Opportunity Information: Apply for PD 11 1774
Apply for PD 11 1774
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Ceramics" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.049 Mathematical and Physical Sciences.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 13, 2014 and posted on Apr 23, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Opportunity PD 11 1774 has been archived and replaced by PD 14 1774.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Opportunity Summary:
The National Science Foundation (NSF) Ceramics program is a discretionary grant opportunity focused on fundamental, discovery-driven research in ceramics and closely related inorganic materials. It supports projects that advance basic scientific understanding and improve the ability to predict how a material will behave based on how it is made. The central goal is to strengthen the links between synthesis and processing methods, the resulting microstructure, and the properties and performance of ceramics in real environments and applications. The program explicitly welcomes projects that combine experimental work with theory and modeling, especially when that integration leads to clearer mechanisms and stronger predictive capability.
The scope of materials covered is broad and includes traditional and advanced ceramics such as oxides, carbides, nitrides, and borides, as well as glasses, ceramic-based composites, and inorganic carbon-based materials. The microstructures of interest range from single-crystal and polycrystalline systems to amorphous materials, composites, and nanostructured architectures. Within that range, NSF highlights research on core mechanisms and phenomena that govern how these materials form and evolve, including nucleation and growth (with attention to both thin films and bulk crystal growth), phase transformations and phase equilibria, morphology development, surface modification, corrosion and degradation, and the behavior of interfaces, grain boundaries, and defects. In other words, proposals are expected to dig into underlying processes rather than primarily emphasizing product development or near-term commercialization.
A notable feature of the program is its encouragement of new experimental techniques and novel research approaches. That can include innovative characterization methods, new processing routes, creative ways to couple experiments with simulations, or other methodological advances that allow researchers to probe mechanisms that were previously inaccessible. For investigators who are unsure whether their topic fits the Ceramics program, NSF indicates that a practical path is to email a draft NSF Project Summary to the Program Director for informal feedback before submitting a full proposal.
Project duration is flexible, but four-year awards are encouraged, with shorter projects also considered. Proposals may include funds for equipment or instrumentation needed to execute the research, typically under $100,000, as part of the overall project budget rather than as a separate request. NSF also emphasizes submitting proposals early in the submission window to allow time to correct compliance or formatting issues that can delay or prevent review.
Like most NSF programs, this opportunity places strong weight on broader impacts and advises principal investigators to include all planned broader impact activities directly in the initial proposal rather than relying on later supplements. Examples of expected broader impacts include: (1) clear scientific, engineering, or technological significance and potential societal benefit, (2) concrete plans to disseminate results (publications, open data where appropriate, outreach, workshops, educational materials, etc.), and (3) efforts to broaden participation of underrepresented groups and/or demonstrate excellence in training, mentoring, and teaching. NSF notes that many competitive proposals go beyond the basics by adding at least one additional, well-designed broader impact activity and encourages investigators to collaborate with partners who have relevant expertise (for example, education specialists or outreach organizations) to ensure those activities are effective rather than merely aspirational.
Administratively, the opportunity was originally posted April 23, 2011 (Funding Opportunity Number PD 11 1774) under the NSF Mathematical and Physical Sciences area (CFDA 47.049), with target dates of September 1 and October 31 each year. The record indicates no cost sharing requirement and broadly unrestricted eligibility (open to any type of entity, subject to any clarifications in the full announcement). The specific listing provided is archived and was replaced by PD 14 1774 as of January 13, 2014, so anyone seeking to apply would need to use the current replacement solicitation rather than the archived one.
NSF Ceramics Program (NSF) Grant Opportunity - FAQs
1. What is the NSF Ceramics program?
The NSF Ceramics program is a discretionary research grant opportunity that supports fundamental, discovery-driven research in ceramics and closely related inorganic materials. The emphasis is on advancing basic scientific understanding rather than product development or near-term commercialization.
2. What kinds of research does this program prioritize?
The program prioritizes research that strengthens the link between (1) how a ceramic material is synthesized or processed, (2) the microstructure that results, and (3) the properties and performance observed in real environments and applications. A key theme is improving the ability to predict how a material will behave based on how it is made.
