Opportunity Information: Apply for PD 11 1643
Apply for PD 11 1643
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Particle and Nuclear Astrophysics" 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 May 16, 2012 and posted on Jun 23, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Replaced by PD 12 1643.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $15,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 60 candidate(s).
- 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) Particle and Nuclear Astrophysics (PNA) grant opportunity supports university-led research at the intersection of astrophysics, particle physics, and nuclear physics, with an emphasis on understanding fundamental particles and cosmic phenomena that shape the universe. The program is aimed at advancing both particle astrophysics and nuclear astrophysics, including observational, experimental, and design-oriented efforts. A major theme is studying extremely energetic particles that arrive at Earth from space, along with experiments and research-and-design projects tied to underground facilities, which are often essential for rare-event searches where shielding from background radiation is critical.
On the particle astrophysics side, the opportunity backs work on ultra high energy cosmic rays, gamma rays, and neutrinos, including projects that measure or interpret these messengers and the extreme astrophysical environments that produce them. It also includes research on gamma ray bursts, which are among the most powerful known explosions in the universe and serve as laboratories for high-energy physics under conditions that cannot be replicated on Earth. In addition, the program supports solar neutrino studies as well as underground and reactor neutrino physics, which can probe neutrino properties, test aspects of the Standard Model, and improve understanding of particle behavior over long baselines and through matter.
The program also explicitly includes searches for dark matter through direct detection experiments. These projects typically focus on detecting tiny energy deposits from hypothetical dark matter particles interacting with detector materials, demanding sophisticated background reduction and careful detector design, which is why underground environments and specialized instrumentation feature prominently. Another highlighted area is the search for neutrinoless double beta decay, a rare nuclear process whose discovery would have major implications for whether neutrinos are their own antiparticles and for understanding why the universe contains more matter than antimatter.
On the nuclear astrophysics side, NSF funding through PNA also covers accelerator-based research that recreates key nuclear reactions relevant to stars and stellar explosions. This includes studies of stellar processes and nucleosynthesis, meaning the chain of nuclear reactions that build up the chemical elements across cosmic history. The program further supports work connected to cosmology and the early universe, where nuclear and particle processes influence the evolution of the universe shortly after the Big Bang and leave measurable signatures that modern experiments can test.
From an administrative and funding standpoint, this opportunity was listed as a discretionary grant program under NSF’s Mathematical and Physical Sciences portfolio (CFDA 47.049). The archived posting (Funding Opportunity Number PD 11 1643) anticipated around 60 awards with an estimated total program funding level of about $15,000,000. Individual awards were described with a typical range from a $50,000 floor up to a $2,000,000 ceiling, and the opportunity indicated no cost sharing or matching requirement. Eligibility was described as unrestricted, meaning it was broadly open to applicant types, subject to any clarifications in the full program text.
A notable budgeting detail is that proposals requesting more than $1,000,000 per year could be subject to additional scrutiny at the program officer’s discretion. Specifically, NSF noted that a cost review might be required before the annual PNA panel meets to discuss submitted proposals, signaling that larger-budget projects may need especially clear justification, cost realism, and well-supported project planning.
The timeline information reflects that this specific announcement was posted June 23, 2011, with an original full proposal target date of October 26, 2011 (described as the last Wednesday in October on an annual cycle at the time). The listing was later replaced by PD 12 1643 and archived on May 16, 2012, meaning applicants would need to refer to the successor program description for current deadlines and instructions. For access issues related to the electronic announcement, NSF directed applicants to the Grants.gov support contact (grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov), and it also referenced an additional information link to the NSF program description for PD 11 1643.
NSF Particle and Nuclear Astrophysics (PNA) Grant Opportunity - FAQs
What is the NSF Particle and Nuclear Astrophysics (PNA) grant opportunity?
The NSF Particle and Nuclear Astrophysics (PNA) opportunity supports university-led research at the intersection of astrophysics, particle physics, and nuclear physics. The focus is on understanding fundamental particles and cosmic phenomena that shape the universe, including observational, experimental, and research-and-design efforts.
Which NSF portfolio is this program associated with?
The opportunity was listed under NSF's Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS) portfolio, with CFDA 47.049.
What kinds of research areas does PNA support?
The program supports both particle astrophysics and nuclear astrophysics. It includes observational and experimental work as well as design-oriented projects, especially those connected to underground facilities used for rare-event searches that require shielding from background radiation.
