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UM-St. Louis Office of Research Administration

Funding Opportunities: Federal Agencies

DECEMBER 2009

This report contains a sampling of new/updated funding opportunity announcements issued by

U.S. federal agencies that were posted in the previous month. For additional opportunities, visit

Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov)

InfoEd (http://www1.infoed.org/)

University Internal Awards program (http://www.umsl.edu/services/ora/sponsored-projects/internal.html)

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA) USDA: National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA)

Close Date Opportunity

01/14/2010

Specialty Crop Research Initiative The Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) was established to solve critical

industry issues through research and extension activities. Specialty crops are defined as fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, and horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture. SCRI will give priority to projects that are multistate, multi-institutional, or trans-disciplinary; and include explicit mechanisms to communicate results to producers and the public. Projects must address at least one of five focus areas: research in plant breeding, genetics, and genomics to improve crop characteristics; efforts to identify and

address threats from pests and diseases, including threats to specialty crop

pollinators; efforts to improve production efficiency, productivity, and profitability over the long term; new innovations and technology, including improved mechanization and technologies that delay or inhibit ripening; and methods to prevent, detect, monitor, control, and respond to potential food safety hazards in the production and processing of specialty crops.

01/14/2010

Extension Integrated Pest Management - Coordination and Support Program The FY 2010 Extension Integrated Pest Management Coordination and Support Program (EIPM-CS) contains two components, EIPM-CS Coordination and

EIPM-CS Support. Both components support state and local contributions in advancing the goals of the National Road Map for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) by addressing priority needs associated with the coordination, design, development, implementation, and evaluation of extension IPM programs. EIPM-CS funds will help agricultural producers and other pest managers adopt alternative pest management practices through

training, demonstration, and evaluation of methods and strategies. All EIPM-

CS efforts are intended to contribute to the achievement of national IPM goals through the demonstration and evaluation of IPM practices in production agriculture and other settings. Awards strengthen the ability of NIFA and its IPM partner institutions to actively address local, state, and national IPM needs delivered through the Cooperative Extension Services and rapidly respond to new issues and opportunities.

01/19/2010 Integrated Research, Education, and Extension Competitive Grant Program: National Integrated Food Safety Initiative The purpose of the National Integrated Food Safety Initiative is to support

food safety projects that demonstrate an integrated approach to solving

problems in applied food safety research, education, or extension. Various models for integration of applied research, education, and extension will be considered for funding. Applications describing multi-state, multi-institutional,

multidisciplinary, and multifunctional activities (and combinations thereof) are encouraged. Applicants are strongly encouraged to address at least two of the three functional areas of research, education, and extension (i.e., research and extension, research and education, or extension and education).

01/20/2010

Special Research Grants Program - Potato Breeding Research The purpose of this grant program is to support potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) research that focuses on varietal development/testing and whose output will be or include potato varieties. As used herein, varietal development/testing is research using traditional and biotechnological genetics to develop improved potato variety(ies). Aspects of evaluation,

screening and testing must support or complement the development of improved varieties.

01/21/2010

Youth Farm Safety Education and Certification

The Youth Farm Safety Education and Certification Program (YFSEC) supports national efforts to deliver timely, pertinent, and appropriate training to youth seeking employment or already employed in agricultural production. The program has critical ties to the current regulations for youth employment in agriculture, especially the exemptions provided in 29 CFR Part 570, subpart E-1 for youth under the age of 16 employed in some agricultural occupations having obtained certification. Significant changes in agricultural production

and in the agricultural workforce since this regulation took effect in the early 1970's have encouraged the USDA to consider training and certification innovations along with developing appropriate training and restrictions on youth employment in hazardous agricultural jobs. YFSEC's funding has appeared under the Smith-Lever 3 (d) line for Youth Farm Safety Education and Certification since 2001 and has awarded nearly $1.43 million in grants.

01/28/2010

International Science and Education Grants Program

The International Science and Education Competitive Grants Program (ISE) supports research, extension, and teaching activities that will enhance the capabilities of American colleges and universities to conduct international

collaborative research, extension and teaching. ISE projects are expected to enhance the international content of curricula; ensure that faculty work beyond the U.S. and bring lessons learned back home; promote international research partnerships; enhance the use and application of foreign technologies in the U.S.; and strengthen the role that colleges and universities play in maintaining U.S. competitiveness.

02/09/2010

Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) The OREI seeks to solve critical organic agriculture issues, priorities, or problems through the integration of research and extension activities. The purpose of this program is to fund projects that will enhance the ability of

producers and processors who have already adopted organic standards to grow and market high quality organic agricultural products. Priority concerns include biological, physical, and social sciences, including economics. The

OREI is particularly interested in projects that emphasize research and outreach that assist farmers and ranchers with whole farm planning and ecosystem integration. Projects should plan to deliver applied production information to producers. Fieldwork must be done on certified organic land or

on land in transition to organic certification, as appropriate to project goals and objectives. Refer to the USDA National Organic Program (http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop) for organic production standards.

02/16/2010 Hispanic-Serving Institutions Education Grants Program (HSI) This competitive grants program is intended to promote and strengthen the

ability of Hispanic-Serving Institutions to carry out higher education programs

in the food and agricultural sciences. Programs aim to attract outstanding students and produce graduates capable of enhancing the Nation's food and agricultural scientific and professional work force.

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (DOD) DOD: Air Force Research Lab (AFRL)

Close Date Opportunity

12/07/2009

Defense Manufacturing Science & Technology (MS&T) Broad Agency

Announcement (BAA) The Department of Defense is requesting white papers which extend the state of the art in modeling and simulation as it is applied during the systems acquisition process. This includes, but is not limited to: integration of design

models with analysis tools; identification of critical design features based on technology and manufacturing maturity, cost, quality, reliability or schedule

risk; visualization of assembly operations at multiple levels of detail; integration of high fidelity cost models at all levels of design and system integration; and, prediction and analysis of supply chain risks.

12/09/2009

DISRUPTIVE MANUFACTURING: Rapid Manufacturing of Aerospace

Structures (RMAS) Rapid Manufacturing is a new area of manufacturing developed from a family of technologies known as Rapid Prototyping. Rapid Prototyping typically utilizes advanced layer manufacturing technologies that can quickly generate complex three-dimensional objects directly from computer-based models devised by Computer Aided Design (CAD). This computer representation is sliced into two-

dimensional layers, whose descriptions are sent to the fabrication equipment to build the part layer by layer. Rapid prototyping includes many different fabrication technologies. Stereolithography (SL), selective laser sintering (SLS), laminated object manufacturing (LOM), and fused deposition modeling

(FDM) are a few examples. These Rapid Prototyping processes have already had the effect of both improving products and reducing their development time. Rapid Manufacturing is an attempt to transition these prototyping

techniques to the manufacturing floor. This form of manufacturing can be incredibly cost-effective and the process is far more flexible than conventional manufacturing. Rapid Prototyping processes have been shown to be economically feasible for use in the manufacture of non-structural parts in quantities. This Rapid Manufacturing effort will focus on the use of these Rapid Prototyping processes in the fabrication and/or assembly of Aerospace Structures.

01/15/2010

Applied BioSciences Research The purpose of this effort is to conduct research with the Applied Biotechnology Branch, Biosciences and Performance Division of the Human

Effectiveness Directorate of the 711th Human Performance Wing. The Applied Biotechnology Branch’s primary research areas are: 1) Nano-Bio

Interaction/Effects 2)Bioinformatics 3) Toxicology 4) Predictive Modeling (PD/PBPK) 5) Biomarker Discovery/Assay Development and 6) Molecular Foundations. Innovative research is needed to advance the state-of-the-art in warfighter protection and cognition. In particular, novel concepts are required to capitalize on advances in biotechnology and molecular biology to provide

radically new capabilities that not only provide a general public benefit through civilian applications, but also improve warfighter performance and combat effectiveness.

01/27/2010 Solid State Electrical Distribution Unit AFRL/RZPE seeks to develop and demonstrate a solid state electrical

distribution unit (SSEDU) suitable for use in more electric aircraft. The

hardware deliverable will be a working unit capable of switching large currents and being integrated into the INVENT systems integration facility (ISIF).

