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

Proposals accepted anytime | July 15, 2025 (CAREER)

Typical awards up to 3 years; single PI budgets usually support one grad student and one month PI time/year; CAREER awards up to 5 years; total program funding estimated at $9,175,000.

Supports fundamental research to advance understanding of fluid dynamics through experiments, theory, and computation.

--- ## Description The Fluid Dynamics program, part of NSF's Transport Phenomena cluster, funds fundamental research to deepen the scientific understanding of fluid flow phenomena. Projects may involve experimental, theoretical, or computational approaches and should aim to advance basic knowledge in fluid dynamics. Key research areas include turbulence and transition (including high-speed flows), bio-fluid physics, non-Newtonian fluid mechanics, micro/nanofluidics, wind and ocean energy harvesting, fluid-structure interactions, canonical configurations, and the application of AI/machine learning to fluid dynamics. The program encourages interdisciplinary and innovative proposals, especially those that combine experiments and simulations, develop new instrumentation or diagnostics, or advance the use of AI in modeling and controlling fluid flows. There is a joint funding area with the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) for hypersonic applications. Proposals must clearly articulate the novelty and potentially transformative aspects of the research and its broader impacts on engineering science and society. --- ## Due Dates - Proposals are accepted at any time for unsolicited research, RAPID, EAGER, and GOALI proposals. - Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) program proposals are due July 15, 2025 (Engineering). - Conference, workshop, and supplement proposals should be discussed with the program director prior to submission. --- ## Funding Amount - Typical unsolicited research awards are up to 3 years in duration. - Single-investigator awards generally support one graduate student (or equivalent) and up to one month of PI time per year; multi-investigator projects may be larger. - Program-wide, approximately $9,175,000 in total funding is available. - CAREER awards are up to 5 years. - Proposal budgets significantly larger than typical should be discussed with the program director in advance. --- ## Eligibility - Eligibility is unrestricted; open to universities, colleges, non-profits, for-profit organizations, and other entities. - Proposals must comply with the [NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG)](https://www.nsf.gov/policies/pappg/24-1). --- ## Application Process - Submit proposals via [NSF FastLane](https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/), [Research.gov](https://www.research.gov/), or [Grants.gov](https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/359435). - Proposals should address the project's novelty, transformative potential, and broader impacts. - For RAPID, EAGER, GOALI, conference, or workshop proposals, contact the program director before submission. - Proposals must adhere to all requirements in the [PAPPG](https://www.nsf.gov/policies/pappg/24-1). --- ## Additional Information - The program is not appropriate for proposals using fluid flows solely as boundary conditions or driving forces, or for work focused on particulates, colloids, multiphase rheology (see Particulate and Multiphase Processes program), materials synthesis/processing (see Advanced Manufacturing), or biological systems (see Physiological and Structural Systems). - Joint NSF-AFOSR proposals for hypersonic applications are possible; these will be reviewed jointly and funding split determined post-selection. - Proposers are encouraged to review [recently funded projects](https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/advancedSearchResult?ProgEleCode=144300&BooleanElement=Any&BooleanRef=Any&ActiveAwards=true#results) for guidance. --- ## External Links - [NSF Fluid Dynamics Program Page](https://www.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/fluid-dynamics/505698/pd21-1443) - [NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG)](https://www.nsf.gov/policies/pappg/24-1) - [Grants.gov Opportunity Listing](https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/359435) - [CAREER Program Description](https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503214) - [Recent Awards Made Through This Program](https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/advancedSearchResult?ProgEleCode=144300&BooleanElement=Any&BooleanRef=Any&ActiveAwards=true#results) --- ## Contact Information | Name | Email | Phone | Organization | |-------------------------|---------------------------------|----------------|--------------| | Shahab Shojaei-Zadeh | [sshojaei@nsf.gov](mailto:sshojaei@nsf.gov) | (703) 292-8045 | ENG/CBET | | Ronald D. Joslin | [rjoslin@nsf.gov](mailto:rjoslin@nsf.gov) | (703) 292-7030 | ENG/CBET | | NSF Grants.gov Support | [grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov](mailto:grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov) | | |

Fluid Dynamics

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