May 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, & Special Features
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. 
DOD Announces DURIP Program
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. Please  see here for more information on this opportunity. 

2017 Breakthrough Prizes
Deadline for Nominations: May 31, 2017
T he Breakthrough Prizes recognize major achievements in life sciences, fundamental physics and mathematics, with special attention to recent developments. Anyone may nominate a candidate via the online nominations page during the open nominations period. Please see here for more information. 
  
Special Feature: 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)

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

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

Internal Opportunities

HarvardSolarGeo
Fellowships, Residency Program, and Harvard Faculty Research Grants
Deadline for fellowships: June 1, 2017 
Deadline for Residency Program & Harvard Faculty Research Grants: rolling
Award Amount: Varies by award type

Harvard's Solar Geoengineering Research Program (SGRP) aims to focus on advancing solar geoengineering science and technology; assessing efficiency and risks; and laying out governance options and social implications. The following funding mechanisms are available:

Fellowships: The SGRP invites applications for post-doctoral and pre-doctoral fellowships, under the direct supervision of Harvard faculty. The program is loosely modeled on the successful Harvard University Center for the Environment (HUCE) fellowship program. Early-career scientists within three years of earning their doctorate (for post-doctoral fellowships) or those admitted to or pursuing a Ph.D. (for pre-doctoral fellowships). Fellowships are open to current graduate students or fellows. The deadline to apply for a Fellowship is June 1, 2017. 

Residency Program: This program will accept a small number of researchers focused on solar geoengineering to spend between 1 and 3 weeks at Harvard University, working directly with researchers at SGRP and other members of the Harvard community.  The main purpose of this program is to enable visitors to work in collaboration with Harvard researchers and each other on discrete research projects. SGRP will cover the cost of travel and accommodations as well as per diem for meals.

Harvard Faculty Research Grants:  SGRP will provide direct research support for activities that cannot be effectively supported with individual students or fellows. That could involve multi-investigator collaborations, field or laboratory work in the sciences, or field or survey work in the social sciences.

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


DODDARPAGT
DARPA - Ground Truth (GT)
OSP Deadline: 5 business days prior to submission
Sponsor Deadline for Abstracts (strongly encouraged): May 15, 2017
Sponsor Deadline for Full Proposals: June 29, 2017
Award Amount: The level of funding for individual awards made under this solicitation will depend on the quality of the proposals received and the availability of funds.   
 
The Defense Sciences Office at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting innovative research proposals in the area of new simulation capabilities to test the accuracy and robustness of causal modeling methods for understanding human social systems and behaviors. Proposed research should investigate innovative approaches that enable revolutionary advances in social science modeling, simulation, and causal inference. Specifically excluded is research that primarily results in evolutionary improvements to the existing state of practice. In particular, DARPA seeks to create artificial but socially plausible simulations that have known causal ground truth to validate the accuracy and robustness of social science modeling methods. Ground truth simulations should allow for a wide range of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed social science modeling methods, and should provide different kinds of complexity to test causal modeling methods across a range of simulated behaviors and systems.
 
Using a series of staged tests, DARPA anticipates that these simulations will help quantify the capabilities and theoretical limitations of different modeling methods for explaining and predicting causal processes in complex social systems. Additionally, these simulations will provide opportunities to evaluate new modeling methods, or combinations of methods, to advance the rigor of causal inference and modeling in the pursuit of "solution-oriented" social sciences. The GT program will be divided into two Technical Areas (TAs) with an independent Test and Evaluation (T&E) team providing oversight. The two TAs are: TA1: Simulations and TA2: Methods.
 
Ground Truth is a 30-month program comprising three phases with durations of 18 months, 6 months and 6 months, respectively. DARPA anticipates multiple awards under both Technical Areas (TAs).


DARPADREAM
DARPA - Dynamic Range-enhanced Electronics and Materials (DREaM)
OSP Deadline: May 17, 2017
Sponsor Deadline: 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.


DODAFOSR
Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR)
Fiscal Year 2018 Air Force Young Investigator Research Program (YIP)
OSP Deadline: May 24, 2017
Sponsor Deadline: 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.  

DODNavalPostgrad
Naval Postgraduate School
FY17 Acquisition Research Program
OSP Deadline: May 24, 2017
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.


