Pew Scholars Program *

Harvard Pre-Proposal Deadline: March 23, 2020

FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline (if nominated): September 2, 2020

Sponsor Deadline (if nominated): September 10, 2020

Award Amount: $75,000/year for four years

Eligible Applicants: Assistant Professors appointed between June 15, 2017 and September 10, 2020. Time spent in clinical internships, residencies, in work toward board certification, or on parental leave does not count as part of this time limit. 

 

The Pew Scholars Program in the Biomedical Sciences provides funding to young investigators of outstanding promise in science relevant to the advancement of human health. The program makes grants to selected academic institutions to support the independent research of outstanding individuals who are in their first few years of their appointment at the assistant professor level. Based on their performance during their education and training, candidates should demonstrate outstanding promise as contributors in science relevant to human health. Strong proposals will incorporate particularly creative and pioneering approaches. Candidates whose work is based on biomedical principles, but who bring in concepts and theories from more diverse fields, are encouraged to apply.

 

This is a limited submission opportunity and Harvard may put forward only one nominee to submit a proposal. To be considered for the Harvard nomination, potential applicants must submit an internal pre-proposal via the link above. More information on the Pew Scholars Program can be found  here.

Camille Dreyfus Foundation: Machine Learning in the Chemical Sciences and Engineering

FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline: March 26, 2020

Sponsor Deadline: April 2, 2020 

Award Amount: The amount of support requested is determined by the applicant. Partial contributions to larger scale efforts will be considered. Overhead is not allowed. This falls short of the 15% overhead required by FAS/SEAS policy. Please discuss with your grants administrator before preparing an application.      

 

The Dreyfus program for Machine Learning in the Chemical Sciences and Engineering provides funding for innovative projects in any area of Machine Learning (ML) consistent with the Foundation's broad objective to advance the chemical sciences and engineering. The Foundation encourages proposals to significantly stimulate and accelerate the development of the use of ML and other related aspects of data science to the chemical sciences and engineering. The Foundation anticipates that these projects will contribute new fundamental chemical understanding, insight, and innovation in the field.

Sponsor LOI Deadline: March 30, 2020

Award Amount: up to $450,000 per year for the whole team depending on the size of the team. A maximum of 10% overhead may be charged to the Program Grants. This falls short of the 15% overhead required by FAS/SEAS policy. Please discuss with your grants administrator before preparing an application. The Young Investigator Grants are exempt from this policy.

 

The Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) supports innovative basic research into fundamental biological problems with emphasis placed on novel and interdisciplinary approaches that involve scientific exchanges across national and disciplinary boundaries. Awards are made to international (preferably intercontinental) teams of 2 to 4 members.

 

The research team must designate one member as Principal Applicant. The Principal Applicant must be located in one of the HFSP member countries but co-investigators may be located in any country. HFSP encourages projects that are at the frontiers of knowledge and therefore entail risk.

 

Two types of Research Grants are available:

In order to submit an LOI, the Principal Applicant must first connect to the HFSP extranet site and obtain a reference number by March 19, 2020.

Breakthrough Prizes - Fundamental Physics, Life Sciences, and Mathematics

FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline: Review by Harvard OSP not required

Sponsor Deadline: April 1, 2020

Prize Amount: $3,000,000

 

The Breakthrough Prizes recognize major achievements in life sciences, fundamental physics and mathematics, with special attention to recent developments.  

 

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 who have already produced important work in their fields.  Up to three  New Horizons in Physics  Prizes are available for early-career researchers.

 

Up to four 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 prize per year is for work contributing to the understanding of Parkinson's Disease & Neurodegenerative Disorders. 

 

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 early career mathematicians who have already produced important work in their fields.  Up to three New Horizons in Mathematics Prizes are available for early-career researchers. The Maryam Mirzakhani New Frontiers Prize ($50,000) will be presented to women mathematicians who have completed their PhDs within the past two years.

 

Nominations:

 

While institutional review is not required, nominators are asked to provide the names of any FAS or SEAS nominees to Erin Hale at  erin_hale@fas.harvard.edu . 

Whitehall Foundation Grants Program *

FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline: April 8, 2020

Sponsor Letter of Intent Deadline: April 15, 2020

Award Amount: Up to $225,000 over three years for Research Grants and up to $30,000 for one year for Grants-in-Aid. Overhead expense is limited to no more than 25% of equipment and research supplies.

 

The Whitehall Foundation funds scholarly research in the life sciences. The Foundation is currently interested in basic research in neurobiology, defined as follows: Invertebrate and vertebrate (excluding clinical) neurobiology, specifically investigations of neural mechanisms involved in sensory, motor, and other complex functions of the whole organism as these relate to behavior. The overall goal should be to better understand behavioral output or brain mechanisms of behavior.

 

The foundation welcomes Letters of Intent for two grant programs:

The Foundation does not award funds to investigators who have substantial existing or potential support, even if it is for an unrelated purpose.

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation: Grand Challenges Explorations *

FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline: April 15, 2020

Sponsor Deadline: April 22, 2020

Award Amount: Up to $100,000 for initial grants; successful awardees have an opportunity to apply for a follow-on award of up to $1 million. This award does not cover overhead costs, which falls short of the 15% overhead required by FAS/SEAS policy. Please discuss with your grants administrator before preparing an application.

 

Grand Challenges is a family of initiatives fostering innovation to solve key global health and development problems. The Gates Foundation launched Grand Challenges Explorations to engage more of the world's innovators more quickly. Twice each year, Grand Challenges Explorations invites high-risk, high-reward proposals on a range of challenges. Currently open challenges include: 

1907 Trailblazer Award

University Area Pre-Proposal Deadline: March 30, 2020 by 5:00PM

FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline (if nominated): May 21, 2020

Sponsor Deadline: May 31, 2020

Award Amount: $100,000 for research to be spent over a two-year duration, a $20,000 prize to enhance the economic security of the scientist, and travel & expense coverage for attendance at two annual meetings

 

The 1907 Trailblazer Award was established to encourage high-impact, step-change approaches to research in the brain and mind sciences for mental health. Projects must be grounded in the study of biological mechanisms underlying brain function, cognitive processes, and/or consciousness. The sponsor supports projects for basic science in addition to near-term applications (e.g. disruptive technologies and potential clinical interventions). 

 

Eligibility Criteria:

 

This is a limited submission opportunity and the University Area (Cambridge Campus) may nominate two candidates for this opportunity. FAS and SEAS pre-proposals must be submitted online by March 30, 2020 by 5:00pm via the link above.

The Franklin Institute Bower Award & Prize for Achievement in Science *

Notice of Intent to Nominate Deadline (encouraged): April 30, 2020

Nomination Deadline: May 31, 2020

Prize Amount: $250,000

 

The Franklin lnstitute seeks nominations for the 2021 Bower Award and Prize for Achievement in Science of individuals who have made significant contributions to the scientific understanding of decision-making. The interdisciplinary field of decision-making integrates theory and methods from economics, psychology, neuroscience, computer science, and related areas to understand the mechanisms through which individuals and groups choose among competing possibilities and how these mechanisms guide behavior.

 

Nominations are encouraged in, but not limited to, the following subtopics and their intersections:

Nominations from any individual or organization will be accepted, including self-nominations. The winner must be available to participate in The Franklin lnstitute Awards Week programs, to be held in April 2021 in Philadelphia.

Craig H. Neilsen Foundation: Spinal Cord Injury Research on the Translational Spectrum *

FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline: May 4, 2020

Sponsor Letter of Intent Deadline: May 11, 2020

Award Amount: varies by category; see below

 

The Spinal Cord Injury Research on the Translational Spectrum (SCIRTS) focuses on research designed to improve understanding and advance the current treatment of acute and chronic spinal cord injury. The goal of the program is to address gaps in the field and advance novel approaches to improving function and developing curative therapies after spinal cord injury. The scope of this program is broad, encompassing mechanistic, preclinical modeling, translational and/or clinical research.

 

There are three funding categories:

The Neilsen Foundation does not allow indirect costs on its Postdoctoral Fellowships. The maximum amount allowed for indirect costs for Pilot Research Grants and Senior Research Grants is 10%. This falls short of the 15% overhead required by FAS/SEAS policy. Please discuss with your grants administrator before preparing an application.

Brain Aneurysm Foundation Research Grants *

FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline: May 8, 2020

Sponsor Deadline: May 15, 2020

Award Amount: $10,000 to $50,000. This award does not cover overhead costs. This falls short of the 15% overhead required by FAS/SEAS policy. Please discuss with your grants administrator before preparing an application.

 

The Brain Aneurysm Foundation invites applications for basic scientific research directed at early detection, improved treatment modalities, and technological advances that will ultimately improve outcomes for patients with brain aneurysms. Projects that are focused on translational research, clinical outcome research, imaging, and aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and its associated complications are also awarded funding. Any project with the potential to advance  basic science, translational and clinical brain aneurysm research will be considered.

 

Grant awards will be presented at the Brain Aneurysm Foundation's Annual Research Grant Awards Dinner in Scottsdale, AZ on September 3, 2020. Grant awardees or an appropriate representative must be present to receive the award and present a poster of the research during the opening reception.

Edward Mallinckrodt Jr. Foundation Grants Program

Harvard Pre-Proposal Deadline: June 1, 2020 by 12 PM

Sponsor Deadline: August 1, 2020

Award Amount: $60,000 per year for up to three years

 

The Mallinckrodt Foundation supports early stage investigators engaged in biomedical research that has the potential to significantly advance the understanding, diagnosis, or treatment of disease. The funds are designed to provide faculty members who hold M.D. and/or Ph.D. degrees, and who are in the first to fourth year of a tenure-track position (appointed on or after August 1, 2016), with support to move the project forward to the point where R01 or other independent funding can be obtained. Applicants with current R01 funding are not eligible to apply.

 

This is a limited submission opportunity and Harvard may put forward only one nominee to submit a proposal. The Office of the Vice Provost for Research will conduct the internal competition to select the Harvard nominee. To be considered for the Harvard nomination, potential applicants must submit an internal pre-proposal via the link above.

BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Awards

FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline: Review by Harvard OSP not required

Sponsor Nomination Deadline: June 30, 2020

Award Amount: 400,000 euros, a diploma, and a commemorative artwork

 

The BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Awards recognize fundamental contributions in a broad array of areas of scientific knowledge, technology, humanities, and artistic creation. The name of the award is intended to denote not only research work that substantially enlarges the scope of our current knowledge-pushing forward the frontiers of the known world-but also the meeting and overlap of different disciplinary areas and the emergence of new fields. 

 

The disciplines and domains of the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Awards are:

Any scientific or cultural organization or institution may nominate more than one candidate, but no candidate may be nominated in more than one award category. The awards are also open to scientific or cultural organizations that can be collectively credited with exceptional contributions. Candidates may be of any nationality. Self-nomination is not permitted.

