(FOA)-Understanding
the Rules of Life: Microbiome Theory and Mechanisms (URoL:MTM); January 17,
2020
Agency
National
Science Foundation
Description
The
URoL:MTM program invites
integrated, interdisciplinary proposals that develop theoretical predictive
frameworks with well-designed experimental and/or computational approaches to
generate and test hypotheses about the causal relationships within the
microbiome, and among the microbiome, host, and environment. How these
relationships affect robustness, resilience, and adaptability of individual
organisms, populations, and communities are also of interest. Projects may
apply existing ecological and evolutionary theory or develop new experimental,
computational, or mathematical tools, models, and theory to: i)
explain function and interactions in natural, experimental, and model
microbiomes; ii) elucidate the molecular mechanisms that underlie communication
between the host and the microbiome and among the members of the microbiome;
and/or iii) comparatively analyze microbiomes to discover emergent properties
that provide insight into the behavior of living systems.
Successful
projects will contribute to a portfolio of research that identifies general
principles ("rules") that underlie a wide spectrum of biological phenomena
across spatial, temporal (from sub-second to geologic), and/or complexity
(molecular, cellular, organismal, population) scales. URoL:MTM projects must
integrate perspectives and research approaches from more than one research
discipline (e.g., biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering,
geosciences, mathematics, physics, social and behavioral sciences). They must
also incorporate best practices regarding protocol documentation, sample
selection, data collection and analysis, model/algorithm development, as well as
data sharing and accessibility. The interdisciplinary scope of URoL:MTM projects should provide unique training and
outreach opportunities to train the next generation of scientists in a
diversity of scientific approaches and to engage society more
generally.
Announcement
Number:
NSF
20-513
Closing
Date:
Letter
of Intent Due: January 17, 2020
Full
Proposal Deadline: March 02, 2020
Link
to Full Announcement
https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2020/nsf20513/nsf20513.htm?WT.mc_id=USNSF_25&WT.mc_ev=click
Contact
Information
Catalina
Achim
(703)
292-2048