DODDARPAAmbient
DARPA - Atomic Magnetometer for Biological Imaging In Earth's Native Terrain (AMBIIENT)
OSP Deadline: May 24, 2017
Sponsor Deadline: 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.


DODDARPASSITH
DARPA - System Security Integrated Through Hardware and firmware (SSITH)
OSP Deadline: May 26, 2017
Sponsor Deadline for Full Proposals: June 5, 2017
Award Amount: Details below
 
The Microsystems Technologies Office at DARPA invites applications proposing to develop hardware design tools to provide inherent security against hardware vulnerabilities that are exploited through software in DoD and commercial electronic systems. SSITH aims to drive research required to develop secure hardware that constrains the hardware attack surface and protects against classes of software attacks which exploit hardware vulnerabilities.
 
This BAA addresses the challenges to develop hardware security architectures that are scalable, flexible, and adaptable. DARPA seeks proposals that demonstrate how these attributes are enabled through integrated circuit security design architectures and design tools. The goal of enabling scalable, flexible, and adaptable designs within design tool frameworks will be pursued concurrently in two Technical Areas: Technical Area 1 (TA-1) will develop scalable, flexible, and adaptable integrated circuit security architectures that can be easily implemented in DoD and commercial SoCs. Technical Area 2 (TA-2) will establish a methodology for evaluating the security provided by the architectures developed in TA-1.
 
Multiple awards are anticipated. Approximately $50M is anticipated to support awards through this program. This program will be divided into three phases with a total program period of performance of 39 months (a 15-month base period (Phase 1) followed by two 12-month periods (Phases 2 and 3 respectively)). The amount of resources made available under this BAA will depend on the quality of the proposals received and the availability of funds. 


DODDARPAAIDA 
DARPA - Active Interpretation of Disparate Alternatives (AIDA)
OSP Deadline: May 30, 2017
Sponsor Deadline: 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.


DODDARPABRICS2
DARPA - Biological Robustness in Complex Settings (BRICS) Part 2
OSP Deadline: May 30, 2017
Sponsor Deadline for Full Proposals: June 6, 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 Biological Technologies Office at DARPA seeks innovative approaches to the development of engineered Forensic Microbial Systems (FMS) that may be deployed in complex environments to create unique microbial signatures for environmental forensics operations. The BRICS program is divided in two Parts described in two separate BAAs. The BAA for BRICS Part 1 was published in 2014 and requested proposals aimed at elucidating the design principles of engineering robust biological consortia. With the BRICS Part 2 BAA, DARPA is soliciting solutions to a specific challenge scenario that will require the integration of capabilities developed in BRICS Part 1 and serve as a test of the real world utility of those technologies. The goal of BRICS Part 2 is to develop a synthetic microbiome that contains a unique signature that is easily detected, can be maintained over time in a complex environment, and may be transferred to an object of interest within that environment. Prior participation in BRICS Part 1 is not a prerequisite for proposing to Part 2, and approaches that leverage technologies developed outside of the BRICS program will be considered.
 
BRICS Part 2 has three required Task Areas, which will be pursued in parallel through the 18-month  period-of-performance. Proposers must address Task Areas A, B, and C, or the proposal will be deemed "non-responsive" to this announcement. Task Area A is aimed at the development of the FMS and methods to colonize the demonstration surface; Task Area B targets the design, detection, and analysis of the FMS signature; Task Area C is focused on the design and engineering of control and safety mechanisms. In addition, following successful completion of Task Areas A-C, the Government will consider funding field trials in collaboration with a Government field-testing facility. Multiple awards are anticipated.


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.

DODAFOSRBOLTII
Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR)
Boundary Layer Transition Experiment II (BOLT II)
OSP Deadline: June 2, 2017
Sponsor Deadline for Full Proposals: June 9, 2017
Award Amount: AFOSR anticipates not more than $1.787 million in total funding will be made available 1-3 years duration
 
The Air Force Research Laboratory's AF Office of Scientific Research seeks unclassified proposals for advanced research to provide advances in our understanding of the boundary layer transition physics and transition front evolution on a low-curvature concave surface with a swept leading edge at high Mach numbers. The principal tasks of this BAA are providing the Launch Vehicle System, securing the test range, and conducting the launch event for the Flight Geometry provided by the AFOSR Performers. Applicants must demonstrate competency in hypersonic aerodynamics and hypersonic flight test. Further, proposers should be recognized by their peer community for sound technical contributions to the field of experimental hypersonics. Only one award is anticipated.