Volkswagen Foundation: Artificial Intelligence and the Society of the Future *

FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline: 5 business days prior to submission

Sponsor Deadlines: July 7, 2020 for Planning Grants; October 15, 2020 for Full Grants

Award Information: Planning Grants up to 150,000 Euros for 9-12 months may be requested. Full Grants will be awarded up to 1.5M Euros for up to 4 years.

 

This funding initiative is aimed primarily at postdoctoral researchers and professors at all career levels in the social and engineering sciences who devote themselves to the challenges of artificial intelligence and society in interdisciplinary research constellations. The integration of the humanities is welcome. Against the background of the current and emerging developments in the field of "Artificial Intelligence," the Foundation wishes to support projects dealing with the development of new perspectives and insights with a view to shaping the future of society as well as technology. The aim is to enable novel project constellations and interdisciplinary cooperation in a highly topical area through a shift in thinking towards new perspectives and solutions. The leading applicant has to be based at a scientific institution in Germany but international collaborations are welcome.

 

The Foundation offers the option to apply for a planning grant with a duration of nine to twelve months and a maximum funding amount of EUR 150,000 in advance of submitting a full application. The financial support for this "orientation phase" is intended, among other things, to enable the composition of a suitable project team, the identification of a connecting topic, and the preparation as well as formulation of a full proposal (full grant). For longer-term work on a research topic developed by the consortium, applicants may apply for a total funding amount of up to 1.5 million EUR for a duration of up to four years for projects involving up to five working groups.

Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Essential Open Source Software for Science

FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline: July 24, 2020

Sponsor Deadlines: August 1, 2020

Award Information: $50,000 - $250,000 (inclusive of up to 15% for indirect/overhead costs) for one year

 

In an effort to support open source software for science, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) seeks applications for software projects that are essential to biomedical research, have already demonstrated impact, and can show potential for continued improvement. Grants will be for a one-year period with the potential to apply for renewal in future cycles. The goal of the program is to support software maintenance, growth, development, and community engagement for these critical tools.

 

Applications for two broad categories of open source projects will be considered in scope:

Simons Foundation Targeted Grants in Mathematics and Physical Sciences

FAS/SEAS/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. If invited to submit a full proposal, the deadline will be noted in the LOI notification and will be no sooner than three months from the date of the LOI approval.

The William F. Milton Fund

Deadline: April 1, 2020

Award Amount: Up to $50,000

Eligible Applicants: Applications are invited from individuals who hold a junior faculty appointment. This includes Assistant Professors, Associate Professors, and Junior Fellows of the Harvard Society of Fellows.

The Milton Fund supports research projects in the fields of medicine, geography, history and science that promote the physical and material welfare and prosperity of the human race, investigate and determine the value and importance of any discovery or invention, or assist in the discovery and perfecting of any special means of alleviating or curing human disease. The Office of the Vice Provost for Research administers the Milton Fund.

David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies Mexico Innovation Fund *

Deadline: May 1, 2020

Award Amount: Up to $100,000

The goal of the Mexico Innovation Fund is to deepen ties between Harvard and Mexican academia in order to address some of the most important issues facing Mexico. A project supported by this fund should propose policy improvements or provide ideas for action that might help Mexico address the specific issues related to the project. The priority fields of study are:

Projects submitted for consideration must be innovative, involve evidence-based research leading to measurable outcomes, leverage technology, where appropriate, to "leapfrog" older processes and concept, especially in areas relating to public policy and urban studies, and ideally delve deeply into one subject area while also combining multi-sector and multi-disciplinary approaches.

David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies Harvard-UAI Collaborative Research Grant *

Deadline: May 1, 2020

Award Amount: Up to $30,000

This program's primary objective is to strengthen connections between Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez (UAI) in Chile and Harvard through innovative research projects in all disciplines, including but not limited to technology, design, humanities, science, engineering, health, public policy, business, and education. Each project must have a PI from Harvard and one from UAI. Funding will be primarily for program start-up expenses including travel to facilitate site visits, workshops, and academic research exchanges.

Facebook Research: Foundational Integrity Research: Misinformation and Polarization *

FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline: March 25, 2020

Sponsor Deadline: April 1, 2020

Award Amount: $50,000-$150,000. Overhead on this award is limited to 5%. Please discuss overhead requirements and options for shortfall recovery with your grants administrator prior to beginning an application.

 

In this request for proposals (RFP), Facebook is offering awards to researchers interested in exploring the societal issues of misinformation and polarization related to social communication technologies. The goal for these awards is to support the growth of the scientific community in these spaces and to contribute to a shared understanding across the broader industry on how social technology companies can better address social issues on their platforms. Research is not restricted to focusing on Facebook apps and technology.

 

Priority research areas of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

More information on each priority area can be found at the link above. Successful proposals will demonstrate innovative and compelling research that has the potential to significantly advance the community's understanding of the impact of technology on society. Proposals are encouraged with the following two emphases:

Microsoft AI for Earth Grants *

FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline: 5 business days prior to submission

Sponsor Deadlines: April 6, 2020; July 6, 2020; October 5, 2020

Award Information: Azure compute credits worth $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000, plus additional resources including technical advice and support, online Azure training materials, and invitations to the AI for Earth Summit for networking and education opportunities.

AI for Earth grants provide access to Microsoft resources to support projects that change the way people and organizations monitor, model, and manage Earth's natural systems. If you already have access to a labeled dataset and are ready to start using Azure AI tools and cloud computing, this grant can provide you with Azure compute credits. Microsoft's areas of focus for AI for Earth are agriculture, food, biodiversity, and/or climate change. Microsoft recommends that the main applicant has a demonstrated background in environmental science and/or technology (such as a PhD degree), and that at least one member of the team has strong enough technical skills to complete the project successfully.

Facebook Research: AI Systems Hardware/Software Co-Design *

FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline: April 8, 2020

Sponsor Deadline: April 15, 2020

Award Amount: $50,000. Overhead on this award is limited to 5%. Please discuss overhead requirements and options for shortfall recovery with your grants administrator prior to beginning an application.

 

Facebook invites university faculty to respond to the new call for research proposals on AI System Hardware/Software Co-Design. Deep learning has been particularly amenable to simultaneous design and optimization of several aspects of the system, including hardware and software, to achieve a set target for a given system metric, such as throughput, latency, power, size, or their combination. Facebook AI teams have been using co-design to develop high-performance AI solutions for both existing as well as future AI hardware, and Facebook is currently looking to further explore co-design opportunities across a number of new dimensions.

 

Facebook is especially interested in soliciting proposals for the wide range of AI hardware/algorithm co-design research areas, including but not limited to:

 

Proposals are highly encouraged to focus funding on project personnel, especially PhD students. Proposals from small collaborative teams, particularly with Principal Investigators bridging areas of systems and machine learning, are also encouraged.

Amazon Machine Learning Research Awards

FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline: 5 business days prior to submission

Sponsor Deadline: Rolling

Award Amount: The amount awarded is at the discretion of the awards panel and may be based on the number of applicants and number of awards granted during an award cycle. Awards are structured as one-year unrestricted gifts to academic institutions and can include funding and AWS Promotional Credits. 69% overhead is required per FAS/SEAS policy.

 

The AWS Machine Learning Research Awards (MLRA) program funds eligible universities, faculty, PhD students and post-docs under the supervision of faculty, that are conducting novel research in machine learning (ML). The goal is to enable research that accelerates the development of innovative algorithms, publications, and source code across a wide variety of ML applications and focus areas. Selected applicants will receive awards that include unrestricted cash funding as well as AWS Promotional Credits. Award recipients will receive an invitation to attend an annual research seminar and may receive live one-on-one training sessions with Amazon scientists and engineers.

 

Full-time faculty members and university departments leading a team of students and postdocs at education institutions in North America and Europe which are conducting innovative research related to Machine Learning are eligible to apply. Awards provided to faculty or university institutions will support the researchers identified in the application conducting research under the guidance of this PI.

DARPA Wideband Adaptive RF Protection (WARP)

FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline: 5 business days prior to submission

Sponsor Deadline for Full Proposals: April 23, 2020 for the initial round of consideration; proposals will continue to be accepted through May 21, 2020, however proposers are warned that the likelihood of available funding is greatly reduced for proposals submitted after the initial closing date

Award Amount: It is anticipated that $40M of total funding will be awarded across both technical areas, approximately partitioned as follows: $20M for Technical Area 1 (TA1), 3 phases, 48 months, 6.2 funding; and $20M for Technical Area 2 (TA2), 3 phases, 48 months, 6.2 funding. The total program is expected to run 48 months, where Phase 1 and Phase 2 will each be 18 months long, while Phase 3 will last 12 months.

DARPA's Microsystems Technology Office (MTO) seeks innovative proposals to develop wideband, adaptive RF filters and cancellers that selectively attenuate interference and protect wideband digital radios from saturation. When exposed to interference/self-interference, the filters and cancellers will automatically sense and adapt to the electromagnetic environment through the intelligent control of its adaptive hardware. WARP will ultimately enable the use of wideband software defined radios in congested and contested environments.

 

WARP will be executed across two technical areas (TAs): TA1 - Wideband Adaptive Filtering and TA2 - Wideband Signal Cancellation. Proposers should not propose to more than one Technical Area in a single proposal. Proposers who wish to propose to more than one Technical Area must submit a separate full proposal for each individual Technical Area. Proposals must include all phases for the associated Technical Area.

Multiple awards with a variety of technical approaches in each technical area are anticipated.

DARPA Data Protection in Virtual Environments (DPRIVE) *

Sponsor Deadline for Abstracts (strongly encouraged): March 23, 2020

FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline: 5 business days prior to submission

Sponsor Deadline for Full Proposals: June 2, 2020

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 DPRIVE program will be a 42-month program composed of three phases, a base Phase 1 (15 months) and optional Phases 2 (15 months) and 3 (12 months).

 

DARPA's Microsystems Technology Office (MTO) is soliciting innovative research and development to reduce the computation run time of fully homomorphic encrypted computation through hardware acceleration. The goal of the DPRIVE program is to enable fully homomorphic encrypted computation to within one order of magnitude of the compute time of current unencrypted computation. The outcome of DPRIVE will be a fabricated chip and supporting hardware/software that realizes the goals of the program. Given the anticipated challenges of the DPRIVE program, multidisciplinary teams with grounded experience in the mathematics of FHE, embedded software systems, and unconventional VLSI hardware design are encouraged to submit proposals.

 

DPRIVE will have a single Technical Area. Each DPRIVE team will need to address all required DPRIVE development activities (hardware + software + algorithms).

 

Multiple awards are anticipated. Total award funding is expected to be $33M.