DOD: Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)

Close Date Opportunity

04/01/2010 Limits of Thermodynamic Storage (LOTS) of Energy DARPA is soliciting innovative proposals to develop revolutionary new approaches to portable energy sources.

05/17/2010

Thermal Management System (TMS) DARPA is soliciting innovative research proposals in the area of Thermal Management Systems (TMS) for aircraft landing decks. The deployment of the MV-22 Osprey has resulted in ship flight deck buckling that has been attributed to the excessive heat impact from engine exhaust plumes. Navy studies have

indicated that repeated deck buckling will likely cause deck failure before

planned ship life. With the upcoming deployment of the F-35B Short Take Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) Joint Strike Fighter (JSF), it is anticipated that the engine exhaust plumes may have a more severe thermo-mechanical impact on the non-skid surface and flight deck structure of ships. Currently, there are no available strategies to mitigate deck buckling and thermal-mechanical deck failure other than heavy structural modifications. The goal of

this effort is to exploit thermal management technologies that incorporate a thermally and functionally stable non-skid surface which meets Navy requirements for application, safety, and performance. Eligible technologies should consist of an integrated Thermal Management System (TMS) that mitigates the thermo-mechanical structural impact of the F-35B engine exhaust plumes. It is anticipated that the integrated TMS will be implemented

on Navy Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) 1 and Landing Helicopter Assault (LHA) 6 Class amphibious assault ships. A responsive proposal to the TMS BAA will outline the development of a system that can be installed on top of the existing decks on amphibious assault ships, and can be used to mitigate the

thermal loading that is applied by vertical and short take off and landing aircraft. The proposed system will need to incorporate a thermally stable non-skid that is capable of operating under these extreme conditions. Proposals

that incorporate advanced, highly wear resistant non-skids, such as amorphous metal coatings, are encouraged. DARPA anticipates that, with proper servicing and repair, the thermally stable non-skid will exhibit a lifetime consistent with the overall integrated Thermal Management System. Any routine servicing and repair required by the thermally stable non-skid must be capable of being performed on the flight deck without major disruptions to shipboard operations. The proposed research and development should

investigate innovative approaches that enable revolutionary advances in systems. Specifically excluded are efforts that primarily result in evolutionary improvements to the existing technologies or commercially available systems.

11/16/2010

Innovative Systems for Military Missions The Tactical Technology Office (TTO) of the Defense Advanced Research

Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting executive summaries, white papers and proposals for advanced research and development of Innovative Systems for Military Missions. Innovative Systems are integrated systems or critical systems components, which often incorporate emerging advanced technologies, and which enable revolutionary improvements to the capability,

efficiency and effectiveness of the military. TTO seeks responses relating to three (3) mission thrust areas ("mission thrusts"): * Advanced Weapons Systems * Advanced Platforms * Advanced Space Systems Responses to the thrust areas may be submitted at any time during the open period of this solicitation. TTO's solicitation focuses on the high risk/high payoff

development, integration, demonstration and evaluation of innovative systems

or critical systems components enabled by, and incorporating, new or emerging technologies. Proposed efforts must also show significant promise to provide the U.S. military with revolutionary new mission capabilities, and/or

enable significant increases in mission effectiveness. Innovative system concepts of interest to TTO typically address emerging technical opportunities, advanced systems concepts, emergent threats, and/or new technology-enabled concepts of operation. TTO strongly encourages respondents to adopt a complete systems engineering approach to the problems. This BAA solicits executive summaries, white papers and proposals for proposed efforts. Proposers are strongly encouraged to initially submit a one page executive

summary describing the technology area and new ideas of interest prior to submitting a white paper or proposal. Executive summaries will be reviewed as they are received. Based on a favorable review of an Executive Summary, proposers will be encouraged to submit a six page white paper describing the proposer's proposed concept prior to submitting a proposal. A DARPA Program Manager may contact you to further discuss the idea in your executive

summary or white paper. This procedure is intended to minimize unnecessary effort in proposal preparation and review. Submission of an executive summary and/or white paper is not required prior to submitting a full proposal. Proposers are encouraged to review and monitor TTO's public website at http://www.darpa.mil/TTO in order to better understand past and recent TTO mission systems development efforts. The executive summaries and white papers are an opportunity for the proposers to receive feedback regarding the

relevance of their idea to the TTO mission and to have DARPA personnel review their proposed technical concept. Refer also to the following URL in FBO for a complete copy of the DARPA-BAA-10-09.

DOD: Department of the Army

Close Date Opportunity

02/17/2010

DoD Defense Medical Research and Development Program Basic

Research Award This Program Announcement/Funding Opportunity is focused on basic research, defined as research directed towards attaining greater knowledge and understanding of fundamental principles of science and medicine. The DMRDP Basic Research Award is designed to promote new ideas that are still in the early stages of development and have the potential to yield highly

impactful data and new avenues of investigation. This mechanism supports conceptually innovative, high-risk/high-reward research that could ultimately lead to critical discoveries or major advancements that will accelerate the delivery of new medical countermeasures and information to protect military personnel from a variety of health threats inherent in the military operational environment, and to effectively diagnose and treat these personnel when they are ill or injured. These awards will also support basic research to enhance the

training and education of military personnel and health care providers. Presentation of preliminary data is not required. However, investigators must demonstrate logical reasoning and a sound scientific rationale established

through a critical review and analysis of the literature for the proposal to be competitive. Research projects should include a well-formulated, testable hypothesis based on strong scientific rationale. Awards under this announcement will consist solely of assistance agreements. This

announcement is intended only for extramural investigators. Other announcements will be released for intramural investigators. An intramural investigator is defined as a Department of Defense (DOD) employee working within a DOD laboratory or medical treatment facility (MTF), or a DOD activity embedded within a civilian medical center. An extramural investigator is defined as all those not included in the definition of intramural investigator.

DOD: Office of Naval Research (ONR)

Close Date Opportunity

06/20/2010

Navy Counter Directed Energy Weapon Research The Office of Naval Research (ONR) is interested in receiving proposals for research that describes and examines the best technologies for future Navy

defense needs, including potential civil-military-education institution integrations for innovative scientific concepts, proposals that examine theoretical constructs and explore trade spaces, and present educational development and opportunity programs that will form the foundation for Counter Directed Energy Weapons (CDEW) research, and applied research in the future. Of particular interest is research in theories for future technologies

that may be explored, developed and implemented to efficiently and effectively address the emerging Directed Energy Weapon (DEW) threats used against its existing or planned naval ship platforms, underwater systems, aviation systems and/or weapons systems. Also of high interest is the

potential for “no cost” solutions where theory and small-scale laboratory proofs may indicate that there is no requirement for a new acquisition program in order for the military to field a potential solution.

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (ED)

Close Date Opportunity

01/06/2010

Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program—Field Initiated (FI) Projects CFDA 84.133G-1 (Research) Note: Each funding opportunity description is a synopsis of information in the

Federal Register application notice. For specific information about eligibility, please see the official application notice. The official version of this document is the document published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations is available on GPO Access at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/index.html.

Please review the official application notice for pre-application and application

requirements, application submission information, performance measures, priorities and program contact information. Purpose of Program: The purpose of the FI Projects program is to develop methods, procedures, and rehabilitation technology that maximize the full inclusion and integration into society, employment, independent living, family support, and economic and social self- sufficiency of individuals with disabilities, especially individuals with the most severe disabilities. Another purpose of the FI Projects program is to

improve the effectiveness of services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. NIDRR makes two types of awards under the FI Projects program: Research grants (CFDA 84.133G-1) and development grants (CFDA 84.133G-2). In carrying out a research activity under an FI research grant, a grantee must identify one or more hypotheses or research questions and, based on the hypotheses or research questions identified, perform an intensive, systematic study directed toward producing (1) new

scientific knowledge, or (2) better understanding of the subject, problem

studied, or body of knowledge. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.133G-1 (Research). Applications for grants under the Field Initiated Projects program--CFDA Number 84.133G-1 (Research) or 84.133G-2 (Development) must be submitted electronically using e-Application, accessible through the Department's e-Grants Web site at: http://e-

grants.ed.gov. While completing your electronic application, you will be entering data online that will be saved into a database. You may not e-mail an electronic copy of a grant application to us.