DODAFRLMADO
U.S. Department of Defense
Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) 
Expanded Multidisciplinary Analysis and Design Optimization (MADO) for Effectiveness Based Design Technologies (EXPEDITE) program
OSP Deadline: June 5, 2017
Sponsor Deadline for Full Proposals: June 12, 2017  [Updated Deadline]
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.


DODDARPAMolecular
DARPA - Molecular Informatics
OSP Deadline: June 5, 2017
Sponsor Deadline: 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.


DODDARPAL2M
DARPA - Lifelong Learning Machines (L2M)
OSP Deadline: June 14, 2017
Sponsor Deadline for Full Proposals: June 21, 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 (MTO) at DARPA is soliciting highly innovative research proposals for the development of fundamentally new machine learning approaches that enable systems to learn continually as they operate and apply previous knowledge to novel situations. Current AI systems only compute with what they have been programmed or trained for in advance; they have no ability to learn from data input during execution time, and cannot adapt on-line to changes they encounter in real environments. The goal of Lifelong Learning Machines (L2M) is to develop substantially more capable systems that are continually improving and updating from experience.
 
Technical Area 1 (TA1) of the L2M program will focus on functional system development, and take inspiration from known biological properties. TA1's objective is to develop continual learning mechanisms operating in a unified system. TA1 performers will develop L2M machine learning software components,  incorporating necessary features for learning from the environment, and integrate these into a unified system. Technical Area 2 (TA2) will involve computational neuroscientists and computational biologists in identifying and exploring biological mechanisms that underlie real-time adaptation for translation into novel algorithms. TA2's objective is to explore new ideas for lifelong learning tied to mechanisms found in nature and translate those mechanisms into algorithms. This effort may include biological experiments, or leverage existing biological data. Methods of mathematical and computational biology are welcome in both TAs.
 
The L2M program is a four-year program divided into two, two-year phases. Multiple awards are anticipated.


DODAirForcePASCC
Air Force Academy
Project on Advanced Systems and Concepts for Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (PASCC) CALL 0002
OSP Deadline: 5 business days prior to submission
Sponsor Deadline for White Papers (required): June 15, 2017
Sponsor Deadline for invited Full Proposals: 30 days after a formal request for proposal has been sent to the submitter of the selected white paper(s)
Award Amount: Details below
 
The United States Air Force's Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), in partnership with PASCC, invites white papers and proposals (if requested) for study in many broad areas related to countering the threat posed by weapons of mass destruction (WMD). PASCC is sponsored by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA). DTRA is a Department of Defense (DoD) Combat Support Agency chartered to "safeguard the United States and its allies from global Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) threats by integrating, synchronizing, and providing expertise, technologies, and capabilities." One of DTRA's main responsibilities is, "to plan, train, exercise, test, inspect and assess our military forces that have to deal with weapons of mass destruction." DTRA has requested USAF INSS/PASCC issue a Call for Papers soliciting white papers outlining studies or strategic dialogues (Track 2 dialogues) that take rigorous and innovative approaches to expand counter-WMD (CWMD) knowledge of particular relevance to DoD and the Armed Services. Weapons of mass destruction are defined as chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons. Beginning this year PASCC will also fund research on improvised threats, with a focus on the intersection of improvised threats and WMD. Grant recipients must produce a written product  outlining the purpose, methodology, and results of their study or dialogue.
 
Projects must be new research efforts. This call is directed toward the research areas listed below:

1.       Emerging and Future WMD threats;

2.     Deterrence, Assurance, and Stability;

3.     Countering WMD Proliferation;

4.     Regulation, Prevention, and Denial of WMD by International Agreements and                                 Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) Initiatives;

5.     Countering WMD;

6.     Rapid Capability Delivery; and

7.     Counter Improvised Threats.


 

In general, PASCC divides its annual funding (~$3.5 million) evenly between studies ($50,000-$150,000 each) and strategic dialogues ($125,000-$225,000 each). PASCC further encourages young scholars and professionals to submit white papers for grants less than $50,000 to support nascent study efforts or their partnership with more experienced researchers to help expand the pool of expert CWMD researchers. The anticipated period of performance for awards is up to 24 months. 

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: June 23, 2017
Sponsor Deadline: 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.


