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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): NSF Process and Reaction Engineering Program

1. What is the NSF Process and Reaction Engineering program?

The NSF Process and Reaction Engineering program is a discretionary research grant opportunity within chemical and biochemical engineering that supports both fundamental and applied research. It focuses on how chemical reactions occur (rates and mechanisms), how reactions interact with transport phenomena (heat and mass transfer), and how that combined understanding can improve catalysts, reactors, processes, and advanced materials.

2. What kinds of research topics fit within this program's scope?

The program supports engineering-significant reaction and process phenomena, including catalyzed and uncatalyzed systems, chemistry and biochemistry near solid surfaces and interfaces, and electrochemical and photochemical processes with clear engineering relevance or commercial promise. It also emphasizes work that links reaction science to process design, optimization, dynamic modeling, plant/process unit control, and reactive processing routes for polymers, ceramics, and thin films.

3. What are the three main technical pillars NSF uses to frame the program?

The program is framed around three pillars: (1) Chemical Reaction Engineering, (2) Process Design and Control, and (3) Reactive Polymer Processing.

4. What does NSF mean by "Chemical Reaction Engineering" in this program?

Chemical Reaction Engineering focuses on how kinetics and transport phenomena interact in reactive systems, and how that understanding leads to improved or entirely new reactor designs. It includes interest in nontraditional reactor platforms and novel reaction environments and activation methods.

5. What nontraditional reactor platforms and reaction environments are explicitly mentioned?

The program specifically notes interest in membrane reactors, microreactors, and reaction environments such as supercritical fluids.

6. What novel activation or driving methods for reactions does the program mention?

The program mentions plasmas, acoustics, and microwaves as examples of novel ways to activate or drive chemistry.

7. Are miniaturized or multifunctional "smart" system concepts relevant?

Yes. The program expresses interest in multifunctional and miniaturized system concepts, including ideas described as "smart" molecules and "lab-on-a-chip" or "factory-on-a-chip" approaches.

8. Does the program include bioprocessing and bioreactor research?

Yes. Bioreactor design, bioprocess optimization, and fermentation technology are included within the Chemical Reaction Engineering pillar.

9. Does the program support energy-related research directions?

Yes. The program highlights energy-related directions, particularly approaches for generating energy from renewable resources.

10. Does the program include reactive processing technologies for microelectronics?

It can. The program mentions enabling process technologies such as atomic layer deposition for microelectronic devices as an example tied to optimization and innovation in reactive processing.

11. What does NSF mean by "Process Design and Control" in this program?

Process Design and Control covers the design and optimization of complex chemical and biochemical processes, along with the dynamic modeling and control strategies needed to operate process units and plants effectively.

12. What high-priority topics are called out under Process Design and Control?

NSF identifies high-priority topics including simultaneous product and process design (including bioprocesses), improving plant efficiency through algorithms that communicate across different design and decision levels, and methods that balance multiple criteria beyond throughput or cost.

13. What criteria, beyond cost or throughput, does NSF explicitly want considered?

NSF explicitly includes profitability, safety, operability, environmental sustainability, and broader societal concerns as criteria that may be balanced in design and optimization approaches.

14. Is sensor development within scope?

Yes. The program emphasizes new sensor development for measuring composition and product attributes, including properties and morphology that are difficult to observe in real time but important for quality and control.

15. Does NSF encourage multi-scale systems approaches?

Yes. The program is interested in systems approaches that optimize across multiple scales, ranging from nano to mega scales.

16. Are globally distributed industrial planning and scheduling topics relevant?

Yes. The program notes interest in integrating planning and scheduling considerations in globally distributed industrial contexts.

17. Does NSF encourage use of advanced computing or cyberinfrastructure?

Yes. Applicants are encouraged to use modern cyberinfrastructure resources, including large-scale computing at tera- and peta-scale, when it strengthens the proposed research.

18. What does NSF mean by "Reactive Polymer Processing" in this program?

Reactive Polymer Processing focuses on projects that integrate polymer synthesis with downstream processing steps that shape polymer structure and performance. The emphasis is on understanding and controlling how polymerization and processing operations jointly determine long-range conformations and final properties.

19. What are examples of project areas mentioned under Reactive Polymer Processing?

Examples include emulsion and miniemulsion polymerization and reaction injection molding. The description also mentions processing operations such as orienting and annealing polymer melts as relevant types of downstream processing.

20. Is environmental responsibility part of the program's interests?

Yes. Environmental responsibility is described as a recurring theme, with emphasis on addressing environmental concerns while enabling production of tailored molecules and materials.

21. What does NSF want proposals to clearly explain at the outset?

NSF expects proposals to (a) make a direct case for novelty relative to prior work, (b) explain why that novelty matters to engineering science (not just incremental improvement), and (c) describe potential societal and/or industrial impact if the research succeeds.

22. Where must the novelty and impact case appear?

NSF expects this discussion to appear, at minimum, in the Project Summary, indicating reviewers will look there for a clear statement of what is new, why it matters, and what changes if it works.

23. What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is offered as NSF grants under CFDA 47.041 (Engineering Grants).

24. Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The opportunity states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.

25. What total funding and number of awards were estimated in the archived posting?

The archived posting lists an estimated total funding level of about $4.9 million and an expected 47 awards for that cycle.

26. Is there an award floor mentioned?

Yes. The source data notes an award floor of $300,000.

27. What is the typical project duration and average annual award size for unsolicited research awards?

Typical unsolicited research awards generally run one to three years, with an average annual award size around $100,000.

28. When are proposals due, and how strict are the deadlines?

The program uses standing annual submission windows with proposals due by 5 p.m. local time. There are two cycles: August 15 to September 15 and February 1 to March 1. Proposals submitted outside the announced windows are returned without review, so timing is treated as a strict compliance requirement.

29. How does this program relate to NSF CAREER proposals?

CAREER proposals are handled under the NSF Faculty Early Career Development Program. The description notes CAREER awards are five years with a maximum award size of $400,000, and that the Engineering CAREER deadline is in July each year (with details maintained on the NSF CAREER program page).

30. Can conference, workshop, or supplement proposals be submitted anytime?

Yes. Proposals for conferences, workshops, and supplements can be submitted at any time, but they require prior discussion with the program director.

31. What are RAPID and EAGER proposals, and are there special steps to submit them?

The program notes RAPID and EAGER proposals (which replaced the older SGER mechanism) must be discussed with the program director before submission. Additional requirements are governed by the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG).

32. Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning the competition is broadly open to applicant entity types, subject to any clarifications NSF may include in the solicitation text.

33. What happens if a proposal is submitted outside the submission windows?

The program states that proposals submitted outside the announced windows are returned without review.

34. Where should applicants go for technical help with access or submission issues?

For access or submission issues, applicants are directed to NSF Grants.gov support for technical assistance.

35. What types of outcomes or impacts does NSF appear to value for this program?

Based on the program description, NSF values credible, novel engineering research that connects reaction science, transport, and process systems thinking to advances in reactors, process design and control, and reactive materials manufacturing, along with clear societal and/or industrial impact if successful.