[U.S. National Science Foundation](https://www.nsf.gov)

Proposals accepted anytime | July 23, 2025 (Engineering CAREER)

Typical award: $100,000/year for 1–3 years (unsolicited); CAREER awards: 5 years; Total program funding: ~$4.65M/year

Supports fundamental research in combustion and fire systems to advance energy efficiency, clean environments, and public safety.

--- ## Description This program supports fundamental research in combustion and fire systems, aiming to advance energy conversion efficiency, improve energy security, enable cleaner environments, and enhance public safety. It is part of the NSF Transport Phenomena cluster and encourages proposals that develop new scientific knowledge for practical combustion applications and fire mitigation. The program seeks to identify and understand basic principles, and to create predictive tools for designing and optimizing combustion devices and fire prevention strategies. Research areas of interest include: - **Basic Combustion Science:** Gas, liquid, and solid fuel combustion across diverse temperatures and pressures; supercritical combustion; UAV propulsion; flame synthesis; fuel design integration; chemical kinetics and modeling; diagnostic tool development. - **Combustion Science Related to Clean Energy:** Efficiency improvements; pollution reduction; renewable/biomass fuels; gasification; fast pyrolysis; carbon capture technologies (e.g., oxy-fuel, chemical looping). - **Fire Prevention:** Understanding and preventing fire spread; fire growth inhibition and suppression; wildland fire prediction and mitigation. Innovative proposals outside these areas may be considered, but PIs are encouraged to contact the Program Director prior to submission. --- ## Due Dates - **Unsolicited Proposals:** Accepted anytime. - **Engineering CAREER Proposals:** July 23, 2025. - **Other Proposal Types (RAPID, EAGER, GOALI, Conferences/Workshops):** Contact Program Director for guidance. --- ## Funding Amount - **Typical Award:** $100,000 per year for 1–3 years (unsolicited proposals). - **CAREER Awards:** 5 years (see [NSF CAREER program](http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503214)). - **Total Program Funding:** Approximately $4,654,000 annually. - Proposals requesting substantially higher budgets require prior consultation with the Program Director. --- ## Eligibility - **Eligible Applicants:** Unrestricted (open to all entities, including universities, non-profits, industry, and government labs). - **Additional Notes:** All proposals must comply with the [NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG)](https://www.nsf.gov/policies/pappg/24-1). --- ## Application Process - **Submission:** Proposals are submitted via [NSF FastLane](https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/), [Research.gov](https://www.research.gov/), or [Grants.gov](https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/359423). - **Compliance:** Proposals not compliant with the PAPPG will be returned without review. - **Consultation:** Strongly encouraged to discuss innovative, RAPID, EAGER, GOALI, or conference/workshop proposals with the Program Director before submission. - **Project Summary:** Must clearly address the novelty or potentially transformative nature of the research and its potential impact. --- ## Additional Information - **Special Proposal Types:** - **CAREER**: Early-career faculty are encouraged to apply. - **RAPID/EAGER:** For high-risk, high-reward, or urgent research. Requires Program Director approval prior to submission. - **GOALI:** For academia-industry partnerships; must align with program interests and be submitted during the annual window. - **Indirect Costs:** NSF policy implements a standard indirect cost rate; see [policy notice](https://www.nsf.gov/policies/document/indirect-cost-rate). - **Award Duration:** 1–3 years (unsolicited); 5 years (CAREER). --- ## External Links - [Program Information & Solicitation (NSF)](http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=505474) - [Official Grants.gov Listing](https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/359423) - [NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG)](https://www.nsf.gov/policies/pappg/24-1) - [NSF CAREER Program](http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503214) - [GOALI Information](https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/policydocs/pappg17_1/pappg_2.jsp#IIE4) - [Browse Funded Projects](https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/advancedSearchResult?ProgEleCode=140700&BooleanElement=Any&BooleanRef=Any&ActiveAwards=true#results) --- ## Contact Information | Name | Email | Phone | Organization | |-------------------|------------------------------|--------------|------------------| | Harsha Chelliah | [hchellia@nsf.gov](mailto:hchellia@nsf.gov) | 703-292-7062 | ENG/CBET (NSF) | | NSF Grants.gov Support | [grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov](mailto:grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov) | — | NSF |

Combustion and Fire Systems

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