01/06/2010 Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program—

Field Initiated (FI) Projects CFDA 84.133G-2 (Development).

Note: Each funding opportunity description is a synopsis of information in the Federal Register application notice. For specific information about eligibility, please see the official application notice. The official version of this document

is the document published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations is available on GPO Access at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/index.html. Please review the official application notice for pre-application and application requirements, application submission information, performance measures, priorities and program contact information. Purpose of Program: The purpose of the FI Projects program is to develop methods, procedures, and

rehabilitation technology that maximize the full inclusion and integration into society, employment, independent living, family support, and economic and social self-sufficiency of individuals with disabilities, especially individuals with the most severe disabilities. Another purpose of the FI Projects program is to improve the effectiveness of services authorized under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. NIDRR makes two types of awards under the FI

Projects program: Research grants (CFDA 84.133G-1) and development grants (CFDA 84.133G-2). In carrying out a development activity under an FI project development grant, a grantee must use knowledge and understanding gained from research to create materials, devices, systems, or methods, including designing and developing prototypes and processes, that are beneficial to the target population. Target population means the group of individuals, organizations, or other entities expected to be affected by the

project. There may be more than one target population because a project may affect those who receive services, provide services, or administer services. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.133G-2 (Development). Applications for grants under the Field Initiated Projects program--CFDA Number 84.133G-1 (Research) or 84.133G-2 (Development) must be submitted electronically using e-Application, accessible through the Department's e-Grants Web site at: http://e-grants.ed.gov. While completing

your electronic application, you will be entering data online that will be saved

into a database. You may not e-mail an electronic copy of a grant application to us.

01/08/2010

Office of Postsecondary Education; Overview Information; Business and International Education (BIE) Program CFDA 84.153A Note: Each funding opportunity description is a synopsis of information in the Federal Register application notice. For specific information about eligibility, please see the official application notice. The official version of this document is the document published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations is

available on GPO Access at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/index.html. Purpose of Program: The BIE Program provides grants to enhance international business education programs and to expand the capacity of the business community to engage in nternational economic activities. You must submit all documents electronically, including all information you typically provide on the following forms: The Application for Federal Assistance (SF

424), the Department of Education Supplemental Information for SF 424,

Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary assurances and certifications. You must attach any narrative sections of your application as files in a .DOC (document), .RTF (rich text), or .PDF (Portable Document) format. If you upload a file type other than the three file types specified in this paragraph or submit a password protected file, we will not review that material. The telephone number for the Grants.gov Helpdesk is 1-

888-336-8930.

01/12/2010 International Research and Studies (IRS) Program CFDA 84.017A-1 Note: Each funding opportunity description is a synopsis of information in the

Federal Register application notice. For specific information about eligibility,

please see the official application notice. The official version of this document is the document published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations is

available on GPO Access at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/index.html. Please review the official application notice for pre-application and application requirements, application submission information, performance measures, priorities and program contact information. Purpose of Program: The IRS Program provides grants to conduct research and studies to improve and strengthen instruction in modern foreign languages, area studies, and other international fields. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number:

84.017A-1. Applications for grants under the IRS Program, CFDA number 84.017A, must be submitted electronically using e-Application, accessible through the Department's e-Grants Web site at: http://e-grants.ed.gov. While completing your electronic application, you will be entering data online that will be saved into a database. You may not e-mail an electronic copy of a grant application to us.

01/12/2010

International Research and Studies (IRS) Program CFDA 84.017A-3 Note: Each funding opportunity description is a synopsis of information in the Federal Register application notice. For specific information about eligibility, please see the official application notice. The official version of this document

is the document published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations is available on GPO Access at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/index.html. Please review the official application notice for pre-application and application requirements, application submission information, performance measures, priorities and program contact information. Purpose of Program: The IRS

Program provides grants to conduct research and studies to improve and strengthen instruction in modern foreign languages, area studies, and other international fields. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.017A-3. Applications for grants under the IRS Program, CFDA number 84.017A, must be submitted electronically using e-Application, accessible

through the Department's e-Grants Web site at: http://e-grants.ed.gov. While completing your electronic application, you will be entering data online that

will be saved into a database. You may not e-mail an electronic copy of a grant application to us.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (HHS)

HHS: Agency for Health Care Research and Quality (AHRQ)

Close Date Opportunity

01/07/2013

Partnerships in Implementing Patient Safety II (R18) Purpose. The purpose of this Funding Opportunity (FOA) is to support Research Demonstration and Dissemination (R18) grant applications from organizations that will implement safe practice interventions that demonstrate evidence of reducing or eliminating medical errors, risks, hazards, and harms

associated with the process of health care. These 24 month implementation projects will inform AHRQ, providers, patients, payers, policy makers, and the public about how safe practice interventions can be successfully implemented in diverse health care settings and lead to safer and better health care for all Americans. This FOA follows the release of an earlier FOA in 2005 that resulted in the release of successful implementation projects and toolkits available to the public. Background information on the earlier FOA can be

found at http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/FOA-files/FOA-HS-05-012.html.

HHS: National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Close Date Opportunity

01/10/2010

Enabling Technologies in DNA Repair Research (R21) Purpose. This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is designed to support multidisciplinary teams to develop enabling technologies that will facilitate and stimulate translation of basic research in DNA damage and repair to human population or clinical studies. These projects will develop new tools

to measure global DNA repair capacity in individuals or responses in individual DNA repair pathways activated in response to DNA damaging agents. The assays are expected to enable the study of DNA damage response in exposed individuals in clinical and epidemiological studies. Thus, a key goal is the identification and verification of reproducible biomarkers that indicate the levels of specific repair activity or mutagenic outcomes and would provide the

basis for assay development. Field or pilot testing of tools or assays is encouraged. Support will be provided for the development of novel assays for detecting DNA damage and repair or for improving existing measures. It is expected that these improved technologies will be appropriate and scalable for

epidemiological and clinical studies.

01/13/2010

Limited Competition: NIH Competitive Revision Awards for Creating Virtual Consortium for Translational/Transdisciplinary Environmental Research (ViCTER) (R01) Purpose. The purpose of the ViCTER program is to foster transdisciplinary collaboration and promote translational research efforts between and among

basic (technology and mechanism oriented), clinical (patient-oriented) and population-based researchers and other individuals with expertise relevant to environmental health who have come together in common interest around a particular environmental stressor(s) of interest. The ultimate goal of the Consortia Program is to accelerate the exchange of knowledge and resources among collaborators to improve human health in those areas where environmental factors are known or expected to influence the development or

progression of disease. Each virtual consortium will consist of an NIEHS-funded researcher (lead applicant), who will serve as the principal investigator

and overall coordinator of the consortia, and two new collaborators. The Competitive Revision application should include one to two new specific aims for the current NIEHS-funded research project and one to two specific aims from each of the new collaborators that will significantly expand the scope of the current project with the goal of making the research more transdisciplinary

and translational in nature and stimulating synergy among the collaborators.

01/14/2010

Paul B. Beeson Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award in Aging (K23)

Purpose. This program provides three to five years of mentored career development support to clinically trained faculty members in strong research environments who have made a commitment to focus their research endeavors on patient-oriented research. The award will enable them to gain skills and experience in aging research under the guidance of a mentor or mentors, and to establish an independent program of research in this field. Clinically trained professionals or individuals with a clinical degree who are

interested in further career development in biomedical research that is not

patient-oriented should refer to the Paul B. Beeson Clinical Scientist Career Development Award in Aging (K08) [AG-10-010].The program also includes an annual meeting that allows opportunities to partner with national mentors and fellow awardees.

01/14/2010

Paul B. Beeson Clinical Scientist Development Award in Aging (K08) Purpose. This program provides three to five years of mentored career development support to clinically trained faculty members in strong research environments to enable them to gain skills and experience in aging research under the guidance of a mentor or mentors, and to establish an independent

program of research in this field. Clinically trained professionals or individuals

with a clinical degree who are interested in further career development in biomedical research that is patient-oriented should refer to the Paul B. Beeson Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Development (K23) Award in Aging [AG-

10-011].The program also includes an annual meeting that allows opportunities to partner with national mentors and fellow awardees.