3. Is this program focused on applied product development or commercialization?
No. Proposals are expected to focus on underlying mechanisms and fundamental processes. While real environments and applications are relevant for performance considerations, the program is framed around basic science and predictive understanding rather than primarily emphasizing product development or near-term commercialization.
4. What materials are within scope for the NSF Ceramics program?
The scope is broad and includes traditional and advanced ceramics such as oxides, carbides, nitrides, and borides. It also includes glasses, ceramic-based composites, and inorganic carbon-based materials.
5. What microstructures are of interest?
The program is interested in a wide range of microstructures, including single-crystal and polycrystalline systems, amorphous materials, composites, and nanostructured architectures.
6. What scientific topics and mechanisms does NSF highlight for ceramics research?
NSF highlights core mechanisms and phenomena that govern how ceramics and related inorganic materials form and evolve, including:
- Nucleation and growth (including both thin films and bulk crystal growth)
- Phase transformations and phase equilibria
- Morphology development
- Surface modification
- Corrosion and degradation
- Interfaces, grain boundaries, and defects
7. Are projects that combine experiments with theory or modeling encouraged?
Yes. The program explicitly welcomes projects that integrate experimental work with theory and modeling, especially when the integration clarifies mechanisms and improves predictive capability.
8. Does the program encourage new methods or experimental techniques?
Yes. A notable feature is encouragement of new experimental techniques and novel research approaches. This can include innovative characterization methods, new processing routes, creative couplings of experiments with simulations, or other methodological advances that enable researchers to probe mechanisms that were previously difficult to access.
9. What is a practical way to confirm whether a topic fits the Ceramics program?
NSF indicates that investigators who are unsure about fit can email a draft NSF Project Summary to the Program Director for informal feedback before submitting a full proposal.
10. What project duration does NSF prefer for this program?
Project duration is flexible. Four-year awards are encouraged, and shorter projects are also considered.
11. Can a proposal include funds for equipment or instrumentation?
Yes. Proposals may include funds for equipment or instrumentation needed to execute the research, typically under $100,000. These costs are included as part of the overall project budget rather than submitted as a separate request.
12. When should proposals be submitted?
NSF emphasizes submitting proposals early in the submission window to allow time to correct compliance or formatting issues that can delay or prevent review.
13. What are the target dates associated with this opportunity?
The archived listing shows target dates of September 1 and October 31 each year.
14. Are broader impacts important for this NSF program?
Yes. Like most NSF programs, this opportunity places strong weight on broader impacts and advises principal investigators to include all planned broader impact activities directly in the initial proposal rather than relying on later supplements.
15. What examples of broader impacts are mentioned for competitive proposals?
The opportunity describes broader impacts such as:
- Clear scientific, engineering, or technological significance and potential societal benefit
- Concrete plans to disseminate results (for example, publications, open data where appropriate, outreach, workshops, educational materials)
- Efforts to broaden participation of underrepresented groups and/or demonstrate excellence in training, mentoring, and teaching
16. What does NSF suggest to make broader impact plans more competitive?
NSF notes that many competitive proposals go beyond the basics by adding at least one additional, well-designed broader impact activity. It also encourages investigators to collaborate with partners who have relevant expertise (such as education specialists or outreach organizations) so broader impact activities are effective rather than merely aspirational.
17. Is cost sharing required for this opportunity?
The record indicates there is no cost sharing requirement.
18. Who is eligible to apply?
The listing indicates broadly unrestricted eligibility (open to any type of entity), subject to any clarifications in the full announcement.
19. What are the administrative details for this program listing?
The opportunity was originally posted April 23, 2011 as Funding Opportunity Number PD 11 1774, under NSF Mathematical and Physical Sciences, with CFDA 47.049.
20. Is this specific listing still active?
No. The specific listing provided is archived and was replaced by PD 14 1774 as of January 13, 2014. Anyone seeking to apply would need to use the current replacement solicitation rather than the archived one.
21. If the listing is archived, can applicants still use its target dates and instructions?
The information provided indicates the listing is archived and replaced, so applicants should rely on the current replacement solicitation (PD 14 1774) rather than using the archived document as the controlling set of instructions or dates.
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