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The Understanding the Rules of Life: Microbiome Theory and Mechanisms (URoL:MTM) program is an integrative collaborationacross Directorates and Offices within the National Science Foundation. The objective of URoL:MTM is to understand and establish the theory and mechanisms that govern the structure and function of microbiomes, a collection of microbes in a specific habitat/environment. This may include but is not limited to host-associated microbiomes, such as those with humans and other organisms, where i) the microbiome impacts host physiology, behavior, development, and fitness; ii) the host influences the metabolic activity, dynamics and evolution of the microbiome, and iii) the environment (biological, chemical, physical, and social) influences and is influenced by both the host and the microbiome. Recent progress has transformed our ability to identify and catalogue the microbes present in a given environment and measure multiple aspects ofbiological, chemical, physical, and social environments that affect the interactions among the members of the microbiome, the host, and/or habitat. Much descriptive and correlative work has been performed on many microbiome systems, particularly those in the human, soil, aquatic, and built environments. This research has resulted in new hypotheses about the microbiome's contributions to potential system function or dysfunction. The current challenge is to integrate the wide range of accumulated data and information and build on them to develop new causal/mechanistic models or theories of interactions and interdependencies across scales and systems.

In 2010, NSF established the Science, Engineering, and Education for Sustainability (SEES)1 investment area to lay the research foundation for decision capabilities and technologies aimed at mitigating and adapting to environmental changes that threaten sustainability. Some SEES investments advanced a systems-based approach to understanding, predicting, and reacting to stress upon, and changes in, the linked natural, social, and built environments. In this context, the importance of understanding the interconnected and interdependent systems involving food, energy, and water (FEW) has emerged. The NSF aims to specifically focus on advancing knowledge of the nitrogen and phosphorus cycles; the production and use of fertilizers for food production; and the detection, separation, and reclamation/recycling of nitrogen- and phosphorus-containing species in and from complex aqueous environments.

In 2010, NSF established the Science, Engineering, and Education for Sustainability (SEES)1 investment area to lay the research foundation for decision capabilities and technologies aimed at mitigating and adapting to environmental changes that threaten sustainability. Some SEES investments advanced a systems-based approach to understanding, predicting, and reacting to stress upon, and changes in, the linked natural, social, and built environments. In this context, the importance of understanding the interconnected and interdependent systems involving food, energy, and water (FEW) has emerged. The NSF aims to specifically focus on advancing knowledge of the nitrogen and phosphorus cycles; the production and use of fertilizers for food production; and the detection, separation, and reclamation/recycling of nitrogen- and phosphorus-containing species in and from complex aqueous environments.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) encourages applications for developing and testing innovative theories and computational, mathematical, or engineering approaches to deepen our understanding of complex social behavior. This research will examine phenomena at multiple scales to address the emergence of collective behaviors that arise from individual elements or parts of a system working together. Emergence can also describe the functioning of a system within the context of its environment. Often properties we associate with a system itself are in actuality properties of the relationships and interactions between a system and its environment. This FOA will support research that explores the often complex and dynamic relationships among the parts of a system and between the system and its environment in order to understand the system as a whole.

The goal of this activity is to foster novel, transformative, multidisciplinary approaches that address the use of large data sets to create actionable knowledge for improving STEM teaching and learning environments (formal and informal) in the medium term, and to revolutionize learning in the longer term. These approaches will involve the work of learning scientists, STEM disciplinary experts, computer scientists, statisticians, database experts and educational researchers who design and study learning environments.

The Geosciences and Education and Human Resources Directorates are partnering to advance and develop understanding of learning environments that build upon the rich interdisciplinary resources emerging from polar investments. To that end, the Division of Polar Programs (PLR), the Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE) and the Division of Research on Learning (DRL) encourage proposals that will leverage the extensive National Science Foundation (NSF) investment in polar sciences and infrastructure, and STEM education research and development, to promote an informed citizenry and the next generation of polar scientists. In order to advance polar science educational opportunities, PLR, DUE and DRL will accept and review proposals for research and development projects that facilitate access to polar research efforts in (1) undergraduate education, (2) informal science education or (3) formal PK-12 science or math education. Proposals must be submitted to either the Improving Undergraduate Science Education: Education and Human Resources (IUSE: EHR) deadline of November 2, 2016, the Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL) deadline of November 8, 2016, or the Discovery Research PreK-12 (DRK-12) deadline of December 5, 2016.

