, 2017.
 
The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative invites applications for one year pilot projects to develop technologies for the Human Cell Atlas (HCA) , establish best practices in the field, and begin a common data archive for analysis and investigation. The goal of the International Human Cell Atlas project is to create a reference atlas of all cells in the healthy human body as a resource for studies of health and disease. As part of this effort, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative seeks applications to support the Human Cell Atlas community's convergence around standards, protocols, and best practices for the creation of a freely and openly available reference database of healthy human cells and tissues.


FoundationDiabetes
American Diabetes Association
Pathway to Stop Diabetes
Harvard Pre-Proposal Deadline: April 17, 2017 by 11:30PM
Sponsor Deadline (if nominated): July 3, 2017
Award Amount: $100,000-$325,000 per year for up to seven years
Eligible Applicants: Early career researchers (including postdoctoral fellows) or established investigators new to diabetes research
 
The Pathway to Stop Diabetes Program will support creative scientists who are just starting their careers in diabetes research, or who are already established in another field but want to expand their focus to diabetes research. The program will consider applications directed toward all topics relative to prevention, treatment and cure of all types of diabetes, diabetes related states and the complications of the disease. The program seeks exceptional nominees from a broad range of disciplines, including medicine, biology, chemistry, computing, engineering, mathematics and physics.
 
Note: This is a limited submission opportunity and the Office of the Vice Provost for Research is facilitating the internal competition for potential applicants who hold a primary appointment at a school on the Cambridge campus.  The nomination can be in one of the three available Pathway award types:
  • Initiator: This two-phased award is designed to support the transition of scientists from mentored training to independent research faculty.  Eligible applicants must currently be in research training positions (post-doctoral fellow, research fellowship) and have no more than seven years of research training following terminal doctoral degree. 
  • Accelerator: This award is designed to support exceptional, independent early-career researchers who have distinguished themselves as promising investigators and are in the beginning stages of establishing successful, sustainable diabetes research programs.  Awards are available to early-career diabetes investigators proposing innovative and ambitious diabetes-related research programs.  Applicants must hold faculty positions and have demonstrated independent productivity in diabetes research. 
  • Visionary: Awards are designed to support established, experienced investigators with strong records of outstanding productivity in fields outside of diabetes who are interested in applying their considerable skills and expertise to diabetes research.  These awards are highly competitive and intended to support particularly innovative and transformational ideas that have the potential to have an exceptional impact in diabetes. Applicants must hold independent faculty positions and have demonstrated significant productivity in their current field of research. 
archer
Archer Foundation
Early Molecular Measurements of Neurodegenerative Disease/Cognitive Decline
Harvard Letter of Intent Deadline: April 20, 2017 by 5:00PM
Sponsor Letter of Inquiry Deadline (if nominated): May 15, 2017
Award Amount: $100,000/year for three years
 
Harvard has been invited by the Archer Foundation to submit two letters of inquiry for funding on the following topic: Early Molecular Measurements of Neurodegenerative Disease/Cognitive Decline.  The Archer Award is by invitation only and is awarded to a scientific team that has demonstrated superior quality of scientific research in the field of neuroscience.  This award will be to support the development of innovative technologies and tools that could be used to diagnose and monitor progression in neurodegenerative disease.  The foundation strongly encourages applications from early- and mid-career investigators who may have new ideas that need a limited period of funding to obtain data for application to the NIH or other major funding source. 
 
Because of the tight turnaround time given by the foundation, potential applicants are asked to
send a brief letter of intent to Jennifer Chow at Jennifer_chow@harvard.edu no later than Thursday, April 20 by 5:00PM, to express interest in being considered for one of the two Harvard nomination slots.  The letter of intent should include a 200 word research statement and CV.


FoundationsGates
Grand Challenges Explorations
OSP Deadline: April 26, 2017
Sponsor Deadline: May 3, 2017
Award Amount: Initial grants of $100,000 are awarded, and successful projects have the opportunity to receive follow-on funding of up to $1 million.
 
Grand Challenges is a family of initiatives fostering innovation to solve key global health and development problems. Twice each year, Grand Challenges Explorations invites high-risk, high-reward proposals on a range of challenges. Two-page applications are submitted online - open to anyone from any discipline, from student to tenured professor, and from any organization, including colleges and universities, government laboratories, research institutions, non-profit organizations, and for-profit companies.  Currently open challenges include: 


FoundationsCottrell
Sponsor Pre-Proposal Deadline: May 1, 2017
OSP Deadline: July 12, 2017
Sponsor Full Proposal Deadline (if invited): July 19, 2017
Award Amount: $100,000 over three years
Eligible Applicants: tenure-track faculty members whose primary appointment is in a department of astronomy, chemistry or physics that offers, the minimum, a bachelor's degree.
 
The Cottrell Scholar Award develops outstanding teacher-scholars who are recognized by their scientific communities for the quality and innovation of their research programs and their academic leadership skills. The Cottrell Scholar Award provides entry into a national community of outstanding scholar-educators who produce significant research and educational outcomes.