01/20/2010

Technologies for Image-Guided Interventions (R01)

Purpose. This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) solicits research project grant (R01) applications that propose high-impact technologies for image-guided interventions. As defined here, image-guided interventions (IGI), integrate images for navigation during a treatment or biopsy. The goal of the IGI initiative is to produce technologies that will replace current treatments with minimally invasive, image-guided interventions. A disruptive technology is a new technological innovation that replaces the existing

dominant technology. Examples of disruptive technologies include image-guided procedures that replace invasive surgery with faster, less invasive

and/or lower-cost image-guided interventions. This FOA is intended to support the second phase of a two-phase project that will deliver image-guided interventions that have a high clinical impact. Preliminary data describing a prototype system that demonstrates the feasibility of the image-guided intervention is required to apply to this solicitation. Multidisciplinary

collaborations and/or partnerships with industry are encouraged, but are not required. In addition, development of technology platforms that might have applicability across a range of clinical conditions are suitable.

03/23/2010

Translational Tools for Clinical Studies of CAM Interventions (R01) Purpose. This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) issued by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) encourages investigator(s)-initiated applications that propose to develop, enhance, and validate translational tools to facilitate rigorous study of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) approaches that are in wide use by the public. Recent data from the National

Health Interview Survey [http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis.htm] establish that

Americans are utilizing CAM approaches to promote health and well-being, to treat or prevent disease, and for symptom relief. CAM approaches being widely used include massage and manipulative therapies, meditation, yoga, non-vitamin/non-mineral natural products, and acupuncture with chronic pain, back pain and musculoskeletal pain being the most commonly cited reasons

for their use. This FOA focuses on encouraging the development of improved research methodology to study safety, efficacy, and clinical effectiveness of mind-body interventions (such as meditation), manual therapies, and/or yoga therapy. Investigations of other CAM interventions (including natural products and dietary supplements) are not allowed for this FOA.

04/01/2010

Seek, Test, and Treat: Addressing HIV in the Criminal Justice System (R01) Purpose. This initiative solicits R01 applications to empirically test the seek, test, and treat paradigm in criminal justice populations. The seek, test, and treat model involves reaching out to high risk, hard to reach groups who have

not been recently tested (seek), engaging them in HIV testing (test), and initiating, monitoring, and maintaining HAART for those testing positive (treat). Researchers are encouraged to develop, implement, and test strategies to increase HIV testing and the provision of HAART to HIV seropositive individuals involved with the criminal justice system, with particular focus on continuity of HAART during and after community re-entry following incarceration. Key outcome measures include linkage to care (e.g.,

seen at care center post-release) and viral suppression (e.g., proportion with undetectable viral load 6 months or more after initiation of ART). Applications responsive to this FOA may propose intervention research at the individual,

organizational, or system level that leads to effective approaches for

expanding access to HIV testing and HAART treatment in the criminal justice system and in community organizations working with criminal justice systems and populations.

02/01/2012

Countermeasures Against Chemical Threats (CounterACT) Exploratory/Developmental Projects in Translational Research (R21) Purpose. This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) requests applications

for exploratory/developmental translational research on therapeutics for reducing mortality and morbidity caused by acute exposures to chemical threat agents. Chemical threats include traditional chemical warfare nerve agents such as sarin and VX, toxic industrial chemicals such as cyanide and chlorine, and toxic agricultural chemicals such as parathion and sodium fluoroacetate. Projects supported by this FOA are expected to generate preliminary data that would enable the development of competitive

applications for more extensive support from the NIH CounterACT program (see www.ninds.nih.gov/counteract for a description) and other related

research and development programs.

09/07/2012

AIDS-Science Track Award for Research Transition (R03) Purpose. This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) by the National Institute on Drug Abuse seeks to facilitate the entry of both newly independent and early career investigators to the area of drug abuse research on HIV/AIDS. This FOA, AIDS--Science Track Award for Research Transition (A-START), encourages Small Research Grant (R03) applications to support research projects on drug abuse and HIV/AIDS that can be carried out in a

short period of time with limited resources. The R03 grant mechanism supports different types of projects including pilot and feasibility studies; secondary analysis of existing data; small, self-contained research projects; development of research methodology; and development of new research technology.

01/07/2013

Development and Characterization of Animal Models for Aging Research (R01)

Purpose. The purpose of this announcement is to describe areas of research of particular interest to the National Institute on Aging. This FOA seeks to promote research that develops, characterizes, refines and enhances model

systems for aging research, including but not limited to animal models, cell lines, and informatics. This FOA issued by the National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, encourages Research Project Grant (R01) applications that propose to: characterize aging at the physiological, biochemical and functional levels in existing animal models, including but not limited to animal models currently used in other scientific fields that have potential to benefit aging research; develop new animal models for aging

research; develop unique cell lines for aging research; use comparative biology to identify models of highest priority for aging research; or develop informatics that enhance the utilization of animals for aging research.

01/07/2013

Development and Characterization of Animal Models for Aging Research (R21) Purpose. The purpose of this announcement is to describe areas of research of

particular interest to the National Institute on Aging. This FOA seeks to promote research that develops, characterizes, refines and enhances model systems for aging research, including but not limited to animal models, cell lines, and informatics.This FOA issued by the National Institute on Aging,

National Institutes of Health, encourages Research Project Grant (R01) applications that propose to: characterize aging at the physiological, biochemical and functional levels in existing animal models, including but not limited to animal models currently used in other scientific fields that have potential to benefit aging research; develop new animal models for aging research; develop unique cell lines for aging research; use comparative

biology to identify models of highest priority for aging research; or develop

informatics that enhance the utilization of animals for aging research.

01/07/2013

Accelerating the Pace of Drug Abuse Research Using Existing Epidemiology, Prevention, and Treatment Research Data (R01) Purpose. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) invite applications to support the innovative analysis of existing social science and behavioral data to study the etiology and epidemiology of

drug using behaviors (defined as alcohol, tobacco, and other drug), HIV risk behaviors, related disorders, prevention and treatment of these behaviors, and health service utilization including quality, access, and costs. NIDA and NCI encourage coordinated analyses of substance abuse research data that are in public use or that are privately held by a principal investigator. The Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR) joins this FOA as part of its effort to promote research on the behavioral and social aspects of health and

illness. However, only participating ICs will provide direct grant support under this announcement.

01/07/2013

Development, Application, and Evaluation of Prediction Models for

Cancer Risk and Prognosis (R21) Purpose. This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), issued by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), encourages research applications from clinicians, epidemiologists, geneticists, statisticians, and translational researchers working in the field of cancer control and prevention to improve existing models for cancer risk and prognosis by developing innovative research projects that use existing data; develop new models for cancer risk

and prognosis; and validate new models and evaluate their utility in research and clinic settings. To explore this opportunity, the NCI Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences (DCCPS) and the Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis (DCTD) encourage applications for research projects to develop, apply, and evaluate new and existing cancer risk and prognostic prediction models for use by researchers, clinicians, and the general public. This FOA is designed to provide a mechanism of support for investigators to

address two major challenges in model development, which are: integrating

diverse types of data (e.g., clinical, demographic, pathologic, environmental, epidemiologic, outcomes, and genetic data from varied data marts or warehouses); and ensuring adequate validation (i.e., using multiple separate populations to define sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values). Applications that are focused on the identification and

characterization of prognostic/diagnostic markers are not appropriate for this FOA.

01/07/2013

Obesity Policy Research: Evaluation and Measures (R03) Purpose. This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), issued by the

National Cancer Institute (NCI), Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD),National Institutes of Health, and the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, CDC, encourages Small Research Grant (R03) applications that propose to: (1) conduct evaluation research on obesity-related natural experiments (defined here as community and other population-level public policy interventions that

may affect diet and physical activity behavior), and/or (2) develop and/or validate relevant community-level measures (instruments and methodologies to assess the food and physical activity environments at the community level). The overarching goal of this FOA is to inform public policy relevant to diet and physical activity behavior, and weight and health outcomes of Americans. The R03 grant mechanism supports different types of projects including pilot and feasibility studies; secondary analysis of existing data; small, self-contained

research projects; development of research methodology; and development of new research technology. The R03 is intended to support small research projects that can be carried out in a short period of time with limited

resources.

