Chemistry of Life Processes | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): NSF Chemistry of Life Processes (CLP) Program

1) What is the NSF Chemistry of Life Processes (CLP) Program?

The Chemistry of Life Processes (CLP) Program is a National Science Foundation (NSF) discretionary grant opportunity in the Science and Technology/Research and Development category that supports basic research at the intersection of chemistry and biology, with the key requirement that the main intellectual advances come from chemistry.

2) What kinds of research does CLP fund?

CLP funds fundamental studies that use chemical principles, methods, and theory to explain how biologically important molecules are built, how they behave, and how they react. Typical CLP projects focus on molecular structure, chemical reactivity, and reaction mechanisms in living or biologically relevant systems, where chemical insight is the central contribution.

3) What is the most important fit requirement for CLP proposals?

The central fit requirement is that the primary intellectual advances and deliverables of the project must be chemistry-centered. The biological context can motivate the work, but the core contribution should be chemical understanding, chemical methodology, or chemistry-driven innovation rather than primarily biological discovery.

4) Are interdisciplinary projects expected or allowed?

Yes. CLP explicitly expects intrinsically interdisciplinary work because many real problems in biological chemistry do not fit neatly within a single discipline. Projects may blend experimental and/or theoretical approaches as long as the chemistry is the main driver of the intellectual advances.

5) What biomolecules or systems are commonly included in CLP projects?

Projects often address major classes of biomolecules such as proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and lipids. The program supports research on the chemistry underlying biomolecular function as well as chemistry of molecules designed to probe biological systems.

6) What approaches or topics are examples of a good CLP fit?

Examples described as aligning well with CLP include:

• Mechanistic enzymology framed as a chemistry problem
• Physical organic or inorganic approaches to active-site function
• Development and chemical characterization of probes that report on biological processes
• Computational and spectroscopic studies linking biomolecular structure to chemical reactivity

7) What types of proposals are likely not a good fit for CLP?

Proposals are likely not a good fit if they are primarily biology-driven (for example, emphasizing cellular pathways, gene regulation, organismal biology, or predominantly biological discovery) or primarily biomedical in objective (for example, disease treatment, clinical relevance, or health-directed goals).

8) Where should biology-driven proposals be directed instead?

If a project mainly addresses a biological question (such as pathways, regulation, or organismal biology), NSF indicates it may be more appropriate for the Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences (MCB).

9) Where should biomedical or health-directed proposals be directed instead?

If the work is aimed mainly at biomedical outcomes (such as disease treatment, clinical relevance, or health-directed goals), NSF notes it may be more appropriate for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) or other health-focused agencies.

10) Can a CLP proposal include biological relevance without becoming "biology-driven"?

Yes. Based on the program description, the biological context can motivate the research, but the main deliverables should be chemical: chemical understanding, chemical theory, chemical methods, or chemistry-centered innovation.

11) What is the NSF sustainable chemistry emphasis mentioned in the announcement?

The announcement flags an NSF emphasis area in sustainable chemistry. If a CLP proposal has significant sustainable chemistry content, applicants are encouraged to identify it so it is visible within the broader NSF priority area.

12) How should applicants label proposals with significant sustainable chemistry content?

Applicants are encouraged to title the proposal using the format: "SusChEM: Name of Your Proposal". The announcement also advises consulting the NSF Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) that describes the SusChEM emphasis area.

13) What is the Funding Opportunity Number for CLP?

The opportunity is identified as Funding Opportunity Number PD 09 6883 under NSF.

14) What is the CFDA number associated with this program listing?

The listing provides CFDA number 47.049, identified as Mathematical and Physical Sciences.

15) How many awards does the program anticipate making?

The source listing indicates the program anticipated around 50 awards.

16) Is cost sharing or matching required?

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

17) Who is eligible to apply?

The listing states eligibility is unrestricted (open to any type of entity), subject to any specific eligibility clarifications included in the full program text.

18) What does it mean that this is a discretionary grant opportunity?

Based on the information provided, CLP is described as a discretionary grant opportunity, meaning it is offered under NSF program authority in the Science and Technology/Research and Development category (as presented in the listing).

19) How are submissions scheduled for this program?

Historically, the program used recurring "CHE Submission Window" cycles (Chemistry Division windows) across multiple years. The listing references an original 2009 posting and subsequent submission windows, and shows a later closing date as part of an archived opportunity record.

20) Who should applicants contact for Grants.gov access questions?

For practical questions about accessing the announcement through Grants.gov, the listing points to NSF Grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.