Funding-Limited Submission – NSF – Scalable Nanomanufacturing (SNM) (NSF 13-545): March 26, 2013

Description: NSF announces a third year of a program on collaborative research and education in the area of scalable nanomanufacturing, including the long-term societal implications of the large-scale implementation of nanomanufacturing innovations. Although many nanofabrication techniques have demonstrated the ability to fabricate small quantities of nanomaterials and devices for characterization and evaluation purposes, the emphasis of this program is on research to overcome the key impediments that prevent the low cost production of useful nanomaterials, devices and systems at industrially relevant scale. Therefore, competitive proposals will incorporate three elements in their research plans:

• A persuasive argument that the nanomaterials, devices or systems to be produced have or are likely to have sufficient demand to justify eventual scale-up;
• A clearly identified and arguably complete set of research issues that must be addressed to enable the low cost production of high quality products; and
• A compelling research plan with clear objectives to overcome the identified research issues that is supported by preliminary results relevant to scale-up.

The mode of support is Nanoscale Interdisciplinary Research Teams (NIRT). Proposals submitted to this program must address at least one, and preferably more than one, of the following interconnected themes:

• Novel processes and techniques for continuous and scalable nanomanufacturing;
• Directed (e.g. physical/chemical/biological) self-assembly processes leading to heterogeneous nanostructures with the potential for high-rate production;
• Fundamental scientific research in well-defined areas that are compellingly justified as critical impediments to scale-up;
• Principles and design methods to produce machines and processes to manufacture nanoscale structures, devices and systems; and/or
• Societal, environmental and educational implications of the large-scale production and use of nanomaterials, devices and systems, including the life-cycle analysis of such nanomaterials, devices and systems.

Other research and education projects in nanoscale science and engineering will continue to be supported in the relevant programs and divisions.

Eligibility: Principal Investigators must be at the faculty level or equivalent.

Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization: An academic may submit no more than one (1) proposal as the lead organization. The same organization may be a collaborative partner in any number of other multi-organization group proposals in which it is not the lead.

See the complete solicitation for additional details and requirements: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2013/nsf13545/nsf13545.htm?WT.mc_id=USNSF_25&WT.mc_ev=click

Because NSF limits the number of applications per institution, the University of Kentucky has established an internal selection process.  Researchers interested in submitting a proposal with UK as the lead institution are to submit the following materials electronically to the Office of the Vice President for Research at   limitedsubmissions@uky.edu and to their Associate Dean for Research by Tuesday, March 26, 2013:

(1) Names and departments of the PI, senior project personnel, and any project partners

(2) Project description (2 p. maximum) including the priority theme(s) to be addressed, the management plan, and the education and outreach aspects of the project.

The Vice President for Research will appoint a committee to review the material and make recommendations as to the University’s applicant. Questions about the submission process may be sent to Ms. Annette Evans in the Office of the Vice President for Research (alevan4@email.uky.edu or 257-1663).

NSF Deadline: June 3, 2013