DODONRFY18
Office of Naval Research (ONR)
FY18 Communications and Networking Discovery and Invention
OSP Deadline: 5 business days prior to submission
Sponsor Deadline for White Papers (required): June 26, 2017
Sponsor Deadline for invited Full Proposals: September 25, 2017
Award Amount: $300,000-$500,000 per year for 1-3 years
 
The goal of the Communications and Networking Program within the Office of Naval Research is to support the Navy's Information Warfare vision by developing measurable advances in technology that can directly enable and enhance end-to-end connectivity and quality-of-service for mission-critical information exchange among such widely dispersed naval, joint, and coalition forces. The vision is to provide high throughput robust communications and networking to ensure all warfighters -- from the operational command to the tactical edge - have access to information, knowledge, and decision-making necessary to perform their assigned tasks.
 
White papers for potential FY17 Exploratory Development/Applied Research (Budget category 6.2) projects are sought under the following focus areas:
 
1. Algorithms and techniques for digital beam forming and nulling with reduced                         computational complexity and improved side lobe and grating lobe suppression (both per-     element digital as well as hybrid sub-array architectures should be considered);
2. Novel approaches for low probability of detect/intercept communications against                   advanced electronic threats;
3. Dynamic scheduling, routing and topology control to efficiently and reliably deliver                 critical/high priority data to multiple nodes over directional tactical wireless network; and
4. Machine learning and other techniques/concepts for autonomous network management       by translating Commander's Intent into network policies.
 
ONR is receptive to innovative ideas, which are not within the above focus areas, but nonetheless are important to the Navy/Marine Corps communications and networking. ONR anticipates an annual budget of approximately $2,000,000 for this program. Multiple awards are expected.


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.


DODONRNavyMarineSci
Office of Naval Research (ONR)
FY17 Funding Opportunity Announcement for Navy and Marine Corps Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics Education, Outreach and Workforce Program
OSP Deadline: 5 business days prior to submission
Sponsor Deadline for White Papers (required): August 31, 2017
Sponsor Deadline for invited Full Proposals: September 25, 2017
Award Amount: Up to $250,000 per year for 1-3 years
 
The ONR seeks a broad range of proposals for augmenting existing or developing innovative solutions that directly maintain, or cultivate a diverse, world-class STEM workforce in order to maintain the U.S.  Navy and Marine Corps' technological superiority. The goal of any proposed effort must provide solutions that will establish and maintain pathways of diverse U.S. citizens who are interested in uniformed or civilian DoN (or Navy and Marine Corps) STEM workforce opportunities. As the capacity of the DoN Science and Technology (S&T) workforce is interconnected with the basic research enterprise and STEM education system, ONR recognizes the necessity to support efforts that can jointly improve STEM student outcomes and align with Naval S&T current and future workforce needs. This announcement explicitly encourages projects that improve the capacity of education systems and communities to create impactful STEM educational experiences for students including active learning approaches and incorporating 21st century skills. Projects must aim to increase student engagement in STEM and persistence of students in STEM degrees, while improving student technical capacity. ONR encourages proposals to utilize current STEM educational research for informing project design and advancing our understanding of how and why students choose STEM careers and opportunities of naval relevance. While this announcement is relevant for any stage of the STEM educational system, funding efforts will be targeted primarily toward the future and current DoN (naval) STEM workforce in High School, all categories of Post-Secondary institutions, the STEM research enterprise, and efforts that enhance the current naval STEM workforce and its mission readiness.
 
White paper pre-proposals will be considered as they are submitted. Therefore, Offerors are encouraged to submit early in the cycle as there is no guarantee of available program funding. It is strongly encouraged that Offerors contact the ONR STEM program in advance of white papers submission for the latest information on the availability of funds. Multiple awards are anticipated.

 
DODONRSSBN
Office of Naval Research (ONR)
SSBN Security Technology
OSP Deadline: October 6, 2017
Sponsor Deadline for Full Proposals: October 16, 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.