DARPA Rational Integrated Design of Energetics (RIDE) *

Sponsor Deadline for Abstracts (strongly encouraged): March 25, 2020

FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline: 5 business days prior to submission

Sponsor Deadline for Full Proposals: May 8, 2020

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. RIDE is a four-year program divided into three phases that will be executed through two Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs). This BAA only solicits proposals for RIDE Phases 1 and 2, the first 30 months of the 48-month program.

 

The Defense Sciences Office (DSO) at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting innovative research proposals in the area of technologies that speed, parallelize and systematize energetics formulation development. Capabilities developed for explosive and propellant formulations are of primary interest, though development may also entail capabilities for other energetics including obscurants and pyrotechnics.

 

During Phases 1 and 2, RIDE is divided into two separate Technical Areas (TAs) focused on building core component technologies for energetics formulation development:

• TA1 Chemical Synthesis and Formulation Platforms: Develop safe, semi-automated, experimental capabilities that integrate energetics ingredient synthesis with formulation development and testing
• TA2 Advanced Energetics Metrology: Develop new theoretical, experimental and/or statistical methods that enable safe, accurate evaluation of key energetics properties at reduced scale

Proposers may propose to both TAs but must do so in two separate proposals. During the 18-month final phase of RIDE (not solicited under this BAA), capabilities relevant to TA1 and TA2 will be integrated to build a complete, semiautomated energetics synthesis and formulation development platform with advanced on-board metrology. Devices will be delivered to and operated at a cleared research facility for Phase 3 demonstrations.

 

Multiple awards are anticipated.

DARPA No Manning Required, Ship (NOMARS)

FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline: March 26, 2020

Sponsor Deadline for Full Proposals: April 2, 2020

Award Amount: The total budget for Phase 1 Track A awards is $31M including options, and the total budget for Phase 1 Track B awards is $10M. Track A proposals shall comprise of: a 9-month Phase 1A Base period culminating in a Conceptual Design Review (CoDR); a Phase 1B Option 1, 9-month priced option culminating in a Preliminary Design Review (PDR); and a Phase 1B Option 2, 3-month post-PDR priced option (options are collectively Phase 1B). Track B proposals should consist of a single phase effort with a period of performance not to exceed 14 months, to enable potential integration of Track B solutions into Track A designs for Phase 2A.

DARPA's Tactical Technology Office (TTO)'s No Manning Required, Ship (NOMARS) program will design, build, and field test an unmanned surface ship that can operate autonomously for long durations at sea with no human interventions or underway maintenance. NOMARS will challenge the traditional naval architecture paradigm by starting with a clean-sheet ship design process that eliminates design considerations associated with crew. NOMARS is a two-phased program, but this BAA seeks full proposals for Phase 1 (comprised of two tracks) only. This period will explore the NOMARS design space from Conceptual Design Review (CoDR) through Preliminary Design Review (PDR) and system definition.

 

This BAA encompasses two independent tracks for NOMARS Phase 1:

While multiple proposals against a single track will be considered, DARPA does not intend to select the same prime performer for both Track A and Track B.

 

A future solicitation may be issued in a limited competition among Track A Phase 1B performers to encompass Phase 2:

Multiple awards are anticipated for both tracks.

CDMRP Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program *

FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline: 5 business days prior to submission

Sponsor Deadline: Varies by program (see below for details)

Award Amount: Varies by program (see below for details)

 

The vision of the FY20 Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP) is to improve the health, care, and well-being of all military Service members, Veterans, and beneficiaries, and its mission is to encourage, identify, select, and manage medical research projects of clear scientific merit and direct relevance to military health. The PRMRP challenges the scientific and clinical communities to address at least one of the FY20 PRMRP Topic Areas (see solicitation for a complete list) with original ideas that foster new directions along the entire spectrum of research and clinical care. The program seeks applications in laboratory, clinical, behavioral, epidemiologic, and other areas of research to advance knowledge in disease etiology, improve prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment, and quality of life for those affected by a relevant disease or condition, and to develop and validate clinical care or public health guidelines.

 

Several mechanisms are available under this program:

DARPA Atmosphere as a Sensor (AtmoSense) *

FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline: April 15, 2020

Sponsor Deadline for Full Proposals: April 22, 2020

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 AtmoSense program consists of two phases: Phase 1 (a 27-month base period) and Phase 2 (a 12-month period).

 

The Defense Sciences Office (DSO) at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting innovative research proposals in the area of modeling, simulating, and experimentally observing transient disturbances (both mechanical and electromagnetic) in the Earth's atmosphere (from the troposphere through the ionosphere) due to meteorological and geophysical sources.

 

The AtmoSense approach will consist of three technical areas (TAs):

In addition to the three technical areas, an Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) team will evaluate the research products of each performer and provide expert analysis of the capabilities developed for potential application spaces. The IV&V team is not being solicited at this time. Proposers are strongly encouraged to form teams capable of proposing to all three TAs. However, proposals with a strongly unique approach to an individual TA will be considered solely for Phase 1.

 

DARPA anticipates multiple awards.

DARPA Air Combat Evolution Technical Area 1: Build Combat Autonomy *

FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline: April 16, 2020

Sponsor Deadline for Full Proposals: April 23, 2020

Award Amount: Up to $25M is anticipated for awards made under this program. Phase 1 is the Base Period for TA-1 and is anticipated to be 12 months. Phase 2 is an option period for TA-1 with an anticipated 16 month Period of Performance. Phase 3 is an Option Period with an anticipated 16 month Period of Performance.

 

DARPA's Strategic Technology Office (STO) is soliciting innovative proposals for the Air Combat Evolution (ACE) Program Technical Area 1 (TA-1): Building Combat Autonomy. Technical Areas 2, 3, and 4 were solicited under a previous BAA (HR001119S0051, Amendment 2).  The ACE program will increase warfighter trust in combat autonomy by automating aerial within-visual-range (WVR) maneuvering, colloquially known as a dogfight, using progressively more realistic platforms (following demonstrations in modeling and simulation, the program will graduate to live small-scale unmanned aerial vehicles, and culminate on live operationally representative aircraft). The ACE TA-1 BAA specifically solicits the development of artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms that can conduct aerial dogfighting. A dogfight represents the progression in autonomy from current physics-based automation generally trusted by operators to more complex human-machine collaboration necessary to realize the promise of future manned/unmanned teaming.

 

DARPA anticipates multiple awards.

DARPA Habitus *

FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline: 5 business days prior to submission

Sponsor Deadline for Full Proposals: April 23, 2020 for TA1/TA2; TBA for CE proposals

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 program will consist of three Phases and a total of 42 months for TA1/TA2: Phase 1 (Base period, 24 months), Phase 2 (Option 1, 12 months), Phase 3 (Option 2, 6 months). CE will begin roughly 12 months into Phase 1 and will run the duration of the rest of the program (30 months).

 

The Defense Sciences Office (DSO) at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting innovative research proposals to create self-sustaining, adaptive, generalizable, and scalable methods for generating causal system models based on local knowledge to aid operational decision making. These computational models will include all relevant factors that contribute to predicting a system outcome, whether concrete (e.g., employment rates, rain totals) or traditionally unquantifiable (e.g., religious beliefs, historical experience). Systems of interest include those relevant to stability operations - whether related to security, socioeconomics, politics, and/or those involved with health and wellbeing. The program will make the computational models available, accessible, and understandable to operators, providing them with an "insider" view to support operational decision making. The resulting capability will be specific enough to anticipate system-level effects in response to events that are generalizable across regions and populations, adaptive as societies change over time, and self-sustaining for maintainability and persistence.

Habitus consists of two Technical Areas (TAs) and a Comparative Evaluation (CE) team in support of a government Testing and Evaluation (T&E) team:

This BAA comprises two proposal submission periods. The first submission period is for TAs 1 and 2. Because the engagement mechanisms will depend heavily on model development strategies, and vice versa, all proposals submitted during the first submission period must address both TA1 and TA2. The CE component is also being solicited under this BAA; however, additional technical detail regarding CE will be published in a subsequent BAA amendment. The amendment will also include requirements for submitting a proposal and due dates. The description of CE in the existing BAA is for informational purposes only in order to facilitate proposing to TA1/TA2. In order to ensure the impartiality of the evaluation of the TA1 and 2 technology, proposers selected for negotiation of an award for TA1/TA2 will not be eligible to propose to the CE BAA Amendment.

 

DARPA anticipates multiple awards for combined TA1/TA2 efforts and a single award for the CE team (subject of a future amendment to this BAA).

NRC Research Associateship Program (RAP)

FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline: Review not required for awards made directly to individuals

Sponsor Deadlines for Full Proposals: May 1, 2020; August 1, 2020; November 1, 2020

Award Amount: Awards include stipends ranging from $45,000 to $80,000, health insurance, professional travel, and relocation. Awards are for up to 12 months (Summer Faculty awards are for 8-14 weeks), with the possibility of extension through a second or third year.

 

The NRC Research Associateship Programs (RAP) promote excellence in scientific and technological research conducted by the U.S. government through the administration of programs offering graduate, postdoctoral, and senior level research opportunities at sponsoring federal laboratories and affiliated institutions. In the NRC Research Associateship Programs, prospective applicants select a research project or projects from among a large group of  Research Opportunities . Prior to completing an application, prospective applicants should contact the Research Adviser listed with the selected Research Opportunity(ies) to assure that funding will be available if the application is recommended by NRC Research Associateship Programs panels.

 

Prospective applicants should carefully read the details and eligibility of the program to which they are applying. Some laboratories have citizenship restrictions (open only to U.S. citizens and permanent residents), and some laboratories have Research Opportunities that are not open to senior applicants (more than 5 years beyond the Ph.D.). When searching for Research Opportunities, applicants may limit their search to only those laboratories which match their eligibility criteria. In addition, applicants should note application deadlines, as not all laboratories participate in all reviews.

• Army Research Office (ARO) - see the ARO Broad Agency Announcement for Fundamental Research for 1 April 2017-31 March 2022
• Office of Naval Research (ONR) - see the FY20 Long Range Broad Agency Announcement for Navy and Marine Corps Science and Technology
• Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) - see the Research Interests of the Air Force Office of Scientific Research Broad Agency Announcement

Innovation Corps @ Department of Defense Program (I-Corps @ DoD Program) Fiscal Year 2020 *

Sponsor Deadline for Informal White Papers: Rolling through May 15, 2020

FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline: 5 business days prior to submission

Sponsor Deadline for Full Proposals: Rolling through June 15, 2020

Award Amount: $40,000-$70,000 in total costs for 12 months. Up to 10 awards are anticipated for FY 20.