01/07/2013

Development and Application of PET and SPECT Imaging Ligands as Biomarkers for Drug Discovery and for Pathophysiological Studies of CNS Disorders (Phased Innovation Award [R21/R33]) Purpose. This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) invites research

grant applications from organizations/institutions that propose the development of novel radioligands for positron emission tomography (PET) or single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging in human brain, and that incorporate pilot or clinical feasibility evaluation in pre-clinical studies, model development, or clinical studies.

01/07/2013

Epigenetic Approaches in Cancer Epidemiology (R01) Purpose. This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), issued by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), encourages research applications that propose to evaluate profiles of methylation, histone modifications and micro RNA (miRNA) and their association with risk of developing cancer in different

populations. The overarching goal of this FOA is to provide support for population based studies to define the role of epigenetic markers (methylation, histone and micro RNA profiles) changes to understand cancer etiology.

01/07/2013

Selected Topics in Transfusion Medicine (R21) Purpose. This FOA issued by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), encourages research grant applications from investigators who propose to study topics that will determine blood banking and transfusion practice. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) is responsible for supporting research in blood banking and transfusion medicine. This research aimed at improving the safety and

availability of the blood supply and the practice of transfusion medicine is critical to public health since about five million patients receive blood transfusions every year in the U.S. Since blood transfusions pose infectious and non-infectious risks to recipients, it is important to understand the determinants of transfusion-associated adverse events and how best to minimize transfusion risks. It is also crucial to maintain an adequate blood

supply by minimizing the risks associated with the donation process and

developing enhanced recruitment and retention programs.

01/07/2013

Prioritizing Molecular Targets for Cancer Prevention with Nutritional Combinations (R01)

Purpose. This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), issued by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), and the Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS), of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), invites research applications to enhance our understanding about the dynamic interrelationship that exists between bioactive food components (and/or combinations thereof) and cancer prevention. Although much evidence exists that dietary components are linked to cancer prevention, the interactions among dietary bioactive compounds and

food combinations remains under-investigated. Applications are encouraged to consider either multiple dietary bioactive components, intact foods or multiple foods utilizing physiologically relevant concentrations of the agents. New genetic technologies may be employed to study the impact of dietary

components on complex cellular and molecular networks, as part of the effort to better understand the basis for the multifaceted interactions of food

components with cancer prevention mechanisms. Specifically, applications that apply new high-throughput genomic, epigenomic, proteomic, and metabolomic technologies to prioritize molecular targets of dietary components are highly encouraged. The sites of action that may be evaluated include carcinogen metabolism, DNA repair, cell proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, hormonal regulation, energetics, inflammation, and/or angiogenesis. In addition, applications should either evaluate multiple molecular targets within a cancer

process or multiple processes in order to prioritize which process(es) is/are

most involved in bringing about a phenotypic change. It is hoped that

advances in this area may assist in optimizing cancer prevention while minimizing potential toxicity due to food components. The resulting information will help define which foods or food components should be

considered in isolation or in combination when developing dietary strategies to reduce cancer risk and/or modify tumor behavior.

01/07/2013

Epigenetic Approaches in Cancer Epidemiology (R21)

Purpose. This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), issued by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), encourages research applications that propose to evaluate profiles of methylation, histone modifications and micro RNA (miRNA) and their association with risk of developing cancer in different populations. The overarching goal of this FOA is to provide support for population based studies to define the role of epigenetic markers (methylation, histone and micro RNA profiles) changes to understand cancer etiology.

01/07/2013

Development and Application of PET and SPECT Imaging Ligands as Biomarkers for Drug Discovery and for Pathophysiological Studies of

CNS Disorders (R21)

Purpose. This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) invites research grant applications from organizations/institutions that propose the development of novel radioligands for positron emission tomography (PET) or single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging in human brain, and that incorporate pilot or clinical feasibility evaluation in pre-clinical studies, model development, or clinical studies.

01/07/2013

Obesity Policy Research: Evaluation and Measures (R01) Purpose. This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), issued by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

(NIDDK), Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR), NIH, and the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, CDC, encourages Research Project Grant

(R01) applications that propose to: (1) conduct evaluation research on obesity-related natural experiments (defined here as community and other population-level public policy interventions that may affect diet and physical

activity behavior), and/or (2) develop and/or validate relevant community-level measures (instruments and methodologies to assess the food and physical activity environments at the community level). The overarching goal of this FOA is to inform public policy and research relevant to (1) diet and physical activity behavior, and (2) weight and health outcomes of Americans.

01/07/2013

Obesity Policy Research: Evaluation and Measures (R21) Purpose. This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), issued by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD),Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research

(OBSSR), NIH, and the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, CDC, encourages Exploratory/Developmental Grant (R21) applications that propose to: (1) conduct evaluation research on obesity-

related natural experiments (defined here as community and other population-level public policy interventions that may affect diet and physical activity behavior), and/or (2) develop and/or validate relevant community-level measures (instruments and methodologies to assess the food and physical

activity environments at the community level). The overarching goal of this FOA is to inform public policy and research relevant to (1) diet and physical activity behavior, and (2) weight and health outcomes of Americans. The R21 grant mechanism is intended to encourage exploratory/developmental research by providing support for the early and conceptual stages of project development.

01/07/2013

Development, Application, and Evaluation of Prediction Models for

Cancer Risk and Prognosis (R01) Purpose. This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), issued by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), encourages research applications from

clinicians, epidemiologists, geneticists, statisticians, and translational researchers working in the field of cancer control and prevention to improve existing models for cancer risk and prognosis by developing innovative research projects that use existing data; develop new models for cancer risk and prognosis; and validate new models and evaluate their utility in research and clinic settings. To explore this opportunity, the NCI Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences (DCCPS) and the Division of Cancer

Treatment and Diagnosis (DCTD) encourage applications for research projects to develop, apply, and evaluate new and existing cancer risk and prognostic prediction models for use by researchers, clinicians, and the general public. This FOA is designed to provide a mechanism of support for investigators to address two major challenges in model development, which are: integrating diverse types of data (e.g., clinical, demographic, pathologic, environmental,

epidemiologic, outcomes, and genetic data from varied data marts or warehouses); and ensuring adequate validation (i.e., using multiple separate populations to define sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values). Applications that are focused on the identification and characterization of prognostic/diagnostic markers are not appropriate for this FOA.

01/07/2013

Drug Abuse Dissertation Research: Epidemiology, Prevention, Treatment, Services, and/or Women and Sex/Gender Differences (R36) Purpose. The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to

invite applications for support of drug abuse doctoral dissertation research in epidemiology, prevention, treatment, services, and/or women and sex/gender differences.

