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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is this NSF funding opportunity?

This is the National Science Foundation (NSF) Environmental Engineering program, Funding Opportunity Number PD 15 1440. It supports research that advances environmental engineering in genuinely new directions, with an emphasis on novel or potentially transformative work.

What kinds of problems is the program trying to solve?

The program focuses on applying scientific and engineering principles to prevent, reduce, or eliminate solid, liquid, and gaseous discharges caused by human activity across land systems, inland and coastal waters, and the atmosphere. A major theme is sustainability in practice, including reducing pollution, conserving resources and energy, and recovering valuable resources from waste streams where feasible.

How does sustainability factor into proposal fit?

Projects are expected to go beyond pollution reduction alone by also promoting resource and energy conservation and, when possible, enabling recovery of valuable resources from wastes. Proposals that connect engineering advances to practical sustainability outcomes are aligned with the program emphasis.

Does the program support research on natural systems and ecosystem capacity?

Yes. The program invests in research that improves understanding of the natural environment's waste assimilative capacity, including identifying, evaluating, and monitoring how ecosystems handle pollutants, as well as developing methods to remove or reduce contaminants from polluted air, water, and soils.

What are the main technical focus areas highlighted in the solicitation?

The solicitation highlights two large focus areas: (1) enhancing the availability of high-quality water supplies, and (2) fate and transport of contaminants of emerging concern in air, water, and soils.

What topics fall under "enhancing the availability of high-quality water supplies"?

This area includes innovative biological, chemical, and physical treatment processes to meet rising water demand. It includes (as described in the opportunity) contaminant removal and degradation, remediation of contaminated soil and groundwater, and technologies or processes that convert wastewater into water suitable for reuse.

Does the program support work on urban watersheds, stormwater, reservoirs, or estuaries?

Yes. The program welcomes studies addressing environmental engineering challenges in urban watersheds, reservoirs, estuaries, and stormwater systems, along with research that advances understanding of biogeochemical and transport processes controlling water quality in aquatic and subsurface environments.

What does NSF mean by "fate and transport of contaminants of emerging concern"?

It includes investigating how potentially harmful contaminants (and their transformation byproducts) move through environmental media (air, water, soils), persist or degrade over time, and how they can be remediated.

Are transformation byproducts within scope?

Yes. The opportunity explicitly includes contaminants and their transformation byproducts when discussing fate, transport, persistence/degradation, and remediation.

Will NSF fund standalone technology development (for example, a new device or material) under this program?

The program is not looking for standalone technology development divorced from environmental engineering application. If a proposal is centered on sensors, materials, or devices, it must clearly integrate those tools into an environmental engineering activity or research thrust (such as treatment, remediation, monitoring tied to decision-making, or improved understanding of transport/transformation relevant to engineering interventions). Otherwise, it may be returned without review.

If my work focuses on sensors, what does "integrated into an environmental engineering activity" mean in practice?

Based on the solicitation language, the novelty of a sensor alone is not enough. The proposal needs to demonstrate how the sensor advances an environmental engineering objective (for example, enabling better treatment performance, improving remediation decisions, supporting monitoring that is tied to decision-making, or improving understanding of environmental transport and transformation in ways that inform engineering interventions).

What kinds of proposals might be redirected to another NSF program?

The solicitation notes program boundary lines. Proposals primarily targeting chemical or physical separation processes may be redirected to the Chemical and Biological Separations Program (CBET 1417). Applicants are expected to frame and emphasize the work as environmental engineering rather than separations science alone.

My project is about nanomaterials in the environment. Is that a fit here?

Projects focused specifically on environmental health and safety aspects of nanomaterials are suggested for the Nano-Bio Phenomena and Processes in the Environment program (CBET 1179), rather than Environmental Engineering, according to the opportunity text.

Does the Environmental Engineering program welcome chemistry-focused proposals?

Yes. NSF encourages proposals that connect with chemistry and sustainable chemistry/engineering directions. If the project involves chemistry (including biochemistry or physical chemistry), investigators are advised to consider submitting under this program using a proposal title formatted as "SusChEM: Title of Your Proposal," aligning with NSF's Sustainable Chemistry, Engineering, and Materials (SusChEM) context.

Does the program welcome sustainable engineering proposals?

Yes. The solicitation signals receptiveness to sustainable engineering proposals and other cross-cutting work, as long as the proposal remains anchored in environmental engineering questions and impacts.

What is the typical award duration for unsolicited awards?

Unsolicited awards are generally one to three years.

What is the typical award size?

The typical annual award size is around $100,000 (as described in the opportunity).

What if my project needs a much larger budget than typical?

Investigators seeking substantially higher annual amounts are expected to consult the Program Director before submitting. The solicitation notes that unusually large budget requests can lead to a proposal being returned without review if not pre-coordinated.

What does NSF expect applicants to say about novelty and impact?

Broader NSF CBET expectations noted in the listing include: proposals should explicitly address what is new relative to prior work, why the research matters for engineering science, and what societal and/or industrial impacts could follow if the research succeeds. At minimum, the novelty or transformative potential should be stated in the Project Summary, not only in the technical narrative.

Are CAREER proposals encouraged under this program?

Yes. Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) proposals are strongly encouraged. The opportunity notes a typical five-year duration and references an annual Engineering CAREER deadline in July.

Can I submit a RAPID or EAGER proposal?

Potentially, yes. The program is open, when appropriate, to RAPID (Rapid Response Research) and EAGER (Early-concept Grants for Exploratory Research) submissions, but these require prior discussion with the Program Director.

Does NSF support conferences, workshops, or supplements related to this program?

Yes. Conference, workshop, and supplement requests are encouraged, but the opportunity indicates they should be discussed in advance with the Program Director.

What is a GOALI proposal and is it relevant here?

GOALI (Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry) proposals are welcomed for projects that combine fundamental research with translational outcomes and industry engagement, as long as they fit the program topic areas and are submitted within the program's annual unsolicited proposal window.

What administrative issues can cause a proposal to be returned without review?

The opportunity highlights two key risks: (1) proposals that do not follow the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) can be returned without review, and (2) unsolicited proposals submitted outside the announced proposal window dates can also be returned without review.

Is cost sharing required?

No. The listing states there is no cost-sharing requirement.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), subject to any clarifications in the full text.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is listed as a discretionary grant under CFDA 47.041 (Engineering Grants).

What are the award floor and estimated total funding level shown in the archived listing?

The archived opportunity shows an award floor of $300,000 and an estimated total funding level of $10,798,000.

Are the dates in the listing current?

The listing includes historical dates (posted July 24, 2015; closing October 20, 2015; archived November 19, 2016). The opportunity text indicates these are useful for context but should be checked against current NSF program web pages for active windows and updated guidance.

What does it mean that this is an "archived" opportunity?

Based on the information provided, the opportunity page shows it was archived on November 19, 2016, and it includes older posted and closing dates. The text advises checking current NSF program pages to confirm whether there is an active solicitation window and any updated instructions.

How should I handle proposal fit if my project overlaps multiple NSF areas?

The solicitation emphasizes aligning framing and technical emphasis with environmental engineering. It also points to specific boundary programs (Chemical and Biological Separations, and Nano-Bio Phenomena and Processes in the Environment) for projects that are primarily in those areas, and it encourages cross-cutting submissions (including SusChEM) when the core questions and impacts remain environmental engineering-focused.