 

The Department of Defense (DoD) is soliciting applications from current/recent DoD awardees on research topics (the award must either be current or completed after 15 February 2015) to receive mentoring and funding to accelerate the transition and commercialization of the funded research. The I-Corps @ DoD program is designed to support the acceleration of research innovations from qualifying institutions by providing Principal Investigators (PIs) and students with training and mentorship in customer discovery and the commercialization process. Successful applicants will receive a grant to attend a program that provides extensive training in product commercialization from industry experts and 'serial entrepreneurs' who have helped train over 1,000 I-Corps™ Teams in how to bring their innovations to market. The I-Corps @ DoD program is a pilot program modeled after the National Science Foundation (NSF) I-Corps™ program. The key component of the I-Corps @ DoD program is the I-Corps Team. The I-Corps Team is comprised of the Technical Lead, the Entrepreneurial Lead and the Mentor. The Entrepreneurial Lead is typically a postdoctoral researcher, graduate student, or other student, possesses relevant technical knowledge and a deep commitment to investigate the commercial landscape surrounding the innovation. The Mentor brings entrepreneurial experience and serves as the principal guide in determining the technology disposition. Technical Leads/PIs ideally locate their own mentor, but can also contact the I-Corps @ DoD Program Manager for assistance with locating a mentor.

 

There will be three outcomes of the I-Corps @ DoD program: 1) a clear go/no go decision regarding viability of products and services, 2) should the decision be to move the effort forward, a transition plan to do so, and 3) an understanding of what kind of minimum viable product demonstration would be required by key partners and customer segments.

FY2021 DoD Multidisciplinary Research Program of the University Research Initiative (MURI) *

Sponsor Deadline for White Papers (encouraged): June 1, 2020

FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline: September 4, 2020

Sponsor Deadline for Full Proposals: September 14, 2020

Award Amount: Typical annual funding per grant is in the $1.25M to $1.5M range. The amount of the award and the number of supported researchers should generally not exceed the limit specified for the individual topics in the solicitation. Each individual award will be for a three-year base period with one two-year option period to bring the total maximum term of the award to five years.

 

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, including 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 scientific areas of interest to the DoD. DOD's MURI program addresses high-risk basic research and attempts to understand or achieve something that has never been done before. The program has regularly produced significant scientific breakthroughs with far reaching consequences to the fields of science, economic growth, and revolutionary new military technologies. Key to the program's success is the close management of the MURI projects by Service program officers and their active role in providing research guidance.

 

The FY 2021 MURI competition is for the topics listed below:

 

White papers and proposals addressing the following topics should be submitted to the Office of Naval Research (ONR):

White papers and proposals addressing the following topics should be submitted to the Army Research Office (ARO):

White papers and proposals addressing the following topics should be submitted to the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR):

White papers and proposals addressing the following OSD topic should be submitted to the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR):

DTRA Strategic Trends Research Initiative (STRI) *

Sponsor Deadline for White Papers: Rolling through March 2, 2025

FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline: 5 business days prior to submission

Sponsor Deadline for Full Proposals: Rolling through March 2, 2025

Award Amount: DTRA SI-STT estimates the total program budget divided among multiple awardees at approximately $1,950,000 per year. The preferred period of performance for studies is 6-9 months to maximize opportunities for operational relevance. Given the need for timely research, in most but not all cases, the period of performance shall not exceed 12 months from the effective date of award.

 

The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) Strategic Integration Directorate, Strategic Trends and Effects Department, Strategic Trends Division (SI-STT) is announcing to industry and academia the intent to solicit white papers and proposals for research studies, strategic dialogues, and tabletop exercises (TTXs) through this Broad Agency Announcement (BAA). This strategy provides an acquisition tool to support SI-STT's Strategic Trends Research Initiative (STRI) with the flexibility to solicit white papers and proposals from the external expert community and make awards for expert-driven research efforts that meet present, emerging, and future needs.

 

Per priorities identified by the 2018 National Defense Strategy (NDS), SI-STT seeks proposals and white papers for research studies, strategic dialogues, and TTXs addressing the following five focus areas:

Within these five broad focus areas, DTRA SI-STT is specifically interested in credible, timely, operationally relevant and actionable research products (studies, strategic dialogues, and TTXs) that are aligned with seven thrust areas outlined below in Fiscal Year (FY) 2020:

Track 1.5 and Track 2 Strategic Dialogues with:

Tabletop Exercises (TTXs) that are focused on:

The funding will be provided for study projects, strategic dialogues (Track 1.5 and Track 2 meetings), and TTXs. Applicants are encouraged to propose projects in all categories, which are aligned with distinct thrust areas.

 

1. Macroscopic Stability
2. Confinement and Transport
3. Boundary Physics
4. Plasma Heating & Non-inductive Current Drive, and
5. Energetic Particles

 

Research for Innovative Emission Reduction Technologies Related to Coal Combustion Residuals

FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline: March 30, 2020

Sponsor Deadline: April 6, 2020

Award Amount: Up to $1M. Cost sharing of at least 20% is required.

 

This FOA supports the DOE Office of Fossil Energy's mission of helping the United States meet its continued need for secure and reasonably priced and environmentally sound fossil energy supplies. R&D under this FOA is intended to increase the beneficial use and advance the management of coal combustion residuals (CCR), thereby reducing the volume of CCR needed to be disposed of in impoundments while protecting the environment and the health and safety of the public. In light of recent CCR rulemaking, projects funded under this FOA must perform R&D to address a technology gap that would economically achieve an objective as described in the two areas of interest (AOIs) as follows:

 

1. Highly Recyclable or Biodegradable Plastics: develop new plastics that have improved performance attributes over a comparable existing plastic that can be cost-effectively recycled or biodegrade completely in the environment or in compost facilities.
2. Novel Methods for Deconstructing and Upcycling Existing Plastics: generate energy efficient recycling technologies (mechanical, chemical, or biological) that are capable of breaking plastic streams into intermediates which can be upgraded into higher value products.
3. BOTTLE Consortium Collaborations to Tackle Challenges in Plastic Waste: create collaborations with the Bio-Optimized Technologies to Keep Thermoplastics out of Landfills and the Environment (BOTTLE) Laboratory Consortium to further the long-term goals of the Consortium and the Plastics Innovation Challenge.

Other DOE Opportunities

• Request for Information: Next Generation Ammonia System Integration Project - March 25, 2020*
• Critical Components for Coal FIRST Power Plants of the Future - March 30, 2020
• Notice of Intent to Issue Funding Opportunity Announcement entitled: Workforce Development in Emerging Fields
• FY 2020 Continuation of Solicitation for the Office of Science Financial Assistance Program, Department of Energy, Office of Science - September 30, 2020 or until replaced by a successor FOA
• Notice of Intent to Issue Funding Opportunity Announcement entitled: Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC), Electrolyzer and Hybrid Technology Development
• Notice of Intent to Issue Funding Opportunity Announcement entitled:Engineering Scale Testing for Carbon Capture from Coal- and Natural Gas-Based Flue Gas and Initial Engineering Design for Industrial Sources
• Notice of Intent to Issue Funding Opportunity Announcement entitled: Connected Communities
• Notice of Intent to Issue 2 Coal FIRST Funding Opportunity Announcements
• Notice of Intent to Issue Funding Opportunity Announcement entitled: BOTTLE: Bio-Optimized Technologies to Keep Thermoplastics out of Landfills and the Environment
• Notice of Intent to Issue Funding Opportunity Announcement entitled: Extreme Environment Materials for Power Generation
• Notice of Intent to Issue Funding Opportunity Announcement entitled: University Training and Research for Fossil Energy Applications

The goal of the SMART program is to automate the quantitative analysis of space-based imagery to perform broad-area search (BAS) for natural and anthropogenic events and characterize their extent and progression in time and space. The SMART program aims to develop capabilities in the spectral and temporal domains, enabling seamless integration and fusion (i.e., absolute calibration) of data from multiple sensors to deliver a comprehensive representation of natural or anthropogenic evolving events. Examples of such events include heavy construction, urban development, crop disease propagation, forest fire, insect or battle damage, human migration, mining, logging, farming, and other natural events such as flooding, mudslides, or earthquakes. The SMART program will require innovations in new computing approaches and calibration techniques in order to rapidly and reliably compare thousands of images from multiple sensors registered in space and time. The SMART program will also leverage algorithmic approaches to 1) search for specific activities, 2) detect and monitor activities throughout time and over broad areas, and 3) characterize the progression of events and activities temporally and categorically.

The program will focus on two primary Technical Areas (TAs): (1) Data Fusion and (2) Algorithms to Detect and Characterize Events or Activities. Offerors may address one or both TAs in their proposals. In addition to addressing the selected TA(s), all proposals shall include plans to build and host a Development and Operations (DevOps) environment for Systems Engineering and Integration (SE&I), and demonstration and performance benchmarking of the Offeror's solutions.

NASA Space Technology - Research, Development, Demonstration, and Infusion 2020 (SpaceTech-REDDI-2020): Early Career Faculty (ECF) Appendix

FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline: March 18, 2020

Sponsor Deadline for Full Proposals: March 25, 2020

Award Amount: The typical annual award value is $200,000; though smaller amounts may be proposed. The amount in any year may not exceed $220,000 and is subject to a maximum limit of $600,000 for three years. The maximum award duration will be three years.

 

NASA's Early Career Faculty (ECF) program is focused on supporting outstanding faculty researchers early in their careers as they conduct innovative, early-stage space technology research of high priority to NASA's Mission Directorates. This Appendix seeks proposals on specific space technologies that are currently at low Technology Readiness Levels (TRL). It is the intent of the Space Technology Research Grants (STRG) Program and this Early Career Faculty opportunity to foster interactions between NASA and the awarded universities/PIs. Therefore, collaboration/interaction with NASA researchers should be expected while conducting space technology under these awards.

 

To be eligible, the PI must be an untenured Assistant Professor on the tenure track at the sponsoring U.S. university at the time of award. If the PI's appointment is scheduled to change to Associate Professor (either tenure-track or tenured) on or before the award date, he/she is not eligible for an ECF award. The PI must be a U.S. citizen or have lawful status of permanent residency (i.e., holder of a U.S. Permanent Resident Card, also referred to as a Green Card) no later than August 1 following the proposal submission deadline.

 

This Appendix exclusively seeks proposals that are responsive to one of the following four topics:

NASA plans to make approximately 8 awards.

NASA Space Technology Research, Development, Demonstration, and Infusion-2020 (SpaceTech-REDDI-2020) Appendix: Technology Advancement Utilizing Suborbital Flight Opportunities "Tech Flights" *

Sponsor Deadline for Abstracts (required):  March 20, 2020

FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline:  April 17, 2020

Sponsor Deadline for Full Proposals:  April 24, 2020

Award Information:  Topic 1 awards will be made up to $650,000 in total costs. Proposals addressing Topic 2 may request up to $450,000 in total costs. Topic limits include an optional $150,000 for student involvement. The approximate award duration is 18 months, not to exceed two years. For an institution of higher education, or other non-profit organization seeking to receive a grant, cost sharing is not required. 7-15 awards are anticipated for Topic 1, and 3-5 for Topic 2.

