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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is this NSF opportunity focused on?

This opportunity is offered by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Materials Research (DMR) through its Office of Special Programs (OSP). It supports materials research and education efforts that cut across standard program boundaries, with a strong emphasis on building and strengthening international collaboration and aligning activities with NSF-wide initiatives.

2) What is the Office of Special Programs (OSP) within DMR?

OSP is described as a mechanism to coordinate activities that connect different parts of DMR and align them with NSF-wide initiatives. A recurring theme is support for efforts that have relevance beyond a single narrow topic or single program area, particularly when the work benefits from international structure and coordination.

3) What kinds of projects are a good fit for OSP rather than a standard research grant?

Based on the posting, strong fits are coordination-heavy efforts that clearly need an OSP-style platform, such as international network-building, institute-like collaborations, or projects operating within formal international partnership frameworks. Proposals are implied to be more competitive when they demonstrate multi-program relevance and clear broader impacts alongside the research agenda.

4) What does “crosscutting” mean in this context?

The opportunity uses “crosscutting” to describe activities that span or connect standard program boundaries within DMR, and that may also align with NSF-wide initiatives. It suggests projects that integrate multiple research themes, communities, or educational components rather than staying within one narrow area.

5) Is international collaboration required or just encouraged?

The opportunity places a strong emphasis on building and strengthening international collaboration. Many of the highlighted activity areas (such as International Materials Institutes and international cooperation frameworks) are explicitly international in scope, implying that international engagement is central to the purpose of OSP support described here.

6) What are International Materials Institutes (IMIs)?

International Materials Institutes (IMIs) are a highlighted activity designed to advance fundamental materials research through coordinated international research and education projects, rather than isolated one-off collaborations. The long-term goal is to build a worldwide network in materials research and develop scientists and engineers who can lead in international settings.

7) How is an IMI different from a typical international collaboration?

The posting contrasts IMIs with one-off collaborations by emphasizing coordinated, institute-like efforts. In practice, that can imply structured collaborations that combine research, training, and sustained international engagement, potentially including exchanges, joint workshops, shared research agendas, and educational components.

8) What is meant by “Opportunities for International Cooperation in Materials Research”?

This refers to DMR support for international collaborative research and education projects carried out in partnership with other funding organizations. It signals that some collaborations may be built around coordinated funding relationships and collaboration frameworks that can make international teamwork easier to execute.

9) Which regions are highlighted for international partnerships?

At the time of the posting, NSF noted active partnerships in Europe and the Americas. Collaborative frameworks for Asia and Africa were described as developing.

10) What does “co-funded efforts” mean here?

The opportunity describes many projects as co-funded, meaning OSP frequently works alongside other NSF units. Examples named include the Office of International Science and Engineering (OISE) and the Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS) Office for Multidisciplinary Activities. This suggests proposals may be expected to have relevance beyond a single program and may align with broader NSF priorities.

11) Are education and workforce development activities included in the scope?

Yes. The opportunity references educational and workforce development programs, specifically Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Sites and Research Experiences for Teachers (RET). This indicates interest in proposals that include hands-on training, expand participation, and strengthen the pipeline of future materials researchers and educators alongside research outcomes.

12) What is an REU Site in this context?

REU Sites typically support cohorts of undergraduates in structured summer or academic-year research programs. The inclusion of REU suggests OSP may value structured training environments and undergraduate research experiences tied to the broader materials research effort.

13) What is an RET program in this context?

RET programs focus on providing teachers with authentic research experiences that they can translate into classroom practice. The posting notes K-12 teachers specifically (with a general caveat that solicitations sometimes include community college educators), indicating an interest in strengthening materials science education through educator engagement.

14) What is the funding category and CFDA number listed for this opportunity?

The opportunity is listed under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category and references CFDA 47.049 (Mathematical and Physical Sciences).

15) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning it is broadly open to applicant types, subject to any additional eligibility clarifications in the full NSF program description (PD 04-7222).

16) Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The posting indicates there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.

17) What were the key dates shown on the listing?

The opportunity was posted on November 18, 2009. It lists an original closing date of September 30, 2010, and an archive date of July 13, 2010. The listing also notes that later submission guidance should be checked on the NSF website.

18) Why does the listing show Expected Awards: 0 and Estimated Total Funding: 0?

The posting suggests this can happen when a Grants.gov record functions primarily as a program description and routing mechanism rather than a single competition with a fixed pot of money and predetermined award count. In such cases, actual funding may depend on annual appropriations, internal allocations, and proposal pressure.

19) Where can applicants find the authoritative requirements and instructions?

The listing directs applicants to the NSF Program Description PD 04-7222 and the NSF website for authoritative requirements, submission instructions, and any special constraints.

20) Who should be contacted for technical access issues related to Grants.gov?

The posting directs technical access issues to NSF Grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.

21) What is the overall purpose of these OSP-supported activities?

The stated purpose is to support materials research and education efforts that connect different parts of DMR, align with NSF-wide initiatives, and broaden global partnerships. The opportunity highlights building a sustained international materials research network and developing researchers who can operate and lead in international settings.

22) What types of activities might be part of a coordinated international effort under this opportunity?

The posting gives examples and implications such as coordinated research and education projects, exchanges, joint workshops, shared research agendas, and educational components aimed at students and early-career researchers, all organized as sustained international engagement rather than isolated collaborations.

23) Does the opportunity indicate that proposals must have broader impacts beyond research results?

The description emphasizes research plus education and workforce development, including REU and RET, and it frames competitive submissions as those that show clear educational and broader-impact value alongside the research agenda.

24) How does alignment with NSF-wide initiatives show up in this opportunity?

OSP is described as coordinating DMR activities and aligning them with NSF-wide initiatives, especially those designed to broaden global partnerships in materials science and engineering. The mention of co-funding with NSF units like OISE and MPS multidisciplinary activities further reinforces the expectation of relevance across programs and initiatives.