01/07/2013

NEI Clinical Study Planning Grant Program (R34)

Purpose. The National Eye Institute (NEI) supports large-scale clinical vision

research projects, including randomized clinical trials and epidemiologic studies. At the time of submission, applications requesting support for these activities are expected to provide detailed information regarding the studys rationale, design, analytic techniques, protocols and procedures, facilities and environment, organizational structure, and collaborative arrangements. This

information is best conveyed in a well-documented Manual of Procedures (MOP), the development of which represents a costly and time-consuming activity. The Clinical Study Planning Grant is designed to facilitate activities central to the refinement of a studys protocol and procedures and the development of a detailed MOP. The NEI Clinical Study Planning Grant may be used to support the development of a MOP, as well as to conduct preliminary studies to refine study procedures and/or assess recruitment potential. The

Clinical Study Planning Grant is applicable to both epidemiologic and clinical trial research studies.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (DOI)

Close Date Opportunity

01/20/2010

Migratory Bird Conservation in the Upper Midwest

This announcement solicits proposals for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS’s) Upper Midwest (Region 3) Migratory Bird Conservation Program. In 2010, this program will provide small grants for the conservation of migratory birds that are not federally listed as Endangered or Threatened. Proposals should address the geographic area comprised by Illinois, Indiana, Iowa,

Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin, or areas important for

birds breeding in these states during the non-breeding season. This grant program is listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance at: https://www.cfda.gov/index?s=program&mode=form&tab=step1&id=c7a6b53

d91e3b2f235f9a5cd3a0ea10d&cck=1&au=&ck=. In 2010, the program will focus on the following: 1. Coordinated Bird Monitoring: We seek proposals that advance regional scale bird monitoring priorities as identified through the Midwest Coordinated Bird Monitoring Partnership. Priority will be given to proposals that: (1) Facilitate the flow of bird monitoring information between bird conservation partners and regional nodes to the Avian Knowledge Network; (2) Assess the value of existing networks of bird demographic data

and/or design regionally coordinated programs to monitor bird demographics in the context of conservation, management or policy decisions (i.e., productivity, survivorship, bioenergetics, density, migration); (3) Identify bird migration routes and important stopover or wintering sites (including pelagic concentrations in the Great Lakes); and (4) Promote the incorporation of existing grassland bird monitoring data sets into a regional framework that

informs management, conservation, and/or policy decisions. Projects that directly involve collaborative and coordinated support of several key partners within the region will be given greater consideration. Please note that this grant program is not meant to support long-term operational bird monitoring efforts; rather, it seeks to address coordination of monitoring efforts and development and evaluation of new survey and monitoring techniques (both field and analytical). If you are interested in submitting proposals to advance

Midwest Coordinated Bird Monitoring priorities, please contact Katie Koch, USFWS Division of Migratory Birds (906-226-1249; [email protected]), to discuss potential projects. She will direct you to resources that identify highest priority needs, and you can then decide if you want to develop an appropriate proposal. 2. Focal species conservation: Over the last few years, the USFWS has worked with partners to develop conservation plans and host collaborative workshops for a small number of high-priority landbirds,

waterbirds, and shorebirds (hereafter focal species). In 2010, we seek

proposals that advance conservation priorities expressed in planning efforts for the following focal species: Common Tern, Upland Sandpiper, American Woodcock, Lesser Scaup, Cerulean and Golden-winged Warblers, and Henslow’s Sparrow (in the context of all Eastern grassland birds). Proposals will be given greater consideration if they include a monitoring component to

guide informed conservation planning and decision-making or to evaluate population or demographic success of conservation projects. If you are interested in submitting proposals to study or monitor any of these species, please contact Steve Lewis, USFWS Division of Migratory Birds (612-713-5473; [email protected]), to discuss potential projects. He will direct you to conservation plans and other resources that identify these species’ greatest needs, and you can then decide if you want to develop an appropriate

proposal. 3. Strategic Conservation: In order to focus conservation on the highest priority issues with the greatest probability of making a difference for birds, the USFWS Upper Midwest Migratory Bird Conservation Program operates under the USFWS business model that integrates biological planning,

landscape design, conservation delivery, and monitoring and evaluation in a way that generates the adaptive feedback loops that enable sound decisions and constantly improve our efficiency and effectiveness in saving birds

(http://www.fws.gov/midwest/science/SHC/FAQ.htm). In 2010, in order to check operating assumptions and to make sure we are directly addressing the threats that most limit avian productivity and populations, we are seeking proposals that: a. Evaluate the direct and indirect effects of feral cats and cat colonies on the productivity of birds breeding in close proximity to humans (urban, suburban, and small towns), especially in ecosystems with high

conservation priority species. b. Develop landscape-scale decision support

tools that will allow integration of objectives for competing bird guilds (e.g.,

between grassland and forest species or between early and late successional species). c. Develop models that sum local, landscape, and regional bird management efforts and estimate contributions toward meeting continental

objectives. If you are interested in submitting proposals under any of the three strategic areas above, please contact Tom Will, USFWS Division of Migratory Birds (612-713-5362; [email protected]), to discuss potential projects. He will direct you to resources that identify priority needs, and you can then decide if you want to develop an appropriate proposal. Please note that funds for 2010 projects may not be available until late summer.

NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITITES (NEH)

Close Date Opportunity

02/03/2010

Challenge Grants in United States History and Culture

NEH invites applications for Challenge Grants in United States History and Culture. This grant opportunity is designed to help institutions and

organizations strengthen their ability to explore significant themes and events in American history, so as to advance our understanding of how—since the nation’s founding—these events have shaped and been shaped by American identity and culture. NEH seeks to support a range of approaches to the American experience: for example, approaches might explore significant events in America’s history, its democratic institutions, the political principles on which the nation is founded, or the complicated mix of peoples and cultures

that have formed America. Also welcome are proposals that seek support for the study of the history and culture of the United States in international contexts rather than in isolation—proposals that explore relationships with other nations and cultures that have profoundly affected the course of United States history. NEH also welcomes proposals for programming at America’s historic places (e.g., historic sites, neighborhoods, communities, or larger geographical regions). NEH challenge grants are capacity-building grants,

intended to help institutions and organizations secure long-term improvements in and support for their humanities programs and resources. Grants may be used to establish or enhance endowments or spend-down funds (that is, funds that are invested, with both the income and the principal being expended over a defined period of years) that generate expendable earnings to support ongoing program activities. Funds may also be used for

one-time capital expenditures (such as construction and renovation, purchase of equipment, and acquisitions) that bring long-term benefits to the institution and to the humanities more broadly. Because of the matching requirement, these NEH grants also strengthen the humanities by encouraging nonfederal sources of support. Applications are welcome from colleges and universities, museums, public libraries, research institutions, historical societies and historic sites, scholarly associations, state humanities councils, and other

nonprofit entities. Programs that involve collaboration among multiple institutions are eligible as well, but one institution must serve as the lead agent and formal applicant of record.

02/17/2010

Institutes for Advanced Topics in the Digital Humanities These NEH grants support national or regional (multistate) training programs for scholars and advanced graduate students to broaden and extend their knowledge of digital humanities. Through these programs, NEH seeks to increase the number of humanities scholars using digital technology in their research and to broadly disseminate knowledge about advanced technology tools and methodologies relevant to the humanities. The projects may be a

single opportunity or offered multiple times to different audiences. Institutes may be as short as a few days and held at multiple locations or as long as six weeks at a single site. The duration of a program should allow for full and

thorough treatment of the topic. Today, complex data—its form, manipulation,

and interpretation—are as important to humanities study as more traditional research materials. Datasets, for example, may represent digitized historical records, high-quality image data, or even multimedia collections, all of which

are increasing in number due to the availability and affordability of mass data storage devices and international initiatives to create digital content. Moreover, extensive networking capabilities, sophisticated middleware applications, and new collaboration platforms are simultaneously providing and improving interactive access to and analysis of these data as well as a multitude of other resources. The Institutes for Advanced Topics in the Digital Humanities program seeks to enable humanities scholars in the United States

to incorporate advances like these into their scholarship and teaching.

03/23/2010

Digital Humanities Start-Up Grants The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) invites applications to the

Digital Humanities Start-Up Grants program. This program is designed to encourage innovations in the digital humanities. By awarding relatively small

grants to support the planning stages, NEH aims to encourage the development of innovative projects that promise to benefit the humanities. Proposals should be for the planning or initial stages of digital initiatives in any area of the humanities. Digital Humanities Start-Up Grants may involve research that brings new approaches or documents best practices in the study

of the digital humanities; planning and developing prototypes of new digital tools for preserving, analyzing, and making accessible digital resources, including libraries’ and museums’ digital assets; scholarship that examines the philosophical implications and impact of the use of emerging technologies; innovative uses of technology for public programming and education utilizing both traditional and new media; and new digital modes of publication that

facilitate the dissemination of humanities scholarship in advanced academic as well as informal or formal educational settings at all academic levels. Innovation is a hallmark of this grant category. All applicants must propose an innovative approach, method, tool, or idea that has not been used before in the humanities. These grants are modeled, in part, on the “high risk/high

reward” paradigm often used by funding agencies in the sciences. NEH is requesting proposals for projects that take some risks in the pursuit of

innovation and excellence. Digital Humanities Start-Up Grants should result in plans, prototypes, or proofs of concept for long-term digital humanities projects prior to implementation. Two levels of awards will be made in this program. Level I awards are small grants designed to fund brainstorming sessions, workshops, early alpha-level prototypes, and initial planning. Level II awards are larger grants that can be used for more fully formed projects that are ready to begin implementation or the creation of working prototypes.