 

The goal of this Appendix is to rapidly flight test promising technologies for space exploration, scientific discovery, and the expansion of space commerce in relevant space-like environments using currently available U.S. commercial suborbital rockets, rocket-powered lander vehicles, high-altitude balloons, and aircraft following reduced-gravity flight profiles. The program matures capabilities needed for NASA missions and commercial applications while strategically investing in the growth of the U.S. commercial spaceflight industry. In addition to providing rapid test opportunities for technology, suborbital flights can play a key role in workforce development and education. To further those aims, funding for educational costs can be requested for efforts that provide meaningful involvement of students in the design and development of the proposed technology or that include a secondary educational payload with direct K-12 student, collegiate student, or K-12 educator involvement in the design and development of that payload. The proposed technology must be at a Technology Readiness Level of 4 or higher at the time of proposal submission with a low-fidelity system having been built and tested in a laboratory environment to demonstrate basic functionality.

 

This Appendix solicits proposals in two Topic Areas:

NASA Dual Use Technology Development at Marshall Space Flight Center 2020 Cooperative Agreement Notice (CAN)

Sponsor Deadlines for Step -1 White Papers (required): May 6, 2020

FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline: 5 business days prior to submission

Sponsor Deadlines for Full Proposals (if invited): TBD (approximately 40 calendar days after Invitation to Propose is sent to invited Offerors)

Award Amount: MSFC awards will range from $10,000 to $250,000 (though the majority will range between $10,000 - $100,000) for up to 12 months, to be matched or exceeded by Offeror contributions. MSFC contributions to the Offeror can be cash, in-kind (non-cash) resources, or a combination of each. The participating partner is expected to contribute at least 50 percent of the total combined partner and NASA resources necessary to accomplish the project.

NASA seeks to award cooperative agreements for technology development partnerships with United States commercial businesses, colleges and universities with the goal of developing a technology that meets a specific NASA need at Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), as well as a need of the partner. This goal will be accomplished by selecting Offerors that will cooperatively share in the development cost of the technology that meets the specified NASA need. NASA's MSFC, located in Huntsville, Alabama is one of NASA's largest and most diversified installations. The Marshall Center provides leadership in the complex engineering of space transportation and propulsion systems, large space structures and systems, and scientific research to make human space exploration a reality. For more information on the technology programs and capabilities at MSFC, please see the following:  http://www.nasa.gov/centers/marshall/capabilities/index.html . 

MSFC has several technology development focus areas for this notice, including

Multiple awards are anticipated.

• Propulsion system test technology
• Autonomous & intelligent systems
• Advanced sensors & instruments
• Image & signal processing
• Innovative components & materials
• Big data processing & analysis
• Systems engineering & optimization
• Computational modeling & simulation
• Airspace management
• Science Mission Support
• Decision support tools & systems
• Academic Rocket Propulsion Testing

Unsolicited Proposals

FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline: 5 business days prior to submission

Sponsor Deadline: Rolling through September 30, 2020

Award Amount: Proposed budget should be commensurate with the scope of the project.

 

NASA encourages the submission of unique and innovative proposals that will further the Agency's mission. While the vast majority of proposals are solicited, a small number of unsolicited proposals that cannot be submitted to those solicitations and yet are still relevant to NASA are reviewed and some are funded each year. Proposals should be submitted at least six months in advance of the desired starting date.

 

Before any effort is expended in preparing a proposal, potential proposers should:

After those three things have been done, the proposer may contact an appropriate NASA person to determine whether NASA has any interest in the type of work being proposed and if any funding is currently available. Proposals should be submitted at least six months in advance of the desired starting date.

Johnson Space Center Research Opportunities for ISS Utilization: Exploration Technology Demonstration and National Lab Utilization Enhancements 

FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline: 5 business days prior to sponsor deadline

Sponsor Deadline for Full Proposals: Rolling through December 31, 2024

Award Amount:  As a result of this solicitation, the ISS Program intends to offer a series of targeted awards in three Phases: 1) Early concept development (awards nominally up to $200k), 2) Design maturation and prototype development (awards nominally up to $1.5M), and 3) Flight hardware production and in-flight operations to gain actual experience in the LEO environment (awards nominally up to $5M).

 

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 (eg, 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 .

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. 

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. 

Other NASA Opportunities

• Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences 2020 (ROSES-2020) - April 14, 2021*  
• NASA Space Technology Research, Development, Demonstration, and Infusion-2020 (SpaceTech-REDDI-2020)  - December 18, 2020

NIH Shared Instrumentation Grant Programs (S10) *
FAS/SEAS Statement of Intent Deadline: March 23, 2020 by 5:00PM
FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline: May 22­­, 2020

Sponsor Deadline: June 1, 2020­­­­

Award Amount: $50,000-$2,000,000
Target Applicants: Groups of three or more PIs on active, distinct NIH research awards

 

The S10 programs include the  Shared Instrumentation Grant Program  (for direct costs $50,000-$600,000), the  High End Instrumentation Grant Program  (for direct costs $600,001-$2,000,000), and the  Shared Instrumentation for Animal Research Grant Program (SIFAR)  (for direct costs $50,000-$750,000 for instrumentation to support research using animals or related materials). The objective of the NIH S10 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 to applications submitted for similar equipment from the same institution. In order to determine if there are any overlapping requests within Harvard, potential applicants from FAS and SEAS are asked to submit a brief statement of intent to Erin Hale a at erin_hale@fas.harvard.edu no later than March 23, 2020 by 5:00PM.

 

The statement of intent should include the following:

NIBIB Trailblazer Award for New and Early Stage Investigators (R21)

FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline: 5 business days in advance of sponsor deadline

Sponsor Deadline: February 16, June 16, and October 16, annually

Award Amount: $400,000 in direct costs over 3 years

 

This Trailblazer Award is an opportunity for NIH-defined New and Early Stage Investigators ( https://grants.nih.gov/policy/early-investigators/index.htm ) to pursue research programs of high interest to the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) that integrate engineering and the physical sciences with the life and/or biomedical sciences. A Trailblazer project may be exploratory, developmental, proof of concept, or high risk-high impact, and may be technology design-directed, discovery-driven, or hypothesis-driven. Importantly, applicants must propose research approaches for which there are minimal or no preliminary data. A distinct feature for this FOA is that no preliminary data are required, expected, or encouraged. However, if available, minimal preliminary data are allowed. Preliminary data are defined as material which the applicant has independently produced and not yet published in a peer-reviewed journal.

 

A Trailblazer project may be exploratory, developmental, proof of concept or have high risk-high impact goals. Importantly, the proposed research for this FOA may be technology design-directed and may or may not be hypothesis-driven. In the context of this FOA, innovation encompasses approaches to address well-defined, unmet biomedical research needs through the development of new methods, ideas, or technologies; early steps along the path toward delivery of a new capability or method; and the integration of existing components in a previously unproven format. High-impact projects should transform our understanding or practice by applying an innovative approach to an important biomedical challenge. For projects supported by a Trailblazer Award, successful results should provide a solid foundation for further research under other funding mechanisms, such as the R01. Applicants will be considered ineligible for this funding opportunity if they have submitted an R01, R15 or any other R21 application, with NIBIB as the primary IC within the same review cycle.

Dear Colleague Letter on the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)  *

FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline: 5 business days prior to submission
Sponsor Deadline: varies
Award Amount: varies

 

In light of the emergence and spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the United States and abroad, the National Science Foundation (NSF) is accepting proposals to conduct non-medical, non-clinical-care research that can be used immediately to explore how to model and understand the spread of COVID-19, to inform and educate about the science of virus transmission and prevention, and to encourage the development of processes and actions to address this global challenge. NSF encourages the research community to respond to this challenge through  existing funding opportunities . In addition, we invite researchers to use the Rapid Response Research (RAPID) funding mechanism, which allows NSF to receive and review proposals having a severe urgency with regard to availability of or access to data, facilities or specialized equipment as well as quick-response research on natural or anthropogenic disasters and similar unanticipated events. Requests for RAPID proposals may be for up to $200K and up to one year in duration. Well-justified proposals that exceed these limits may be entertained. All questions should be directed either to a program officer managing an NSF program with which the research would be aligned or to  rapid-covid19@nsf.gov .

 

 

Provisioning Advanced Cyberinfrastructure to Further Research on the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) *

FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline: 5 business days prior to submission
Sponsor Deadline: varies
Award Amount: varies

 

This Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) complements a separate National Science Foundation (NSF) DCL ( NSF 20-052 ) that referred to the emergence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and expressed NSF's interest in accepting proposals to conduct non-medical, non-clinical-care research that can be used immediately to better understand how to model and understand the spread of COVID-19; to inform and educate about the science of virus transmission and prevention; and to encourage the development of processes and actions to address this global challenge. Through this DCL, the Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure (OAC) within the Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering is inviting RAPID proposals and supplemental funding requests to existing awards that address COVID-19 challenges through data and/or software infrastructure development activities. Such activities would be funded by the  Computational and Data-Enabled Science and Engineering (CDS&E) program   or the  Cyberinfrastructure for Sustained Scientific Innovation (CSSI) program . Before submitting a RAPID proposal or supplemental funding request in response to this DCL, investigators must first contact one of the cognizant OAC program officers listed in the DCL to determine whether the proposed activities meet NSF guidelines for these types of submissions.

Critical Aspects of Sustainability (CAS): Micro- and Nanoplastics (MNP) *

FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline: 5 business days prior to submission
Sponsor Deadline: varies
Award Amount: varies

 

This Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) encourages the submission of proposals that tackle some of the fundamental scientific questions underlying micro- and nanoplastic characterization, behavior, and reactivity in the environment (including animal and human health), as well as their elimination from land and water systems. Sustainable solutions to the plastic waste problem require creative approaches from many scientific disciplines, to reduce the burden and harmful effects of micro- and nanoplastics and ensure our ability to track their fate in the environment. Several Directorates/Offices/Divisions participate in this DCL and welcome the submission of proposals on this topic, though each division will only accept proposals of a certain type, as described in detail within the DCL. All questions regarding proposals should be addressed to the cognizant Program Officers to whom submission is contemplated. Proposals involving international collaboration are welcome when the collaboration enhances the proposed research.

Plant Synthetic Biology *
FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline: 5 business days prior to submission

Sponsor Deadline: Rolling
Award Amount: varies by program

 

This Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) highlights existing programs in the Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO) and the Directorate for Engineering (ENG) offering support for proposals that advance the growing field of plant synthetic biology, including support for basic research, tool development, and applications; and proposals that emphasize the potential outcomes with benefits to society. Proposal titles should be prefaced with "PlantSynBio:" and submitted to the program most closely related to the proposed research. The three relevant programs are:

 

• The Plant Genome Research Program (NSF 18-579) in the Division of Integrative Organismal Systems.
• The Systems and Synthetic Biology Cluster in the Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences (NSF18-585).
• The Cellular and Biochemical Engineering Program in the Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental and Transport Systems (NSF PD 20-1491).