The Geosciences and Education and Human Resources Directorates are partnering to advance and develop understanding of learning environments that build upon the rich interdisciplinary resources emerging from polar investments. To that end, the Division of Polar Programs (PLR), the Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE) and the Division of Research on Learning (DRL) encourage proposals that will leverage the extensive National Science Foundation (NSF) investment in polar sciences and infrastructure, and STEM education research and development, to promote an informed citizenry and the next generation of polar scientists. In order to advance polar science educational opportunities, PLR, DUE and DRL will accept and review proposals for research and development projects that facilitate access to polar research efforts in (1) undergraduate education, (2) informal science education or (3) formal PK-12 science or math education. Proposals must be submitted to either the Improving Undergraduate Science Education: Education and Human Resources (IUSE: EHR) deadline of November 2, 2016, the Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL) deadline of November 8, 2016, or the Discovery Research PreK-12 (DRK-12) deadline of December 5, 2016.

AAAS offers fellowships in nine programmatic areas. Specific host offices and assignments vary from year to year. Congressional Diplomacy, Security& Development Energy, Environment & Agriculture Health, Education & Human Services Big Data & Analytics Judicial Branch Roger Revelle Fellowship in Global Stewardship AAAS Overseas Fellowships at USAID Missions (limited eligibility) Global Health & Development Fellowships (limited eligibility)

The NIEHS is establishing an infrastructure, the Human Health Exposure Analysis Resource (HHEAR) as a continuation of the Children's Health Exposure Analysis Resource (CHEAR). The goal of this consortium is to provide the research community access to laboratory and statistical analyses to add or expand the inclusion of environmental exposures in their research and to make that data publicly available as a means to improve our knowledge of the comprehensive effects of environmental exposures on human health throughout the life course. This FOA solicits Laboratories (Lab Hubs) providing a comprehensive suite of analysis of environmental exposures in samples such as dust, soil, and drinking water related to the immediate environment of individuals and linked to health endpoints. Each Hub will incorporate a developmental core to develop novel measures for environmental samples, expanding the number of current, commonly measured analytes, and developing new methods for detecting analytes in other environmental samples and providing additional insight into the sources of exposures that influence human health. The Environmental Monitoring Lab will also serve as a 'clearinghouse for evaluation and provision of emerging tools and technologies for personal exposure assessment to the client community.

The Office of Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR) of the SC, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), hereby invites applications for basic research that address fundamental challenges within DOE's mission areas of energy, environment and security, and from a perspective that requires new integrated efforts across multiple mathematical, statistical and computational disciplines. This solicitation is for new Mathematical Multifaceted Integrated Capability Centers (MMICCs) to enable greatly enhanced scientific discovery, design, optimization or decision-support capabilities for the increasingly complex systems, processes, and problems that arise in science and energy research. Proposed research tightly focused on the solution of a particular science or engineering problem are outside the scope of this solicitation.These MMICCs will enable applied mathematics researchers to work together in large, collaborative teams to develop the mathematics needed to address significant scientific computing research challenges. The MMICCs allow researchers to take a broader view of the problem as a whole, and devise solution strategies that attack the problem in its entirety by building fundamental, multidisciplinary mathematical capabilities and tools cognizant of both existing and emerging computing paradigms. The MMICCs teams will have the flexibility and technical expertise to consider all aspects of the problem-solving process simultaneously - ranging from the mathematical formulation to the development, analysis, integration of appropriate models and methods, and demonstration of results and capabilities.

The Microsoft Foundation is inviting applications for its Dissertation Grants program. The program supports PhD students at North American universities who are underrepresented in the field of computing and pursuing research aligned to the research areas carried out by Microsoft Research. Through the program, recipients will receive funding of up to $25,000 for the 2020-21 academic year as well as an invitation to the PhD Summit, a two-day workshop in the fall held at one of Microsoft Research's labs where fellows will meet with Microsoft researchers and other top students to share their research. Fellows must be aligned in research areas as defined by Microsoft Research, which include artificial intelligence; audio and acoustics; computer vision; graphics and multimedia; human-computer interaction; human language technologies; search and information retrieval; data platforms and analytics; hardware and devices; programming languages and software engineering; security, privacy, and cryptography; systems and networking; algorithms; mathematics; ecology and environment; economics; medical, health, and genomics; social sciences; and technology for emerging markets.

MPS has long promoted efforts to recruit and retain students from underrepresented groups in all areas of the mathematical and physical sciences. AGEP-GRS introduces a new mechanism by which a current MPS research awardee is able to support one (additional) Ph.D. student in an ongoing MPS-funded research project. The goal is to create an opportunity to engage additional students in research, to develop a positive learning environment for students, and to improve diversity and retention at the doctoral level within the mathematical and physical sciences.

The purpose of the Mathematical Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellowships (MSPRF) is to support future leaders in mathematics and statistics by facilitating their participation in postdoctoral research environments that will have maximal impact on their future scientific development. There are two options for awardees: Research Fellowship and Research Instructorship. Awards will support research in areas of mathematics and statistics, including applications to other disciplines.