Applicants must state in their narrative which funding level they seek. Applicants should carefully choose the funding level appropriate to the needs of the proposed project. See Section II, Award Information, for more details.

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION (NSF)

Close Date Opportunity

01/09/2010

Ecosystem Science The Ecosystem Science Cluster supports projects within two programs (see descriptions below): the Ecosystem Studies Program and the Long-Term Ecological Research Program (LTER). Other relevant funding opportunities are listed below and on DEB Home. The Ecosystem Studies Program supports investigations of whole-system ecological processes and relationships across a

diversity of spatial and temporal (including paleo) scales in order to advance understanding of: 1) material and energy fluxes and transformations within and among ecosystems, 2) the relationships between structure, including

complexity, and functioning of ecosystems, 3) ecosystem dynamics and

trajectories of ecosystem development through time, and 4) linkages among ecosystems at different spatial and temporal scales. Research on natural, managed and disturbed ecosystems is supported, including terrestrial,

freshwater, wetland, coastal (including salt marsh and mangrove), and human-dominated environments. Proposals may focus on areas such as: biogeochemical cycling and element budgets from local to global scales; roles of microbes in ecosystem functioning; primary productivity; stoichiometric relationships; climate-ecosystem feedbacks; energy and radiatively-active gas fluxes; relationships between diversity and ecosystem function; ecosystem services; and landscape dynamics. Proposals may focus on the cycling of non-

nutrient elements, but those specifically ecotoxicological in orientation, or without an explicit link to ecosystem processes, will not be considered. Ecosystem-oriented proposals that focus on coastal marine or deep ocean or Laurentian Great Lakes habitats are reviewed by the Biological Oceanography Program in the Division of Ocean Sciences. Studies of the structure of and linkages within food webs are reviewed by the Ecological Biology program,

also in the Division of Environmental Biology. Observational and manipulative approaches in field, mesocosm, and laboratory settings are supported, with the expectation that the research, whether hypothesis- or discovery-driven, have a strong conceptual foundation. Inter- and multi-disciplinary proposals that fall across traditional programmatic boundaries are welcomed and encouraged; the Ecosystem Studies Program often co-reviews proposals with related programs across the Foundation. Proposals that incorporate

quantitative or conceptual modeling efforts promoting integration and synthesis, or advancing ecosystem science through either the pursuit of new theoretical paradigms or novel modeling efforts, are encouraged. Proposals that, in whole or part, strive to develop new techniques can be supported when a compelling argument exists that there is the potential for a major advance in ecosystem research. Projects that are potentially transformative -- that is, those that may change the conceptual basis of ecosystem science and

have broad implications for future research -- are given particular priority.

Unsolicited proposals to the Ecosystem Studies Program should be prepared as described in the Grant Proposal Guide (GPG). The Program also funds proposals submitted in response to the CAREER, RCN, LTREB and OPUS solicitations. The Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) Program supports fundamental ecological research that requires long time periods and large

spatial scales at a coordinated network of more than two dozen field sites. LTER is not currently soliciting proposals for new sites and does not accept unsolicited proposals.

01/09/2010

Evolutionary Processes

The Evolutionary Processes Cluster supports research on microevolutionary processes and their macroevolutionary consequences. Topics include mutation, gene flow, recombination, natural selection, genetic drift, assortative mating acting within species, speciation, and long-term features of evolution. These investigations attempt to explain causes and consequences of genetically-based change in the properties of groups of organisms (at the

population level or higher) over the course of generations as well as large-

scale patterns of evolutionary change, phylogeography, origin and maintenance of genetic variation, and molecular signatures of evolution at the population or species level. The cluster seeks to fund projects that are transformative -- that is, those that will change the conceptual bases of evolutionary biology and have broad implications for future research. Both empirical and theoretical approaches are encouraged. The Cluster is comprised

of two programs, Evolutionary Genetics and Evolutionary Ecology (described below); proposals should be submitted to one of these programs.Research on evolutionary patterns and processes is supported across the Biological Sciences Directorate. The following, general guidelines are provided to help

you find the most appropriate program for your research interests. Proposals

addressing molecular genetic mechanisms or the structure, maintenance, expression, transfer, and stability of genetic information in DNA, RNA, chromosomes, and proteins and how those processes are regulated are

considered by the Genes and Genome Systems Cluster (Division of Molecular and Cellular Biology). The evolution of physiological or developmental mechanisms is covered by programs in the Division of Integrative Organismal Systems. We recognize that research topics may cross disciplinary and administrative boundaries; the Evolutionary Processes Cluster frequently co-reviews projects with each of these clusters or programs. Program Officers stand ready to answer more specific questions about the best program for

your particular research plans.Evolutionary Genetics Program: The Evolutionary Genetics Program supports research that investigates the genetic bases of micro- and macroevolutionary processes and their effects on the evolution of genotypes and phenotypes. Both adaptive and non-adaptive processes and their effects will be considered. Within this context, appropriate topics of investigation include (but are not limited to) population and

quantitative genetic examination of the processes responsible for the evolution of complex phenotypes; processes maintaining genetic variation; how the properties of genes (number, arrangement, and pattern) and their interactions influence evolutionary processes at the population level or above; the evolution of genetic architecture; and multi-species comparisons of aspects of development. The Evolutionary Ecology Program supports research on the evolutionary causes and consequences of ecological interactions (intra-

specific, interspecific, and with the abiotic environment). Appropriate topics of investigation include the selective pressures imposed by abiotic or biotic environments and the evolutionary responses to these pressures; the causes and consequences of phenotypic plasticity; life-history evolution; the evolution of interspecific relations (predator-prey, competition, cooperation, mutualism, parasitism, symbiosis); the ongoing evolution of biodiversity; dynamics of natural and sexual selection; and the phylogenetic bases of community

assembly.

01/09/2010

Population and Community Ecology The Population and Community Ecology Cluster supports research that

advances the conceptual or theoretical understanding of population ecology, species interactions and community dynamics in terrestrial, wetland and freshwater habitats. We encourage projects that integrate theoretical, modeling, and empirical approaches, or that promote synthesis across spatial and temporal scales. The cluster seeks to fund projects that are transformative -- that is, those that will change the conceptual bases of population and community ecology and have broad implications for future

research. Proposals that develop research questions within the context of existing theory, consider alternate mechanisms, and design critical tests to distinguish among mechanisms are particularly encouraged, together with those that use contemporary approaches to develop new paradigms. Inter- and multi-disciplinary proposals that cross traditional programmatic boundaries are welcomed in the Population and Community Ecology Cluster;

such proposals may be co-reviewed with other programs in DEB, in other

Divisions in the Biology Directorate, or in other Directorates. Studies that focus on the ecology of marine organisms should be directed to the Biological Oceanography Program in the Division of Ocean Sciences. Research focused on human disease or health is not supported. The Population and Community Ecology Cluster funds projects within the Population and Community Ecology Program as well as LTREB, OPUS, and CAREER. Other relevant funding

opportunities are listed below as well as on DEB Home (see link on left). Population and Community Ecology Program: This program supports fundamental studies in the broadly defined areas of population and community ecology. Topics include the population dynamics of individual species,

demography, and fundamental ecological interactions affecting populations,

communities, and their environments. Themes include, but are not limited to: population regulation; food-web structure and trophic dynamics; competition, predation, mutualism and parasitism; mechanisms of coexistence and the

maintenance of species diversity; community assembly; paleoecology; landscape ecology; conservation and restoration biology; behavioral ecology; and macroecology. The Program particularly encourages studies that can be applied to a wide range of habitats and taxa across multiple spatial and temporal scales.

