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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): NSF Biotechnology, Biochemical, and Biomass Engineering (BBBE) Program

What is the NSF BBBE program?

The Biotechnology, Biochemical, and Biomass Engineering (BBBE) program is an NSF discretionary research grant program that supports fundamental engineering research focused on understanding cellular and biomolecular processes and converting that understanding into enabling technologies or future applications.

What kinds of research does BBBE fund?

BBBE funds fundamental engineering research at the intersection of engineering and the life sciences. A central emphasis is on how biomolecules and cells behave in realistic environments (in vivo, in vitro, and/or ex vivo), and how molecular-level interactions translate into measurable changes in structure, function, phenotype, and behavior.

What is the program looking for beyond describing biology?

The solicitation stresses that competitive proposals should not only describe biological phenomena, but treat them as engineered systems. Projects are expected to include rigorous quantitative measurement, modeling, and (where appropriate) control, since quantitative assessment of bioprocesses is considered essential within this portfolio.

What makes a proposal competitive in BBBE?

Proposals are expected to be novel and potentially transformative, with a clear explanation of what is new compared to prior work, why the new concept matters for engineering science, and what plausible downstream societal and/or industrial impacts could result if the research succeeds. The opportunity also emphasizes connecting research with education and coherently integrating multiple disciplines where relevant.

Which research themes are explicitly highlighted as especially relevant?

The program explicitly highlights several themes as especially relevant:

• Metabolic engineering and synthetic biology
• Quantitative systems biotechnology (including systems-level measurement, modeling, and control)
• Tissue engineering and stem cell culture technologies
• Protein engineering and protein design
• Development of new "omics" tools intended for biotechnology applications

Can BBBE consider projects outside the listed themes?

Yes. The program indicates it will consider other ideas within scope. However, investigators are advised to contact the Program Director ahead of time if the project falls outside the explicitly listed areas to reduce the risk of the proposal being returned without review.

Does BBBE support areas like nanobiotechnology, fermentation, cell culture, recombinant DNA, or enzyme technology?

Yes. The scope is broad enough to include nanobiotechnology, fermentation, cell culture, recombinant DNA approaches, and enzyme technology. At the same time, the solicitation sets an expectation that work in these areas should be highly innovative and potentially transformative to be competitive under BBBE.

How long are typical unsolicited BBBE awards?

Unsolicited awards are generally expected to run one to three years.

What are typical annual budget levels for BBBE awards?

Typical annual award sizes average around $100,000 per year for single-investigator projects and about $200,000 per year for multi-investigator projects.

What if a project needs a budget substantially higher than the typical annual levels?

The solicitation cautions that proposals requesting substantially more than the typical annual levels should be discussed with the Program Director in advance. If not discussed, the proposal may be returned without review.

What are the published award floor and ceiling in the opportunity listing?

The published award floor and ceiling in the source data are $300,000 (floor) and $600,000 (ceiling).

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The opportunity states there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement.

How much total funding and how many awards are expected?

The opportunity listing estimates a total funding amount of about $8.2 million and an expectation of roughly 34 awards.

Where should the novelty or transformative angle appear in the proposal?

The solicitation specifically calls out that the novelty or transformative aspect should appear at least in the Project Summary, rather than being buried deeper in the narrative.

What does the program mean by connecting research with education?

The solicitation indicates that proposals bringing together multiple disciplines in a coherent way and connecting research with education are especially encouraged, as part of the program's interest in transformative, well-integrated projects.

When must proposals be submitted?

Proposals must be submitted within the announced proposal window and by 5 p.m. local time. Proposals received outside the window will be returned without review.

What was the historical proposal window for the specific posting described?

The historical window listed for this posting ran from August 15, 2011 to September 15, 2011. The opportunity was posted June 8, 2011 and is identified by Funding Opportunity Number PD 12-1491.

Who is eligible to apply?

The opportunity is described as broadly open to eligible applicants (unrestricted), subject to any clarifications in the full text.

Are CAREER proposals relevant to BBBE?

Yes. The solicitation notes that NSF mechanisms such as CAREER proposals are strongly encouraged for early-career faculty. It also notes a typical five-year duration and an annual July deadline for Engineering CAREER submissions.

Are conference, workshop, or supplement proposals allowed?

The program notes that conference, workshop, and supplement proposals may be considered, but they should be discussed with the Program Director before submission.

Are RAPID or EAGER proposals possible under BBBE?

Yes. The solicitation indicates that RAPID and EAGER proposals are possible when appropriate, and that they require prior discussion with the Program Director.

Can a proposal be returned without review, and why?

Yes. The solicitation notes several situations that can lead to return without review, including submission outside the proposal window and requesting substantially more than typical annual funding levels without prior discussion with the Program Director. It also advises contacting the Program Director for projects outside the explicitly listed themes to reduce the risk of return without review.

Do funding decisions depend only on reviewer scores?

No. The solicitation states that NSF may consider additional factors such as portfolio balance across subfields, overlap with other funding sources, total funds available, and broader Foundation priorities and policies.

What kinds of impacts does BBBE expect proposals to discuss?

The opportunity emphasizes articulating plausible downstream impacts for society and/or industry if the research succeeds. It also describes the importance of a convincing narrative about how the work could unlock new bioprocess understanding or capability relevant to areas such as biopharma, biotechnology, bioenergy, health, or environmental applications.

What is the overall emphasis across the CBET cluster for proposals like this?

Across CBET programs (the NSF Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems cluster that includes BBBE), proposals are expected to clearly explain what is new relative to prior work, why it matters for engineering science, and what downstream impacts could follow if successful.