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NIST is soliciting applications for financial assistance for Fiscal Year 2016 (FY16) within the following NIST Laboratory grant programs: (1) the Material Measurement Laboratory (MML) Grant Program; (2) the Physical Measurement Laboratory (PML) Grant Program; (3) the Engineering Laboratory (EL) Grant Program; (4) the Fire Research (FR) Grant Program; (5) the Information Technology Laboratory (ITL) Grant Program; (6) the Communications Technology Laboratory (CTL) Grant Program; (7) the NIST Center for Neutron Research (NCNR) Grant Program; (8) the Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology (CNST) Grant Program; (9) the Special Programs Office (SPO) Grant Program; (10) the Standards Coordination Office (SCO) Grant Program; (11) the International and Academic Affairs Office (IAAO) Grant Program; and (12) the Associate Director for Laboratory Programs (ADLP) Grant Program.

NIST is soliciting applications for financial assistance for Fiscal Year 2016 (FY16) within the following NIST Laboratory grant programs: (1) the Material Measurement Laboratory (MML) Grant Program; (2) the Physical Measurement Laboratory (PML) Grant Program; (3) the Engineering Laboratory (EL) Grant Program; (4) the Fire Research (FR) Grant Program; (5) the Information Technology Laboratory (ITL) Grant Program; (6) the Communications Technology Laboratory (CTL) Grant Program; (7) the NIST Center for Neutron Research (NCNR) Grant Program; (8) the Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology (CNST) Grant Program; (9) the Special Programs Office (SPO) Grant Program; (10) the Standards Coordination Office (SCO) Grant Program; (11) the International and Academic Affairs Office (IAAO) Grant Program; and (12) the Associate Director for Laboratory Programs (ADLP) Grant Program.

The Thermal Transport Processes program supports engineering research aimed at gaining a basic understanding of the thermal transport phenomena at nano/micro and macro scales in (1) cooling and heating of equipment and devices, (2) energy conversion, power generation and thermal energy storage and conservation, (3) the synthesis and processing of materials including advanced manufacturing, (4) the propulsion of air and land-based vehicles, and (5) thermal phenomena in biological systems. The program supports fundamental research and engineering education in transport processes that are driven by thermal gradients, and manipulation of these processes to achieve engineering goals.Priority is given to insightful investigations of fundamental problems with broad economic, environmental and societal impact, and to novel studies of heat and mass transfer principles to understand phenomena, to enhance performance and/or achieve key goals.Fundamental areas of specific interest and current focus to the program, and relevant to applications listed as (1)-(5) above, include:Control of Thermal Transport Processes in Devices/Systems and in Materials Processing for Improved PerformanceSimulation and Diagnostics of Flow and Heat Transport Bridging Information across Scales leading to Device/System-level StudiesNew Materials/Processes/Devices with Significant Gains in Thermal Properties and PerformanceThe duration of unsolicited awards is generally one to three years. The average annual award size for the program is $100,000. Proposals requesting a substantially higher amount than this, without prior consultation with the Program Director, may be returned without review. Innovative proposals outside of these specific interest areas can be considered. However, prior to submission, it is recommended that the PI contact the Program Director to avoid the possibility of the proposal being returned without review.Additional Program Information - 1406: (e.g., Areas of Research, Research H

The Division of Engineering Education and Centers (EEC) seeks to enable a world-leading system of engineering education, equally open and available to all members of society, that dynamically and rapidly adapts to meet the changing needs of society and the nation's economy. Research areas of interest include, but are not limited to:Diversifying pathways to and through engineering degree programs. Research projects that align with this theme explore how engineering programs can engage and develop students with a broad range of backgrounds, interests, and experiences; investigate how informal or real world experiences germane to engineering--such as military service or being a "maker"--impact, improve, or accelerate learning; or investigate how to fundamentally restructure courses, curricula, or programs to substantially boost student success, especially for under-represented populations and veterans. Understanding how to increase the diffusion and impact of engineering education research. Research projects are sought that discover how to improve the process by which engineering education research is translated into practice; how to accomplish organizational and cultural change in institutions of engineering education that leads to improved learning outcomes; or identifying and overcoming barriers to widespread adoption of engineering education research. Research projects that partner with other engineering education stakeholders (e.g. private companies, NGOs, or professional societies) to measure the value and impact of engineering education research on practice are also sought.Understanding engineering education in broader, organizing frameworks such as innovation, globalization, complex engineered systems, or sustainability. Research in this theme explores learning from perspectives and contexts that cut across disciplines and in which learners integrate expertise from multiple fields. Research projects that align with this theme include discovering proce

