Opportunity Information: Apply for 11 545
Apply for 11 545
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences Investigator initiated research projects" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.074 Biological Sciences.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 14, 2013 and posted on May 10, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Full Proposal Deadline(s) May 21, 2012 January 28, 2013. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $65,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 100 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Organization Limit Proposals may only be submitted by the following Non profit, non academic organizations Independent museums, observatories, research labs, professional societies and similar organizations in the U.S. associated with educational or research activities. Universities and Colleges Universities and two and four year colleges (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members. Such organizations also are referred to as academic institutions. Organizations ineligible to submit a proposal in response to this solicitation cannot receive funds as subawardees. If a consortium of eligible organizations submit a collaborative proposal, it should be submitted as separate, linked collaborative proposals.
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Opportunity Summary:
The National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences (MCB) investigator-initiated research program (Funding Opportunity Number 11-545) funds basic, fundamental research aimed at explaining how living systems work at the molecular, subcellular, and cellular levels. The emphasis is on building core knowledge about biological mechanisms rather than on near-term clinical applications. MCB is looking for both hypothesis-driven projects and discovery-oriented, large-scale biology efforts, as long as the work advances foundational understanding of biology.
Scientifically, proposals are expected to fit within one or more of MCB's four core research clusters: biomolecular dynamics, structure, and function; cellular processes; genetic mechanisms; and networks and regulation. The solicitation is intentionally broad about approaches and organisms. Projects can use in vivo, in vitro, or in silico strategies, and they can rely on a wide range of model and non-model organisms, with a particular interest in microbes and plants. A common theme is integration of theory and experimentation, meaning MCB favors projects that do not only collect data, but also explain, predict, or generalize biological behavior through mechanistic reasoning, quantitative models, or testable theoretical frameworks.
A notable priority in this opportunity is work that brings in tools, methods, and thinking from outside traditional biology, especially from the physical sciences, mathematics, computer science, and engineering. MCB signals strong interest in projects that are quantitatively grounded or technology-enabled, particularly in emerging areas such as single-molecule and single-cell studies, molecular dynamics, small RNA and chromatin biology, predictive modeling of molecular and cellular complexity, and synthetic biology. The program also encourages research that improves understanding and prediction of the molecular and cellular bases of phenotypic variation and how organisms adapt to environmental change, which can include mechanistic links between genotype, regulation, cellular behavior, and observed traits.
From a review and selection standpoint, MCB states that the highest funding priority goes to proposals that excel in both NSF core review criteria: intellectual merit (the importance, rigor, and creativity of the science) and broader impacts (the value to society, such as education and training, broadening participation, outreach, data and resource sharing, or benefits to research infrastructure). While the research must be fundamental, applicants should still make a strong case that the work will advance the field and produce broadly useful knowledge, methods, or community resources.
There is also an important boundary condition: projects that are framed around direct relevance to human health, or that focus on the molecular basis of human diseases and treatments, are considered outside MCB's scope and will be returned without review. In practical terms, applicants need to ensure the motivation, aims, and language of the proposal are centered on basic biological principles rather than biomedical outcomes.
On the funding mechanics, this is a discretionary grant program in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category (CFDA 47.074, Biological Sciences). NSF anticipated about 100 awards with an estimated total funding level of $65,000,000, and the listed award floor is $500,000. Cost sharing is not required. Eligible applicants include U.S.-based accredited universities and colleges (including two-year and four-year institutions such as community colleges) submitting on behalf of faculty, as well as certain non-profit, non-academic organizations tied to education or research (for example, independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, and professional societies) located in the United States. The solicitation also clarifies that organizations not eligible to submit cannot participate as subawardees, and that collaborative consortia should be submitted as separate but linked collaborative proposals.
Key dates in the notice reflect multiple full proposal deadlines across cycles, including September 6, 2011; May 21, 2012; and January 28, 2013, with the record archived January 14, 2013 (posted May 10, 2011). The sponsoring agency is NSF, and the opportunity is associated with NSF Publication 11-545. For access or technical issues, the notice directs applicants to NSF Grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.
FAQs: NSF Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences (MCB) Investigator-Initiated Research Program (11-545)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is the National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences (MCB) investigator-initiated research program under Funding Opportunity Number (and NSF Publication) 11-545. It supports basic, fundamental research that explains how living systems work at molecular, subcellular, and cellular levels.
What kinds of research does MCB aim to support?
