Opportunity Information: Apply for 10 560
Apply for 10 560
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Physics Frontiers Centers" 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 Apr 26, 2010 and posted on Apr 26, 2010.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 25, 2011 Preliminary Proposal Due Date(s) (required) (due by 5 p.m. proposers local time) August 11, 2010 Full Proposal Deadline(s) January 25, 2011. (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 $5,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 7 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Organization Limit Proposals may only be submitted by the following Universities and Colleges Universities and two and four year colleges (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members. Such organizations also are referred to as academic institutions.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Physics Frontiers Centers (PFC) program is a National Science Foundation (NSF) funding opportunity that supports university-based research centers and institutes designed to push the boundaries of physics through coordinated, large-team efforts. The central idea is that certain scientific problems and opportunities in physics are now so complex or infrastructure-intensive that they cannot be tackled as effectively by a single principal investigator or a small collaboration. PFC awards are meant to create an environment where a larger, organized group can combine specialized expertise, complementary skills, multiple disciplines, and shared experimental or computational infrastructure to enable breakthroughs that would be difficult to achieve otherwise. In addition to advancing research, these centers are expected to play a meaningful role in educating and training students and cultivating a thriving scientific community around the center's theme.
In terms of research scope, the program covers essentially all physics areas under NSF's Division of Physics, including atomic, molecular, and optical physics; plasma physics; elementary particle physics; nuclear physics; astrophysics; gravitational physics; and biological physics. The solicitation also emphasizes that strong interdisciplinary proposals are welcome, particularly those at the interface of these physics areas with other fields or emerging directions. Examples named in the opportunity include connections to biology, quantum information science, mathematical physics, condensed matter physics, and other developing subfields. In practice, this framing signals that NSF is looking for centers that can unify methods and perspectives across traditional boundaries while still being anchored in a compelling physics-driven agenda.
A competitive PFC proposal must clearly demonstrate four core features. First, it must show credible potential for a profound, possibly transformational advance in physics, not just incremental progress, and it should explain why the center structure is essential for reaching that goal. Second, it must include creative and substantive plans to enhance education, broaden participation, and strengthen diversity, along with public outreach activities that are more than superficial add-ons. Third, it must articulate broader impacts, such as influence on other scientific or engineering fields and tangible benefits to society, which could include workforce development, technology-relevant advances, or meaningful public engagement with science. Fourth, it must provide a strong "synergy" or "value-added" rationale for operating as a center or institute, explaining how the collective effort, shared infrastructure, and coordinated management will produce outcomes greater than the sum of individual projects.
Administratively, this opportunity is offered as a discretionary NSF award using a cooperative agreement, which typically indicates substantial NSF involvement in oversight and coordination compared with a standard grant. The funding activity category is science and technology and other research and development, and it is associated with CFDA number 47.049 (Mathematical and Physical Sciences). The opportunity anticipated about seven awards, with an estimated total funding amount of $15,000,000. Individual awards were expected to range from $1,000,000 (floor) to $5,000,000 (ceiling). The solicitation states there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement, which means applicants are not required to provide institutional matching funds as a condition of the award, although strong institutional commitment can still matter strategically in center proposals.
Eligibility is limited to accredited U.S.-based academic institutions, including universities and two- and four-year colleges (including community colleges), applying on behalf of their faculty members. This reflects the program's emphasis on university-based centers that integrate research with education and training. Key dates in the listed cycle included a required preliminary proposal due August 11, 2010 (by 5 p.m. local time of the proposer), followed by a full proposal deadline of January 25, 2011. The solicitation was posted and created April 26, 2010, with the closing date aligned to the full proposal deadline.
For applicants seeking full details, the opportunity is identified as NSF Publication 10-560 and Funding Opportunity Number 10-560. Support contacts listed include NSF grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov for access or submission-related issues.
Physics Frontiers Centers (PFC) Program - FAQs
What is the Physics Frontiers Centers (PFC) program?
The Physics Frontiers Centers (PFC) program is a National Science Foundation (NSF) funding opportunity that supports university-based research centers and institutes. It is designed to push the boundaries of physics through coordinated, large-team efforts that bring together specialized expertise, multiple disciplines, and shared experimental or computational infrastructure.
What is the main purpose of a PFC award?
PFC awards are intended to enable breakthroughs in physics by supporting organized center-scale efforts. The program is built on the idea that some modern physics challenges are too complex or infrastructure-intensive to be addressed as effectively by a single principal investigator or a small collaboration.