DODMissile
Missile Defense Agency
Missile Defense Agency Science and Technology Advanced Research (MSTAR) Broad Agency Announcement
OSP Deadline: 5 business days prior to submission
Sponsor Deadline for White Papers (required): Rolling through September 30, 2018
Award Amount: Up to $200,000 per year for up to 3 years
 
The mission of the Missile Defense Agency (MDA), an arm of the United States (U.S.) Department of Defense (DOD), is to develop, test, and field an integrated, layered, Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) to defend the U.S., its deployed forces, allies, and friends against all ranges of enemy ballistic missiles in all phases of flight. The BMDS includes operational elements for sensing, monitoring, and intercepting ballistic missiles during all three phases of flight; boost, mid-course, and terminal. BMDS elements include a network of space, ground, and sea based sensors for detecting and tracking threat missiles; interceptor missiles launched from silos, trucks and ships; and tools for command and control. MDA focuses efforts toward making the BMDS more robust against the widening threats, and increasing capabilities to counter a broad range of missiles, warheads and trajectories. The BMDS must have the ability to detect, track, identify and kill ballistic missiles.
 
MDA/DV has instituted the MSTAR BAA Program to identify and develop innovative concepts, stimulate technology innovation, and exploit breakthroughs in science to offer robust technology improvements to all elements of the BMDS. The MSTAR BAA is a competitive science and technology research program, which consists of forefront advanced research and development technology, concepts, and approaches acquired through scientific and technological investigation. MDA/DV is interested in receiving white papers in the following topic areas: Radar and Communication Systems; Electro-Optical/Infrared Sensor Systems; Directed Energy Systems; Computer Science, Signal and Data Processing; Mathematics, Probability and Decision Theory; Materials and Processing; Phenomenology; Interceptor and Space System; and Modeling and Simulation.
 
Multiple awards are anticipated under this BAA. Funding of research within MDA areas of interest will be determined by funding constraints and priorities set during each fiscal year budget cycle between June and September. Therefore, offerors are encouraged to submit white papers not-later-than February each fiscal year to increase the chances of being aligned with the budget cycle.


DODDefenseForensic
Defense Forensic Science Center
Defense Forensic Science Center Broad Agency Announcement for Basic, Applied, and Advanced Research (Fiscal Years 2017-2021)  
OSP Deadline: 5 business days prior to submission
Sponsor Deadline for White Papers (required): Rolling through October 15, 2021
Award Amount: Award amount is unspecified. Multi-year awards are possible. 
 
The Department of Defense Forensic Research and Development Program is administered by the U.S.  Army Research Office and the Defense Forensic Science Center. The Program aims to enhance the capability of forensic science applications in traditional law enforcement/criminal justice purviews and in expeditionary environments. The Program accomplishes this mission by funding research projects that lead to the production of useful knowledge, materials, devices, systems, or methods that have forensic function.
 
Research and development focus areas include, but are not limited to:
1) Digital evidence and computer forensics
2) Signal processing/visual comparison of patterned and impression forensic materials
3) Analytical chemistry (detection of compounds/molecules/elements)
4) Molecular biology
5) Forensic genetics
6) Forensic equipment miniaturization/ruggedization
7) Site exploitation and forensic material recognition
Prospective Offerors are encouraged to submit a white paper and a quad chart prior to the submission of a complete, more detailed proposal.


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


DOEOther
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. 

Foundation Opportunities

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 Hale at erin_hale@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%

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.

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.

templeton
Core Funding Areas
Letter of Intent Deadline: August 31, 2017
OSP Deadline (if invited to submit full proposal): January 24, 2018
Sponsor Full Proposal Deadline (if invited): January 31, 2018
Award Amount: Individual grants vary in amount. Smallest active grant is about $35,000 and largest is $7.6 million.
 
The Foundation offers grants in support of research and public engagement in the following major Funding Areas:
  • The Science & the Big Questions Funding Area supports innovative efforts to address the deepest questions facing humankind. Why are we here? How can we flourish? What are the fundamental structures of reality? What can we know about the nature and purposes of the divine?
  • The Character Virtue Development funding area seeks to advance the science and practice of character, with a focus on moral, performance, civic, and intellectual virtues such as humility, gratitude, curiosity, diligence, and honesty.
  • The Individual Freedom & Free Markets Funding Area supports education, research, and grassroots efforts to promote individual freedom, free markets, free competition, and entrepreneurship. Grounded in the ideas of classical liberal political economy, we seek and develop projects that focus on individuals and their place in a free society. 
  • The Exceptional Cognitive Talent & Genius Funding Area supports programs that aim to recognize and nurture exceptional cognitive talent, especially for those at an early stage of life. This Funding Area also supports research concerning the nature of cognitive genius, including extraordinary creativity, curiosity, and imagination.
  • The Genetics Funding Area seeks to advance genetics research by supporting novel approaches and contrarian projects, especially research that is undervalued by traditional funding sources. In addition to basic and translational research, this Funding Area supports educational programs that increase public awareness concerning the ways in which genetics-related research and its applications can advance human flourishing at the individual, familial, and societal levels.
  • The Voluntary Family Planning Funding Area supports programs that provide such resources for parents and families worldwide. The Foundation recognizes that research and programs in the area of Family Planning can be controversial politi

