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Particle physics plays an essential role in the broader enterprise of the physical sciences. It inspires U.S. students, attracts talent from around the world, and drives critical intellectual and technological advances in other fields. It is entering an era of unprecedented potential as a result of new discoveries about matter and energy in the Universe. Particle Physics seeks to explore the fundamental nature of matter, energy, space, and time. It asks such questions as: What are the origins of mass? Can the basic forces of nature be unified? How did the universe begin? How will it evolve in the future? What are dark matter and dark energy? Are there extra dimensions of space-time? Formerly separate questions in cosmology (the universe on the largest scales) and quantum phenomena (the universe on the smallest scales) become connected through our understanding that the early universe can be explored through the techniques of particle physics. At the NSF, research related to particle physics is supported by four programs within the Division of Physics: (1) the Theoretical Elementary Particle Physics Program; (2) the Theoretical Particle Astrophysics/Cosmology Program; (3) the Experimental Elementary Particle Physics (EPP) Program, which supports particle physics at accelerators; and (4) the Experimental Particle Astrophysics (PA) Program, which supports non-accelerator experiments.The Particle Astrophysics program supports university research in many areas of particle astrophysics, including the study of ultra-high energy particles reaching Earth from beyond our atmosphere, experiments or research and development projects for underground facilities and non-accelerator-based experiments studying the properties of neutrinos.

This National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Research Announcement (NRA) solicits ground-based research proposals from established researchers and graduate students to generate new scientific insights by utilizing experimental data residing in NASA's Physical Sciences Informatics (PSI) system (http://psi.nasa.gov), an online database of completed physical science reduced-gravity flight experiments conducted on the International Space Station (ISS), Space Shuttle flights, and Free-flyers, or from related ground-based studies. The solicitation (NNH17ZTT001N-17PSI-D), entitled "Use of the NASA Physical Sciences Informatics System - Appendix D," will be available on or about September 15, 2017. Upon release, the solicitation will be found via the following steps: 1. Open the NSPIRES homepage at http://nspires.nasaprs.com/ 2. Select "Solicitations" 3. Select "Open Solicitations" 4. Select "Use of the NASA Physical Sciences Informatics System NNH17ZTT001N" 5. Select List of Open Program Elements 6. Select "Use of the NASA Physical Sciences Informatics System - Appendix D" 7. Select "Appendix D NNH17ZTT001N-17PSI-D" under Announcement Documents. NASA plans to host a proposers' conference via WebEx shortly after the release of the Appendix to provide more information and to answer questions about the NRA and the PSI system. NASA's Physical Sciences Research Program conducts fundamental and applied physical sciences research, with the objective of enabling exploration and pioneering scientific discovery.

The ASTRO-AAPM Physics Resident/Post-Doctoral Fellow Seed Grant is a joint effort to advance the field of radiation oncology in novel ways through the support of talented early-career scientists performing physics and radiation oncology-related research. The aim of the Physics Seed grant is to support the next generation of researchers. You are eligible if: You show a commitment to a career that focuses on physics-related research with a radiation oncology component. Your institution has a well-established research and clinical career development program and qualified faculty in physics and radiation oncology sciences to serve as mentors. If you are a physics resident, your institution is willing to commit 75 percent of your time to research for at least one year One grant of up to $25,000 will be awarded. The recipient is expected to devote 75 percent of their professional effort toward the goals of this award.

The Gravitational Physics program supports research at the frontiers of science aimed towards answering questions about the nature of space and time, the gravitational attraction at atomically small and cosmological large distances and the use of gravitational waves to explore the universe. The Theoretical Gravitational Physics program supports research on classical and quantum gravity theory, including gravitational wave source simulations and other phenomena associated with strong field gravity and the interface between gravitation and quantum mechanics. This includes formulating new approaches for theoretical, computational, and experimental research that explore the fundamental laws of physics and the behavior of physical systems and, in some cases, interpreting the results of experiments. The effort also includes a considerable number of interdisciplinary grants.

The Gravitational Physics program supports research at the frontiers of science aimed towards answering questions about the nature of space and time, the gravitational attraction at atomically small and cosmological large distances and the use of gravitational waves to explore the universe.The Theoretical Gravitational Physics program supports research on classical and quantum gravity theory, including gravitational wave source simulations and other phenomena associated with strong field gravity and the interface between gravitation and quantum mechanics. This includes formulating new approaches for theoretical, computational, and experimental research that explore the fundamental laws of physics and the behavior of physical systems and, in some cases, interpreting the results of experiments. The effort also includes a considerable number of interdisciplinary grants. In addition, the program supports infrastructure activities such as short- and long-term visitor programs, workshops, and research centers involving the participation of external scientists from universities, national laboratories, and industry, as well as graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.

