MPS Materials Research Programs (MPS Materials)
NSF MPS funds basic research on materials and their properties across areas like biomaterials, ceramics, polymers, and more, seeking ambitious, foundational science without requiring immediate applications.
Funder: U.S. National Science Foundation
Due Dates: Anytime (full proposals) | September 25, 2076 (listed closing date)
Funding Amounts: $100 million anticipated program funding; 200–300 awards expected
Summary: NSF supports foundational research that advances understanding of materials, their properties, and potential applications.
Key Information: A PI or co-PI may generally be listed on only one covered proposal per federal fiscal year.
Description
The U.S. National Science Foundation’s Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS) brings eight materials research programs under this solicitation. They support foundational work in biomaterials, ceramics, condensed matter and materials theory, condensed matter physics, electronic and photonic materials, metals and metallic nanostructures, polymers, and solid state and materials chemistry. Projects may be experimental, theoretical, computational, or a combination.
NSF is particularly interested in intellectually ambitious and potentially transformative research, including work that crosses disciplinary boundaries. Proposals can advance understanding through materials discovery, characterization, modeling, synthesis, or investigation of materials properties and phenomena. They do not need to promise a near-term product or commercial outcome. Materials research centers and certain other opportunities use separate solicitations.