The purpose of the Mathematical Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellowships (MSPRF) is to support future leaders in mathematics and statistics by facilitating their participation in postdoctoral research environments that will have maximal impact on their future scientific development. There are two options for awardees: Research Fellowship and Research Instructorship. Awards will support research in areas of mathematics and statistics, including applications to other disciplines.

The purpose of the Mathematical Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellowships (MSPRF) is to support future leaders in mathematics and statistics by facilitating their participation in postdoctoral research environments that will have maximal impact on their future scientific development. There are two options for awardees: Research Fellowship and Research Instructorship. Awards will support research in areas of mathematics and statistics, including applications to other disciplines.

Recognizing disciplinary differences and priorities, NSF's investment in research and development in undergraduate STEM education encompasses a range of approaches. These approaches include: experiential learning, assessment/metrics of learning and practice, scholarships, foundational education research, professional development/institutional change, formal and informal learning environments, and undergraduate disciplinary research. Both individually and integrated in a range of combinations, these approaches can lead to outcomes including: developing the STEM and STEM-related workforce, advancing science, broadening participation in STEM, educating a STEM-literate populace, improving K-12 STEM education, encouraging life-long learning, and building capacity in higher education.

This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) encourages Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant applications from small business concerns (SBCs) that propose development of a broad base of innovative technologies in biomedical computing, informatics, and Big Data Science that will support rapid progress in areas of scientific opportunity in biomedical research. It is expected that this research and development is conducted in the context of important biomedical and behavioral research problems. As such, applications are intended to develop enabling technologies that could apply to the interests of most NIH Institutes and Centers and range from basic biomedicine to research in all relevant organ systems and diseases. Major themes of research include collaborative environments; data integration; analysis and modeling methodologies; and novel computer science and statistical approaches. New opportunities are also emerging as large and complex data sets are becoming increasingly available to the research community.

The NIH is interested in promoting a broad base of research and development of technologies in biomedical computing, informatics, and Big Data Science that will support rapid progress in areas of scientific opportunity in biomedical research. It is expected that this research and development is conducted in the context of important biomedical and behavioral research problems. As such, applications are intended to develop enabling technologies that could apply to the interests of most NIH Institutes and Centers and range from basic biomedicine and including research to all relevant organ systems and diseases. Major themes of research include collaborative environments; data integration; analysis and modeling methodologies; and novel computer science and statistical approaches. New opportunities are also emerging as large and complex data sets are becoming increasingly available to the research community. This initiative aims to address biomedical research areas in biomedical computing, informatics, and Big Data science through the early stage development of new software, tools and related resources, as well as the fundamental research (e.g., methodologies and approaches) leading up to that development.

The OR program supports fundamental research leading to the creation of innovative mathematical models, analysis, and algorithms for optimal or near optimal decision-making, applicable to the design and operation of manufacturing, service, and other complex systems. In addition to the traditional areas of Operations Research which includes discrete and continuous optimization as well as stochastic modeling and analysis, new research thrusts include simulation optimization and self-optimizing systems that can observe, learn, and adapt to changing environments.

The Office of Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR) in the Office of Science (SC), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), hereby invites applications for basic research that significantly advances management, analysis and visualization of data in disciplines supported by DOE in the context of emerging architectures for extreme scale computing platforms. The purpose of this announcement is to invite applications for basic computer science research on five major themes: 1. Usability and user interface design; 2. In situ methods for data management, analysis and visualization; 3. Design of in situ workflows to support data management, processing, analysis and visualization; 4. New approaches to scalable interactive visual analytic environments; and/or 5. Proxy applications or workflows and/or simulations for data management, analysis and visualization software to support co-design of extreme scale systems. The supported research will lay the foundation for building the software infrastructure to support scientific data management, analysis and visualization in the context of extreme scale computing.

The Advancing Informal STEM Learning program invests in research and development of innovative and field-advancing out-of-school STEM learning and emerging STEM learning environments. 

The Service, Manufacturing and Operations Research (SMOR) program supports fundamental research leading to the creation of innovative mathematical models, analysis, and algorithms for decision-making related to design, planning, and operation of service, manufacturing, and other complex systems. Specifically, the program supports two main types of research: (i) innovations in general-purpose methodology related to optimization, stochastic modeling, and decision and game theory; and (ii) research grounded in relevant applications that require the development of novel and customized analytical and computational methodologies. Application areas of interest include supply chains and logistics; risk management; healthcare; environment; energy production and distribution; mechanism design and incentives; production planning, maintenance, process monitoring and quality control; and national security. Of particular interest are methods that incorporate increasingly rich and diverse sources of data to support decision-making.