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.


National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

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.

NASAUSRC
University Student Research Challenge (USRC) - A Pilot Project
OSP Deadline: October 9, 2017
Sponsor Deadline for Full Proposals: October 16, 2017
Award Amount: NASA's share of awards will not exceed the sum total of $70,000 in direct costs plus the institution's indirect costs. This program has a cost-share requirement through which NASA will match two dollars in direct costs for every crowdfunded dollar, up to a maximum of $35,000.
 
Through this solicitation the Transformative Aeronautics Concepts Program (TACP) seeks to develop novel concepts with the potential to create new capabilities in aeronautics by stimulating aeronautics research in the student community. TACP will provide students, from accredited U.S. colleges or universities, with grants for aeronautics projects that also raise cost sharing funds using crowdfunding platforms. Projects that are successfully crowdfunded will necessarily engage the general public. This use of crowdfunding is being piloted to excite and bring in non-traditional communities in relationship with ARMD.
 
This challenge, which is being run as a pilot project, seeks students who have an aeronautics-related project idea and have the passion to develop that idea. The project must be relevant to the aeronautics Research Mission Directorate (ARMD) Strategic Implementation Plan and address one of ARMD's six strategic thrusts as they affect aviation:
 
1. Safe, Efficient Growth in Global Operations;
2. Innovation in Commercial Supersonic Aircraft;
3. Ultra-Efficient Commercial Vehicles;
4. Transition to Low-Carbon Propulsion;
5. Real-Time System-Wide Safety Assurance; and
6. Assured Autonomy for Aviation Transformation.
 
The solicitation goal can be accomplished through project ideas such as advancing the design, developing technology or capabilities in support of aviation, by demonstrating a novel concept, or enabling advancement of aeronautics-related technologies.
 
If proposal is selected by NASA, students are notified that they may proceed with crowdfunding. If crowdfunding is fully successful (the team receives 100% or more of the proposed cost share amount), then student submits proof to NASA and the student's institution of higher education is awarded the NASA grant. The NASA grants will have a one-year period of performance. NASA will consider around 6 awards in this pilot project.


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
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 Hale at erin_hale@fas.harvard.edu  as soon as possible.  


NIHShared
NIH
Shared Instrumentation Grant Program
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 Hale at erin_hale@fas.harvard.edu  as soon as possible.  


NIHAnimal
NIH
Shared Instrumentation for Animal Research (SIFAR) Grant Program
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 Hale at erin_hale@fas.harvard.edu  as soon as possible. 

nih_eia
NIH
NIH Director's Early Independence Award
Harvard Pre-Proposal Deadline: July 10, 2017
OSP Deadline (if nominated): September 15, 2017
Sponsor Deadline (if nominated): September 22, 2017
Award Amount: $250,000/year for five years plus applicable F&A
Eligible Applicants:  Date of terminal doctoral degree or completion of clinical residency of the PI must be between June 1, 2016 and September 30, 2018. At the application deadline, the PI must not have served as a post-doctoral fellow following a previous doctoral degree for more than twelve months and must not yet have research independence.
 
The NIH Director's Early Independence Award Program supports exceptional investigators who wish to pursue independent research directly after completion of their terminal doctoral/research degree or clinical residency, thereby forgoing the traditional post-doctoral training period and accelerating their entry into an independent research career. Though most newly graduated doctoral-level researchers would benefit by post-doctoral training, a small number of outstanding junior investigators would benefit instead by launching directly into an independent research career. For these select investigators, who have established a record of scientific innovation and research productivity and who have demonstrated unusual leadership, drive, and maturity, post-doctoral training would unnecessarily delay their entry into performing independent research. By the end of the award period, the Early Independence investigator is expected to be competitive for continued funding of his/her research program and for a permanent research-oriented position.
 