What kinds of organizations are PFC projects expected to create or support?
The program supports university-based research centers and institutes that coordinate large teams, shared facilities or infrastructure, and cross-cutting expertise around a compelling physics-driven theme.
Which research areas are covered by the PFC program?
The PFC program covers essentially all physics areas under NSF's Division of Physics. The opportunity description includes atomic, molecular, and optical physics; plasma physics; elementary particle physics; nuclear physics; astrophysics; gravitational physics; and biological physics.
Are interdisciplinary proposals allowed or encouraged?
Yes. The solicitation emphasizes that strong interdisciplinary proposals are welcome, particularly at interfaces between the listed physics areas and other fields or emerging directions.
What interdisciplinary connections are specifically mentioned in the opportunity description?
Examples named include connections to biology, quantum information science, mathematical physics, condensed matter physics, and other developing subfields.
What are the core features a competitive PFC proposal must demonstrate?
The opportunity description calls out four core features: (1) credible potential for a profound, possibly transformational advance in physics, with a clear explanation of why a center structure is essential; (2) creative and substantive plans to enhance education, broaden participation, strengthen diversity, and conduct meaningful public outreach; (3) clear broader impacts, including influence on other fields and tangible benefits to society (such as workforce development, technology-relevant advances, or public engagement); and (4) a strong synergy or value-added rationale showing that the center's coordinated effort produces outcomes greater than the sum of individual projects.
Does the program prioritize transformational research over incremental work?
Yes. The description states that proposals must show credible potential for a profound, possibly transformational advance in physics, not just incremental progress.
Why does NSF require a strong rationale for operating as a center?
The opportunity emphasizes "synergy" and "value-added" as a core feature. Applicants are expected to explain how collective effort, shared infrastructure, and coordinated management enable outcomes that individual projects could not achieve as effectively on their own.
What expectations does NSF have for education, diversity, and outreach?
Centers are expected to play a meaningful role in educating and training students and cultivating a thriving scientific community around the center theme. Proposals must include creative and substantive plans for education, broadening participation, strengthening diversity, and public outreach, and these elements are expected to be more than superficial add-ons.
What are "broader impacts" in the context of this opportunity?
The opportunity highlights broader impacts such as influence on other scientific or engineering fields and tangible benefits to society. Examples mentioned include workforce development, technology-relevant advances, and meaningful public engagement with science.
What type of NSF award mechanism is used for PFC awards?
This opportunity is offered as a discretionary NSF award using a cooperative agreement, which typically indicates substantial NSF involvement in oversight and coordination compared with a standard grant.
What is the funding activity category for this opportunity?
The funding activity category is science and technology and other research and development.
What CFDA number is associated with this program?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 47.049 (Mathematical and Physical Sciences).
How many awards were anticipated in the described cycle?
The opportunity anticipated about seven awards.
What was the estimated total funding amount?
The estimated total funding amount was $15,000,000.
What is the expected award size range?
Individual awards were expected to range from $1,000,000 (floor) to $5,000,000 (ceiling).
Is cost-sharing or matching required?
No. The solicitation states there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants are not required to provide institutional matching funds as a condition of the award.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to accredited U.S.-based academic institutions, including universities and two- and four-year colleges (including community colleges), applying on behalf of their faculty members.
Can community colleges apply?
Yes. The eligibility description explicitly includes two- and four-year colleges, including community colleges, as long as they are accredited and U.S.-based.
Are proposals submitted by individual faculty members or by institutions?
Institutions apply on behalf of their faculty members. The eligibility language emphasizes accredited U.S.-based academic institutions as the applicant organizations.
What were the key deadlines listed for this cycle?
The listed cycle included a required preliminary proposal due August 11, 2010 (by 5 p.m. local time of the proposer), and a full proposal deadline of January 25, 2011.
Was a preliminary proposal required?
Yes. The information provided states there was a required preliminary proposal due August 11, 2010.
What time was the preliminary proposal due?
The preliminary proposal was due by 5 p.m. local time of the proposer.
When was the solicitation posted/created?
The solicitation was posted and created on April 26, 2010.
What was the closing date for the opportunity?
The closing date was aligned with the full proposal deadline of January 25, 2011.
How is the opportunity identified for reference?
It is identified as NSF Publication 10-560 and Funding Opportunity Number 10-560.
Who should be contacted for Grants.gov access or submission-related issues?
The support contact listed for access or submission-related issues is NSF grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.
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