PD 15-1637, Structural and Architectural Engineering (SAE) program replaces Hazard Mitigation and Structural Engineering (HMSE) program. The overall goal of the Structural and Architectural Engineering (SAE) program is to evolve sustainable structures, such as buildings, that can be continuously occupied and /or operational during the structure??s useful life. The SAE program supports fundamental research for advancing knowledge and innovation in structural and architectural engineering that enables holistic approach to design, construction, operation, maintenance, retrofit, repair and end-of-life disposal of structures. For buildings, holistic approach incorporates the foundation-structure-envelope-nonstructural system, as well as the facade and roofing. Research topics of interest for sustainable structures include the following: strategies for structures that over their lifecycle are cost-effective, make efficient use of resources and energy, and incorporate sustainable structural and architectural materials; deterioration due to fatigue and corrosion; serviceability concerns due to large deflections and vibrations; and advances in physics-based computational modeling and simulation. Research is encouraged that integrates discoveries from other science and engineering fields, such as materials science, building science, mechanics of materials, dynamic systems and control, reliability, risk analysis, architecture, economics and human factors. The program also supports research in sustainable and holistic foundation-structure-envelope-nonstructural systems and materials as described in the following reports: ?? National Science and Technology Council, High Performance Buildings; Final Report: Federal R & D Agenda for Net Zero Energy, High-Performance Green Buildings. Building Technology Research and Development (BTRD) Subcommittee, OSTP, U.S. Government, September 2008. http://www.whitehouse.gov/files/documents/ostp/NSTC%20Reports/Federal%20RD%20Agenda%20for%20Net%

Effective September 1, 2013, the Materials Engineering and Processing Program (MEP) (PD 13-8092) will be accepting proposals that address engineering principles as they relate to material processing and performance. This program replaces the Materials Processing and Manufacturing (MPM), Materials and Surface Engineering (MSE), and Structural Mechanics and Materials (SMM) programs. This new MEP program is effectively a merger and evolutionary advance of these three programs. The MPM, MSE and SMM programs will no longer be accepting new proposals1. The Division of Civil, Mechanical, and Manufacturing Innovation (CMM) in Directorate for Engineering (ENG) of the National Science Foundation (NSF) created the Materials Engineering and Processing (MEP) program to support fundamental research addressing the interrelationship of materials processing, structure, properties and/or life-cycle performance for targeted applications. Processing and performance of all material systems are of interest. These include polymers, metals, ceramics, semiconductors, composites, and hybrids thereof. Research driven by scientific hypotheses are encouraged when suitable, and materials in bulk form or focus on special zones such as surfaces or interfaces that are to be used in structural and/or functional applications are appropriate for this program. Analytical, experimental, and numerical studies are supported and collaborative proposals with industry (i.e. Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI)) are encouraged.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Grants Programs Directorate is responsible for the implementation and administration of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. The Grant Programs Directorate administers the Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Grant Program as part of the AFG Program. The purpose of the FP&S Grant Program is to enhance the safety of the public and firefighters with respect to fire and fire-related hazards by assisting fire prevention programs and supporting firefighter health and safety research and development. FP&S Grants are offered to support projects in two activities: (1) activities designed to reach high-risk target groups and mitigate the incidence of death, injuries, and property damage caused by fire and fire-related hazards ("Fire Prevention and Safety Activity") and (2) research and development activities aimed at improving firefighter safety, health, or wellness through research and development that reduces firefighter fatalities and injuries ("Firefighter Safety Research and Development Activity"). The program guidance document provides potential applicants with the details of the requirements, processing, and evaluation of an application for financial assistance for both of these activity areas.

