Funder: National Science Foundation
Due Dates: July 15, 2025 (CAREER) | Rolling (Other proposals)
Funding Amounts: Typical awards: up to 3 years for unsolicited proposals; 5 years for CAREER; single-PI budgets usually support one graduate student and up to one month of PI time per year; larger budgets for multi-PI projects.
Summary: Supports fundamental research on interactions of nanomaterials and nanosystems with biological and environmental media to advance understanding and enable sustainable solutions.
Key Information: Contact the program director before submitting proposals outside the core focus areas or for RAPID/EAGER/GOALI types.
Description
The program supports research that advances fundamental and quantitative understanding of how nanomaterials and nanosystems interact with biological and environmental media. The focus is on elucidating the physical, chemical, photonic, electronic, and biological behaviors of nanostructures—such as nanoparticles, quantum dots, dendritic and micelle structures, and nano-bio hybrid assemblies—especially as these differ from their bulk counterparts.
Key research areas include:
- Characterization of interactions at interfaces between nanomaterials/nanosystems and biological/environmental media.
- Development of predictive tools for nanostructure behavior to inform cost-effective, environmentally benign engineering solutions across the full material life cycle.
- Examination of the transport, interaction, and impact of nanostructured materials on biological systems and the environment.
- Simulations and new theoretical approaches for nanoparticle behavior at interfaces, including experimental validation.
- Investigations of quantum vibronic and spin phenomena as they relate to nanoscale effects.
The program encourages collaborative and interdisciplinary proposals. Exploratory research on quantum effects at the nanoscale, which can explain macroscopic changes and physiological or metabolic processes, is also supported.
Proposals that focus on atomic- and molecular-scale interfacial phenomena relevant to industrial chemical or biochemical processes may be better suited for the Interfacial Engineering program (CBET 1417). Researchers are encouraged to consult with program directors regarding programmatic fit.
Due Dates
- Engineering CAREER proposals: July 15, 2025 (estimated, mid-July annually)
- Unsolicited, RAPID, EAGER, and GOALI proposals: Accepted anytime (rolling submission)
Funding Amount
- Unsolicited proposals: Up to 3 years of support.
- CAREER awards: 5 years of support.
- Typical single-investigator budgets: Support for one graduate student (or equivalent) and up to one month of PI time per year.
- Multi-investigator projects: Larger budgets possible; discuss with program director if proposing a significantly larger budget.
- Number of awards: Approximately 100 awards expected annually (across the cluster).
Eligibility
- Open to U.S. institutions and researchers, including colleges, universities, and other eligible organizations.
- No cost-sharing or matching requirement.
- Proposals must comply with the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG).
Application Process
- Submission: Proposals must be submitted via NSF FastLane, Research.gov, or Grants.gov.
- Proposal requirements: Follow the current PAPPG and address the novelty, transformative potential, and societal/industrial impact of the proposed work.
- Special proposal types: For RAPID, EAGER, GOALI, conference, or supplement proposals, contact the program director before submission.
- Compliance: Non-compliant proposals will be returned without review.
Additional Information
- Recent awards: Researchers can view abstracts and budgets of recent awards via the NSF award search.
- Program fit: Innovative proposals outside the listed focus areas may be considered, but prior consultation with the program director is strongly recommended.
- Award conditions: Awards made on or after October 1, 2024, are subject to updated NSF award conditions (details).
External Links
Contact Information
For general NSF inquiries:
- NSF Contact Page
- Phone: 1-703-292-5111
- Email: info@nsf.gov