This is a limited submission opportunity and only two applications may be submitted from candidates to be hosted by Harvard University in the University Area (Cambridge Campus).  Information on the internal selection process administered by the Office of the Vice Provost for Research can be found here . 

nih_pioneer
NIH
NIH Director's Pioneer Award
OSP Deadline: August 25, 2017
Sponsor Deadline: September 1, 2017
Award Amount: $700,000/year for five years plus applicable F&A
 
The Pioneer Award supports individual scientists of exceptional creativity who propose pioneering and possibly transforming approaches to addressing major biomedical or behavioral challenges that have the potential to produce an unusually high impact on enhancing health, lengthening life, and reducing illness and disability.  To be considered pioneering, the proposed research must reflect ideas substantially different from those being pursued in the investigator's research program or being pursued elsewhere. While the research direction may have as its foundation the applicant's prior work and expertise, it cannot be an obvious extension or scale up of a current research enterprise which could be anticipated to be competitive as a new or renewal R01 application. Rather, the proposed project must reflect a fundamental new insight into the potential solution of a problem, which may derive from the development of exceptionally innovative approaches and/or from the posing of radically unconventional hypotheses. Pioneer awardees are required to commit the major portion (at least 51%) of their research effort to activities supported by the Pioneer Award research project in the first three years of the project period. Effort expended toward teaching, administrative, or clinical duties should not be included in this calculation. Awardees will be allowed to reduce effort to 33% and 25% in the fourth and fifth years, respectively.

nih_newin
NIH
NIH Director's New Innovator Award
OSP Deadline: August 31, 2017
Sponsor Deadline: September 8, 2017
Award Amount: $300,000/year for five years plus applicable F&A
Eligible Applicants: Applicants must meet the definition of an Early Stage Investigator (ESI) at the time of application. An ESI is a new investigator (defined as a PD/PI who has not competed successfully for a significant NIH independent research award) who is within 10 years of completing his/her terminal research degree or is within 10 years of completing medical residency (or the equivalent). 
 
The NIH Director's New Innovator Award (DP2) supports a small number of early stage investigators of exceptional creativity who propose bold and highly innovative new research approaches that have the potential to produce a major impact on broad, important problems in biomedical and behavioral research.  It is designed specifically to support unusually creative investigators with highly innovative research ideas at an early stage of their career when they may lack the preliminary data required for an R01 grant application. The emphasis is on innovation and creativity; preliminary data are not required, but may be included. No detailed, annual budget is requested in the application. The review process emphasizes the individual's creativity, the innovativeness of the research approaches, and the potential of the project, if successful, to have a significant impact on an important biomedical or behavioral research problem.

nih_transformative
NIH
NIH Director's Transformative Research Award
OSP Deadline: September 8, 2017
Sponsor Deadline: September 15, 2017
Award Amount: Application budgets are not limited but need to reflect the actual needs of the proposed project. Maximum project duration is five years.
 
The goal of the NIH Director's Transformative Research Award is to provide support for collaborative investigative teams or individual scientists who propose unusually innovative research projects, which, if successful, would have a major impact in a broad area of biomedical or behavioral research. To be considered transformative, projects must have the potential to create or overturn fundamental scientific paradigms through the use of novel approaches, to transform the way research is conducted through the development of novel tools or technologies, or to lead to major improvements in health through the development of highly innovative therapies, diagnostic tools, or preventive strategies. Consistent with this focus, applications supported under the Transformative Research Award will reflect ideas substantially different from mainstream concepts. Little or no preliminary data are expected. 


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.

NSFDCJST
NSF-Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) Collaborative Research
Letter of Intent: August 25, 2017
OSP Deadline: October 5, 2017
Sponsor Deadline: October 15, 2017
Award Amount: $15,000 (supplemental funding)  

With this Dear Colleague Letter (DCL), NSF/CISE is encouraging the submission of supplemental funding requests (of up to $15,000 each, covering travel, lodging and subsistence) to strengthen and expand collaborations between NSF- and Japan Science and Technology Agency-funded PIs in shared priority areas. CISE anticipates awarding up to 10 such supplemental funding requests in FY 2018. Supplemental funding to active NSF awards is intended to enable US-based researchers (i.e., PIs and co-PIs, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students) to collaborate with Japan-based researchers currently funded by JST. 610)

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.

