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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): NSF Physics of Living Systems (PoLS)

What is the NSF Physics of Living Systems (PoLS) program?

The Physics of Living Systems (PoLS) program is an NSF program in the Physics Division that supports research using physics to uncover the deepest, most general principles behind how living systems work. The emphasis is on discovering fundamental physical mechanisms that living organisms rely on to organize, regulate, adapt, and function in changing environments.

What is the main goal of PoLS-funded research?

The main goal is to advance fundamental physics by using living systems as a context where new physics (or broader, more general physics) can be discovered. The strongest proposals treat biology as an arena for identifying underlying physical principles, not simply as a target for applying existing physics tools.

How is PoLS different from simply applying physics methods to biology?

PoLS is explicitly not focused on using physics as an instrument to solve biological questions without advancing physics itself. The program prioritizes projects that push physics forward intellectually by uncovering organizing principles and mechanisms that are fundamental and generalizable.

What kinds of proposals are considered low priority by PoLS?

Projects that mainly use physics methods as tools to answer a biological question, but do not advance basic physical understanding, are explicitly described as a low priority.

Does PoLS support theoretical work, experimental work, or both?

PoLS is interested in both theoretical and experimental approaches, especially those aiming for quantitative, testable explanations. The program highlights the value of building falsifiable, phenomenological theories that capture essential organizing principles.

What does PoLS mean by a systems-style physics perspective?

PoLS frames living matter as dynamic, driven, and often far from equilibrium. The program looks for physics approaches that can produce falsifiable explanations of how living systems organize and function, including the roles of feedback, information processing, energy use, and robustness.

What scientific topics are within the scope of PoLS?

The scope is intentionally broad. The program is interested in research spanning scales from subcellular processes to collective and population-level behavior, as long as the central aim is discovering fundamental physics principles related to living systems.

What kinds of single-cell or subcellular research areas does PoLS welcome?

At the single-cell and subcellular level, PoLS welcomes studies on physical principles behind cellular organization and architecture (including examples like cytoskeletal dynamics), energy metabolism and transduction, gene regulation approached from a physics standpoint, and intracellular or intercellular communication framed in terms of physical constraints and mechanisms.

Does PoLS support research at larger scales beyond individual cells?

Yes. At larger scales, PoLS supports work on collective behavior, population-level dynamics, and the evolution of complexity, including how simple interacting units can give rise to higher-level structure and function.

Is research on artificial life forms allowed under PoLS?

The solicitation notes interest in exploring artificial life forms, as long as the work is grounded in fundamental physics questions about organization and function rather than being driven by purely engineering goals.

What makes a PoLS proposal especially strong?

Proposals are strongest when they aim to uncover fundamental physical mechanisms and general principles, provide quantitative and testable explanations, and use living systems to motivate or reveal new physics rather than only generating biological insight.

What kinds of project structures does PoLS typically fund?

PoLS primarily funds individual investigator awards. However, the program encourages collaborative proposals, especially collaborations that bring together physicists and biological researchers in ways that strengthen the underlying physics aims.

Are collaborative proposals encouraged?

Yes. Collaborative proposals are encouraged when they enhance the fundamental physics contribution, particularly through partnerships between physicists and biological researchers.

How important are broader impacts in PoLS proposals?

The program values broader impacts and indicates that societal relevance can strengthen broader impact arguments. Examples mentioned include renewable energy and human health, as long as the central contribution remains fundamental physics.

What was the funding instrument for this opportunity?

Based on the archived opportunity details provided, the funding instrument was a discretionary grant under NSF.

How was the opportunity categorized?

It was categorized under science and technology research and development.

How many awards were anticipated and what was the estimated total funding?

The archived details anticipated about 10 awards, with an estimated total funding level of $2,000,000.

Was cost sharing required?

No. The archived details indicated that cost sharing was not required.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was listed as unrestricted (open to any entity type), subject to any additional eligibility language that may have been included in the full announcement.

When was the opportunity originally posted and what was the deadline?

The opportunity was originally posted on May 13, 2011. The full proposal deadline was July 31, 2011, with an annual July 31 cycle thereafter while the opportunity was active.

Is this opportunity still active?

No. The opportunity was later archived on June 19, 2014, according to the details provided.

What is the best way to align a research idea with PoLS priorities?

Based on the program description provided, alignment comes from framing the research around fundamental, general physical principles of living systems (organization, regulation, adaptation, far-from-equilibrium dynamics, feedback, information processing, energy use, robustness) and ensuring the work advances physics intellectually rather than serving primarily as a tool for biological discovery.