What is meant by "particle astrophysics" in this opportunity?
Within this opportunity, particle astrophysics includes work on ultra high energy cosmic rays, gamma rays, and neutrinos. It covers projects that measure these "messengers," interpret their signals, and study the extreme astrophysical environments that produce them.
Does the program support research on ultra high energy cosmic rays?
Yes. Ultra high energy cosmic rays are explicitly included as a supported area under the particle astrophysics scope described in the opportunity.
Does the program support gamma-ray research?
Yes. The opportunity includes research related to gamma rays and also specifically notes support for gamma ray bursts, described as among the most powerful explosions in the universe and important for studying high-energy physics under extreme conditions.
Does the program support neutrino research?
Yes. The opportunity includes work on neutrinos, including solar neutrino studies and underground and reactor neutrino physics. These efforts can probe neutrino properties, test aspects of the Standard Model, and improve understanding of particle behavior over long baselines and through matter.
Are underground facilities relevant to the types of projects supported?
Yes. The opportunity highlights experiments and research-and-design projects tied to underground facilities, which are often essential for rare-event searches because shielding from background radiation is critical.
Does the program support dark matter research?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly includes searches for dark matter through direct detection experiments. These projects typically aim to detect tiny energy deposits from hypothetical dark matter particles interacting with detector materials and often require sophisticated background reduction and careful detector design.
Does the program support research on neutrinoless double beta decay?
Yes. The search for neutrinoless double beta decay is specifically highlighted. The opportunity notes that discovering this rare nuclear process would have major implications for whether neutrinos are their own antiparticles and for understanding why the universe contains more matter than antimatter.
What is meant by "nuclear astrophysics" in this opportunity?
Nuclear astrophysics support includes accelerator-based research that recreates key nuclear reactions relevant to stars and stellar explosions, studies of stellar processes and nucleosynthesis (the reactions that build chemical elements across cosmic history), and related work connected to cosmology and the early universe.
Does the program support accelerator-based studies of stellar nuclear reactions?
Yes. Accelerator-based research that recreates key nuclear reactions relevant to stars and stellar explosions is included within the program's nuclear astrophysics scope.
Does the program support research on nucleosynthesis and the origin of the elements?
Yes. The opportunity includes studies of stellar processes and nucleosynthesis, described as the chain of nuclear reactions responsible for building chemical elements across cosmic history.
Does the program include connections to cosmology and the early universe?
Yes. The opportunity indicates support for work connected to cosmology and the early universe, where nuclear and particle processes influence the universe shortly after the Big Bang and leave signatures that modern experiments can test.
How many awards were anticipated under this specific posting?
The archived posting anticipated around 60 awards.
What was the estimated total funding level for the program under this posting?
The estimated total program funding level under the archived posting was about $15,000,000.
What was the typical size range for individual awards?
Individual awards were described with a typical range from a $50,000 floor up to a $2,000,000 ceiling.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity indicated no cost sharing or matching requirement.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was described as unrestricted, meaning it was broadly open to applicant types, subject to any clarifications in the full program text.
Is there any special budgeting scrutiny for very large proposals?
Yes. Proposals requesting more than $1,000,000 per year could be subject to additional scrutiny at the program officer's discretion. NSF noted that a cost review might be required before the annual PNA panel meets, suggesting large-budget proposals may need especially clear justification and cost realism.
What was the original posting date for this specific announcement?
This specific announcement was posted on June 23, 2011.
What was the original full proposal target date?
The original full proposal target date was October 26, 2011, described as the last Wednesday in October on an annual cycle at the time.
Is this specific funding opportunity still active?
No. The listing was later replaced by PD 12 1643 and archived on May 16, 2012. Applicants were directed to refer to the successor program description for current deadlines and instructions.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for the archived posting?
The archived posting referenced Funding Opportunity Number PD 11 1643.
What replaced this archived opportunity?
The posting notes it was replaced by PD 12 1643.
Where should applicants look for current deadlines and instructions?
Because PD 11 1643 was replaced and archived, applicants would need to consult the successor program description (PD 12 1643, as referenced) for up-to-date deadlines and submission instructions.
Who should be contacted for access issues related to the electronic announcement?
For access issues related to the electronic announcement, NSF directed applicants to Grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.
Was there an additional information link mentioned?
Yes. The opportunity referenced an additional information link to the NSF program description for PD 11 1643.
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