Opportunity Information: Apply for PD 12 1643
Apply for PD 12 1643
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Particle 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 Sep 19, 2013 and posted on May 14, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Archived. Replaced by PD 13 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.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The National Science Foundation (NSF) Particle Astrophysics grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number PD 12 1643) is a discretionary, grant-based funding program housed within the NSF Division of Physics under CFDA 47.049 (Mathematical and Physical Sciences). Its purpose is to support university-led research that uses non-accelerator approaches to answer foundational questions about matter, energy, space, and time. In practical terms, this program sits at the intersection of particle physics and astrophysics, emphasizing how observations of the universe and rare-particle experiments can probe the same underlying physics as traditional high-energy collider work. The program frames its scientific motivation around major, long-standing questions such as the origin of mass, whether forces can be unified, how the universe began and will evolve, what dark matter and dark energy are, and whether extra dimensions exist.
Within NSF particle physics, this opportunity is specifically tied to the Particle Astrophysics (PA) program, one of three complementary NSF particle physics efforts alongside Theory and Elementary Particle Physics (accelerator-based). PA focuses on experiments and research activities that do not rely on particle accelerators, often leveraging natural particle sources (like cosmic rays, neutrinos, and gamma rays) or ultra-sensitive detectors placed in deep underground settings to reduce background noise. The underlying theme is that the early universe and extreme astrophysical environments can serve as laboratories for particle physics, connecting cosmology (largest scales) with quantum phenomena (smallest scales).
The scope of projects described as currently supported is broad but clearly centered on particle-astrophysics priorities. It includes studies of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays, gamma rays, and neutrinos that reach Earth from beyond the atmosphere; research on gamma-ray bursts; solar neutrino science; underground and reactor neutrino physics; and direct measurements or constraints on neutrino mass. It also highlights searches for dark matter using both direct detection (looking for interactions in detectors) and indirect detection (looking for products of dark matter annihilation or decay in space). In addition, the program supports searches for neutrinoless double beta decay, a key experimental path to determining whether neutrinos are their own antiparticles and to probing physics beyond the Standard Model. Studies related to dark energy are also listed among the supported topics, indicating the program is open to particle-physics-driven approaches to understanding cosmic acceleration.
From a funding and administration standpoint, the opportunity projected about 60 awards with an estimated total funding level of around $15,000,000. Typical award sizes ranged from a floor of $50,000 up to an award ceiling of $2,000,000, with no stated cost sharing or matching requirement. Eligibility is described as unrestricted (open to any type of entity, subject to any clarifications in the full announcement), which usually means universities and research organizations are common applicants, but the formal eligibility is broad.
A notable procedural detail is that proposals requesting more than $1,000,000 per year could be subject to an added layer of review at the program officer’s discretion. Specifically, NSF indicates that a cost review may occur prior to the annual PA panel meeting, implying that very large-budget proposals might need especially strong budget justification, cost realism, and clear alignment between requested resources and proposed scope. This is not described as an automatic disqualifier, but as an extra scrutiny step for higher-cost submissions.
In terms of timing and status, this particular listing was originally posted May 14, 2012, had an annual target closing date described as the last Wednesday in October, and was later archived on September 19, 2013, having been replaced by PD 13 1643. While the specific opportunity text here is archived, it reflects a continuing NSF program area, and the scientific themes and expectations described are characteristic of NSF Particle Astrophysics solicitations and program descriptions.
For applicants needing help accessing the announcement through Grants.gov, the contact provided is NSF Grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov, and the listing references an additional information link to the NSF program description for PD 12 1643.
NSF Particle Astrophysics (PD 12 1643) Grant Opportunity FAQs
What is the NSF Particle Astrophysics grant opportunity (PD 12 1643)?
The NSF Particle Astrophysics (PA) opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number PD 12 1643) is a discretionary, grant-based funding program within the National Science Foundation (NSF), housed in the NSF Division of Physics under CFDA 47.049 (Mathematical and Physical Sciences). It supports research that uses non-accelerator approaches to address foundational questions about matter, energy, space, and time.
