NIST Issues Call for Measurement Science and Engineering Research Grant Proposals

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has issued a call for grant proposals for a broad range of potential research projects covering the institute's interests in the physical sciences and engineering.

The 2013 NIST Measurement Science and Engineering (MSE) Research Grant Programs, announced on Jan. 29, 2013, comprise grant solicitations for eight NIST research units:

• The Material Measurement Laboratory (MML) Grant Program supports research in the fields of materials science and engineering, materials measurement science, biosystems and biomaterials, biomolecular measurements, chemical sciences and applied chemicals and materials.
• The Physical Measurement Laboratory (PML) Grant Program supports research in the areas of mechanical metrology, semiconductors, ionizing radiation physics, medical physics, biophysics, neutron physics, atomic physics, optical technology, optoelectronics, electromagnetics, time and frequency, quantum physics, weights and measures, quantum electrical metrology, temperature, pressure, flow, far UV physics and metrology with synchrotron radiation.
• The Engineering Laboratory (EL) Grant Program supports research in the fields of machine tool and machining process metrology; advanced manufacturing; intelligent systems and information systems integration for applications in manufacturing; structures, construction metrology and automation; inorganic materials; polymeric materials; heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC & R) equipment performance; mechanical systems and controls; heat transfer and alternative energy systems; computer-integrated building processes; indoor air quality and ventilation; earthquake risk reduction for buildings and infrastructure; smart grid; windstorm impact reduction; applied economics and fire research.
• The Information Technology Laboratory (ITL) Grant Program supports research in the areas of advanced network technologies, big data, cloud computing, computer forensics, information access, information processing and understanding, cybersecurity, health information technology, human factors and usability, mathematical and computational sciences, mathematical foundations of measurement science for information systems; a metrology infrastructure for modeling and simulation, smart grid, software testing and statistics for metrology.
• The NIST Center for Neutron Research (NCNR) Grant Program supports research involving neutron scattering and the development of innovative technologies that advance the state of the art in neutron research.
• The Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology (CNST) Grant Program supports research in the field of nanotechnology specifically aimed at developing essential measurement and fabrication methods and technology in support of all phases of nanotechnology development, from discovery to production; conducting collaborative research with NIST scientists, including research at the CNST NanoFab, a national shared resource for nanofabrication and measurement; and supporting researchers visiting CNST.
• The Office of Special Programs (OSP) Grant Program supports research in the broad areas of greenhouse gas and climate science measurements and law enforcement standards.
• The Associate Director for Laboratory Programs (ADLP) Grant Program supports research in chemistry, materials science, physics, engineering, infrastructure, information technology, neutron research and nanotechnology.

In fiscal year 2012, the combined MSE grant programs funded a total of 163 new projects with a total of more than $31.5 million. The funding generally goes to support scientific or engineering research, but may also support conferences, workshops or other technical research meetings that are relevant to NIST's work.

All NIST MSE Research Grant Programs are subject to the availability of funds. Proposals for all programs except the EL Grant Program will be considered on a continuing/rolling basis. Proposals received after 5 p.m. Eastern Time on June 3, 2013 may be processed and considered for funding under this Federal Funding Opportunity (FFO) in the current fiscal year or in the next fiscal year, subject to the availability of funds.

The primary deadline for applications to the EL Grant Program is Friday, March 1, 2013. EL will continue to accept applications on a continuing/rolling basis in the current fiscal year and the next fiscal year, depending on available funds, according to the schedule published in the formal solicitation posted at Grants.gov.

Details of scope, anticipated award sizes, requirements and the proposal submission and review process vary with the individual grant programs. The full documentation for this solicitation is available as an Announcement of Federal Funding Opportunity at the Grants.gov website www.grants.gov under Funding Opportunity Number 2013-NIST-MSE-01. See http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=218193.