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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): NSF Materials Processing and Manufacturing (MPM) Program

1) What is the NSF Materials Processing and Manufacturing (MPM) program trying to fund?

The MPM program funds fundamental, hypothesis-driven research that explains and predicts how materials processing routes shape material structure, and how that structure governs properties, performance, and the ability to monitor and control the process. A central theme is building scientific understanding of the processing-manufacturing link, not simply reporting measured properties.

2) What does NSF mean by the "processing-manufacturing link"?

It means the project should treat processing parameters and process control strategies as the key scientific variables and show how they produce specific microstructures and outcomes. The work should go beyond property measurement and instead develop understanding that can explain and predict process-structure-property-performance relationships relevant to manufacturing.

3) What types of research approaches are allowed (experimental, modeling, etc.)?

NSF indicates the MPM program is open to analytical, experimental, and numerical approaches. Projects can also use integrated approaches that tie together modeling, in situ monitoring, and control.

4) What kinds of materials are within scope?

Proposals can focus on essentially any materials class, including metals, polymers, ceramics, hybrids, and composites, as long as processing and manufacturing are central to the scientific objectives.

5) Is this program focused on applied product development or fundamental research?

The research emphasis is fundamental and hypothesis-driven. At the same time, investigators are expected to think realistically about practical implications such as cost drivers, performance tradeoffs, and whether a processing approach can plausibly scale beyond lab demonstrations when that is relevant to the work.

6) What kinds of topics does MPM particularly encourage?

MPM particularly encourages studies that tackle complexity across scales or functions. Examples described include multiscale processing-structure relationships, multifunctional materials, and integrated approaches that connect modeling, in situ monitoring, and control.

7) Does MPM support environmentally benign or sustainable manufacturing research?

Yes. Environmentally benign manufacturing is highlighted. Projects that reduce energy use, waste, hazardous chemistries, or emissions can align well when the sustainability angle is scientifically grounded and clearly connected to processing and manufacturing fundamentals.

8) Is collaboration with industry encouraged?

Yes. NSF explicitly encourages collaboration with industry through the GOALI mechanism, intended to support partnerships where industrial perspective and constraints sharpen research questions and improve relevance to scale-up, process control, and manufacturability considerations.

9) What is the GOALI mechanism in this context?

Based on the opportunity description, GOALI is an NSF mechanism used to support academia-industry partnerships, with the goal of bringing industrial constraints and perspective into the research so that questions around scale-up, control, and manufacturability are addressed more realistically.

10) What topics are generally not a fit for MPM?

The program scope is defined in part by exclusions and better-fit alternatives. MPM is looking for projects where processing and manufacturing are central scientific variables, not just the backdrop. Projects mainly centered on submicron or nanoscale processing are indicated as more likely to fit NSF's Nanomanufacturing (NM) program.

11) If my work is primarily submicron or nanoscale processing, where should it go instead?

NSF indicates proposals centered mainly on submicron or nanoscale processing are more likely a better fit for the Nanomanufacturing (NM) program rather than MPM.

12) Where should proposals on solid freeform fabrication or material removal processes be reviewed?

NSF indicates proposals primarily about solid freeform fabrication processes, or material removal processes such as cutting and grinding, are typically reviewed in the Manufacturing Machines and Equipment (MME) program.

13) What if my proposal focuses mostly on composition-structure-property relationships?

If the project mainly focuses on composition-structure-property relationships without processing or manufacturing playing a major role, NSF indicates it should be directed to the Materials and Surface Engineering (MSE) program or, depending on the topic, an appropriate program within NSF's Division of Materials Research (DMR).

14) At what processing scale does MPM generally aim?

MPM generally targets micro-scale and larger processing. Work centered mainly on submicron or nanoscale processing is described as more appropriate for the Nanomanufacturing (NM) program.

15) What funding level is mentioned for this opportunity?

The opportunity lists an estimated total funding level of about $300,000 and an award ceiling of $300,000. An award floor is shown as $1.

16) About how many awards were anticipated?

The opportunity anticipated around 35 awards.

17) Is cost sharing required?

No. The opportunity states that no cost sharing is required.

18) What is the CFDA area associated with this opportunity?

It is listed under the Engineering Grants CFDA area (47.041).

19) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning it is broadly open to many entity types unless additional limits are stated elsewhere in the full solicitation.

20) Are there recurring submission windows?

Yes. The program used recurring annual submission windows due by 5 p.m. local time, with two cycles: January 15 to February 15 and September 1 to October 1 each year (the record reflects older dates and an archived status, but these windows describe how submissions were organized for that announcement).

21) What is the deadline time of day for submissions?

Submissions were due by 5 p.m. local time, according to the opportunity description.

22) What are the REU and RET supplement timelines mentioned?

NSF notes that REU (Research Experiences for Undergraduates) and RET (Research Experiences for Teachers) supplement requests should be submitted by March 31 each year.

23) Why do the REU/RET supplement dates matter for proposal planning?

Because teams planning education or workforce-development add-ons (REU/RET supplements) need to align with the March 31 submission date stated in the opportunity description.

24) Can researchers volunteer to serve as peer reviewers for MPM?

Yes. NSF invites community participation in peer review. Investigators who want to serve on an MPM proposal review panel are asked to email the Program Director with a short biographical sketch and areas of expertise, or a homepage link.

25) What should be included when emailing to serve on an MPM review panel?

The opportunity states to send a short biographical sketch and areas of expertise, or alternatively provide a homepage link.

26) Who should applicants contact for technical problems accessing the announcement through Grants.gov?

For technical problems accessing the announcement through Grants.gov, NSF directs applicants to Grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.

27) Does MPM expect projects to address scale-up and manufacturability?

While the research is fundamental, the program description says investigators are expected to think realistically about whether the processing approach can plausibly scale beyond lab demonstrations when that is relevant, and to consider issues like cost drivers and performance tradeoffs.

28) What is a simple way to tell if a project is a good fit for MPM versus another NSF program?

Based on the description, a project is a good fit when processing and manufacturing are central scientific variables and the work builds predictive understanding of how processing routes and control strategies produce structure and performance. If the work is mainly nanoscale processing, solid freeform fabrication/material removal, or composition-structure-property without processing emphasis, NSF suggests NM, MME, or MSE/DMR programs may be more appropriate.