MCB funds foundational biology aimed at building core knowledge about biological mechanisms. The program supports both hypothesis-driven research and discovery-oriented, large-scale biology efforts, as long as the work advances fundamental understanding of biology rather than focusing on near-term clinical applications.
What is the main scientific focus of the program?
The focus is on explaining biological mechanisms at the molecular, subcellular, and cellular levels and producing broadly useful knowledge, methods, or community resources that advance the field.
What are the four core MCB research clusters proposals should align with?
Proposals are expected to fit within one or more of MCB's four clusters:
- Biomolecular dynamics, structure, and function
- Cellular processes
- Genetic mechanisms
- Networks and regulation
Does MCB limit what organisms or systems can be studied?
The solicitation is intentionally broad about approaches and organisms. Projects may use model or non-model organisms, with a particular interest noted in microbes and plants.
What types of research approaches are allowed (in vivo, in vitro, computational)?
MCB allows in vivo, in vitro, and in silico strategies. The program is broad about methods, provided the work advances foundational understanding of biology.
Is MCB looking for projects that integrate theory and experimentation?
Yes. A common theme is integrating theory and experimentation, meaning proposals are expected to go beyond collecting data by explaining, predicting, or generalizing biological behavior through mechanistic reasoning, quantitative models, or testable theoretical frameworks.
How important is quantitative or technology-enabled biology in this program?
MCB signals strong interest in quantitatively grounded or technology-enabled projects, especially those that bring tools and thinking from outside traditional biology, including physical sciences, mathematics, computer science, and engineering.
What emerging areas does MCB specifically highlight as being of interest?
Examples of emerging areas specifically mentioned include:
- Single-molecule and single-cell studies
- Molecular dynamics
- Small RNA and chromatin biology
- Predictive modeling of molecular and cellular complexity
- Synthetic biology
Does the program support research on phenotypic variation and environmental adaptation?
Yes. MCB encourages research that improves understanding and prediction of the molecular and cellular bases of phenotypic variation and how organisms adapt to environmental change. This can include mechanistic links between genotype, regulation, cellular behavior, and observed traits.
What are the NSF review criteria that matter most for this opportunity?
MCB states the highest funding priority goes to proposals that excel in both NSF core review criteria:
- Intellectual Merit: importance, rigor, and creativity of the science
- Broader Impacts: value to society (for example, education and training, broadening participation, outreach, data and resource sharing, or benefits to research infrastructure)
How does MCB describe its stance on broader impacts?
While the research must be fundamental, applicants are expected to make a strong case that the work will advance the field and produce broadly useful outcomes, which can include knowledge, methods, or community resources, as well as societal benefits such as education, training, outreach, broadening participation, and data/resource sharing.
Are biomedical or human health-focused projects allowed?
No. Projects framed around direct relevance to human health, or those focusing on the molecular basis of human diseases and treatments, are outside MCB's scope and will be returned without review.
How should applicants avoid being considered out of scope due to human health relevance?
Applicants should ensure the motivation, aims, and language of the proposal are centered on basic biological principles and foundational mechanisms rather than biomedical outcomes such as diseases, treatments, or direct human health relevance.
What type of grant program is this and what category does it fall under?
This is a discretionary grant program in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category. It is associated with CFDA 47.074 (Biological Sciences).
How many awards and how much total funding were anticipated?
NSF anticipated about 100 awards with an estimated total funding level of $65,000,000.
What is the listed award floor?
The listed award floor is $500,000.
Is cost sharing required?
No. Cost sharing is not required.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include U.S.-based accredited universities and colleges (including two-year and four-year institutions such as community colleges) applying on behalf of faculty, as well as certain U.S.-based non-profit, non-academic organizations tied to education or research (for example, independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, and professional societies).
Can ineligible organizations participate as subawardees?
No. The solicitation states that organizations that are not eligible to submit proposals cannot participate as subawardees.
How should collaborative consortia submit proposals?
Collaborative consortia should be submitted as separate but linked collaborative proposals.
What are the proposal deadline dates listed for this opportunity?
The notice reflects multiple full proposal deadlines across cycles, including September 6, 2011; May 21, 2012; and January 28, 2013.
When was the opportunity posted and when was it archived?
The record was posted May 10, 2011, and it was archived January 14, 2013.
Which agency sponsors this opportunity?
The sponsoring agency is the National Science Foundation (NSF).
Where can applicants get help for access or technical issues (Grants.gov)?
For access or technical issues, the notice directs applicants to NSF Grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.
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