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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - NSF Chemical and Biological Separations (CBS) Program (PD 15-1417)

1) What is the NSF Chemical and Biological Separations (CBS) program?

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Chemical and Biological Separations (CBS) program supports research that creates new methods, materials, and scientific understanding for separation processes. The focus is on advancing fundamental engineering science for how complex, multiphase chemical and biological systems behave, especially at interfaces and under transport and thermodynamic constraints.

2) What kinds of "separations" does this program care about, and why are separations important?

Separations are described as a core enabling technology across multiple sectors, including chemicals, biomanufacturing, materials processing, energy, environmental systems, and pharmaceuticals. The opportunity emphasizes that separations often drive industrial energy use, cost, and waste, so improved separations can help manage resources better and prevent or reduce environmental impacts.

3) Is the CBS program looking for applied projects or fundamental research?

The program is oriented toward fundamental, generalizable engineering science. It highlights the need to build scientific understanding of complex chemical and biological systems (including interfacial behavior and transport/thermodynamic constraints) rather than focusing only on application-specific outcomes.

4) How important is novelty or "transformative" potential in a CBS proposal?

Novelty is a major emphasis. The program states that proposals should be genuinely novel or potentially transformative relative to the state of the art. An incremental improvement alone is presented as insufficient; applicants are expected to explain what is fundamentally new, why it matters for engineering science, and what societal or industrial benefits could follow if the work succeeds.

5) Does NSF encourage interdisciplinary projects under CBS?

Yes. The program highlights the value of interdisciplinary research, especially efforts connecting fields such as chemical engineering, materials science, chemistry, biology, and environmental engineering. At the same time, the expectation remains that the project should produce fundamental, generalizable knowledge.

6) What does "integration of research and education" mean for this opportunity?

The opportunity notes an expectation that projects should integrate research and education. This is described in terms of showing how students will be trained and how knowledge will be disseminated through activities such as teaching, mentoring, or outreach.

7) What research topics are explicitly highlighted as areas of special interest?

The solicitation calls out several areas of special interest (with an emphasis on molecular-level fundamentals), including:

• Separations enabled by nanostructured materials
• Separation processes for biorenewable resources
• Technologies for purification of drinking water
• Field-induced separations using flow fields or magnetic or electric fields to drive selectivity
• Methods for separating specific molecular constituents from blood

8) Can I submit an innovative separation idea that is not on the highlighted list?

The program indicates that innovative proposals outside the listed topics may be considered. However, NSF explicitly recommends contacting the Program Director before submitting outside the highlighted areas to reduce the risk that the proposal could be returned without review due to program fit.

9) When is it recommended to contact the Program Director before submitting?

Based on the opportunity text, prior contact is explicitly recommended or expected in several situations, including:

• When the proposed topic falls outside the listed areas of special interest (to confirm program fit)
• When requesting a budget substantially higher than the typical level (to avoid return without review)
• When considering conference, workshop, or supplement proposals (encouraged to discuss before submitting)
• Before submitting RAPID or EAGER proposals (requires prior discussion)

10) What is the typical award duration for unsolicited CBS awards?

Unsolicited CBS awards are typically one to three years in length.

11) What is the typical funding level for CBS awards, and are there budget cautions?

A common budget level is about $100,000 per year. NSF cautions that proposals requesting substantially more than this amount may be returned without review unless the principal investigator has discussed the higher budget with the Program Director in advance.

12) What is the estimated total funding amount listed in the opportunity snapshot?

The opportunity snapshot lists an estimated total funding amount of $3.2 million.

13) Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The snapshot indicates there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.

14) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants are listed as "unrestricted," meaning it is broadly open to applicant types unless other eligibility limits are described elsewhere in NSF policy or related text.

15) Are CAREER proposals encouraged under CBS?

Yes. CAREER proposals for early-career faculty are strongly encouraged. The text notes that CAREER awards typically provide five years of support, and it references an engineering CAREER deadline in July each year.

16) Can CBS support conferences, workshops, or supplements?

The program may consider proposals for conferences, workshops, and supplements. Investigators are encouraged to discuss these with the Program Director before submitting.

17) What are RAPID and EAGER mechanisms in the context of this opportunity?

The program indicates that RAPID (Rapid Response Research) and EAGER (Early-concept Grants for Exploratory Research) mechanisms are available when appropriate, but they require prior discussion with the Program Director before submission.

18) What is a GOALI proposal, and does CBS encourage them?

CBS encourages GOALI proposals (Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry). GOALI proposals are intended to connect fundamental research with translational outcomes in collaboration with industry. The text also notes that GOALI submissions must be made during the annual unsolicited proposal window for the program.

19) How should sustainability-themed separations proposals be labeled?

If a separations project fits within sustainable chemistry or sustainable engineering themes, NSF suggests submitting it to CBS while labeling the proposal title with the prefix "SusChEM: Title of Your Proposal" to indicate alignment with the Sustainable Chemistry, Engineering, and Materials (SusChEM) activity.

20) What compliance rules govern proposal preparation and submission?

Proposals must follow the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG). The opportunity underscores that noncompliant submissions can be returned without review.

21) What happens if an unsolicited proposal is submitted outside the program's proposal window dates?

The opportunity states that unsolicited proposals submitted outside the announced proposal window dates are returned without review.

22) Is this specific funding opportunity still active?

The announcement details indicate it is no longer active as written. It lists an original posting date of July 24, 2015, an original and current closing date of October 20, 2015, and an archive date of November 19, 2016. The text also notes that the CBS program itself may continue under updated NSF solicitations.

23) What is the funding opportunity number for this CBS announcement?

The funding opportunity number provided is PD 15-1417.

24) What is the main motivation NSF gives for advancing separations research through CBS?

The opportunity links separations research to improved resource management and prevention or reduction of environmental impacts, emphasizing that separations often dominate energy use, cost, and waste in industrial practice.