 

This DCL is not intended to announce a special competition nor a new program, but simply highlight NSFs interest in an area of research that is funded through existing programs. The three relevant programs all accept proposals without deadline. Investigators interested in submitting a proposal are strongly encouraged to contact one of the program directors listed in the DCL.

Data Science Activities for the Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation Communities

FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline: 5 business days prior to submission
Sponsor Deadline: Rolling
Award Amount: Supplements will be considered for active awards in CMMI Core Programs and for awards made under certain program solicitations, including CAREER awards. Proposed budget requests may not exceed 20% of the original award budget amount and are not anticipated to exceed $70,000.

 

With this Dear Colleague Letter, the Division of Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation (CMMI) of the Engineering Directorate  invites current grantees to request supplemental funds to expand the breadth of their current activities through exploration and implementation of Data Science approaches. This may include the addition of a new collaborator, student, or postdoctoral researcher; expansion of the activities of currently funded awards to include new data-driven approaches to address the current award scope; additional training of participants in Data Science methods; community-building activities to enhance current research programs; or other approaches and activities that expand the impact of current CMMI awards through Data Science approaches and techniques. This supplemental funding opportunity is intended to introduce new Data Science approaches to current activities and is not intended for data collection, curation or infrastructure development unless those activities are part of the development and deployment of new data-driven analysis or techniques.

 

 

Research Opportunities for the Directorate for Engineering in Artificial Intelligence

FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline: 5 business days prior to submission
Sponsor Deadline: varies by program
Award Amount: varies by program

 

Synergy between research frontiers in AI and the projects sponsored by the Directorate for Engineering have the potential to stimulate further transformative progress and continued advancement in engineering processes and systems, addressing issues of national importance with potential for economic impact and quality-of-life improvements. The  National Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Strategic Plan  (National Science and Technology Council, June 2019) provides a framework for the visioning activities and strategic objectives of investments in AI research in the United States. This Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) highlights existing programs and other potential opportunities for ENG researchers to participate in the submission of proposals and supplemental funding requests for AI projects:

 

 

The activities described in this DCL constitute neither a special competition nor a new program. Interested PIs should contact the cognizant Program Officer for the respective topic of the proposed project or for the active award they seek to supplement to discuss specific program requirements. 

Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) and Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) Supplemental Funding in Computer and Information Science and Engineering

FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline: 5 business days prior to submission

Sponsor Deadline: Rolling through March 30, 2020

Award Amount: up to $8,000 per student per year through an REU supplement; up to $10,000 per K-12 STEM teacher per year through an RET supplement

The National Science Foundation's (NSF) Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) invites grantees with active CISE awards to submit requests for Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Supplements, following the guidelines in the REU Sites and Supplements solicitation ( NSF 19-582) . CISE also invites grantees with active CISE awards to submit requests for Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) Supplements, following the guidelines in the RET in Engineering and Computer Science: Supplements and Sites solicitation ( NSF 19-575 ). Requests will be considered as they are received. CISE strongly encourages the submission of requests before March 30, 2020; the potential for funding requests after this date may be limited.  Since a supplemental funding request is handled by the cognizant NSF program officer who oversees the active award for which the request is submitted, grantees should contact the cognizant NSF program officers of their awards if they have questions or need additional information.

Secure Analog-RF Electronics and Electromagnetics (SARE)

FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline: March 30, 2020

Sponsor Deadline: April 6, 2020
Award Amount: up to $300,000 over up to 2 years

 

With this Dear Colleague Letter, the Directorate for Engineering and the Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences of the National Science Foundation announce their interest in receiving EArly-Concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER) proposals to support research in fundamental theory, design, algorithm, and experimental verification of RF, analog, and mixed-signal techniques that will significantly enhance and ensure the security of electronic devices. To encourage convergence in research, PIs are expected to submit proposals demonstrating complementary expertise to tackle the challenging security problems involving multiple disciplines. Examples of research topics include novel RF, analog, and mixed-signal approaches to:

 

 

Proposals must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the guidance for EAGER proposals contained in Chapter II.E.2 of the  NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide   (PAPPG). This includes discussing the proposal with at least one of the program directors listed below well before submission, and establishing that the project satisfies the high-risk/high-return expectations for EAGERs. In addition, as stated above, proposals are expected to demonstrate sufficient complementary expertise to tackle the challenging security problems. Proposals may then be submitted to the program of one of the program directors contacted, with the prefix "EAGER: SARE: [title]". Proposals will be evaluated as received. For consideration for funding in Fiscal Year 2020, proposals must be submitted by April 6, 2020. 

Models for Uncovering Rules and Unexpected Phenomena in Biological Systems (MODULUS)

FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline: 5 business days prior to submission of full proposal

Sponsor Deadline: Rolling through April 1, 2020 for proposals to MCB. Proposals submitted to DMS through the Mathematical Biology program must be submitted during the program's normal submission window: August 20-September 8, 2020.

Award Amount: no specified limit; budgets to be appropriate for the scope of the project proposed

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Mathematical Sciences (DMS), in collaboration with the Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences (MCB), seeks to promote interdisciplinary research that enables novel mathematical and computational approaches that capture and explore the full range of mechanisms and biological variability needed to better understand biological systems behavior across multiple scales. Funding opportunities are available in fiscal years FY2019 and FY2020 to provide support for proposals from interdisciplinary teams comprised of mathematical, computational, and biological scientists to develop  MOD els for  U ncovering Ru l es and  U nexpected Phenomena in Biological  S ystems ( MODULUS ). This Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) is to encourage researchers involved in the biosciences and the mathematical sciences to collaborate formatively in biological investigations using novel mechanistic mathematical models to guide biological exploration and discovery of new rules in living systems.

 

Proposals funded through this DCL are anticipated to cultivate innovative modes of collaboration among researchers working at the interface of mathematics and molecular and cellular biology, with an emphasis on systems-scale integration. Each proposal submitted in response to this DCL should address a current state-of-the-research challenge and describe a strategy for formative integration of mathematical and biological understanding to address the challenge. In addition, the proposal should describe the unique interdisciplinary training opportunity for graduate students and postdoctoral researchers working on the project. Proposals in response to this DCL should be submitted to either DMS via the  Mathematical Biology Program Description   or the MCB solicitation,  NSF 18-585 , directed to the Systems and Synthetic Biology program (8011). The proposal title should be prefaced with "MODULUS:". The MCB solicitation accepts proposals to core programs or to a Rules of Life (RoL) track. Submission to either track is permissible given that the guidance as detailed in the solicitation ( NSF 18-585 ) for each is followed. For proposals submitted to MCB and targeted for the RoL track, a second program in another BIO Division must  also be identified.

Quantum Algorithm Challenge *
Sponsor Deadline for Research Concept Outlines: April 15, 2020

FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline for Full Proposals (if invited): June 8, 2020

Sponsor Deadline for Full Proposals (if invited): June 15, 2020
Award Amount: varies

 

With this Dear Colleague Letter (DCL), the National Science Foundation (NSF) aims to challenge the fundamental research community to develop innovative quantum algorithms for many- body systems, develop novel algorithms that expand the applications of quantum computation, or propose new quantum-computing paradigms. Stimulated by the recommendations of recent workshops, a working group with membership from the Divisions of Chemistry, Materials Research, Physics, and Mathematical Sciences within the Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences; and the Division of Computing and Communication Foundations and Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure within the Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering invites the submission of Research Concept Outlines (RCOs) (maximum length three pages) describing research ideas that may lead to  EAGER (Early-Concept Grants for Exploratory Research)   (EAGER) or  Research Advanced by Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering   (RAISE) proposals focused on topics in the following three tracks:

 

• QSA: quantum computing simulation algorithms for quantum many-body systems.
• QIA: quantum information algorithms, which aims to expand the set of known quantum-computing algorithms with application in computer science, mathematics, and statistics; and
• QCH: quantum computing horizons which explores potentially transformative new paradigms for quantum computation.

 

The RCOs should be sent to  QLQA@nsf.gov   by April 15, 2020. The Quantum Algorithms (QLQA) committee will review them and invite submissions by May 1, 2020. Invited EAGER and RAISE proposals will be due on June 15, 2020. The email invitation from an NSF Program Officer serves as documentation and must be uploaded in the Supplementary Documentation section of the proposal.

2020 CHE International Supplement

FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline: 5 business days prior to submission

Sponsor Deadline: Rolling through May 1, 2020

Award Amount: Budget and budget justification required. 

The  National Science Foundation (NSF) Strategic Plan "Building the Future: Investing in Discovery and Innovation" (2018 - 2022)  states, "NSF must continue to invest in a world-class research enterprise, support the development of a globally competitive scientific and engineering workforce, and foster greater understanding of science and technology among the American public" and "NSF will promote a research culture that is broadly inclusive in its demography and range of intellectual ideas, has access to cutting-edge infrastructure, and is globally engaged, with increased opportunities for exchanging ideas and collaborating on an international scale. NSF will increase opportunities for broadening the training of U.S. graduate students and early-career researchers through international exchanges and partnerships with industry." NSF's Division of Chemistry seeks to fulfill this vision by advancing research and education in chemistry and ensuring that the U.S. research community remains at the forefront of the field by providing access to the knowledge and resources that exist globally.

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

Supplemental funding requests must be received by 5 p.m., submitter's local time on May 1, 2020. Supplemental funding requests should address how the proposed international collaboration enhances intellectual merit and broader impacts in the following ways:

Announcing Creation of the Foundational Research in Robotics (Robotics) Program *

FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline: 5 business days prior to submission
Sponsor Deadline: Rolling starting August 1, 2020
Award Amount: unspecified

 

The National Science Foundation announces the creation of the Foundational Research in Robotics (Robotics) program as a program jointly managed by the Directorates for Engineering (ENG) and Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE). The Robotics program supports research on robotic systems that exhibit significant levels of both computational capability and physical complexity. For the purposes of this program, a robot is defined as intelligence embodied in an engineered construct, with the ability to process information, sense, and move within or substantially alter its working environment. Here intelligence includes a broad class of methods that enable a robot to solve problems or make contextually appropriate decisions. Research proposals are welcomed that consider inextricably interwoven questions of intelligence, computation, and embodiment. Projects may also focus on a distinct aspect of intelligence, computation, and/or embodiment, as long as the proposed research is clearly justified in the context of a class of robots. The goal of the Robotics program is to erase artificial disciplinary boundaries and provide a single home for foundational research in robotics. Robotics is a deeply interdisciplinary field, and proposals are encouraged across the full range of fundamental engineering and computer science research challenges arising in robotics. All proposals should convincingly explain how a successful outcome will enable transformative new robot functionality or substantially enhance existing robot functionality.