FoundationsBrain
Harvard Pre-Proposal Deadline: May 15, 2017 by 11:30PM
Sponsor LOI Deadline (if nominated): June 29, 2017
Award Amount: $150,000 over two years
Eligible Applicants: Full-time professors or associate professors working in the area of studies of brain function in health and disease. Current major NIH or other peer-reviewed funding is preferred but evidence of such funding in the past three years is essential.
 
Brain Research Foundation (BRF) Annual Scientific Innovations Award supports innovative discovery science in both basic and clinical neuroscience. This funding mechanism is designed to support creative, cutting edge research in well-established research laboratories, under the direction of established investigators.  This funding opportunity is for projects that may be too innovative and speculative for traditional funding sources but still have a high likelihood of producing important findings in a very short timeframe.
 
This is a limited submission opportunity and the Office of the Vice Provost for Research is facilitating the internal competition to select one application to be submitted from Harvard University.


FoundationsUSScience
Workshop Grants
OSP Deadline: May 24, 2017
Sponsor Deadline: June 1, 2017
Award Amount: Up to $40,000
Eligible Applicants: Researchers affiliated with a U.S. institution
 
The U.S. Science Support Program sponsors workshops to promote the development of new ideas to study the Earth's processes and history via scientific ocean drilling. The primary goal is to identify promising new scientific objectives and research opportunities. The workshop program encourages wide scientific community involvement to bring a broader and multidisciplinary approach to standing hypotheses and to explore new directions for research.  Funding may be requested for small meetings or to support participants at large, international workshops. Meetings and workshops may focus on a specific scientific theme or topic, or they may focus on a geographic region, integrating multiple topics. Proposals are accepted biannually and evaluated competitively by an independent review panel.


FoundationsBreakthrough
Sponsor Deadline: May 31, 2017
Review by Harvard OSP not required
Prize Amount: $3,000,000
 
T he Breakthrough Prizes recognize major achievements in life sciences, fundamental physics and mathematics, with special attention to recent developments.  
 
Up to five Breakthrough Prizes in Life Sciences ($3 million each) will be awarded to individuals who have made transformative advances in understanding living systems and extending human life. 
 
One Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics ($3 million) will recognize an individual(s) who has made profound contributions to human knowledge. It is open to all physicists - theoretical, mathematical and experimental - working on the deepest mysteries of the Universe. The prize can be shared among any number of scientists. Nominations are also being taken for the New Horizons Prize in Physics which awards $100,000 to junior researchers, generally no more than 12 years past their PhD, who have already produced important work in their fields.
 
One  Breakthrough Prize in Mathematics  ($3 million) will be awarded to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the field of mathematics. Nominations are also being taken for the  New Horizons Prize in Mathematics,  which awards $100,000 to junior researchers, generally no more than 10 years past their PhD, who have already produced important work.
 
Nominations:
  • Anyone may nominate a candidate at the online nominations page during the open nominations period.
  • Self-nominations are not allowed.
  • A valid nomination will have basic biographical information on the nominee and nominator and at least one third-party letter of recommendation.
  • Candidate citations (up to 10) from a specified academic publishing database are required.
  • Nominations can be made online at https://breakthroughprize.org/Nominations.

While institutional review is not required, nominators are asked to provide the names of any nominees to Erin Cromack at  cromack@fas.harvard.edu .

FoundationsSamsung
Harvard OSP Deadline: June 4, 2017
Sponsor Deadline: June 11, 2017 by 8:00PM ET
 
The Samsung Global Research Outreach (GRO) Program is an important part of growing Samsung's academic research engagement and collaboration platforms. University researchers are invited to propose novel research ideas and to work with Samsung's R&D teams to foster technological innovation. Selected GRO applicants will receive financial support for their proposed project, up to USD $100,000 per year. This funding may be renewed for up to three years, based on measured annual research outcomes and necessity for further research partnership determined by Samsung. Joint research proposals from multiple universities are welcome and acceptable.
 
The 2017 GRO Program is seeking proposals in 26 research themes: Intelligence & Recognition, Augmented Reality, Neural Processor, Quantum Computer, Next Generation Computing, New Device & Circuit Concept, Mobile/Wearable Technology, New Imaging, Metaphotonics & Photonic Sensors, Personal Service Robots, Cloud Computing, Security & Privacy, Autonomous Driving, Software Engineering, NIR Emitting Materials, 2D Materials & Applications, New QD Materials, High Energy Density Battery with Ultra-Safety Functions, Wireless Power Transmission & Energy Harvesting, Multi-functional Optical Films and Coatings, Functional Oxide, Material Informatics, AI for Analytical Science, Ultrafast Electron Microscopy, Semiconductor, and Dielectric Materials for Next Generation Capacitor.  Other themes are also welcome.
 
