Nano and Bio Mechanics | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the Nano and Bio Mechanics (NBM) grant opportunity?

The Nano and Bio Mechanics (NBM) opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number PD 08 7479) was a National Science Foundation (NSF) discretionary grant program in the Engineering Grants area (CFDA 47.041). It focused on supporting fundamental, early-stage research in biomechanics and nanomechanics.

2) What types of research were supported by this program?

The program emphasized basic, fundamental research intended to advance core scientific understanding of mechanical behavior in biological materials/structures (biomechanics) and in materials/structures strongly influenced by nano-scale features (nanomechanics). It was oriented toward research and development in science and technology, focusing on principles and mechanisms rather than product development or short-term applied outcomes.

3) What was the central purpose of the NBM program?

The central purpose was to improve foundational understanding of how materials and structures behave mechanically, specifically when the materials are biological in nature or when nano-scale features strongly influence performance. A key theme was understanding mechanisms and connecting behavior across length scales.

4) What does the program mean by “biomechanics” in this context?

In this program, biomechanics broadly included studies of mechanical properties and mechanical behavior of biological materials and biological structures across multiple length scales. The scope explicitly included cells, tissues, muscles, bones, and also engineered or medical components that interact mechanically with the body (such as prosthetic implants).

5) What kinds of biomechanics questions were considered within scope?

Examples of in-scope biomechanics questions included how biological structures bear loads, deform, recover, fail, remodel, or adapt over time, and how those behaviors depend on structure, composition, and environment. The program also contemplated hierarchical biological architectures, from cellular components up through organs and skeletal systems, including interfaces between living tissue and implanted devices.

6) What does the program mean by “nanomechanics” in this context?

Nanomechanics research under this program focused on mechanical effects that emerge when particles, features, or microstructures exist at the nanometer scale, and on how those nano-scale characteristics influence macroscopic (bulk-scale) mechanical behavior and properties.

7) What kinds of nanomechanics topics were highlighted?

The program emphasized understanding how nano-scale particles and microstructural features affect the mechanics of larger materials, surfaces, and structures that incorporate them. It specifically referenced nano-features changing stiffness, strength, toughness, friction, wear, adhesion, deformation mechanisms, and failure modes, with attention to how these changes scale up to observable performance at the component or structural level.

8) Was the program focused on product development or near-term applications?

No. The description emphasizes fundamental, early-stage research and basic principles and mechanisms rather than product development or short-term applied outcomes.

9) Did the program encourage linking multiple length scales (nano to macro, cell to tissue, etc.)?

Yes. The framing highlights the value of connecting scales, such as linking nano-scale structure and physics to measurable, engineering-relevant mechanical outcomes, and (on the biomechanics side) considering biological materials and structures across multiple length scales.

10) What was the funding mechanism and administrative category?

It was a grant-based funding opportunity categorized as discretionary.

11) Was cost sharing or matching required?

No. The listing states there was no cost sharing or matching requirement.

12) Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was listed as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), subject to any additional eligibility clarifications that may have existed in the full program description.

13) When was the opportunity originally posted?

The opportunity was originally posted on March 23, 2009.

14) What were the proposal submission windows?

The opportunity included recurring annual full proposal windows. The documented windows were September 1 to October 1 (annually thereafter) and January 15 to February 15 (annually thereafter), indicating multiple cycles for submission in a given year.

15) Is this opportunity still active?

No. The record indicates the opportunity was archived on August 4, 2010.

16) Was this opportunity replaced by another announcement?

Yes. The listing notes it was replaced by a newer announcement referenced as “10 7479.”

17) What does it mean that “ExpectedAwards: 0” and “EstimatedTotalFunding: 0” were shown?

The listing explains these fields likely reflect how the snapshot was recorded in the source system rather than a definitive statement that no funding was available. It notes that NSF program funding levels are often managed at the program level and may not be captured in summary fields.

18) Where could applicants find the detailed program guidance?

An additional information link was provided to the NSF Program Description for PD 08 7479, which would have contained the detailed scope, proposal preparation requirements, review criteria, and any program-specific guidance beyond the short synopsis.

19) Who should be contacted for Grants.gov access or technical issues?

The contact information points to NSF’s Grants.gov support channel for access issues: grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.

20) What NSF area and CFDA number were associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity was in the Engineering Grants area and was associated with CFDA 47.041.