Which NSF program area is this funding associated with?
This opportunity is tied specifically to NSF's Particle Astrophysics (PA) program, one of three complementary NSF particle physics efforts alongside Theory and Elementary Particle Physics (accelerator-based).
What is the purpose of the Particle Astrophysics (PA) program?
The PA program supports university-led research that uses non-accelerator methods, often leveraging natural particle sources (such as cosmic rays, neutrinos, and gamma rays) and ultra-sensitive detectors (often located deep underground to reduce background noise). The program emphasizes the idea that the early universe and extreme astrophysical environments can serve as laboratories for particle physics.
What kinds of scientific questions does this program aim to address?
The program frames its motivation around major long-standing questions, including the origin of mass, whether fundamental forces can be unified, how the universe began and will evolve, what dark matter and dark energy are, and whether extra dimensions exist.
What types of projects or research topics are described as supported?
The scope described as currently supported includes ultra-high-energy cosmic rays, gamma rays, and neutrinos from beyond Earth's atmosphere; gamma-ray bursts; solar neutrino science; underground and reactor neutrino physics; direct measurements or constraints on neutrino mass; direct and indirect dark matter searches; searches for neutrinoless double beta decay; and studies related to dark energy.
Does this program fund accelerator-based particle physics experiments?
No. This opportunity is described as focused on non-accelerator approaches. Accelerator-based work is referenced as a complementary NSF particle physics effort under Elementary Particle Physics rather than the Particle Astrophysics program.
What is meant by "non-accelerator approaches" in this context?
Non-accelerator approaches are experiments and observations that do not rely on particle accelerators. Examples described include research using natural particle sources (cosmic rays, neutrinos, gamma rays) and rare-event searches using ultra-sensitive detectors, often deployed in deep underground settings to reduce background noise.
What is the relationship between particle physics and astrophysics in this program?
The opportunity sits at the intersection of particle physics and astrophysics, emphasizing that observations of the universe and rare-particle experiments can probe the same underlying physics as traditional high-energy collider work. It highlights connections between cosmology (largest scales) and quantum phenomena (smallest scales).
How many awards and how much total funding were projected?
The listing projected about 60 awards with an estimated total funding level of around $15,000,000.
What were the typical minimum and maximum award sizes?
Typical award sizes ranged from a floor of $50,000 up to an award ceiling of $2,000,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No cost sharing or matching requirement was stated in the information provided.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), subject to any clarifications in the full announcement. The program purpose and description indicate university-led research is a key focus, but the formal eligibility is broad as stated.
Is there any additional review for large-budget proposals?
Yes. Proposals requesting more than $1,000,000 per year could be subject to an added cost review at the program officer's discretion, potentially occurring prior to the annual PA panel meeting. This suggests large requests may need especially strong budget justification and clear alignment between resources and scope.
Does a request above $1,000,000 per year automatically disqualify a proposal?
No. The information provided describes an additional scrutiny step (a possible cost review at the program officer's discretion), not an automatic disqualifier.
When was this funding opportunity posted, and what was its target closing date?
The listing was originally posted on May 14, 2012. It described an annual target closing date as the last Wednesday in October.
What is the status of PD 12 1643?
This particular listing is archived. It was archived on September 19, 2013 and was replaced by PD 13 1643.
Does the archived status mean the program area no longer exists?
No. The information provided indicates that while this specific opportunity text is archived, it reflects a continuing NSF program area. The scientific themes and expectations described are characterized as typical of NSF Particle Astrophysics solicitations and program descriptions.
Where does this program sit within NSF organizationally?
It is housed within the NSF Division of Physics and is associated with CFDA 47.049 (Mathematical and Physical Sciences).
What are examples of neutrino-related topics mentioned as supported?
The listing mentions solar neutrino science, underground and reactor neutrino physics, direct measurements or constraints on neutrino mass, and searches for neutrinoless double beta decay.