Notes:
  • The standard agreement with Samsung (which is not negotiable) provides for them to receive a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to any arising IP
  • $100,000 per year is inclusive of both direct costs and overhead of 69%

RolexEnterprise
OSP Deadline: June 23, 2017
Sponsor Deadline: June 30, 2017
Award Amount: 100,000 Swiss Francs
Eligible Applicants: Candidates who are between the ages of 18 and 35 on the award on June 30, 2017
 
Five Rolex Awards will be offered to Young Leaders who have a ground-breaking proposal or initiative that will help to expand knowledge of our world and improve the quality of life on the planet.  Applications must be broadly in the areas of the environment, applied science and technology, or exploration.


FoundationsHHMIInvestigator
HHMI Investigator Program
Harvard OSP Deadline: June 20, 2017
Sponsor Deadline: June 27, 2017
Award Amount: Full salary/benefits for investigators/other eligible employees
Eligible Applicants: Details below
 
The HHMI investigator competition is open to basic researchers and physician scientists at more than 200 eligible institutions who bring innovative approaches to the study of biological problems in biomedical disciplines, plant biology, evolutionary biology, biophysics, chemical biology, biomedical engineering, and computational biology. Those selected in this competition will receive a seven-year appointment to HHMI, which is renewable pending favorable scientific review.  HHMI encourages its investigators to push their research fields into new areas of inquiry. By employing scientists as HHMI investigators-rather than awarding them research grants-the Institute is guided by the principle of "people, not projects." HHMI investigators have the freedom to explore and, if necessary, to change direction in their research. Moreover, they have support to follow their ideas through to fruition-even if that process takes many years.

Eligible applicants are tenured or tenure-track faculty who have more than 3, but no more than 12 years, of post-training, professional experience.  Applicants should be the principal investigator on one or more active, national, peer-reviewed research grants with an initial duration of at least three years.

Teagle
Liberal Arts and the Professions
OSP Deadline: 5 business days prior to submission
Sponsor Deadline: Rolling
Award Amount: $200,000 to $300,000 for 2 to 3 years
 
This initiative has the goal of embedding liberal arts education throughout the curriculum of undergraduate professional programs by forging links between faculty in the liberal arts and professional  fields. The target areas of focus are engineering and business education. Such curricular integration will not only have a positive effect on how students in professional fields pursue their future work, but will also enrich the liberal arts curriculum itself with perspectives that merit sharing beyond the community of professional practitioners. To be considered for a grant, please review Teagle's application guidelines and submit a brief 3-5 page concept paper to proposals@teagle.org .  
 
Full proposals are welcomed by invitation and typically reflect a collaboration of four to six colleges/universities that exhibit an alignment of priorities and draw participants together as a community of practice.



McDonnell
James S. McDonnell Foundation
Studying Complex Systems Collaborative Activity Awards
OSP Deadline: 5 business days prior to submission
Sponsor Deadline: Rolling
Award Amount: Budgets for collaborative activities vary greatly depending on the scope of the proposed project and on the number of people involved

The Foundation offers Collaborative Activity Awards to initiate interdisciplinary discussions on problems or issues, to help launch interdisciplinary research networks, or to fund communities of researchers and practitioners dedicated to developing new methods, tools, and applications of basic research to applied problems. Strong preference will be given to applications involving multi-institutional collaboration. 

Proposals furthering the science of complex systems and/or proposals intending to apply complex system tools and models to problems where such approaches are not yet considered usual or mainstream are appropriate.  Please note that this Foundation limits the number of inquiries an investigator may submit to one every three years. 



Simons
Targeted Grants in Mathematics and Physical Sciences
OSP Deadline: 5 business days prior to submission
Sponsor Deadline: Rolling
Award Amount: A typical Targeted Grant in MPS provides funding for up to five years. The funding provided is flexible and based on the type of support requested in the proposal. There is no recommended funding limit
 
The Simons Foundation division for Mathematics and Physical Sciences seeks to extend the frontiers of basic research. The division's primary focus is on mathematics, theoretical physics and theoretical computer science. This program is intended to support high-risk projects of exceptional promise and scientific importance on a case-by-case basis. Expenses for experiments, equipment, or computations, as well as for personnel and travel, are allowable.



IARPAProposers
Proposers' Day Conference for the Amon-Hen Program
Registration Deadline: May 4, 2017
Date of Event: May 11, 2017
 
The Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA) will host a Proposers' Day Conference for the Amon-Hen program on May 11, 2017 in anticipation of the release of a new solicitation. The Conference will be held from 9:00 AM EDT to 3:00 PM EDT in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.   The purpose of the conference will be to provide information on Amon-Hen and the research problems the program aims to address, to address questions from potential proposers, and to provide a forum for potential proposers to present their capabilities for teaming opportunities. This announcement serves as a pre-solicitation notice and is issued solely for information and planning purposes. 
 
Attendees must register no later 5:00 PM EST on 4 May 2017, at https://eventmanagement.cvent.com/AMON-HENPD . Directions to the conference facility and other  materials will be available on that website. No walk-in registrations will be allowed. Due to space limitations, attendance will be limited to the first 150 registrants and to no more than 3 representatives per organization. Conference attendance is voluntary and is not required to propose to future solicitations (if any) associated with this program.
 