NSFDCTransitiontoGrad
Improving and Supporting the Transition to Graduate School in the Mathematical Sciences
OSP Deadline: November 29, 2017
Sponsor Deadline: December 6, 2017
Award Amount: Varies by division

The National Science Foundation's Directorate for Education and Human Resources (EHR) and Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS) are collaborating to encourage proposals that would improve and support student transition to and subsequent success in doctoral programs in the mathematical sciences. Participating divisions within the two directorates are the Divisions of Mathematical Sciences (DMS), Graduate Education (DGE), Undergraduate Education (DUE), and Human Resource Development (HRD).  Projects that develop partnerships among faculty, departments, and graduate schools, as well as those that leverage technology are expected. To achieve the dual aims of (1) scalability and (2) sustainability, it is envisioned that most proposed strategies will also: (3) reach students predominantly at their home institutions, with limited student travel required, and (4) have the potential to create systemic change regarding how students are prepared for success in graduate school, particularly doctoral programs. All projects should contain a rigorous evaluation plan that includes assessment of impact on students and the institution.


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.

 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.


NSFDCMPSAST
MPS-AST Facility Divestment Activity
OSP Dealdine: N/A
Sponsor Deadline: N/A
Award Amount: N/A

The National Science Foundation (NSF) and its Division of Astronomical Sciences (AST) remain committed to the provision of leading-edge facilities as well as small and mid-scale funding opportunities that are made available to the U.S. astronomical community for the conduct of merit-reviewed science. This Letter provides the community with a top-level summary of the current status of NSF actions regarding facility divestment recommendations made in 2012 by a committee chartered to review the AST facility and program portfolio.

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

NSFCISELeaderPhase1
NSF: CISE
Towards a Leadership-Class Computing Facility - Phase 1
Letter of Intent: July 14, 2017
OSP Deadline: November 13, 2017
Sponsor Deadline: November 20, 2017
Award Amount:  A total of $60,000,000 in FY 2018 will be used to fund one award, subject to the availability of funds. At least 95% of the proposal amount should be for the system acquisition cost.
NSF invites proposals for the acquisition and deployment of a High Performance Computing (HPC) system, called the Phase 1 system, with the option of a possible future upgrade to a leadership-class computing facility. The Phase 1 system will serve two important and complementary purposes:
  1. It will serve as a robust, well-balanced, and forward-looking computational asset for a broad range of research topics for which advances in fundamental understanding require the most extreme computational and data analysis capabilities; and
  2. It will serve as an evaluation platform for testing and demonstrating the feasibility of an upgrade to a leadership-class facility five years following deployment.
Note: This is a limited submission opportunity. Please contact Erin Hale ( erin_hale@fas.harvard.edu) if you are interested in submitting.


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)

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: Details below
 
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 award is for  $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.

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.

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.

NSFCISemiSynBio
Semiconductor Synthetic Biology for Information Processing and Storage Technologies (SemiSynBio)
OSP Deadline: October 23, 2017
Sponsor Deadline: October 30, 2017
Award Amount: up to $500,000 per year for three years

NSF has established a partnership with the Semiconductor Research Corporation (SRC) Global Research Collaboration (GRC) program and the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA) to announce a solicitation on the "Semiconductor Synthetic Biology for Information Processing and Storage Technologies (SemiSynBio)". Future ultra-low-energy computing, storage and signal-processing systems can be built on principles derived from organic systems that are at the intersection of chemistry, biology, and engineering. New information technologies can be envisioned that are based on biological principles and that use biomaterials in the fabrication of devices and components; it is anticipated that these information technologies could enable stored data to be retained for more than 100 years and storage capacity to be 1,000 times greater than current capabilities. These could also facilitate compact computers that will operate with substantially lower power than today's computers. Research in support of these goals can have a significant impact on advanced information processing and storage technologies. This focused solicitation seeks high-risk/high-return interdisciplinary research on novel concepts and enabling technologies that will address the scientific issues and technological challenges associated with the underpinnings of synthetic biology integrated with semiconductor technology. This research will foster interactions among various disciplines including biology, engineering, physics, chemistry, materials science, computer science, and information science that will enable heretofore-unanticipated breakthroughs as well as meet educational goals.


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.
 
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