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NSF Environmental Engineering (PD 12 1440) Grant Opportunity: FAQs

1) What is the NSF Environmental Engineering program trying to fund?

The NSF Environmental Engineering program (Funding Opportunity Number PD 12 1440) funds fundamental research and related educational activities that advance environmental engineering science and support more sustainable, health-protective management of pollution. The emphasis is on science and engineering that can reduce or prevent solid, liquid, and gaseous discharges to land, inland and coastal waters, and the atmosphere that result from human activity.

2) What kinds of projects are considered a good fit for this program?

Projects that make a strong case for being novel and potentially transformative. NSF signals that strong proposals go beyond incremental improvement and instead show how the ideas, methods, or underlying science could change how the field assesses pollution, understands environmental processes, or designs technologies that reduce exposure and harm to people and ecosystems.

3) What does NSF mean by "potentially transformative" in this context?

Based on the description provided, "potentially transformative" means the work could shift the field in a meaningful way, such as introducing new treatment concepts, new predictive frameworks for contaminant fate and transport, or new approaches to pollution prevention and resource conservation. The proposal should clearly explain what is new relative to prior work and why that novelty matters to environmental engineering science.

4) What are the two broad research themes NSF highlights for this program?

The program is broadly interested in new knowledge and tools for: (1) determining the waste assimilative capacity of natural environments (how much stress ecosystems can absorb before significant degradation occurs), and (2) removing, transforming, or minimizing contaminants in air, water, and soils.

5) What specific topic areas are included in the program scope?

Key research areas mentioned include: water and wastewater treatment; emerging contaminants (fate, transport, remediation/mitigation); urban water resources management (including stormwater and constructed wetlands); soils (contaminated site remediation, fate and transport, solid waste management and landfills); and air quality (removal/destruction of contaminants and measurement/modeling/prediction of pollutant behavior).

6) Does the program only consider projects that fit the listed topic areas?

No. The program notes that innovative projects outside the listed areas may be considered. If a project is near the boundary of the stated scope, investigators are encouraged to consult the Program Director in advance.

7) What kinds of water and wastewater treatment research does NSF emphasize here?

The program expresses interest in innovative biological, chemical, and physical processes to remove or degrade contaminants, produce potable water, and convert wastewater into high-quality renovated water suitable for reuse. It also mentions interest in nanotechnology-enabled treatment approaches, with an important caveat (see the nanotechnology FAQ).

8) Are nanotechnology-based approaches allowed?

Yes, as long as the proposal is focused on treatment performance and fundamental mechanisms. The description explicitly distinguishes this from proposals focused on the environmental health and safety of nanomaterials, which it indicates are directed to a different NSF program.

9) What does NSF mean by "emerging contaminants" for this opportunity?

Emerging contaminants are described as newer or less-regulated pollutants such as pharmaceuticals, endocrine-disrupting compounds, and fire retardants. The program highlights research on their fate, transport, and remediation, including how they move through engineered and natural systems and how they can be effectively mitigated.

10) What kinds of urban water resources management topics are relevant?

The opportunity highlights environmental engineering questions in urban watersheds, reservoirs, estuaries, and stormwater systems. It also includes the design and operation of constructed or artificial wetlands and the biogeochemical and transport processes that influence aquatic water quality.

11) What soils-related research is included?

The program supports research on remediation techniques for contaminated sites, fundamental understanding of contaminant fate and transport in soils, and improved solid waste management strategies for landfills.

12) What air quality research does this program support?

The program includes innovative processes to remove or destroy air contaminants in atmospheric, emission-source, and indoor-air contexts, as well as work that measures, models, and predicts pollutant behavior in the air.

13) Is this program focused on applied deployment, or on foundational science?

The opportunity emphasizes foundational, cutting-edge science. At the same time, it expects a credible discussion of potential societal and/or industrial impacts if the work succeeds (for example, improved public health protection, reduced environmental burdens, or more resource-efficient infrastructure).

14) Where does NSF expect the proposal to clearly state novelty and transformative potential?

The solicitation specifically calls out the Project Summary as a minimum location where novelty or transformative potential should be stated. This is described as important because it is often the first filter for reviewers and program staff.

15) What is the CFDA listing associated with this opportunity?

The program is described as a discretionary NSF grant program within the Engineering Grants CFDA (47.041).

16) Is cost sharing required?

No. The information provided states there is no cost-sharing requirement.

17) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as unrestricted (open to applicant types), subject to any clarifications in the full announcement.

18) How much funding is available and how many awards are expected?

The solicitation indicates an estimated total funding level of about $9.4 million and an expected number of awards around 44 for that cycle.

19) What is the typical project duration and award size for unsolicited research awards?

Unsolicited research awards are typically one to three years. The average annual award size is described as about $110,000.

20) Can a proposal request substantially more than the typical annual amount?

Proposals seeking substantially higher annual amounts are discouraged unless the principal investigator (PI) first consults with the Program Director. The description warns that otherwise the proposal may be returned without review.

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

The program states that proposals submitted outside the announced submission window dates are returned without review, underscoring the importance of submitting within the stated windows and complying with NSF submission rules.

22) How does NSF evaluate proposals in the broader CBET context for this program?

Within the broader Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems (CBET) context, the description emphasizes that proposers should clearly articulate what is novel and potentially transformative compared to prior work, explain why the research matters to engineering science (not only application), and also discuss credible potential societal and/or industrial impacts if successful.

23) Are CAREER proposals encouraged under this opportunity?

Yes. CAREER proposals from early-career faculty are strongly encouraged. The description notes CAREER proposals typically have a five-year duration and references an annual July deadline for Engineering CAREER submissions.

24) Are conference, workshop, and supplement proposals allowed?

These mechanisms are mentioned as being generally expected to be submitted during the standard annual window. Investigators are urged to discuss conference, workshop, and supplement requests with the Program Director beforehand.

25) Are RAPID and EAGER proposals available for this program?

Yes, RAPID and EAGER may be considered when appropriate, but they require prior discussion with the Program Director and must follow the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG).

26) When should an investigator contact the Program Director?

The description encourages contacting the Program Director in advance if the project is near the edges of the stated scope, if the budget request would be substantially higher than the typical annual amount, and for certain mechanisms (conference/workshop/supplement requests, RAPID, and EAGER) where prior discussion is explicitly recommended or required.

27) What is the central outcome NSF seems to want from funded work?

Overall, the opportunity is positioned for investigators who can pair strong fundamental science with a compelling argument for transformative advances in pollution control, contaminant fate and transport understanding, and sustainable environmental management that reduces exposure and harm to people and ecosystems.