The Geobiology and Low-Temperature Geochemistry Program focuses on geochemical processes in terrestrial Earth's surface environmental systems, as well as the interaction of geochemical and biological processes. The program supports field, laboratory, theoretical, and modeling studies of these processes and related mechanisms at all spatial and temporal scales. Studies may address: 1) inorganic and/or organic geochemical processes occurring at or near the Earth's surface now and in the past, and across the broad spectrum of interfaces ranging in scale from planetary and regional to mineral-surface and supramolecular; 2) the role of life in the transformation and evolution of Earth's geochemical cycles; 3) surficial chemical and biogeochemical systems and cycles, including their modification through environmental change and human activities; 4) low-temperature aqueous geochemical processes; 5) mineralogy and chemistry of earth materials; 6) geomicrobiology and biomineralization processes; and 7) medical mineralogy and geochemistry. The Program encourages research that focuses on geochemical processes as they are coupled with physical and biological processes in the critical zone. The Program also supports work on the development of tools, methods, and models for the advancement of low-temperature geochemistry and geobiology. The Geobiology and Low-Temperature Geochemistry Program is interested in supporting transformational and cutting-edge research. The Program is highly interdisciplinary and interfaces with other programs within the Earth Surface Section and with programs in biology, chemistry and engineering.

The Long Term Research in Environmental Biology (LTREB) Program supports the generation of extended time series of data to address important questions in evolutionary biology, ecology, and ecosystem science. Research areas include, but are not limited to, the effects of natural selection or other evolutionary processes on populations, communities, or ecosystems; the effects of interspecific interactions that vary over time and space; population or community dynamics for organisms that have extended life spans and long turnover times; feedbacks between ecological and evolutionary processes; pools of materials such as nutrients in soils that turn over at intermediate to longer time scales; and external forcing functions such as climatic cycles that operate over long return intervals. The Program intends to support decadal projects. Funding for an initial, 5-year period requires submission of a preliminary proposal and, if invited, submission of a full proposal that includes a 15-page project description. Proposals for the second five years of support (renewal proposals) are limited to an eight-page project description and do not require a preliminary proposal. Continuation of an LTREB project beyond an initial ten year award will require submission of a new preliminary proposal that presents a new decadal research plan.?? Successful LTREB proposals address three essential components: A Decadal Research Plan that clearly articulates important questions that cannot be addressed with data that have already been collected, but could be answered if ten additional years of data were collected. This plan is not a research timeline or management plan. It is a concise justification for ten additional years of support in order to advance understanding of key concepts, questions, or theories in environmental biology.Core Data: LTREB proposals require that the author has studied a particular phenomenon or process for at least six years up to the present or for long enough to gene

Proposal budgets that are much larger than typical should be discussed with the Program Director prior to submission. Proposers can view budget amounts and other information from recent awards made by this program via the "What Has Been Funded (Recent Awards Made Through This Program, with Abstracts)" link towards the bottom of this page. Faculty Early Career Development(CAREER)program proposals are strongly encouraged. Award duration is five years.The submission deadline for Engineering CAREER proposals is in July every year. Learn more in the CAREER program description. Proposals for Conferences, Workshops, and Supplements: PIs are strongly encouraged to discuss their requests with the Program Director before submission of the proposal. Grants forRapid Response Research(RAPID)andEArly-concept Grants for Exploratory Research(EAGER)are also considered when appropriate.Please note that proposals of these types must be discussed with the program director before submission. Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI)proposals that integrate fundamental research with translational results and are consistent with the application areas of interest to each program are also encouraged. Please note that RAPID, EAGER, and GOALI proposals can be submitted anytime during the year. Details about RAPID, EAGER, and GOALI are available in theProposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide(PAPPG), Part 1, Chapter II, Section E. COMPLIANCE: Proposals which are not compliant with theProposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG)will be returned without review.