Supplemental Funding Requests to Conduct Experimental Research on the NSF-funded Platforms for Advanced Wireless Research (PAWR) *

FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline: 5 business days prior to submission
Sponsor Deadline: June 1, 2023
Award Amount: $50,000 with higher amounts acquiring additional justification (must be less than one-fifth of the original award); supplements will provide support for up to two years but cannot exceed the existing award period

 

With this Dear Colleague Letter, NSF's Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) wishes to notify the community of its intention to support  supplemental funding requests for active research awards to conduct experimental research on the NSF-funded Platforms for Advanced Wireless Research (PAWR) . NSF's PAWR program ( https://advancedwireless.org/ ) is currently supporting the deployment and initial operations of three advanced wireless research platforms conceived by the U.S. academic and industrial wireless research community. Active NSF-funded wireless researchers may propose, as part of their supplemental funding requests, experiments that utilize the PAWR platforms as these platforms become 'generally available' for experimenter use. PIs interested in submitting supplemental funding requests (or with other questions pertaining to this DCL) are strongly encouraged to contact one of the NSF/CISE program directors listed in the DCL.

 

MPS/DMS-EPSRC Lead Agency Opportunity in Mathematical Sciences

FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline: 5 business days prior to submission

Sponsor Deadline: varies by opportunity

Award Amount: Each agency has its own funding parameters and principles that will be followed when reviewing proposals. Proposals are expected to adhere to typical proposal sizes and durations for the DMS and EPSRC Themes from which funding is sought.

 

The NSF and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Research Cooperation. The MOU provides an overarching framework to encourage collaboration between US and UK research communities and sets out the principles by which jointly supported activities might be developed. The MOU allows for a lead agency opportunity whereby a single international collaborative proposal may be submitted to either NSF or UKRI. Proposals will be accepted for collaborative research in areas at the intersection of the MPS/DMS and Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) missions. Proposers will be expected to review the relevant  NSF-MPS/DMS Program Descriptions  and the  EPSRC website  for information on which areas of research are eligible for support through this collaboration. This collaboration principally covers unsolicited (NSF) or standard (EPSRC) proposals, with managed/solicited calls included on a case-by-case basis by prior agreement of MPS/DMS and EPSRC. This collaboration covers a pilot phase from January 2020, with a review point after three years (January 2023).

Please Note:   At least two months in advance of the date the proposers expect to submit a formal proposal, an expression of interest/white paper must be submitted to their prospective lead agency. 

Supplemental Funding Opportunity to Support Student Design Projects Directly Related to NSF Research

FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline: 5 business days prior to submission 
Sponsor Deadline:  Supplemental funding requests may be submitted at any time. However, sufficient time must be allowed (e.g. a minimum of 8 weeks) to permit review and recommendation in advance of the project's initiation.
Award Amount: up to $4,000 per supplement

NSF will consider supplemental funding requests to support student design projects connected to active NSF grants. This Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) describes a new opportunity for principal investigators to expand the Broader Impact of their awards through a Design Supplement. T he goals of these supplements are the following

Computer Science for All (CSforAll: Research and RPPs)

FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline: April 6, 2020
Sponsor Deadline: April 13, 2020
Award Amount: up to $300,000 for up to 2 years (Small RPPs); up to $1M for up to 3 years (Medium RPPs); up to $2M for up to 4 years (Large RPPs); up to $500,000 for up to 3 years (Research proposals)

 

This program aims to provide all U.S. students with the opportunity to participate in computer science (CS) and computational thinking (CT) education in their schools at the preK-12 levels. With this solicitation, NSF focuses on both research and researcher-practitioner partnerships (RPPs) that foster the research and development needed to bring CS and CT to all schools. Specifically, this solicitation aims to provide (1) high school teachers with the preparation, professional development (PD) and ongoing support they need to teach rigorous computer science courses; (2) preK-8 teachers with the instructional materials and preparation they need to integrate CS and CT into their teaching; and (3) schools and districts with the resources needed to define and evaluate multi-grade pathways in CS and CT.

This program supports (1) researcher-practitioner partnerships (RPPs) and (2) research with the goal of building knowledge from research and development to support efforts that aim to provide opportunities for all students to participate in CS and CT formal STEM learning at the pre-k, elementary, middle, and high school grade levels. Proposals will be funded in four "strands" that foster design, implementation at scale, and/or research:

RPP Strands:

For the Research Strand, the focus is on building strategically instrumental, or "high leverage" knowledge about the learning and teaching of introductory computer science to support key CS and CT understandings and abilities for all students.

 

Expeditions in Computing

FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline for Preliminary Proposal: June 9, 2020

Sponsor Deadline for Preliminary Proposal: June 16, 2020
Award Amount: up to $15,000,000 for durations of seven years

 

The Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering has established the Expeditions in Computing (Expeditions) program to provide the CISE research and education community with the opportunity to pursue ambitious, fundamental research agendas that promise to define the future of computing and information. In planning Expeditions projects, investigators are encouraged to come together within or across departments or institutions to combine their creative talents in the identification of compelling, transformative research agendas that promise disruptive innovations in computer and information science and engineering for many years to come. Together with the Science and Technology Centers that CISE supports, Expeditions projects form the centerpiece of the directorate's center-scale award portfolio. With awards funded at levels that promote the formation of large research teams, CISE recognizes that concurrent research advances in multiple fields or sub-fields are often necessary to stimulate deep and enduring outcomes. The awards made in this program will complement research areas supported by other CISE programs, which target particular computer and information science and engineering fields. 

Additionally, CISE offers Innovation Transition (InTrans) awards for teams nearing the end of their Expeditions as well as Secure and Trustworthy Cyberspace (SaTC) and Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) Frontier projects. The goal of InTrans is to continue the long-term vision and objectives of CISE's center-scale projects. Through InTrans awards, CISE will provide limited funds to match industry support. InTrans proposals can be submitted on a rolling basis beginning on April 25.

National Science Foundation: Directorate for Engineering (NSF: ENG)

NSF Partnerships for Innovation (PFI) Program *

Harvard Pre-Proposal Deadline for Research Partnership Track: May 4, 2020 by 12 PM

FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline: June 30, 2020

Sponsor Deadline: July 8, 2020

Award Amount: Up to $250,000 for 18-24 months for the Technology Translation Track; Up to $550,000 for 36 months for the Research Partnership Track

 

The Partnerships for Innovation (PFI) Program within the Division of Industrial Innovation and Partnerships (IIP) offers researchers from all disciplines of science and engineering funded by NSF the opportunity to perform translational research and technology development, catalyze partnerships and accelerate the transition of discoveries from the laboratory to the marketplace for societal benefit.  This solicitation offers two broad tracks:

• The Technology Translation (PFI-TT) track offers the opportunity to translate prior NSF-funded research results in any field of science or engineering into technological innovations with promising commercial potential and societal impact. Concurrently, students and postdoctoral researchers who participate in PFI-TT projects receive education and leadership training in innovation and entrepreneurship. Successful PFI-TT projects generate technology-driven commercialization outcomes that address societal needs.

• The Research Partnerships (PFI-RP) track seeks to achieve the same goals as the PFI-TT track by supporting instead complex, multi-faceted technology development projects that are typically beyond the scope of a single researcher or institution and require a multi-organizational, interdisciplinary, synergistic collaboration. The PFI-RP track requires the creation and implementation of new multidisciplinary, multi-organization partnerships between academia, industry and other public and private entities to pursue new innovative technology development projects. 

The intended outcomes of both PFI-TT and PFI-RP tracks are: a) the commercialization of new intellectual property derived from NSF-funded research outputs; b) the creation of new or broader collaborations with industry (including increased corporate sponsored research); c) the licensing of NSF-funded research outputs to third party corporations or to start-up companies funded by a PFI team; and d) the training of future innovation and entrepreneurship leaders.

 

 

Engineering Research Visioning Alliance (ERVA): Future Research Directions for the Engineering Research Community  *

FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline for Letter of Intent: June 30, 2020
Sponsor Deadline for Letter of Intent: July 8, 2020

FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline for Full Proposal: August 5, 2020
Sponsor Deadline for Full Proposal: August 12, 2020
Award Amount: NSF anticipates funding a single award for 5 years, subject to the availability of funds, with the funding for each year of the award in the range of $1,000,000 to $2,000,000, not to exceed $2,000,000 in any one year. Proposers are encouraged to take into consideration when developing their proposed budget that expenses necessary to effect and sustain the organization will likely increase from establishment through maintenance phases, consistent with an increasing scope of activities with time.

 

The National Science Foundation Directorate for Engineering (NSF/ENG) invites the engineering research community to establish an organization that will serve to identify and develop bold and societally impactful new engineering research directions and thereby catalyze the engineering research community's pursuit of innovative, high-impact research. Specifically, NSF/ENG calls on the engineering research community to establish an Engineering Research Visioning Alliance (ERVA) that ENG will support to facilitate the articulation of compelling research visions that align with national and global challenges. This organization will be charged with obtaining and integrating input from all stakeholders with interest in engineering research, including academia, industry, societies, government agencies and the public. A reciprocal goal of the organization will be to communicate coordinated information on nascent opportunities and priorities in engineering research to these stakeholders. It is anticipated that through its activities the ERVA will strengthen connectivity across these diverse stakeholders, and increase coordination among engineering disciplinary communities.

The ERVA should have membership/representation of academic, industrial and other stakeholders, and should be inclusive of all engineering disciplines. Through its proposed activities, the ERVA should provide the engineering community with a process for identifying future research challenges and enable the engineering research community to speak with a unified voice. An informational webinar will be presented on Wednesday, March 25^th at 1:00pm Eastern to discuss the ERVA solicitation and answer questions. Details on how to join this webinar will be posted on the NSF/Engineering website ( https://www.nsf.gov/dir/index.jsp?org=ENG ). 

Please Note: This is a limited submission opportunity, and Harvard may submit only one proposal. Please contact Erin Hale at erin_hale@fas.harvard.edu if you are interested in applying.

NSF Engineering - UKRI Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council Lead Agency Opportunity (ENG-EPSRC)

FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline: 5 business days prior to submission of a full proposal

Sponsor Deadline: Rolling; a Research Concept Outline (RCO) must be submitted to  ENGUKRI@nsf.gov  at least 60 days prior to the submission of a full proposal.

Award Amount: The overall funding for the program is established independently by each participating division. Budgets are not set aside separately but are, instead, parts of existing program budgets.

The Directorate for Engineering (ENG), Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems (CBET), the Division of Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation (CMMI), and the Division of Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems (ECCS) of the National Science Foundation and the Engineering, ICT and Manufacturing the Future Themes of the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) are pleased to announce the ENG-EPSRC Lead Agency Opportunity. The goal of this opportunity is to reduce some of the barriers that researchers currently encounter when working internationally. The ENG-EPSRC Lead Agency Opportunity will allow US and UK researchers to submit a single collaborative proposal that will undergo a single review process.