The objective of the Amon-Hen program is to develop novel approaches to ground-based GEO imaging that enable rapid collection of data for inteferometric image reconstruction of GEO objects at low cost. The goal of the Amon-Hen program is the development of a low-cost, passive, ground-based, optical interferometer that can:
  • Make measurements necessary to fully resolve those images to 12.5 nanoradian angular resolution and with image interpretability equivalent to Space Object Rating Scale (SORS) Level 6 or better
  • Develop image reconstruction techniques that afford timely image development - at a minimum, all data collected on a given evening should be converted to final imagery before the next evening's data collection
  • Data collection for a single GEO object must be completed in less than one hour
  • Brightness detection thresholds must be consistent with GEO objects at baselines consistent with 12.5 nanoradian resolution and may vary depending on the Proposers' approach.

IARPABAA
Broad Agency Announcement (BAA)
OSP Deadline: 5 business days prior to submission
Sponsor Deadline: Rolling between May 3, 2016 and May 2, 2017
Award Amount: Awards generally support a period of performance of 12 months or less; resources made available under this BAA will depend on the quality of the proposals received and the availability of funds
 
IARPA invests in high-risk, high-payoff research that has the potential to provide our nation with an overwhelming intelligence advantage. This BAA solicits abstracts or proposals for IARPA.  IARPA is soliciting proposals for research on topics that are not addressed by emerging or ongoing IARPA programs or other published IARPA solicitations. The BAA primarily, but not solely, seeks proposals for early stage research (which IARPA refers to as "seedlings").


National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

NASAHEROAppendix
NASA Johnson Space Center
HERO Appendix E: Space Radiobiology and Human Health Countermeasures Topics
OSP Deadline: 5 business days prior to sponsor deadline
Sponsor Deadline for Step-1 Proposals (required): April 24, 2017
Sponsor Deadline for invited Step-2 Proposals: July 17, 2017
Award Amount: Award amount and duration varies by topic area.
 
To be responsive to this research solicitation, proposed studies should lead to specific products that address at least one of the three specific objectives outlined in the HERO Overview document :
 
  1. Quantification of the crew health and performance risks associated with human spaceflight for the various exploration missions.
  2. Development of countermeasures to provide mission planners and system developers with strategies for mitigating crew health and performance risks.
  3. Development of technologies to provide mission planners and system developers with strategies for monitoring and mitigating crew health and performance risks.
 
Research in the Human Research Program (HRP) is organized around 31 risks and 2 concerns as outlined in the Human Research Roadmap . In the current solicitation, HRP is soliciting research for the following topics:
 
  • Topic 1: Evaluation of Current Clinical Markers as Surrogate Endpoints for Space Radiation-Induced Cardiovascular Disease;
  • Topic 2: Evaluation of Animal Model Systems and Common Pathways in Understanding Space Radiation-Induced Late CNS Outcomes and Cardiovascular Disease;
  • Topic 3: Approaches to Evaluate Sex Dependence and Quality Effects on Space Radiation Carcinogenesis;
  • Topic 4: Galactic Cosmic Ray (GCR) Simulator Validation Experiments: Dose-Rate Dependence;
  • Topic 5: In-Flight Cognitive and Behavioral Central Nervous System Risks from Space Radiation; and
  • Topic 6: Combined Effects of Simulated Weightlessness and Space Radiation on Cardiovascular Structure and Function.

NASACANDual
Cooperative Agreement Notice (CAN) 2017 Dual Use Technology Development at NASA John C. Stennis Space Center
OSP Deadline: September 22, 2017
Sponsor Deadline: September 30, 2017
Award Amount: $25,000 - $75,000 for 12 months; matching details below
 
John C. Stennis Space Center (SSC) is the primary NASA rocket propulsion testing center. SSC tests items ranging from multi-engine stages to individual components of rocket engines. CAN supports identification and implementation of cost-sharing partnerships to develop technology to meet a specific NASA need at SSC.
 
SSC technology interests, include, but are not limited to, the following:
  • Propulsion system test technology;
  • Autonomous & intelligent systems;
  • Advanced sensors & instruments;
  • Image & signal processing;
  • Energy harvesting;
  • Innovative components & materials;
  • Big data processing & analysis;
  • Systems engineering & optimization;
  • Computational modeling & simulation;
  • Decision support tools & systems.
Partners must contribute an equal value of resources to match the NASA funding for the project. Partner contributions may be cash, non-cash or both.

NASAJohnsonSpace
Johnson Space Center:  Research Opportunities for ISS Utilization
Exploration Technology Demonstration and National Lab Utilization Enhancements
OSP Deadline: 5 business days prior to sponsor deadline
Sponsor Deadline for White Papers (recommended): October 31, 2017
Sponsor Deadline for Full Proposals: December 31, 2017
Award Amount: Details below
 
This announcement is for the development of experiment hardware with enhanced capabilities; modification of existing hardware to enable increased efficiencies (crew time, power, etc.);  development of tools that allow analyses of samples and specimens on orbit; enhanced ISS infrastructure capabilities (ex. communications or data processing); and specific technology demonstration projects. Submission of a white paper is recommended in advance of a full proposal.
 