The Gravitational Physics program supports research at the frontiers of science aimed towards answering questions about the nature of space and time, the gravitational attraction at atomically small and cosmological large distances and the use of gravitational waves to explore the universe. The Experimental Gravitational Physics program supports research that includes tests on the inverse distance square law of gravitational attraction, Lorentz invariance and Equivalence Principle as well as the direct detection of gravitational waves. This program oversees the management of the construction, commissioning, and operation of the Laser Interferometer Gravity Wave Observatory (LIGO), and provides support for LIGO users and other experimental investigations in gravitational physics and related areas. This includes tasks that range from instrument science, data analysis and detector characterization to source population calculations and the connection between the gravitational waves and the electromagnetic and neutrino signatures of astrophysical events.

The Bose-Einstein Condensate Cold Atom Laboratory (BECCAL) facility on the International Space Station (ISS) will be a joint Bose-Einstein-Condensate (BEC) and Cold Atom Laboratory (CAL) facility to perform experiments in free fall in microgravity on timescales inaccessible on the ground. The facility which was developed through cooperation between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) will allow scientists to perform experiments in atom optics, physics of quantum degenerate gases and their mixtures without gravity effects. In particular, it will offer better atom interferometer implementations on ISS with precision science measurements. The experiments are also motivated by future high precision matter wave experiments in fundamental physics and applications in Earth observation and space physics. Therefore it will allow to study and employ different methods and phenomena such as evaporation, Bose-Einstein condensation, delta-kick collimation, atom interferometry and the physics of atomic mixtures.

The Gravitational Physics program supports research at the frontiers of science aimed towards answering questions about the nature of space and time, the gravitational attraction at atomically small and cosmological large distances and the use of gravitational waves to explore the universe.The Experimental Gravitational Physics program supports research that includes tests on the inverse distance square law of gravitational attraction, Lorentz invariance and Equivalence Principle as well as the direct detection of gravitational waves. This program oversees the management of the construction, commissioning, and operation of the Laser Interferometer Gravity Wave Observatory (LIGO), and provides support for LIGO users and other experimental investigations in gravitational physics and related areas. This includes tasks that range from instrument science, data analysis and detector characterization to source population calculations and the connection between the gravitational waves and the electromagnetic and neutrino signatures of astrophysical events.In addition, the program supports infrastructure activities such as short- and long-term visitor programs, workshops, and research centers involving the participation of external scientists from universities, national laboratories, and industry, as well as graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.

The Geospace Section of the Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences, to ensure the health and vitality of solar and space sciences on university teaching faculties, is pleased to offer awards for the creation of new tenure-track faculty positions within the intellectual disciplines which comprise the space sciences. The aim of these awards is to integrate research topics in solar and space physics into basic physics, astronomy, electrical engineering, geoscience, meteorology, computer science, and applied mathematics programs, and to develop space physics graduate programs capable of training the next generation of leaders in this field. Space Science is interdisciplinary in nature and the Faculty Development in the Space Sciences awardees will be expected to establish partnerships within the university community.

The Geospace Section of the Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences is pleased to offer awards for the creation of new tenure-track faculty positions within the intellectual disciplines which comprise the space sciences to ensure the health and vitality of solar and space sciences on university teaching faculties. The aim of these awards is to integrate research topics in solar and space physics into basic physics, astronomy, electrical engineering, geoscience, meteorology, computer science, and applied mathematics programs, and to develop space physics graduate programs capable of training the next generation of leaders in this field. Space Science is interdisciplinary in nature and the Faculty Development in the Space Sciences awardees will be expected to establish partnerships within the university community.  NSF funding will support the entire academic year salary and benefits of the newly recruited tenure-track faculty member for a duration of up to five years with a total award amount not to exceed $1,500,000.

The Geospace Section of the Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences, to ensure the health and vitality of solar and space sciences on university teaching faculties, is pleased to offer awards for the creation of new tenure-track faculty positions within the intellectual disciplines which comprise the space sciences.  The aim of these awards is to integrate research topics in solar and space physics into basic physics, astronomy, electrical engineering, geoscience, meteorology, computer science, and applied mathematics programs, and to develop space physics graduate programs capable of training the next generation of leaders in this field.  Space Science is interdisciplinary in nature and the Faculty Development in the Space Sciences awardees will be expected to establish partnerships within the university community.   

The Geospace Section of the Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences is pleased to offer awards for the creation of new tenure-track faculty positions within the intellectual disciplines which comprise the space sciences to ensure the health and vitality of solar and space sciences on university teaching faculties. The aim of these awards is to integrate research topics in solar and space physics into basic physics, astronomy, electrical engineering, geoscience, meteorology, computer science, and applied mathematics programs, and to develop space physics graduate programs capable of training the next generation of leaders in this field. Space Science is interdisciplinary in nature and the Faculty Development in the Space Sciences awardees will be expected to establish partnerships within the university community. NSF funding will support the entire academic year salary and benefits of the newly recruited tenure-track faculty member for a duration of up to five years with a total award amount not to exceed $1,500,000.

