Opportunity Information: Apply for PD 12 1232
Apply for PD 12 1232
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Experimental Nuclear Physics" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.049 Mathematical and Physical Sciences.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 20, 2014 and posted on May 14, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Replaced by PD 14 1232.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Opportunity Summary:
The National Science Foundation (NSF) grant opportunity titled Experimental Nuclear Physics (Funding Opportunity Number PD 12-1232) was a discretionary research grant program within the Mathematical and Physical Sciences directorate (CFDA 47.049). Its purpose was to support experimental research at the leading edge of nuclear science, focusing on how nuclei and nuclear matter are structured, how they behave, and how they change under extreme conditions. The program description emphasizes research that connects laboratory nuclear physics to big-picture questions in astrophysics, particle physics, and fundamental symmetry studies, including how matter behaves at very high temperature and density and how that behavior relates to the early universe and energetic cosmic environments.
A central theme of the opportunity is investigating the properties of nuclei and nuclear matter across a wide range of conditions, from normal nuclear density and temperature to regimes where theorists expect phase transitions into new forms of matter such as the high-temperature quark-gluon plasma. The program also highlights experimental work that probes the quark-gluon underpinnings of hadrons and nuclei, meaning studies aimed at understanding how the strong force and its underlying degrees of freedom give rise to the observable structure and dynamics of nuclear systems. Another major emphasis is on basic interactions and fundamental symmetries, which typically includes precision experiments designed to test the Standard Model, search for symmetry violations, and improve constraints on new physics through nuclear and neutron measurements.
NSF’s experimental scope in this call was intentionally broad in terms of tools, energies, and experimental platforms. The opportunity covered experiments using low-energy up to multi-GeV electrons and photons, intermediate-energy light-ion beams, and low-energy through relativistic heavy-ion beams, including experiments that use radioactive beams. It also explicitly included work with cold and ultracold neutrons, as well as non-accelerator-based experiments, reflecting the fact that important nuclear physics measurements can be performed using reactors, underground laboratories, tabletop apparatus, and other specialized setups depending on the scientific question. This breadth signals that the program was not limited to a single method or facility, but instead aimed to support the best experimental approaches to key nuclear science problems.
The program also placed strong emphasis on enabling university-led research teams and “user groups” that carry out experiments at major laboratories in the United States and internationally. In addition to supporting research groups traveling to and using a range of accelerator and non-accelerator facilities, the announcement specifically referenced NSF support for a national user facility: the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL) at Michigan State University, described as a superconducting heavy-ion cyclotron facility. Alongside that large user facility, the opportunity noted support for smaller accelerator laboratories, with examples including facilities at Florida State University and the University of Notre Dame. This reflects a funding model that sustains both large-scale shared infrastructure and smaller, often more specialized university-based accelerators that can deliver unique beams, train students, and support rapid experimental development.
From an administrative standpoint, this opportunity was a grant mechanism with no cost-sharing requirement, and eligibility was listed as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), subject to any clarifications in the program text. The original posting date was May 14, 2012, and the original closing date was October 31, 2012, with a stated full proposal target date of the last Wednesday in October on an annual cycle. The archive information indicates the opportunity was later replaced by PD 14-1232 and archived on August 20, 2014. The listing also shows “Expected Awards: 0” and “Estimated Total Funding: 0,” which commonly appears in archived or placeholder records and does not necessarily reflect the real historical level of program funding; instead, it indicates that the public summary record did not provide those totals in this entry.
In practical terms, this grant opportunity was designed to fund experimental nuclear physics research programs and the teams carrying them out, including projects that require access to national and international user facilities, advanced detectors and instrumentation, radioactive beam capabilities, heavy-ion and photon/electron probes, and precision neutron techniques. It also notes that some awards could be co-funded with other programs within the NSF Physics Division or other NSF divisions, suggesting the program encouraged cross-cutting proposals that overlap with related areas such as particle physics, astrophysics, instrumentation, or broader fundamental physics initiatives. For access issues, the notice directed applicants to NSF’s Grants.gov support for technical difficulties associated with the electronic announcement.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): NSF Experimental Nuclear Physics (PD 12-1232)
What is the name of this NSF grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled Experimental Nuclear Physics, with Funding Opportunity Number PD 12-1232.
Which NSF directorate and program area does this opportunity fall under?
It is a discretionary research grant program within NSF's Mathematical and Physical Sciences directorate, under the Physics-related portfolio described in the opportunity summary.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The listing identifies CFDA 47.049.
What is the overall purpose of the Experimental Nuclear Physics program described here?
The purpose is to support experimental research at the leading edge of nuclear science, focused on how nuclei and nuclear matter are structured, how they behave, and how they change under extreme conditions.