Within the NASA International Space Station (ISS) Research Integration Office, the Technology and Science Research Office (TSRO) and Commercial Space Utilization Office (CSUO) act as "gateways" to the ISS. The Technology and Science Research Office serves as the gateway for NASA-funded technology demonstrations. The Commercial Space Utilization Office serves as the gateway for non-NASA government-funded investigations, as well as non-profit or commercially-funded investigations.
 
Proposed technology demonstrations submitted to TSRO should address at least one of the technology areas mentioned in the ISS Technology Demonstration Plans . In addition, NASA seeks technology demonstrations related to the following thrust area: Space Suit CO2 Sensor.
 
NASA also seeks technological concepts via CSUO related to the National Lab Thrust Areas and to expand the onboard research and analytical capabilities. The general thrust areas are:
  • Innovative uses of the ISS or ISS hardware that leverage existing capabilities to stimulate both utilization of the ISS and economic development in the U.S.
  • Other improvements to existing ISS capabilities, including but not limited to infrastructure, in situ analytical tools, and communication/data transmittal, to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the technology demonstrations and science investigations performed on the ISS.
  • Unique partnering arrangements that leverage NASA's existing capabilities but increase the commercial participation in research and on board services. 
One specific thrust area is still accepting proposals: Virtual Reality/360° Video System.

Funds are not currently available for awards under this NASA Research Announcement (NRA). The Government's ability to make award(s) is contingent upon the availability of appropriated funds from which payment can be made and the receipt of proposals that NASA determines acceptable for award under this NRA. Successful proposals will have launch and integration costs covered by NASA.


OtherNASA
Other NASA Opportunities
National Institutes of Health (NIH)

NIHHighEnd
High End Instrumentation Grant Program
Harvard OSP Deadline: May 23, 2017
Sponsor Deadline: May 31, 2017
Award Amount: $600,001-$2,000,000
Target Applicants: Groups of three or more PIs on active, distinct NIH research awards
 
The objective of these two NIH Instrumentation Grant Programs is to make available to institutions expensive research instruments that can only be justified on a shared-use basis and that are needed for NIH-supported projects in basic, translational or clinical areas of biomedical/behavioral research.  The program provides funds to purchase or upgrade a single item of expensive, specialized, commercially available instrument or an integrated instrumentation system.
 
While there is no restriction on the number of applications an institution can submit for these opportunities, there are restrictions on applications submitted for similar equipment from the same institution.  In order to determine if there are any overlapping requests, potential applicants from FAS and SEAS are asked to submit a brief statement of intent to Erin Cromack at cromack@fas.harvard.edu as soon as possible.  


NIHShared
NIH
Shared Instrumentation Grant Program
Harvard OSP Deadline: May 23, 2017
Sponsor Deadline: May 31, 2017
Award Amount: $50,000-$600,000
Target Applicants: Groups of three or more PIs on active, distinct NIH research awards

The objective of these two NIH Instrumentation Grant Programs is to make available to institutions expensive research instruments that can only be justified on a shared-use basis and that are needed for NIH-supported projects in basic, translational or clinical areas of biomedical/behavioral research.  The program provides funds to purchase or upgrade a single item of expensive, specialized, commercially available instrument or an integrated instrumentation system.
 
While there is no restriction on the number of applications an institution can submit for these opportunities, there are restrictions on applications submitted for similar equipment from the same institution.  In order to determine if there are any overlapping requests, potential applicants from FAS and SEAS are asked to submit a brief statement of intent to Erin Cromack at cromack@fas.harvard.edu as soon as possible.  


NIHAnimal
NIH
Shared Instrumentation for Animal Research (SIFAR) Grant Program
Harvard OSP Deadline: May 23, 2017
Sponsor Deadline: May 31, 2017
Award Amount: $50,000-$750,000
Target applicants: Groups of three or more PIs on active, distinct NIH research awards in an area of biomedical research using animals or animal tissue.
 
The Shared Instrumentation for Animal Research (SIFAR) Grant Program encourages applications from groups of NIH-funded investigators to purchase or upgrade scientific instruments necessary to carry out animal experiments in all areas of biomedical research supported by the NIH. Applicants may request clusters of commercially available instruments configured as specialized integrated systems or as series of instruments to support a thematic workflow in a well-defined area of research using animals or related materials. Priority will be given to specialized clusters of instruments and to uniquely configured systems to support innovative and potentially transformative investigations. Requests for a single instrument will be considered only if the instrument is to be placed in a barrier facility. 
 
This is a limited submission opportunity and only one application will be accepted from the University area.  Potential applicants from FAS and SEAS are asked to submit a brief statement of intent to Erin Cromack at cromack@fas.harvard.edu as soon as possible. 