The Geospace Section of the Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences is pleased to offer awards for the creation of new tenure-track faculty positions within the intellectual disciplines which comprise the space sciences to ensure the health and vitality of solar and space sciences on university teaching faculties. The aim of these awards is to integrate research topics in solar and space physics into basic physics, astronomy, electrical engineering, geoscience, meteorology, computer science, and applied mathematics programs, and to develop space physics graduate programs capable of training the next generation of leaders in this field. Space Science is interdisciplinary in nature and the Faculty Development in the Space Sciences awardees will be expected to establish partnerships within the university community.NSF funding will support the entire academic year salary and benefits of the newly recruited tenure-track faculty member for a duration of up to five years with a total award amount not to exceed $1,500,000.

This National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Research Announcement (NRA) solicits ground-based research proposals from established researchers and graduate students to generate new scientific insights by utilizing experimental data residing in NASA's Physical Sciences Informatics (PSI) system (http://psi.nasa.gov), an online database of past and current physical science microgravity flight experiments conducted on the International Space Station (ISS) and the Space Shuttle.

The Directorates for Engineering (Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental & Transport Systems), Geosciences (Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences) and Mathematical and Physical Sciences (Divisions of Astronomical Sciences and Physics) of the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Office of Science/Office of Fusion Energy Sciences (SC/FES) of the Department of Energy (DOE) are continuing in FY2014 the joint Partnership in Basic Plasma Science and Engineering begun in FY1997 and continued in FY2000, FY2003, FY2006 and FY2009. As stated in the original solicitations (NSF 97-39, NSF 99-159, NSF 02-84, NSF 05-619, NSF 09-596), which are superseded by the present solicitation, the goal of the initiative is to enhance plasma research and education in this broad, multidisciplinary field by coordinating efforts and combining resources of the two agencies. The current solicitation also encourages submission of proposals to perform basic plasma experiments on the Large Aperture Plasma Device (LAPD) at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), a unique user facility designed to serve the needs of the broader plasma community.

This National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Research Announcement (NRA) solicits materials science research to be conducted aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The research will be conducted as part of the NASA Physical Sciences MaterialsLab Open Science Campaign.

The Directorates for Engineering (Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental & Transport Systems), Geosciences (Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences) and Mathematical and Physical Sciences (Divisions of Astronomical Sciences and Physics) of the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Office of Science/Office of Fusion Energy Sciences (SC/FES) of the Department of Energy (DOE) are continuing in FY2014 the joint Partnership in Basic Plasma Science and Engineering begun in FY1997 and continued in FY2000, FY2003, FY2006 and FY2009. As stated in the original solicitations (NSF 97-39, NSF 99-159, NSF 02-84, NSF 05-619, NSF 09-596), which are superseded by the present solicitation, the goal of the initiative is to enhance plasma research and education in this broad, multidisciplinary field by coordinating efforts and combining resources of the two agencies. The current solicitation also encourages submission of proposals to perform basic plasma experiments on the Large Aperture Plasma Device (LAPD) at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), a unique user facility designed to serve the needs of the broader plasma community.

The Smart and Autonomous Systems (S&AS) program focuses on Intelligent Physical Systems (IPS) that are capable of robust, long-term autonomy requiring minimal or no human operator intervention in the face of uncertain, unanticipated, and dynamically changing situations. IPS are systems that combine perception, cognition, communication, and actuation to operate in the physical world. Examples include, but are not limited to, robotic platforms, self-driving vehicles, underwater exploration vehicles, and smart grids. Most current IPS operate in pre-programmed ways and in a limited variety of contexts. They are largely incapable of handling novel situations, or of even understanding when they are outside their areas of expertise. To achieve robust, long-term autonomy, however, future IPS need to be aware of their capabilities and limitations and to adapt their behaviors to compensate for limitations and/or changing conditions.

NASA's Space Life and Physical Sciences Research and Applications Division (SLPSRAD) has been invited to participate in the Orion Exploration Mission 1 (EM-1), which is an unmanned lunar orbital flight tentatively scheduled to occur in 2019. The NASA Space Biology Program has been allocated two experiment payload locations inside the EM-1 Orion capsule for the specific purpose of conducting scientific investigations. NASA is soliciting proposals for biological studies that contribute answers to NASA's Strategic Objectives 1.2: Understand Responses of Physical and Biological Systems to Spaceflight, and 2.2: Conduct Exploration in Deep Space, (https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/nasa_2018_strategic_plan.pdf), the National Academy of Science (NAS) Decadal report (http://www.nap.edu/catalog/13048.html) recommendations for exploration, and Space Biology research priorities (https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/16-05-11_sb_plan_2.pdf ).

Geospace Environment Modeling (GEM) is a broad-based research program investigating the physics of the Earth's magnetosphere and the coupling of the magnetosphere to the atmosphere and to the solar wind. The goal of the GEM program is to make accurate predictions of the geospace environment by developing physical understanding of the large-scale organization and dynamics from observations, theory, and increasingly realistic models.