What dark matter research approaches are mentioned?
The program highlights both direct detection (looking for interactions in detectors) and indirect detection (looking for products of dark matter annihilation or decay in space).
What is neutrinoless double beta decay, and why is it relevant here (as described)?
It is described as a key experimental path to determine whether neutrinos are their own antiparticles and to probe physics beyond the Standard Model, and it is listed among supported research topics.
Are dark energy studies included in the described scope?
Yes. Studies related to dark energy are listed among the supported topics, indicating openness to particle-physics-driven approaches to understanding cosmic acceleration.
Who should applicants contact for help accessing the announcement through Grants.gov?
The contact provided for Grants.gov access help is NSF Grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.
Is there a reference to where applicants can find additional program information?
Yes. The listing references an additional information link to the NSF program description for PD 12 1643.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development
Next opportunity: Mathematical Biology
Previous opportunity: Experimental Elementary Particle Physics
USGrants.org Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for PD 12 1643
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (PD 12 1643) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Mathematical Biology Apply for PD 12 7334 Funding Number: PD 12 7334 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| DoD Peer Reviewed Orthopaedic Clinical Trial Award Apply for W81XWH 12 PRORP CTA Funding Number: W81XWH 12 PRORP CTA Agency: Dept. of the Army USAMRAA Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| DoD Peer Reviewed Orthopaedic Idea Development Award Apply for W81XWH 12 PRORP IDA Funding Number: W81XWH 12 PRORP IDA Agency: Dept. of the Army USAMRAA Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| DoD Peer Reviewed Orthopaedic Translational Research Partnership Award Apply for W81XWH 12 PRORP TRPA Funding Number: W81XWH 12 PRORP TRPA Agency: Dept. of the Army USAMRAA Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Quiness Macroscopic Quantum Communications Apply for DARPA BAA 12 42 Funding Number: DARPA BAA 12 42 Agency: DARPA Defense Sciences Office Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Research Initiatives at The Naval Postgraduate School Apply for NPS BAA 12 004 Funding Number: NPS BAA 12 004 Agency: Naval Supply Systems Command Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Experimental Atomic Molecular and Optical Physics Apply for PD 12 1241 Funding Number: PD 12 1241 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Rocky Mountain CESU Apply for G12AS20041 Funding Number: G12AS20041 Agency: Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, North and West Alaska CESU Apply for G12AS20040 Funding Number: G12AS20040 Agency: Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Basin CESU Apply for G12AS20039 Funding Number: G12AS20039 Agency: Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Physics at the Information Frontier Apply for PD 12 7553 Funding Number: PD 12 7553 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Research and Education Program for Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Serving Institutions (HBCU/MI) Apply for W911NF 12 R 0009 Funding Number: W911NF 12 R 0009 Agency: Dept of the Army Materiel Command Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $650,000 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Lakes Northern Forest CESU Apply for G12AS20038 Funding Number: G12AS20038 Agency: Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Rivers CESU Apply for G12AS20042 Funding Number: G12AS20042 Agency: Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Colorado Plateau CESU Apply for G12AS20043 Funding Number: G12AS20043 Agency: Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Lakes Northern Forest CESU Apply for G12AS20044 Funding Number: G12AS20044 Agency: Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BLM AK Weed Free Research and Development, Alaska Apply for L12AS00102 Funding Number: L12AS00102 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| ROSES 2012 Atmospheric Composition Upper Atmospheric Composition Observations Apply for NNH12ZDA001N UACO Funding Number: NNH12ZDA001N UACO Agency: NASA Headquarters Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| ROSES 2012 Earth Science U.S. Participating Investigator Apply for NNH12ZDA001N ESUSPI Funding Number: NNH12ZDA001N ESUSPI Agency: NASA Headquarters Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| ROSES 2012 CloudSat And CALIPSO Science Team Recompete Apply for NNH12ZDA001N CCST Funding Number: NNH12ZDA001N CCST Agency: NASA Headquarters Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Subscribe to Leads
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "PD 12 1643", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.