The Process Systems, Reaction Engineering and Molecular Thermodynamics program is part of the Chemical Process Systems cluster, which also includes: 1) the Catalysis program; 2) the Electrochemical Systems program; and 3) the Interfacial Engineering program. The goal of the Process Systems, Reaction Engineering and Molecular Thermodynamics program is to advance fundamental engineering research on the rates and mechanisms of chemical reactions, systems engineering and molecular thermodynamics as they relate to the design and optimization of chemical reactors and the production of specialized materials that have important impacts on society. The program supports the development of advanced optimization and control algorithms for chemical processes, molecular and multi-scale modeling of complex chemical systems, fundamental studies on molecular thermodynamics, and the integration of this information into the design of complex chemical reactors. An important area supported by the program focuses on the development of energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly chemical processes and materials. Proposals should focus on: · Chemical reaction engineering: This area encompasses the interaction of transport phenomena and kinetics in reactive systems and the use of this knowledge in the design of complex chemical reactors. Focus areas include novel reactor designs, such as catalytic and membrane reactors, micro-reactors, and atomic layer deposition systems; studies of reactions in supercritical fluids; novel activation techniques, such as plasmas, acoustics, and microwaves; design of multifunctional systems, such as "chemical-factory/lab-on-a-chip" concepts; and biomass conversion to fuels and chemicals. The program also supports new approaches that enable the design of modular chemical manufacturing systems.

The Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is DHS's primary research and development (R&D) arm. S&T manages science and technology research, from development through transition, for the department's operational components and the nation's first responders. S&T's engineers, scientists and researchers work closely with industry and academic partners to ensure R&D investments address the high-priority needs of today and the growing demands of the future.The DHS Scientific Leadership Awards (SLA) program is one of several programs administered by the S&T Office of University Programs. Through the SLA program, OUP seeks to build a diverse, highly capable, technical workforce for the homeland security enterprise. This NOFO is soliciting applications from Minority Serving Intuitions (MSIs) to establish programs that relevant to S&T's mission within their institutions or MSI networks.

The Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is DHS's primary research and development (R&D) arm. S&T manages science and technology research, from development through transition, for the department's operational components and the nation's first responders. S&T's engineers, scientists and researchers work closely with industry and academic partners to ensure R&D investments address the high-priority needs of today and the growing demands of the future.The DHS Scientific Leadership Awards (SLA) program is one of several programs administered by the S&T Office of University Programs. Through the SLA program, OUP seeks to build a diverse, highly capable, technical workforce for the homeland security enterprise. This NOFO is soliciting applications from Minority Serving Intuitions (MSIs) to establish programs that relevant to S&T's mission within their institutions or MSI networks.

The Greenwall Foundation is soliciting Letters of Intent for its Greenwall Faculty Scholars Program in Bioethics, a career development award designed to enable junior faculty members to carry out innovative bioethics research. Each year, around three Greenwall Faculty Scholars are selected to receive 50 percent salary support for three years to enable them to develop their research program. The program supports research focused on resolving pressing ethical issues in clinical care, biomedical research, and public policy. Scholars and alumni attend twice-yearly meetings, where they present their work in progress, receive feedback and mentoring from the Faculty Scholars Program Committee and other scholars, and have the opportunity to develop collaborations with other researchers. The ongoing involvement of alumni with the program provides them ongoing opportunities for professional development and feedback and engages them in mentoring of younger scholars.

The Greenwall Foundation is soliciting Letters of Intent for its Greenwall Faculty Scholars Program in Bioethics, a career development award designed to enable junior faculty members to carry out innovative bioethics research. Each year, around three Greenwall Faculty Scholars are selected to receive 50 percent salary support for three years to enable them to develop their research program. The program supports research focused on resolving pressing ethical issues in clinical care, biomedical research, and public policy. Scholars and alumni attend twice-yearly meetings, where they present their work in progress, receive feedback and mentoring from the Faculty Scholars Program Committee and other scholars, and have the opportunity to develop collaborations with other researchers. The ongoing involvement of alumni with the program provides them ongoing opportunities for professional development and feedback and engages them in mentoring of younger scholars.

The Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program provides support for master's and doctoral degrees in oceanography, marine biology, maritime archaeology, and all other science, engineering, social science, and resource management disciplines involving ocean and coastal areas, and particularly encourages women and members of minority groups to apply. Individuals who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, or citizens of U.S. territories, and are applying to or have been accepted to a graduate program at a U.S. accredited institution, may apply. Prospective scholars do not need to be enrolled in a graduate program at the time of application, but must be admitted to a graduate level program in order to be awarded this scholarship. Scholarship selections are based on academic excellence, letters of recommendations, research and career goals, and financial need. Applicants must have a cumulative 3.30 grade point average to be eligible to apply and maintain a minimum cumulative and term grade point average of 3.30 for every term and for the duration of their award. Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarships may provide, subject to appropriations, yearly support of up to $42,000 per student (a 12-month stipend of $30,000 in addition to an education allowance of up to $12,000) and up to $10,000 of support for a 4-6 week program collaboration at a NOAA facility. Based on available funding, completion of one (1) program collaboration may be required for every doctoral scholarship award, with a second recommended, but not required. For master's degree level scholars, completion of a program collaboration is strongly recommended but is not required. The Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship funds cannot be used toward research costs.

The Best Buy foundation is seeking applications from nonprofit organizations for programs that provide youth with access to new technologies that help them become fluent in digital learning while developing the skills they need for future education and career success. Grants of up to $200,000 will be awarded for programs that utilize technology such as computers, digital cameras, video cameras, and professional software in a wide range of areas, including audio production (music mixing and recording), coding/3D printing, computer maintenance and repair, digital photography/graphic design filmmaking and videography, maker-faires and hack-a-thons, mobile and game app development, programming, robotics, and/ or website design. To be eligible, applicants must be a nonprofit organization with an existing out-of-school time program and a proven track record of serving youth between the ages of 13 and 18 in underserved communities. In addition, programs must operate within twenty-five miles of a Best Buy store or other Best Buy center of operation; have a commitment to diversity and inclusion; a willingness to integrate Geek Squad Academy curriculum into existing programming (if appropriate); and have the ability to conduct programming in multiple targeted sites across the country.  

A landmark collaboration known as the International Technology Alliance (ITA) in Network and Information Sciences was initiated by the US Army Research Laboratory (ARL) and the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) in 2006. Awards were made to a Consortium of industrial and academic organizations from the United States and the United Kingdom that along with the US ARL and the UK Dstl formed an international research Alliance that is jointly conducting collaborative research focused on enhancing coalition operations. The key factors contributing to the success of this unique collaborative venture are: joint technical leadership and management by the Alliance (academia, industry, government in both countries); an arrangement fostering an open collaborative research environment to support deep collaboration among researchers; multi-disciplinary research approach applied to key coalition technical challenges; and an innovative transition model that is facilitating the rapid transition of research results to both commercial and military domains.The purpose of this US ARL and UK Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) ITA Program Announcement (PA) under W911NF-15-R-0003 is to solicit offers that will help to fulfill the research and development goals of the US Department of Army and UK Ministry of Defence. This PA announces a new and innovative opportunity for cooperation between the US and the UK in the area of Distributed Analytics and Information Science (DAIS). The DAIS ITA Program is comprised of two components: (1) the Basic Research Component and (2) the Technology Transition Component. The Basic Research Component will provide for fundamental research, the results of which will be in the public domain, while the Technology Transition Component will provide for the application of the fundamental research results to military, security and commercial applications to foster the best technologies for future defense and security needs. The Catalog of Federal Domestic As

The Engineering and Systems Design (ESD) program supports descriptive and normative research leading to a theory of engineering design and an understanding of systems engineering. The program is focused on gaining an understanding of the basic processes and phenomena underlying a view of design where the system life-cycle context informs the identification and definition of preferences, analysis of alternatives, effective accommodation of uncertainty in decision-making, and the relationship between data, information, and knowledge in a digitally-supported environment. The program funds advances in a descriptive understanding of design and basic design theory that span multiple domains, such as the relationship of systems to the environment, the significance of manufacturability, and the range of complexity from small designed artifacts to large engineered systems.