OtherNIHOpps
Other NIH Opportunities:

National Science Foundation

National Science Foundation: Dear Colleague Letters

NSFDCConvergence

Growing Convergence Research at the National Science Foundation (NSF) is one of 10 Big Ideas for Future NSF Investments . NSF seeks to highlight the value of convergence as a process for catalyzing new research directions and advancing scientific discovery and innovation. This Dear Colleague Letter describes an initial set of opportunities to explore Convergence approaches within four of the research-focused NSF Big Ideas:
  • Harnessing the Data Revolution for 21st Century Science and Engineering
  • Navigating the New Arctic
  • The Quantum Leap: Leading the Next Quantum Revolution
  • Work at the Human-Technology Frontier: Shaping the Future
Another Big Idea, Understanding the Rules of Life: Predicting Phenotype, is actively promoting Convergence research through other mechanisms.


NSFDCLSSDIM
Simulated and Synthetic Data for Infrastructure Modeling (SSDIM)
OSP Deadline: May 24, 2017
Sponsor Deadline: June 1, 2017
Award Amount: $300,000 for EAGER proposals; up to 20% of the original award for supplements (max. $300,000)

With this Dear Colleague letter (DCL), the National Science Foundation (NSF), in collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), announces its intention to fund EArly-Concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER) proposals as well as supplements to existing relevant NSF awards from the Directorate for Engineering and the Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering in support of research to develop and make available simulated and synthetic data on interdependent critical infrastructures (ICIs), and thus to improve understanding and performance of these systems.

Representative topics include but are not limited to the following:
  • mathematical foundations, including algorithms and heuristics for creating simulated or synthetic data;
  • development of specific data creation techniques, such as localization/homogenization and downsampling/aggregation;
  • approaches to data verification and validation;
  • innovations in data science and engineering (e.g., data integration, fusion, scaling);
  • model-based and other approaches to simulation of plausible network topologies; and
  • incorporation of existing or new approaches for simulating data on human cognition and/or behavior within ICIs.

NSFDCLAIM
Research on Integrated Photonics Utilizing AIM Photonics Capabilities
OSP Deadline: 5 business days prior to submission
Sponsor Deadline: ECCS window from October 1, 2017 to November 1, 2017
Award Amount: Not specified

This DCL seeks to encourage innovative exploratory and translational research by academic faculty and small businesses in all aspects of integrated photonics that utilize the current silicon photonics capabilities resident in AIM Photonics.  Research projects utilizing the AIM Photonics fabrication process technologies via multi-project wafer runs should have an objective to bring a specific innovation to integrated photonics circuits and components or to demonstrate a new approach that uses integrated photonics as its differentiator. Examples of such challenges may include:

  • Research into new applications of PICs that have promise of breakthrough performance due to the use of an integrated photonic component;
  • New devices that are realizable within AIM Photonics standardized integrated silicon photonics process;
  • PIC implementations that have innovative contributions to advancements of photonics circuits (i.e., low power, greater bandwidths and dynamic ranges, better tolerances, new topologies, etc.);
  • Innovative design approaches and new models of integrated photonics devices/circuits;
  • Materials and attachment technologies for incorporating integrated photonics into novel packages.

NSFDCLInternetThings
Encouraging Submission of Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers (IUCRC) Proposals in Areas Related to the Internet of Things
OSP Deadline for Preliminary Proposal: October 11, 2017
Sponsor Deadline for Preliminary Proposal: October 18, 2017
OSP Deadline for Full Proposal: December 13, 2017
Sponsor Deadline for Full Proposal: December 20, 2017
Award Amount: See IUCRC details here.

This Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) encourages collaborations between industry and academe in research related to IoT specifically and, more broadly, cyber-physical systems. The aim is to establish multi-university IUCRCs that, in collaboration with their industry partners, are capable of collectively addressing large-scale and cross-disciplinary challenges in the broad context of IoT. NSF therefore welcomes and encourages proposals in response to the IUCRC program solicitation,  NSF 17-516, in the areas outlined in this DCL. Potential areas of precompetitive research that are of interest include, but are not limited to:
  • Mobile technologies and applications;
  • Healthcare and biomedical technologies;
  • Smart grids and energy management;
  • IoT Platforms, sensors, controls, and actuators;
  • Agriculture and farming-based applications;
  • Smart City/Community applications;
  • Transportation and traffic management systems;
  • Industrial and Manufacturing applications;
  • Metrics, measurements, and benchmarking;
  • Standards, practices, and policies (e.g., legal, regulatory); and
  • Trust, security, and privacy in IoT.

