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NSF Biosensing Program (PD 10-7909) - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the NSF Biosensing Program trying to fund?

The NSF Biosensing Program is a research grant opportunity focused on transformative, innovative biosensing research. Its stated goal is to push biosensing beyond incremental improvements and toward fundamentally new approaches and devices with long-term national impact. The program emphasizes solving fundamental biosensing problems by applying bio-inspired engineering principles and building sophisticated sensing devices.

2) What does "biosensing" mean in this program?

In this program, biosensing centers on monitoring, identifying, and/or quantifying biological phenomena. The emphasis is on breakthrough technologies at the intersection of engineering, life sciences, and information technology.

3) Does NSF expect projects to be multidisciplinary?

Yes. The scope is intentionally multidisciplinary, and the program strongly favors projects built around close collaboration. NSF signals that many advances will require teams combining engineering and life science expertise, and potentially also nanotechnology, biomaterials, bioinformatics, and chemical and physical sciences.

4) Is collaboration required, or can a single investigator apply?

The program strongly favors collaboration, but it also lists typical annual award sizes for single-investigator projects, indicating single-investigator proposals are within scope. Multi-investigator projects are also clearly supported and have a higher typical annual award level.

5) What is the key scientific requirement about integrating engineering and biology?

A key requirement is that funded projects must advance both engineering and the life sciences. The program specifically emphasizes that biology should not be treated only as a sample source and engineering should not be treated only as a toolset; the work should move both areas forward.

6) What application areas does the program care about?

The objectives span foundational science and applied engineering tied to real-world needs. The solicitation highlights biomedical applications, food safety, energy, environmental monitoring, and security as important areas.

7) What kinds of detection targets are priorities?

Priority areas include new paradigms for detecting and identifying known or emerging pathogens, unknown toxins, and viral threat agents. The program also prioritizes biosensing approaches that are highly sensitive and strongly discriminative.

8) What sensor performance characteristics does NSF emphasize?

The program explicitly emphasizes sensor systems that substantially reduce false positives and false negatives while improving sensitivity. It also highlights robust, easy-to-operate systems capable of detecting multiple analytes under variable field conditions.

9) What are "integrated sensor systems" in this solicitation?

Integrated sensor systems are described as systems that combine sensing elements, probes, and actuators in new ways. The overall theme is integration that enables new capabilities rather than minor upgrades to existing designs.

10) What approaches to target recognition are encouraged?

The program highlights innovation in target recognition, including nanoscale structures with tunable selectivity, engineered proteins, signaling aptamers, ionophores, natural or artificial ion channels, bioderived designs, and molecularly imprinted polymers.

11) What are "molecular sentinels" and are they in scope?

Yes. The program calls out interest in practical, field-deployable monitoring systems described as "molecular sentinels" for food, water, and air quality, as well as monitoring of environmental and built environments (including community, industrial, and commercial structures).

12) Are cell-based or tissue-based sensors eligible topics?

Yes. Beyond purely molecular sensing, the program includes cell- and tissue-based sensors that report environmental, physiological, or genetic responses.

13) How important are materials and materials research to this program?

Materials research is described as central. Proposals can focus on building fundamental knowledge about multifunctional materials for biosensing, including materials with predefined physical, chemical, or biological characteristics, as well as biocompatible and stimuli-responsive materials that enable sensing.

14) What are "bio-based cyber approaches" in this context?

The program welcomes "bio-based cyber approaches," reflecting interest in information processing, computation, and data-driven biosensing concepts that link biological measurement with advanced analytics or cyberinfrastructure.

15) What are examples of projects that fit the program?

The solicitation provides examples such as: studying biomacromolecules (proteins/peptides) when confined or oriented at micro- and nano-interfaces for high-throughput sensing; plasmonic nanostructures; sensors built on artificial recognition elements and synthetic peptides; and new strategies for biorecognition.

16) Does the program support sensing of biological interactions (not just detecting an analyte)?

Yes. The examples include molecular sensors that monitor biological interactions such as protein-protein interactions or cell-to-cell signaling.

17) Are reversible or continuous monitoring concepts encouraged?

Yes. The solicitation highlights approaches enabling selective and reversible recognition events, including methods that can intentionally trigger analyte dissociation from antibodies to support continuous monitoring rather than one-time tests.

18) Are aptamers, quantum dots, and hybrid sensing platforms mentioned as relevant?

Yes. Specific examples include molecular beacon aptamer probes, quantum dots for intracellular protein monitoring paired with improved delivery methods, and hybrid sensing platforms that combine electrochemical, optical, and mass-sensitive techniques to provide richer data acquisition.

19) Is mRNA monitoring within scope?

Yes. The solicitation includes mRNA monitoring using molecular beacon DNA probes that bridge biochemical assays with in vivo analysis.

20) Does the program mention biocomputing?

Yes. Biocomputing based on bioanalytical processes is explicitly mentioned, and the program also indicates it is open to other novel concepts aligned with its goals.

21) What type of funding mechanism is this?

The opportunity supports grants and is described as discretionary science and technology research and development (R&D).

22) Roughly how many awards does NSF expect to make and what is the total funding level?

The program expects roughly five awards for the referenced cycle, with an estimated total program funding level of about $2.3 million.

23) What is the typical award size?

Typical annual award sizes are about $100,000 per year for single-investigator projects or $200,000 per year for multi-investigator projects, including indirect costs.

24) What is the typical project duration?

Typical project durations for unsolicited proposals are one to three years.

25) Is there an overall award floor and ceiling?

Yes. The opportunity record lists an award floor of $300,000 and a ceiling of $600,000, which aligns with multi-year totals depending on scope and duration.

26) Are small equipment proposals allowed?

Yes. The program will consider small equipment proposals under $100,000 when submitted during the designated windows.

27) Is cost sharing or matching required?

No cost sharing or matching requirement is indicated in the provided opportunity information.

28) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), subject to any additional eligibility language in the full announcement.

29) Are there strict submission windows and deadlines?

Yes. Proposals had to be submitted within specific submission windows (due by 5 p.m. local time). Proposals submitted outside the announced dates would be returned without review.

30) What dates are shown for the submission windows in the notice?

The archived notice lists submission windows in 2009 and early 2010.

31) How are CAREER proposals handled for this topic?

CAREER proposals are treated separately, with a five-year duration and a standing Engineering CAREER deadline in July each year.

32) Can conferences, workshops, or supplements be proposed under this program?

Yes. Proposals for conferences, workshops, and supplements may be submitted at any time, but the program requires prior discussion with the program director.

33) Are RAPID and EAGER submissions allowed?

Yes. RAPID and EAGER mechanisms are available (replacing the older SGER mechanism), and they require discussion with the program director before submission.

34) What proposal preparation rules apply?

Applicants are directed to follow the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) specified in the announcement for proposal preparation requirements.

35) What is the program identifier and CFDA number shown in the record?

The administrative details identify this opportunity as NSF program description PD 10-7909, under CFDA 47.041 (Engineering Grants).

36) Is this opportunity current?

The record indicates the notice was posted July 13, 2009 and later archived and replaced by PD 11-7909.

37) Who should be contacted for Grants.gov access or submission system issues?

For access or submission-system issues, the listing points applicants to NSF Grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.

38) Does the program include education and workforce development expectations?

Yes. The program highlights education and workforce development as an important component, reflecting the need for people who can work across disciplines from early discovery through application and deployment.