Environmental Health and Safety of Nanotechnology | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): NSF Environmental Health and Safety of Nanotechnology (PD 10 1179)

What is this NSF funding opportunity?

This is a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant opportunity titled "Environmental Health and Safety of Nanotechnology" under the Environmental Implications of Emerging Technologies program. Its purpose is to support fundamental, engineering-driven research that helps society understand, predict, measure, and manage environmental effects that may arise as emerging technologies are developed and deployed.

What is the main goal of the program?

The main goal is to build the science and engineering basis needed to understand what happens when nanoparticles and other novel byproducts enter real-world environments, and to develop approaches that can measure, anticipate, and reduce environmental and health risks associated with emerging technologies.

Is the focus only on nanotechnology?

No. Nanotechnology is a major focus, but the program also recognizes overlapping issues from other rapidly evolving areas such as biotechnology, especially when new materials, processes, or products could change how pollutants form, move, persist, or affect living systems.

What kinds of research topics are a strong fit for this opportunity?

Strong fits include engineering research on environmental, health, and safety (EHS) implications of nanotechnology and related emerging technologies, including practical applications that reduce or manage risk. The program also emphasizes predictive methodologies and environmental monitoring approaches that improve measurement and decision-making.

What does NSF mean by "environmental systems" in this program?

The program references real-world environmental media and settings, including air, water, soils, sediments, and engineered systems such as wastewater treatment plants.

What are "predictive methodologies" in the context of this program?

Predictive methodologies are approaches that move beyond simple observation and toward models or tools that can forecast outcomes under different exposure scenarios. The solicitation specifically highlights predictive approaches for how nanoparticles interact with the environment and with the human body, including predictive toxicity tools.

What is "fate and transport" research?

"Fate and transport" research investigates how natural nanoparticles, engineered nanoparticles, and incidental nanoparticles (unintentional byproducts) move through and transform within environmental media. Examples of processes include aggregation, dissolution, chemical transformation, sorption to surfaces, biological uptake, and interactions with natural organic matter, and how these processes affect mobility and persistence.

Does the opportunity support risk assessment and risk management research?

Yes. The program highlights risk assessment and risk management efforts aimed at evaluating potential impacts of nanomaterials and designing ways to reduce harm through safer design, controls, or management practices.

Are engineering solutions and life-cycle approaches encouraged?

Yes. NSF signals interest in engineering solutions such as innovative production processes, waste reduction, recycling strategies, and industrial ecology approaches that can reduce environmental burdens across a technology's life cycle.

What role do sensors and sensor networks play in this program?

Sensors and sensor networks are a distinct and important component. The program supports development and refinement of sensors that can measure physical, chemical, or biological properties relevant to emerging-technology impacts, as well as networked sensing systems that operate across space and time to detect releases, track exposure pathways, or evaluate mitigation effectiveness.

Is this program only about theoretical understanding, or does it also fund practical tools?

It funds both. The solicitation emphasizes not only understanding potential impacts, but also creating practical measurement tools (such as sensors and sensing networks) that improve monitoring and support more reliable decision-making.

What types of projects are explicitly not supported?

The program does not support biomedical and nanotoxicology topics that involve clinical trials. Projects should instead be framed as engineering research in an environmental health and safety context or an environmental sensor context, grounded in engineering principles and methods.

Is student involvement required?

Yes. Proposals should include the involvement of at least one engineering student, reflecting the program's workforce development and training mission.

How long are typical unsolicited research awards?

Unsolicited research awards are generally expected to run one to three years.

What is the typical award size?

The solicitation states an average annual award size of around $100,000.

Can I submit a small equipment proposal under this opportunity?

Yes. The solicitation notes that small equipment proposals under $100,000 may be submitted during the same submission windows.

When are proposals due?

Proposals must be submitted within the announced windows and are due by 5 p.m. local time. The recurring annual windows listed are February 1 to March 1 and August 15 to September 15.

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

Anything submitted outside the listed windows is returned without review.

Are NSF CAREER proposals submitted on the same schedule?

No. NSF Engineering CAREER proposals follow a different schedule, with a typical July deadline, and CAREER awards have a five-year project duration.

Can conference or workshop proposals be submitted?

Yes. Conference, workshop, and supplement proposals may be submitted at any time, but applicants are expected to discuss them with the program director before submitting.

Are RAPID and EAGER mechanisms available for this topic?

Yes. RAPID (Rapid Response Research) and EAGER (Early-concept Grants for Exploratory Research) mechanisms are available and replace the older SGER approach. The solicitation indicates these also require prior discussion with the program director.

What proposal preparation rules apply?

Applicants are directed to follow NSF's Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG), referenced in the announcement as the January 2009 version.

What is the funding opportunity number and program identification?

The opportunity is identified as PD 10 1179 and is titled "Environmental Health and Safety of Nanotechnology."

What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

The announcement lists CFDA 47.041 (Engineering Grants).

How is the grant categorized administratively?

It is categorized as a discretionary grant under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity area.

Who is eligible to apply?

The opportunity lists eligibility as unrestricted (open broadly to applicant types), subject to any clarifications in the full text.

Is this opportunity still active?

No. The announcement is archived. It lists a posting date of March 23, 2009, and an archive date of December 9, 2010.

If it is archived, what should applicants do instead?

The announcement indicates applicants should look to the successor program announcement for current requirements and active deadlines, noted as PD 11 1179.