NSFDCLWater
Public Participation in Engineering Research: Water Quality
OSP Deadline: April 24, 2017
Sponsor Deadline: May 1, 2017
Award Amount: $100,000 for EAGER proposals; up to 20% of the original award for supplements (max. $100,000)

The Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems invites proposals in the area of Public Participation in Engineering Research, focusing on the use of citizen science and crowdsourcing, to enhance community engagement with water quality engineering research. T his DCL invites proposals that address a variety of water quality research topics including: inorganic, organic and microbial contaminants in ground water and surface water; upstream and downstream wastewater discharge; drinking water infrastructure and distribution systems, including private wells and taps; quality/quantity water relationships; and water used for other purposes like irrigation. Proposals may be submitted either as requests for supplements to existing awards in CBET's Environmental Engineering, Environmental Sustainability, or Biological and Environmental Interactions of Nanoscale Materials programs or as Early-concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER) proposals in those same programs. 

 NSFDCQuantum
Funding Opportunity - A "Quantum Leap" Demonstration of Topological Quantum Computing
OSP Deadline: 5 business days prior to proposal submission
Sponsor White Paper Deadline: Rolling
Award Amount: $300,000 maximum for up to 2 years
 
The Division of Materials Research (DMR) invites submission of high-risk / high-payoff proposals aiming at fundamental research to realize topological qubits and encourages PIs to submit Early-concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER) proposals. Prior to submission of an EAGER proposal, a one-page whitepaper must be prepared and discussed with a cognizant Program Director. Proposals must be focused on fundamental materials research aspects within the scope of DMR and offer potentially transformative exploratory concepts of topological computing with a high-risk / high-payoff characteristic.

National Science Foundation: Directorate for Computer & Information Science & Engineering (NSF: CISE)

NSFCISECRII
CISE Research Initiation Initiative (CRII)
OSP Deadline: August 2, 2017
Sponsor Deadline: August 9, 2017
Award Amount: $175,000 max. for over up to 24 months

With the goal of encouraging research independence immediately upon obtaining one's first academic position after receipt of the PhD, the Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) will award grants to initiate the course of one's independent research. Understanding the critical role of establishing that independence early in one's career, it is expected that funds will be used to support untenured faculty or research scientists (or equivalent) in their first three years in a primary academic position after the PhD, but not more than a total of five years after completion of their PhD. 

One may not yet have received any other grants or contracts in the Principal Investigator (PI) role from any department, agency, or institution of the federal government, including from the CAREER program or any other program, post-PhD, regardless of the size of the grant or contract, with certain exceptions. 


OtherNSFCISE
NSF: CISE Opportunities

National Science Foundation: Directorate for Mathematical & Physical Sciences (NSF: MPS)

NSFMPSCBMS
NSF-CBMS Regional Research Conferences in the Mathematical Sciences
OSP Deadline: April 21, 2017
Sponsor Deadline: April 28, 2017
Award Amount: $35,000 over one year
 
The NSF-CBMS Regional Research Conferences in the Mathematical Sciences are a series of five-day conferences, each of which features a distinguished lecturer delivering ten lectures on a topic of important current research in one sharply focused area of the mathematical sciences. CBMS refers to the Conference Board of the Mathematical Sciences, which publicizes the conferences and administers the resulting publications. Support is provided for about 30 participants at each conference.


NSFMPSRTG
Research Training Groups in the Mathematical Sciences (RTG)
OSP Deadline: May 30, 2017
Sponsor Deadline: June 6, 2017
Award Amount: Three to ten 3-5 year awards are anticipated with a total program funding amount of $10M. 
The long-range goal of the Research Training Groups in the Mathematical Sciences (RTG) program is to strengthen the nation's scientific competitiveness by increasing the number of well-prepared U.S. citizens, nationals, and permanent residents who pursue careers in the mathematical sciences. The RTG program supports efforts to improve research training by involving undergraduate students, graduate students, postdoctoral associates, and faculty members in structured research groups centered on a common research theme.  Research groups supported by RTG must include vertically-integrated activities that span the entire spectrum of educational levels from undergraduates through postdoctoral associates.


NSFMPSEDT
Enriched Doctoral Training in the Mathematical Sciences
OSP Deadline: July 5, 2017
Sponsor Deadline: July 12, 2017
Award Amount: $600,000 max. over three years  

The long-range goal of the Enriched Doctoral Training in the Mathematical Sciences (EDT) program is to strengthen the nation's scientific competitiveness by increasing the number of well-prepared U.S. citizens, nationals, and permanent residents who pursue careers in the mathematical sciences and in other professions in which expertise in the mathematical sciences plays an increasingly important role.  The EDT program will achieve this by supporting efforts to enrich research training in the mathematical sciences at the doctoral level by preparing Ph.D. students to recognize and find solutions to mathematical challenges arising in other fields and in areas outside today's academic setting.  Graduate research training activities supported by EDT will prepare participants for a broader range of mathematical opportunities and career paths than has been traditional in U.S. mathematics doctoral training.

 
OtherNSFMPS 
NSF: MPS Opportunities  


OtherNSFDFE 
NSF: ENG Opportunities
National Science Foundation: Crosscutting and Interdisciplinary
spokes
Big Data Regional Innovation Hubs: Establishing Spokes to Advance Big Data Applications (BD Spokes)
Harvard Letter of Intent Deadline: May 31, 2017
Harvard OSP Deadline: September 11, 2017
Sponsor Deadline: September 18, 2017
Award Amount: $100,000 to $500,000 (including indirect costs) over a period of up to 3 years for small awards . Small awards are intended for collaborative projects, involving multiple institutions. $500,001 to $1,000,000 (including indirect costs over a period of up to 3 years for medium awards. Medium awards must deliver tangible outcomes.
 