What kinds of big-picture scientific questions does the program aim to connect to?
The description emphasizes research that links laboratory nuclear physics to major questions in astrophysics, particle physics, and fundamental symmetry studies, including how matter behaves at very high temperature and density and how that behavior relates to the early universe and energetic cosmic environments.
What is a central research theme highlighted in this opportunity?
A central theme is investigating the properties of nuclei and nuclear matter across a wide range of conditions, from normal nuclear density and temperature to regimes where theorists anticipate phase transitions into new forms of matter, such as the high-temperature quark-gluon plasma.
Does the program include research on the quark-gluon structure of nuclear systems?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly highlights experimental work probing the quark-gluon underpinnings of hadrons and nuclei, aimed at understanding how the strong force and its underlying degrees of freedom produce observable nuclear structure and dynamics.
Does this opportunity support work on basic interactions and fundamental symmetries?
Yes. A major emphasis is on basic interactions and fundamental symmetries, including precision experiments that test the Standard Model, search for symmetry violations, and strengthen constraints on potential new physics through nuclear and neutron measurements.
How broad is the experimental scope (tools, energies, and platforms)?
The experimental scope is intentionally broad. It spans multiple beam types, energies, and experimental settings, including accelerator-based and non-accelerator-based approaches, depending on the scientific question.
What beam types and energy ranges are mentioned as in-scope?
The opportunity covers experiments using:
- Low-energy up to multi-GeV electrons and photons
- Intermediate-energy light-ion beams
- Low-energy through relativistic heavy-ion beams
- Experiments using radioactive beams
Are cold and ultracold neutron experiments included?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly includes work with cold and ultracold neutrons.
Are non-accelerator-based experiments included?
Yes. The program includes non-accelerator-based experiments, reflecting that important nuclear physics measurements can be done using reactors, underground laboratories, tabletop apparatus, and other specialized setups.
Is the program limited to a single facility or method?
No. The breadth of tools and settings described indicates the program was not limited to one method or one facility, but aimed to support the best experimental approaches to key nuclear science problems.
Does the opportunity emphasize university-led teams and user groups?
Yes. The opportunity places strong emphasis on enabling university-led research teams and user groups that carry out experiments at major laboratories in the U.S. and internationally.
Does it support research groups traveling to and using facilities?
Yes. The announcement describes supporting research groups that travel to and use a range of accelerator and non-accelerator facilities, consistent with a user-facility model in experimental nuclear physics.
Which national user facility is specifically referenced?
The opportunity specifically referenced NSF support for the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL) at Michigan State University, described as a superconducting heavy-ion cyclotron facility.
Does the opportunity mention support for smaller accelerator laboratories?
Yes. In addition to a large national user facility, the opportunity notes support for smaller accelerator laboratories, with examples including facilities at Florida State University and the University of Notre Dame.
What does the mention of both large and small facilities suggest about the funding model?
It reflects a model that sustains both large-scale shared infrastructure and smaller university-based accelerators that can offer specialized capabilities, support rapid experimental development, and help train students.
Is cost sharing required under this opportunity?
No. The listing states there is no cost-sharing requirement.
Who is eligible to apply, based on the listing?
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), subject to any clarifications in the program text.
When was the opportunity originally posted?
The original posting date shown is May 14, 2012.
What was the original closing date?
The original closing date shown is October 31, 2012.
Was there a recurring annual proposal target date mentioned?
Yes. The opportunity states a full proposal target date of the last Wednesday in October on an annual cycle.
Is this funding opportunity still active?
No. The archive information indicates it was replaced by PD 14-1232 and archived on August 20, 2014.
What replaced PD 12-1232?
The listing states the opportunity was later replaced by PD 14-1232.
Why does the listing show "Expected Awards: 0" and "Estimated Total Funding: 0"?
The record shows Expected Awards: 0 and Estimated Total Funding: 0. The opportunity text notes this commonly appears in archived or placeholder records and does not necessarily reflect historical funding levels; it indicates those totals were not provided in this public summary entry.
What types of projects was this opportunity designed to fund?
It was designed to fund experimental nuclear physics research programs and the teams carrying them out, including projects that may require access to national and international user facilities, advanced detectors and instrumentation, radioactive beam capabilities, heavy-ion and photon/electron probes, and precision neutron techniques.
Could awards be co-funded with other NSF programs?
Yes. The opportunity notes that some awards could be co-funded with other programs within the NSF Physics Division or other NSF divisions, suggesting interest in cross-cutting proposals overlapping areas such as particle physics, astrophysics, instrumentation, or broader fundamental physics initiatives.
Where were applicants directed for technical help with electronic submission issues?
For access issues and technical difficulties associated with the electronic announcement, the notice directed applicants to NSF's Grants.gov support.
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