Combustion, Fire, and Plasma Systems | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the NSF Combustion, Fire, and Plasma Systems program?

It is a National Science Foundation (NSF) basic research and education funding opportunity within NSF Engineering that supports fundamental scientific understanding in combustion, fire phenomena, and certain types of plasma science (especially plasma processing). The program is designed to generate foundational knowledge, broadly usable methods, and enabling tools rather than near-term product development or applied engineering demonstrations.

What kinds of outcomes does the program emphasize?

The program emphasizes fundamental understanding and broadly applicable capabilities that others can later translate into practical systems. Strong outcomes often include generalizable insights, theory, datasets, computational models, experiments, diagnostic techniques, instrumentation approaches, or shared research resources that advance the wider community rather than solving only one narrow case.

Is this program meant for near-term product development or technology demonstrations?

No. The program is positioned as a source of foundational scientific knowledge and broadly enabling methods, not as a funding source for near-term product development or applied engineering demonstrations.

What public benefits does NSF associate with this fundamental research area?

NSF notes that foundational work in combustion, fire, and plasma systems can enable broad public benefits over time, including cleaner local and global environments, better public safety, improved energy and homeland security, new materials, and more efficient manufacturing. The emphasis, however, remains on the underlying science and methods.

What combustion research topics are within scope?

The program covers a wide range of combustion science, including gas, liquid, and solid combustion in multiple configurations such as premixed, non-premixed, partially premixed, and flow reactor settings. It also includes laminar and turbulent combustion and research across varied temperatures, pressures, and physical length scales, including flame and plasma structure and dynamics.

What fire science topics are within scope?

Fire-focused topics include improved understanding of flame spread, as well as inhibition and suppression. The intent is to advance understanding of how fires start, propagate, and can be controlled.

What plasma research is in scope for this program?

The plasma component is generally tied to plasma processing. NSF calls out atmospheric-pressure plasmas and other emerging plasma processing methods with relevance to biotechnology, materials synthesis, and industrial applications.

Are fusion energy or atmospheric science plasma topics supported here?

Typically no. Plasma topics more directly aligned with atmospheric science or fusion energy are generally funded through other NSF programs rather than this one.

Does the program support research related to alternative fuels?

Yes. The program encourages science that supports the transition to domestically generated alternative fuels, including fundamental understanding of ignition, stability, emissions, and performance when fuel chemistry and supply chains change.

Does the program support pollution mitigation research?

Yes. The program supports fundamental work on mitigating pollution generated by combustion.

Is climate change technology research eligible under this program?

Basic climate change technology research is included when it is directly tied to combustion, fire, or plasma systems.

How important are diagnostics and measurement tool development in this program?

Diagnostics are a major interest area. Proposals that develop new measurement tools or enabling science for advanced diagnostics are explicitly encouraged, reflecting the need to observe fast, coupled chemical and fluid processes under harsh conditions.

Are interdisciplinary projects encouraged?

Yes. Cross-cutting and interdisciplinary efforts are welcomed, including projects at the intersection of nanotechnology with combustion, fire, or plasma processing.

Can a proposal combine combustion and plasma science?

Yes. NSF explicitly encourages projects that combine combustion and plasma science or that advance both fields simultaneously.

Does the program support cyberinfrastructure-related work?

Yes. The program notes interest in projects that contribute to emerging cyberinfrastructure for scientific information technology, such as shared computational platforms, data resources, software tools, or information systems that can accelerate research for the broader community.

What is the typical duration of an unsolicited research grant?

Unsolicited research grants are generally supported for one to three years.

What is the typical award size?

The average annual award size is around $90,000 for unsolicited research grants.

Are small equipment proposals allowed?

Small equipment proposals under $100,000 may be considered, but they must be submitted within the specified submission windows.

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

Proposals submitted outside the announced dates are returned without review. Timing is treated as a compliance requirement, not a flexible guideline.

Are CAREER proposals supported under this program?

Yes. CAREER proposals follow NSF Engineering CAREER timelines and are five-year awards, with an annual deadline typically in July for Engineering CAREER submissions.

Can conference or workshop proposals be submitted?

Yes. Conference, workshop, and supplement proposals can be submitted at any time, but they are expected to be discussed with the program director before submission.

Are RAPID and EAGER proposals available, and is prior coordination required?

Yes. RAPID (Rapid Response Research) and EAGER (EArly-concept Grants for Exploratory Research) mechanisms are available and replace the older SGER mechanism. These mechanisms require prior discussion with the program director before submission.

What rules govern proposal preparation?

Proposal preparation is governed by NSF policy guidance in the Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) referenced in the announcement.

Is cost sharing required?

No. The administrative details indicate there is no cost sharing requirement.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as broadly open (unrestricted), subject to any clarifications in the official NSF text.

What program area and assistance listing does this fall under?

The source record identifies this as an NSF Engineering Grants opportunity with CFDA 47.041.

What are the submission dates and are they current?

The archived listing shows historical submission windows of August 15 through September 15 on an annual basis, along with an older posting period (original closing date in 2009 and archive date in 2010). Applicants should confirm the current program description and active deadlines on NSF's website.

If the listing is archived, is the program focus still relevant?

Based on the provided description, the core program focus remains centered on fundamental combustion, fire, and plasma-processing science, along with broadly enabling tools and research infrastructure intended to serve many applications later on. For actual submission planning, the current NSF program page should be checked for active details.