NSF's Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) initiated the National Network of Big Data Regional Innovation Hubs (BD Hubs) program in FY 2015. Four BD Hubs - Midwest, Northeast, South, and West - were established to foster multi-sector collaborations among academia, industry, and government, both nationally and internationally. These BD Hubs are serving a convening and coordinating role by bringing together a wide range of Big Data stakeholders in order to connect solution seekers with solution providers.
 
This solicitation calls for new BD Spoke proposals to be awarded in FY 2018. BD Spokes extend the BD Hubs network by establishing multi-institutional and multi-sector collaborations to focus on topics of specific interest to a given region. The set of activities managed by a BD Spoke will promote progress towards solutions in the chosen topic area. The regional BD Hub Steering Committee will provide general guidance to each BD Spoke and will assist the BD Spoke in coordinating with the national BD Hub network, with other BD Spokes, and with the broader innovation ecosystem.
 
The Big Data activities of a BD Spoke will be guided by the following broad themes:
  • Accelerating progress towards addressing societal grand challenges relevant to the regional and national priority areas defined by the BD Hubs (information on priority areas can be found on each Hub's website listed in the Introduction section below);
  • Helping automate the Big Data lifecycle; and
  • Enabling access to and spurring the use of important and valuable available data assets, including international data sets where relevant.
This is a limited submission opportunity and only one proposal may be submitted with Harvard University as the lead institution. Those interested in submitting an application should first submit an internal letter of intent online here by May 31, 2017 to determine if any further internal coordination is necessary. If multiple submissions from Harvard are proposed the Office of the Vice Provost for Research will administer an internal selection process and those who submitted letters of intent will be informed of next steps.

NSFCIIdeasPFCQC
Ideas Lab: Practical Fully-Connected Quantum Computer Challenge (PFCQC)
OSP Deadline for Preliminary Proposal: June 12, 2017
Sponsor Deadline for Preliminary Proposal: June 19, 2017
OSP Deadline for Full Proposal: November 22, 2017
Sponsor Deadline for Full Proposal: November 30, 2017
Award Amount: $1M-$3M per year for 5 years 

This solicitation describes an Ideas Lab focused on the Practical Fully-Connected Quantum Computer (PFCQC) challenge. Ideas Labs are intensive meetings that bring together multiple diverse perspectives to focus on finding innovative cross-disciplinary solutions to grand challenge problems. The ultimate aim of this Ideas Lab is to facilitate the development and operation of a practical-scale quantum computer. The aspiration is that bringing together researchers from diverse scientific backgrounds will engender fresh thinking and innovative approaches that will provide a fertile ground for new ideas on the design and fabrication of quantum devices and processors and implementation of quantum information processing algorithms. This will enable the solution of science problems that are currently beyond the reach of modern high-performance computing applications on classical computers. The goal is to form teams of domain scientists and engineers that will develop multidisciplinary ideas that eventually will be submitted as full proposals.

NSFCICareer2
Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER)
OSP Deadline: 5 business days prior to submission
Sponsor Deadline: July 19, 2017 for BIO, CISE, EHR; July 20, 2017 for ENG; July 21, 2017 for GEO, MPS, SBE
Award Amount: Details below
 
The Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program is a Foundation-wide activity that offers the National Science Foundation's most prestigious awards in support of early-career faculty who have the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education and to lead advances in the mission of their department or organization. Activities pursued by early-career faculty should build a firm foundation for a lifetime of leadership in integrating education and research. NSF encourages submission of CAREER proposals from early-career faculty at all CAREER-eligible organizations and especially encourages women, members of underrepresented minority groups, and persons with disabilities to apply. A Principal Investigator (PI) may submit only one CAREER proposal per annual competition. In addition, a Principal Investigator may not participate in more than three CAREER competitions. PIs must be employed in a tenure-track position as an assistant professor as of October 1 after the proposal submission and be untenured as of October 1 following the proposal submission. Associate Professors are not eligible for the CAREER Award program.

The CAREER award, including indirect costs, is expected to total a minimum of $400,000 for the 5-year duration, with the following exceptions: Awards for proposals to the Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO), the Directorate for Engineering (ENG), or the Office of Polar Programs (OPP) are expected to total a minimum of $500,000 for the 5-year duration.
 
OtherNSFCross2 
Other NSF: Crosscutting and Interdisciplinary Opportunities

_________________________________________

For assistance, please contact:

Erin Hale
Senior Research Development Officer
erin_hale@fas.harvard.edu | 617-496-5252

Jennifer Corby
Research Development Officer
jcorby@fas.harvard.edu | 617-495-1590


Research Development | Research Administration Services | research.fas.harvard.edu