Chemical and Biological Separations | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - NSF Chemical and Biological Separations (CBS) Program (PD 13 1417)

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

The NSF Chemical and Biological Separations (CBS) program (Funding Opportunity Number PD 13 1417) supports fundamental, engineering-science research that creates new methods, materials, and concepts for separation processes. The program is housed within NSF's CBET community and focuses on advancing separation science through first-principles understanding and predictive capability.

What kinds of separations does CBS care about, and why are separations important?

CBS is centered on separation processes that underpin many process-oriented industries, including chemical manufacturing, biotechnology and bioprocessing, materials production, energy, and pharmaceuticals. The program motivation is that better separations can improve resource efficiency and support environmental protection, and that major advances require deeper mechanistic understanding of complex (often multiphase) systems.

What is the main scientific emphasis of this opportunity?

A central emphasis is mechanistic insight. Proposals are expected to address interfacial phenomena, mass and momentum transport, and thermodynamic behavior in multiphase chemical systems. The program looks for quantitative descriptions that connect molecular or mesoscale behavior to process performance, with an emphasis on explaining and predicting separation performance rather than only demonstrating that something works.

Does CBS fund applied demonstrations or pilot-scale validation projects?

Based on the program description, the strongest fit is work grounded in fundamental engineering science with predictive and explanatory power. The program repeatedly emphasizes mechanistic understanding, quantitative modeling/description, and links from molecular or mesoscale phenomena to process performance, rather than demonstration-only projects.

What does CBS mean by "first-principles understanding"?

In this context, first-principles understanding refers to developing deeper, fundamental explanations of how complex, often multiphase separation systems behave, especially at interfaces and under transport and thermodynamic constraints, and translating that understanding into quantitative, predictive descriptions of separation performance.

What types of interdisciplinary work does CBS encourage?

CBS explicitly encourages interdisciplinary ideas that combine chemical engineering fundamentals with relevant chemistry, materials science, biology, physics, and data or modeling approaches when appropriate. Interdisciplinarity is framed as a way to build mechanistic insight and predictive frameworks for separations.

What are the high-interest research topics highlighted by the program?

CBS highlights several areas as particularly high-interest:

• Molecular-level fundamentals of nanostructured materials for separations (e.g., selective membranes, nanoporous media, tailored interfaces, functionalized surfaces)
• Separation processes tied to biorenewable resources (e.g., isolating, purifying, or fractionating biomass-derived molecules and intermediates)
• Technologies and mechanisms relevant to drinking-water purification
• Separations driven or enhanced by external fields (including flow fields, magnetic fields, and electric fields)
• Approaches for separating specific molecular constituents from blood, connecting to diagnostics, therapeutics, and biomedical processing

Can proposals be funded if they are outside the listed high-interest topics?

Yes. The program states that innovative proposals outside the named priority areas may be considered if they fit the CBS mission and are compelling in novelty and impact. The solicitation also emphasizes contacting the Program Director when a project falls outside the explicitly named focus areas to confirm program fit.

What does CBS expect in terms of connecting science to process performance?

The program expects quantitative descriptions that link molecular or mesoscale behavior to process-level performance. The intent is to develop methods and concepts that can explain and predict how a separation will perform under relevant constraints (transport, thermodynamics, interfaces), not just show that a separation can be achieved.

How important are interfaces and multiphase behavior in CBS proposals?

They are central. The opportunity repeatedly emphasizes complex, often multiphase systems, particularly behavior at interfaces, and requires attention to interfacial phenomena alongside mass/momentum transport and thermodynamics.

What are the typical award duration and budget levels for unsolicited research awards?

Unsolicited research awards are generally 1 to 3 years in duration, with an average annual award size of about $80,000.

What happens if a proposal budget is substantially higher than the typical level?

The program cautions that proposals requesting substantially more than the typical level may be returned without review unless the PI consults with the Program Director in advance. The stated expectation is to discuss higher-than-typical budgets before submitting to reduce the risk of administrative return without review.

Does CBS accept small equipment proposals?

Yes. The program will consider small equipment proposals under $100,000, submitted during the annual submission window.

Is there a submission window, and what happens if you submit outside of it?

Yes. CBS enforces a submission window rather than accepting proposals at any time. Unsolicited proposals submitted outside the announced window dates are returned without review, so submitting within the window is a key compliance requirement.

What are key proposal expectations shared across CBET programs that matter here?

The opportunity notes several expectations that apply across CBET programs:

• Clearly explain what is new or potentially transformative compared to prior work
• Make a strong case for why the research matters to engineering science, not only to an application area
• Articulate potential societal and/or industrial impact if the work succeeds
• State novelty/transformative angle at a minimum in the Project Summary (often a first screening point for fit and significance)

How important is the Project Summary for CBS proposals?

It is especially important. The program notes that the novelty or transformative aspect must be stated at a minimum in the Project Summary, which is often the first screening point for fit and significance.

Does CBS require integration of research and education?

Yes. The opportunity emphasizes integration of research and education. Investigators are typically expected to describe how students will be trained, how research will be incorporated into teaching or broader educational efforts, and how the project will build workforce capability in separation science and engineering.

Does the program consider factors beyond reviewer ratings when making funding decisions?

Yes. The opportunity states that funding decisions may be influenced by programmatic factors beyond reviewer ratings, including balance across subfields, overlap with other funding sources, total funds available in a given year, and NSF-wide priorities and policies.

Is this a competitive program, and what scale of funding is indicated?

The archived posting lists an estimated total funding level of $3.2 million and an expected number of awards of around 10. This suggests a competitive program with limited award slots.

What is the grant instrument and CFDA listing for this opportunity?

The posted opportunity metadata indicates the grant instrument is a grant and the CFDA is 47.041 (Engineering Grants).

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The opportunity metadata states that cost sharing or matching is not required.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning a wide range of institution types may apply, subject to any clarifications in the full solicitation.

Should applicants contact the Program Director before submitting?

The program strongly emphasizes contacting the Program Director in specific cases, including when a proposal requests higher-than-typical budgets or when the project falls outside the explicitly named focus areas, to confirm fit and to reduce the risk of a proposal being returned without review.

Does CBS encourage CAREER proposals?

Yes. CBS strongly encourages Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) proposals. CAREER awards are five-year awards with a separate Engineering CAREER deadline (typically in July each year).

Are conference or workshop proposals supported under CBS?

Yes. The program can accommodate conference and workshop proposals when appropriate. The opportunity suggests these are ideally submitted in the regular window and discussed with the Program Director beforehand.

What are RAPID and EAGER in relation to CBS, and are they allowed?

The opportunity notes special rapid or exploratory mechanisms such as RAPID and EAGER may be used when appropriate, and that they require prior discussion with the Program Director before submission.

What is the overarching mission of CBS in one sentence?

To advance fundamental separation science and engineering by developing new methods, materials, and concepts grounded in mechanistic understanding and predictive capability, with the broader aim of improving resource efficiency and supporting environmental protection.