Proposals will be accepted for collaborative research in areas at the intersection of CBET, CMMI, and/or ECCS with the EPSRC Engineering, ICT and/or Manufacturing the Future Themes. Proposers choose either NSF or EPSRC to serve as the "lead" agency to review their proposal. The non-lead agency will honor the rigor of the review process and the decision of the lead agency. For research teams that would like EPSRC to act as lead agency, please see the instructions here . Proposers should review the CBET, CMMI, and ECCS Program Descriptions for research supported through these divisions and the EPSRC website for further information on what areas of research are eligible for support through this activity. Proposals are expected to adhere to typical proposal budgets and durations for the relevant NSF programs and EPSRC Themes from which funding is sought.

Please Note:  A Research Concept Outline (RCO) must be submitted to  ENGUKRI@nsf.gov  at least 60 days prior to the submission of a full proposal. A proposal that is submitted without a previously approved RCO will be returned without review (RWR).

• Advanced Manufacturing (AM) - Rolling
• Biomechanics and Mechanobiology (BMMB) - Rolling
• Biophotonics - Rolling
• Biosensing - Rolling
• Catalysis - Rolling
• Cellular and Biochemical Engineering (CBE) - Rolling
• Civil Infrastructure Systems (CIS) - Rolling
• Combustion and Fire Systems - Rolling
• Communications, Circuits, and Sensing-Systems (CCSS) - Rolling
• Disability and Rehabilitation Engineering (DARE) - Rolling
• Dynamics, Control and Systems Diagnostics (DCSD) - Rolling
• Electrochemical Systems - Rolling
• Electronics, Photonics, and Magnetic Devices (EPMD) - Rolling
• Energy, Power, Control, and Networks (EPCN) - Rolling
• Engineering Design and System Engineering (EDSE) - Rolling
• Engineering for Civil Infrastructure (ECI) - Rolling
• Engineering of Biomedical Systems (EBMS) - Rolling
• Environmental Engineering - Rolling
• Environmental Sustainability - Rolling
• Fluid Dynamics - Rolling
• Humans, Disasters, and the Built Environment (HDBE) - Rolling
• Mechanics of Materials and Structures (MOMS) - Rolling
• Mind, Machine and Motor Nexus (M3X) - Rolling
• Operations Engineering (OE) - Rolling
• Particulate and Multiphase Processes - Rolling
• Process Systems, Reaction Engineering and Molecular Thermodynamics - Rolling
• Thermal Transport Processes - Rolling
• Re-entry to Active Research Program (RARE) - Rolling 

NSF-Simons Research Collaborations on the Mathematical and Scientific Foundations of Deep Learning (MoDL)

Sponsor Deadline for Letter of Intent: March 20, 2020

FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline: April 23, 2020
Sponsor Deadline: April 30, 2020
Award Amount: up to $2M over five years

The NSF-Simons Research Collaborations on the Mathematical and Scientific Foundations of Deep Learning (MoDL) is a new program that expects to fund two projects of up to five years duration from this one-time call for proposals. The National Science Foundation Directorates for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS), Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE), Engineering (ENG), and the Simons Foundation Division of Mathematics and Physical Sciences will jointly sponsor up to two new research collaborations consisting of mathematicians, statisticians, electrical engineers, and theoretical computer scientists. Please note that the order of the communities is arbitrary and is not meant to emphasize any one discipline over another. This program complements NSF's   National Artificial Intelligence Research Institutes   program by supporting collaborative research focused on the mathematical and scientific foundations of Deep Learning through a different modality and at a different scale. 

Successful projects are expected to have a cohesive set of goals and a convincing plan that shows that substantial progress will be made in research activities focused on explicit topics involving some of the most challenging questions in the general area of Mathematical and Scientific Foundations of Deep Learning. Projects are required to bring together theories and approaches from theoretical computer science, electrical engineering, mathematics, and statistics and each project must clearly demonstrate substantial collaborative contributions from members of these four communities. Each project team will conduct training through the research involvement of recent doctoral degree recipients, graduate students, and/or undergraduate students from across this multi-disciplinary spectrum. While the scientific focus must be on the theoretical foundations, relevance to application domains and industry is also important. Projects are encouraged to leverage, as resources, existing NSF investments such as  Big Data Regional Innovation Hubs ,  Mathematical Sciences Research Institutes ,  Engineering Research Centers ,  Science and Technology Centers ,  Cyberinfrastructure for Sustained Scientific Innovation (CSSI) , and   Transdisciplinary Research in Principles of Data Science (TRIPODS) Institutes   as appropriate through collaborations or partnerships.

 

Spectrum and Wireless Innovation Enabled by Future Technologies

FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline: March 27, 2020
Sponsor Deadline: April 3, 2020
Award Amount: up to $500,000 for 3 years (Small Team); up to $1.5M for 3 years (Large Team)

 

The National Science Foundation's Directorates for Engineering (ENG), Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE), Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS), and Geosciences (GEO) are coordinating efforts to identify new concepts and ideas on Spectrum and Wireless Innovation enabled by Future Technologies (SWIFT). A key aspect of this new solicitation is its focus on effective spectrum utilization and/or coexistence techniques, especially with passive uses, which have received less attention from researchers. Coexistence is when two or more applications use the same frequency band at the same time and/or at the same location, yet do not adversely affect one another. Coexistence is especially difficult when at least one of the spectrum users is passive, i.e., not transmitting any radio frequency (RF) energy. Examples of coexisting systems may include passive and active systems (e.g., radio astronomy and 5G wireless communication systems) or two active systems (e.g., weather radar and Wi-Fi). Breakthrough innovations are sought on both the wireless communication hardware and the algorithmic/protocol fronts through synergistic teamwork. The goal of these research projects may be the creation of new technology or significant enhancements to existing wireless infrastructure, with an aim to benefit society by improving spectrum utilization, beyond mere spectrum efficiency. The SWIFT program seeks to fund collaborative team research that transcends the traditional boundaries of individual disciplines.

Future Manufacturing *

FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline for Letter of Intent: April 3, 2020
Sponsor Deadline for Letter of Intent: April 10, 2020

FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline for Full Proposal: May 29, 2020

Sponsor Deadline for Full Proposal: June 5, 2020
Award Amount: $500,000 to $750,000 per year for up to five years (FMRG: Type I); $750,000 to $2M per year for up to five years (FMRG: Type II); up to $250,000 per year for up to two years (FMSG); up to $500,000 over up to five years (FMNet)

 

The goal of this solicitation is to support fundamental research and education of a future workforce that will enable Future Manufacturing: manufacturing that either does not exist today or exists only at such small scales that it is not viable. Future Manufacturing will require the design and deployment of diverse new technologies for synthesis and sensing, and new algorithms for manufacturing new materials, chemicals, devices, components and systems. It will require new advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning, new cyber infrastructure, new approaches for mathematical and computational modeling, new dynamics and control methodologies, new ways to integrate systems biology, synthetic biology and bioprocessing, and new ways to influence the economy, workforce, human behavior, and society. Among this array of technologies and potential research subjects, three thrust areas have been identified for support in FY 2020 under this solicitation:

• Future Cyber Manufacturing Research,
• Future Eco Manufacturing Research, and
• Future Biomanufacturing Research.

This solicitation seeks proposals to perform fundamental research to enable new manufacturing capabilities in one or more of these thrust areas. This solicitation will support the following three award tracks: 

• Future Manufacturing Research Grants (FMRG) - Two types of awards will be supported in FY 2020: Type I: $500,000 to $750,000 per year for up to five years; and Type II: $750,000 to $2,000,000 per year for up to five years.
• Future Manufacturing Seed Grants (FMSG) - Awards in this track will provide support for up to two years at a level not to exceed $250,000 per year.
• Future Manufacturing Networks (FMNet) - Awards in this track will provide up to five years of support at a total amount of $500,000.

Interdisciplinary teams commensurate with the scope of the proposed research, education plan, and budget are required. Proposals must include demonstrated expertise among the team members to carry out the proposed research, education, and workforce development activities. The use of a convergence approach is expected.

Signals in the Soil *

FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline: May 13, 2020
Sponsor Deadline: May 20, 2020
Award Amount: $600,000 - $1.2M over 3-5 years

 

The National Science Foundation and the US Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA) encourage convergent research that transforms existing capabilities in understanding dynamic soil processes, including soil formation, through advances in sensor systems and modeling. The Signals in the Soil (SitS) program fosters collaboration among the two partner agencies and the researchers they support by combining resources and funding for the most innovative and high-impact projects that address their respective missions. To make transformative advances in our understanding of soils, multiple disciplines must converge to produce environmentally-benign novel sensing systems with multiple modalities that can adapt to different environments and collect and transmit data for a wide range of biological, chemical, and physical parameters. Effective integration of sensor data will be key for achieving a better understanding of signaling interactions among plants, animals, microbes, the soil matrix, and aqueous and gaseous components. New sensor networks have the potential to inform models in novel ways, to radically change how data is obtained from various natural and managed (both urban and rural) ecosystems, and to better inform the communities that directly rely on soils for sustenance and livelihood.

Navigating the New Arctic Community Office (NNA-CO) *
FAS/SEAS/OSP Deadline: June 3, 2020
Sponsor Deadline: June 10, 2020
Award Amount: NSF anticipates funding for 5 years, with the funding for each year of any award determined by the scope of the proposal selected and availability of funds. A budget of approximately $500,000 per year is anticipated for the proposed community office to provide the suite of required duties described in this solicitation. Budgets above this amount may be considered if the additional duties proposed provide substantial, innovative, and/or creative enhancements for NNA coordination.

 

NSF invites proposals to establish a Navigating the New Arctic Community Office (NNA-CO). Launched in 2016, NNA has been building a growing portfolio of research and planning grants at the intersection of the built, social, and natural environments to improve understanding of Arctic change and its local and global effects. Each NNA-funded project is responsible for its own performance, including its core research and broader impacts. However, an NNA community office is required to coordinate the activities of funded NNA projects; engage new PIs; and promote research, education, and outreach activities. The NNA-CO will also provide centralized representation of ongoing NNA activities to the broader scientific community and the public. The lead PI of the successful NNA-CO proposal will serve as the Office Director and will work with the research community to develop and implement appropriate communication networks and support for investigators, stakeholders, and research teams pursuing NNA research. NNA research is inherently convergent, seeking new knowledge at the intersection of the natural, built, and social environments. NNA research also inherently involves diverse stakeholders, from local to international. The NNA-CO will need to demonstrate the ability to work with these types of research teams and audiences.

 

Please Note: This is a limited submission opportunity, and Harvard may submit only one proposal. Please contact Erin Hale at erin_hale@fas.harvard.edu if you are interested in applying.