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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - NSF Chemical and Biological Separations (CBS) Program (PD 12-1417)

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

The NSF Chemical and Biological Separations (CBS) program (Funding Opportunity Number PD 12-1417) supports fundamental research that creates new methods, materials, and scientific understanding for separation processes. The program is oriented toward early-stage, science-driven advances rather than incremental process optimization.

What kinds of industries or application areas are tied to this program?

Separations are central to many major sectors, including chemical and biochemical manufacturing, materials processing, energy production, pharmaceuticals, and environmental technologies. CBS-funded work is expected to strengthen the core science that can later enable better industrial performance, improved resource efficiency, and stronger environmental protection.

What type of research is this program trying to fund (fundamental vs. applied)?

CBS emphasizes fundamental, early-stage research that develops core principles and new scientific understanding. The program explicitly signals that it is not focused on incremental process optimization; instead, it looks for work that is novel and potentially transformative relative to the state of the field.

What scientific topics or phenomena should projects help explain?

Projects are expected to deepen understanding of how multiphase chemical systems behave, particularly at interfaces, during transport, and under relevant thermodynamic conditions. The program also expects quantitative descriptions of processing behavior that matter in real process-oriented industries.

What priority research topics does CBS highlight as especially timely?

The solicitation highlights several priority areas of particular interest:

• Molecular-level and fundamental studies of nanostructured materials for separations (for example, membranes, sorbents, and porous media with engineered nanoscale features)
• Separation processes connected to biorenewable resources (for example, fractionation or purification steps for biomass-derived feedstocks)
• Technologies that improve purification of drinking water
• Field-induced separations using flow fields, magnetic fields, or electric fields to drive or enhance selectivity and throughput
• Methods for separating specific molecular constituents from blood, linking separations science to biomedical and diagnostic needs

Can proposals be competitive if they are outside the listed priority topics?

Yes. The solicitation states that innovative work outside the singled-out themes can still be considered, particularly if the underlying separation science is compelling and potentially transformative. For concepts that do not fit neatly into the listed areas, contacting the Program Director before submission is recommended to reduce the risk of being judged out of scope.

What does NSF mean here by "novel" and "potentially transformative"?

Based on the notice, CBS expects proposals to present ideas that represent a clear leap beyond the existing state of the field. The proposal should make that case plainly, including in the Project Summary, and should explain why the work matters for engineering science (the fundamental knowledge contribution) as well as plausible downstream impacts if the research succeeds.

How important is the Project Summary for this opportunity?

The program explicitly expects the proposal to clearly make the case for novelty and potentially transformative impact, including in the Project Summary. In practice, that means the Project Summary should not just describe the topic area, but also highlight the scientific leap and why it matters.

What kinds of broader impacts are the program looking for?

Proposals should articulate plausible downstream impacts on society and/or industry if the research succeeds. The solicitation frames likely impact areas around enabling more efficient resource use, strengthening environmental protection, and advancing separation capabilities relevant to industrial, environmental, or biomedical challenges.

Does the CBS program encourage interdisciplinary research?

Yes. The program encourages interdisciplinary thinking, and it notes alignment for proposals that bridge areas such as chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, biotechnology, and the physics of transport phenomena (and related areas).

Is integrating education and research expected?

The solicitation explicitly values integration of education and research, consistent with broader NSF expectations. Examples mentioned include training students, developing educational components, and building research experiences that broaden participation and support workforce development.

What type of awards does CBS typically make?

Awards are typically made as standard grants.

What is the typical project duration for CBS awards?

Unsolicited award durations are generally one to three years.

What is the typical award size for CBS funding?

The program reports an average annual award size of about $80,000. This figure is presented as a practical benchmark for calibrating the scope and budget of a typical proposal.

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

The solicitation warns that proposals requesting substantially more than the average annual award amount (about $80,000), without prior discussion with the Program Director, may be returned without review. This means budgeting and scope should be aligned to the program norm unless the higher request is discussed in advance.

Does the program support small equipment requests?

Yes. The program will consider small equipment proposals under $100,000, but the solicitation indicates these should be submitted during the annual submission window.

How many awards does NSF expect to make under this opportunity?

The opportunity anticipates roughly 10 awards.

What is the estimated total funding level for this opportunity?

The estimated total funding level is about $3.2 million.

Is cost sharing required?

No cost sharing is required according to the notice.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning it is open to any type of entity, subject to any clarifications contained in the full announcement.

What are the submission dates for this solicitation?

The submission window runs from August 15, 2011 through September 15, 2011, with proposals due by 5 p.m. local time.

What happens if a proposal is submitted outside the submission window?

The notice states that proposals submitted outside the announced window dates are expected to be returned without review.

Should applicants contact the Program Director before submitting?

The solicitation recommends contacting the Program Director when a project does not fit neatly into the listed areas of particular interest, to reduce the risk of being judged out of scope and returned without review. It also notes that prior consultation is required for certain mechanisms (for example, RAPID and EAGER).

Are CAREER proposals relevant to this program?

Yes. The notice states that CAREER proposals are strongly encouraged for early-career faculty. It also notes that CAREER proposals have a separate Engineering CAREER deadline in July and are typically five-year awards.

Are conference, workshop, or supplement requests allowed?

The solicitation indicates that conference/workshop/supplement requests are expected to align with regular windows and should be discussed with the Program Director.

Can RAPID or EAGER proposals be submitted to CBS?

RAPID and EAGER proposals may be considered when appropriate, but the notice states they require prior consultation with the Program Director before submission, consistent with NSF PAPPG rules.

Are funding decisions based only on reviewer scores?

No. The solicitation notes that funding decisions can reflect more than reviewer scores alone. Programmatic considerations such as balancing subfields, coordination with other available funding sources, overall budget limits, and broader NSF policies and priorities can influence outcomes.

What tends to characterize the strongest proposals for CBS?

Based on the notice, the strongest proposals typically combine: (1) a clear and defensible scientific leap in separations fundamentals, and (2) a well-argued rationale for how the new understanding or method could change what is possible in industrial, environmental, or biomedical separation challenges.