 Fundamental research in system science and system engineering theory should be submitted to the System Science (SYS) program. Research in which the primary contribution is observation and description of systems engineering should be submitted to the ESD program, and should identify the System Science program as a secondary program.

The System Science (SYS) program funds fundamental research on engineered systems that will support the creation of a mathematically sound framework for systems engineering. The System Science program invites proposals that address fundamental systems issues including system performance prediction, uncertainty quantification in the systems context, theoretical foundations for aggregation in systems, decision-making in the systems context, and operation and maintenance in the systems context.

 The System Science program does not fund development projects. Proposals that have system science or system engineering relevance, but for which the predominant research contribution is within an existing program in CMMI, should be submitted to the appropriate disciplinary program, with the System Science program identified as a secondary program.

The NSF Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) seeks to award grants intended to support research independence among early-career academicians who specifically lack access to adequate organizational or other resources. It is expected that funds obtained through this program will be used to support untenured faculty or research scientists (or equivalent) in their first three years in a primary academic position after the PhD, but not more than five years after completion of their PhD. Applicants for this program may not yet have received any other grants or contracts in the PI role from any department, agency, or institution of the federal government, including from the CAREER program or any other program, post-PhD, regardless of the size of the grant or contract, with certain exceptions as noted below. Serving as co-PI, Senior Personnel, Postdoctoral Fellow, or other Fellow does not count against this eligibility rule. Importantly, the CRII program seeks to provide essential resources to enable early-career PIs to launch their research careers. For the purposes of this program, CISE defines "essential resources" as those that (a) the PI does not otherwise have, including through organizational or other funding; and (b) are critical for the PI to conduct early-career research that will enable research independence. In particular, this program is not appropriate for PIs who already have access to resources to conduct any early-career research.

The DOE Traineeship in Accelerator Science and Engineering provides support to address critical, targeted workforce development in fields of study that are currently supported by U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) research awards. Up to two Cooperative Agreements may provide funding to universities or consortia of universities for up to two years of tuition, stipend, and travel support to students enrolled in specific accelerator science and engineering degree programs, and to provide a modest topic-specific curriculum development and program administration support. Award term is expected to be up to five years, with the possibility of renewal for a second term. This program does not support lines of Research and Development (R&D). Support for accelerator R&D is provided through the High Energy Physics (HEP) General Accelerator R&D and Accelerator Stewardship programs, through accelerator R&D programs elsewhere in DOE, and by other federal agencies. This program is to assist domestic institutions of higher education in enhancing their graduate-level educational efforts to ensure that a diverse and highly trained future population of scientists is available to conduct cutting-edge research in the basic sciences. By training the scientists of the future, this program will ensure the continued vitality of U.S. scientific endeavors that will create knowledge for the public benefit.

The Catalysis program is part of the Chemical Process Systems cluster, which also includes: 1) the Electrochemical Systems program; 2) the Interfacial Engineering program; and 3) the Process Systems, Reaction Engineering, and Molecular Thermodynamics program. The goals of the Catalysis program are to increase fundamental understanding in catalytic engineering science and to advance the development of catalytic materials and reactions that are beneficial to society. Research in this program should focus on new concepts for catalytic materials and reactions, utilizing synthetic, theoretical, and experimental approaches. Target applications include fuels, specialty and bulk chemicals, environmental catalysis, biomass conversion to fuels and chemicals, conversion of greenhouse gases, and generation of solar hydrogen, as well as efficient routes to energy utilization. Heterogeneous catalysis represents the main thrust of the program. Proposals related to both gas-solid and liquid-solid heterogeneous catalysis are welcome, as are proposals that incorporate concepts from homogeneous catalysis. Topic areas that are of particular interest include: · Renewable energy-related catalysis with applications in electrocatalysis, photocatalysis, and catalytic conversion of biomass-derived chemicals. Catalysis aimed at closing the carbon cycle (especially conversion of CO2, methane, and natural gas to fuels and chemical intermediates). · Catalytic alternatives to traditionally non-catalytic reaction processes, as well as new catalyst designs for established catalytic processes. · Environmental catalysis (including energy-efficient and green routes to fuels and chemicals). ·