01/12/2010

Developmental Systems The Developmental Systems Cluster supports research aimed at understanding how interacting developmental processes give rise to the emergent properties of organisms. A systems level approach to understanding these processes, at the molecular, cellular, and organismal levels of

organization, requires the use of molecular, genetic, biochemical, and physiological techniques as well as techniques from outside biology. The

Developmental Systems Cluster is also particularly interested in understanding how emergent properties result in the development of complex phenotypes and lead to the evolution of developmental mechanisms. Plant, Fungal and Microbial Developmental Systems-The Plant, Fungal and Microbial Development programmatic area supports research that addresses

developmental processes in plants from algae to angiosperms, microbes and fungi. Animal Developmental Systems-Animal Developmental Systems programmatic area supports research that seeks to understand the processes that result in the complex phenotype of animals. Because different organisms may be more amenable to certain approaches than others, analyses of development in a wide range of different species are encouraged.Evolution of

Developmental Systems-The Evolution of Developmental Systems programmatic area supports research to discover the developmental processes shared by all organisms and those singular ones that produce diversity (phenotypic variation within a species and/or between species). What developmental changes have given rise to new phenotypes? How are gene

networks modified to generate different phenotypic outcomes? To answer these and other evolutionary questions will likely require inter-disciplinary and

collaborative approaches using a wide range of model systems. Summary of Award Information - In FY 2009, the Division of Integrative Organismal Systems funded 24% of submitted proposals, and the mean annual award was $160,624.

02/07/2010

Power, Controls and Adaptive Networks The Power, Controls and Adaptive Networks (PCAN) program invests in the design and analysis of intelligent and adaptive engineering networks, including sensing, imaging, controls, and computational technologies for a variety of application domains. The program supports distributed control of multi-agent systems with embedded computation for sensor and adaptive networks. PCAN

invests in adaptive dynamic programming, brain-like networked architectures performing real-time learning, neuromorphic engineering, telerobotics, and systems theory. PCAN places emphasis on electric power networks and grids,

including generation, transmission and integration of renewable, sustainable and distributed energy systems, such as fuel cells and micro-turbines in large power networks; high power electronics and drives; and understanding of associated regulatory and economic structures. The program also places

emphasis on energy scavenging and alternative energy technologies, including solar cells, ocean waves, wind, geothermal, low-head hydro, and the hydrogen economy. In addition, the program supports innovative test beds, and laboratory and curriculum development to integrate research and education. PCAN provides additional emphasis on emerging areas, such as quantum systems engineering, quantum and molecular modeling and simulation of

devices and systems, alternate energy sources: generation and integration in

the National Grid (InterGrid), and interdependencies of critical infrastructure in power and communications.Areas of interest include:Adaptive Dynamic ProgrammingAlternate Energy SourcesEmbedded, Distributed and Adaptive

ControlNeuromorphic EngineeringPower and Energy Systems and NetworksSensing and Imaging NetworksTeleroboticsPCAN will provide additional emphasis on emerging areas such as:Quantum Systems EngineeringQuantum and Molecular Modeling and Simulation of Devices and SystemsInterdependencies of Critical Infrastructure in Power and CommunicationsIntegration of Alternate Energy Sources in the National Grid (InterGrid)The Brain-Computer InterfaceProposals for the PCAN program may

involve collaborative research to capture the breadth of expertise needed for such multidisciplinary integrative activities. ECCS will consider supporting a limited number of small team proposals of three or more Investigators from different disciplines and/or universities. Power, Controls and Adaptive Networks (PCAN)Dr. Radhakisan S. BahetiEmbedded, Distributed and Adaptive Control; Telerobotics; Sensing and Imaging Networks; Systems Theory;

TeleroboticsDr. Dagmar NieburPower and Energy Systems and Networks; Interdependencies of Power and Energy on Critical Infrastructures; Power Drives; Renewable and Alternative Energy Sources Dr. Pinaki Mazumder (Dr. Paul J. Werbos away on detail) Adaptive Dynamic Programming; Neuromorphic Engineering; Quantum Systems Engineering; Quantum and Molecular Modeling and Simulation of Devices and Systems.

02/26/2010

Software Development for Cyberinfrastructure The purpose of the Software Development for Cyberinfrastructure (SDCI) program is to develop, deploy, and sustain a set of reusable and expandable software components and systems that benefit a broad set of science and

engineering applications. SDCI is a continuation of the NSF Middleware Initiative (NMI) in an expanded context appropriate to the current expanded vision of cyberinfrastructure.This program supports software development across five major software areas: system software and tools for High Performance Computing (HPC) environments; software promoting NSF's

strategic vision for digital data; network software to support distributed software, software in the form of middleware capabilities and services, and

cybersecurity. SDCI funds software activities for enhancing scientific productivity and for facilitating research and education collaborations through sharing of data, instruments, and computing and storage resources. The program requires open source software development.

03/08/2010

Cooperative Activity with Department of Energy Programs for Education and Human Resource Development (Request for Supplement) This is a cooperative effort between NSF and the Department of Energy (DoE) Office of Science. To support the continued leadership of the United States in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and the continued

development of a competitive, diverse STEM workforce, NSF and DoE are implementing collaboration between the agencies' programs for the development of human resources in STEM. NSF and DoE will support students

and faculty from eligible NSF projects (based on competitive Merit Review and availability of funds) who are accepted as participants in one of four DoE initiatives that provide hands-on research opportunities in DoE national laboratories during the summer: Science Undergraduate Research Internships

(SULI), Faculty and Student Teams (FaST), Community College Institute of Science and Technology (CCI), and Pre-Service Teacher (PST) Internships.

09/30/2010

Office of Special Programs

DMR's Office of Special Programs (OSP) coordinates and supports crosscutting activities in DMR and in conjunction with NSF-wide programs, including enhanced international collaborations in materials research and education.

OSP activities are often co-funded with other NSF units, such as the Office of

International Science and Engineering and the MPS Office for Multidisciplinary Activities. Examples of OSP activities include: •International Materials Institutes (IMI) The IMIs advance fundamental materials research by

coordinating international research and education projects. Their long-term goal is the creation of a worldwide network in materials research and the development of a generation of scientists and engineers with international leadership capabilities.

09/30/2010

Chemistry Research Experiences for Undergraduates The Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program supports active research participation by undergraduate students in any of the areas of research funded by the National Science Foundation. The NSF Division of Chemistry funds about 20-25 REU Sites a year (depending on the availability of funds) as part of the NSF-wide REU activity. Projects involve students in

meaningful ways in ongoing research programs or in research projects specifically designed for the REU program. The REU program features two

mechanisms for support of student research: (1) REU Sites are based on independent proposals to initiate and conduct projects that engage a number of students in research. REU Sites may be based in a single discipline or academic department, or on interdisciplinary or multi-department research opportunities with a coherent intellectual theme. Proposals with an

international dimension are welcome. A partnership with the Department of Defense supports REU Sites in DoD-relevant research areas. (2) REU Supplements may be requested for ongoing NSF-funded research projects or may be included as a component of proposals for new or renewal NSF grants or cooperative agreements. Undergraduate student participants in either Sites or Supplements must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States

or its possessions. Students may not apply to NSF to participate in REU activities.

10/31/2010

Biomaterials The Biomaterials Program supports fundamental research at the intersection

of the physical, chemical, and biological sciences. Proposals focused on the

preparation, characterization, structure-property relationships, and applications of biomaterials are encouraged. Emphasis is on novel design of biomaterials, including bioderived, bioinspired, biomimetic and biocompatible materials, discovery of new phenomena, and the combination of experiment with theory and/or simulation. General areas of interest include, but are not

restricted to, self- and directed molecular assemblies, surfaces and interfaces, membranes and vesicles, gels and networks, carriers and drug delivery systems, smart and self-healing systems, tissue culture scaffolds, mineralization, hybrids and composites, multi-functional biomaterials such as photonic and electronic biomaterials, biomaterials for energy harvesting, conversion and storage, and biomaterials for sensors and actuators.

10/31/2010

Condensed Matter and Materials Theory This program supports theoretical and computational materials research and education in the topical areas represented in DMR programs, including condensed matter physics, polymers, solid-state and materials chemistry,

metals and nanostructures, electronic and photonic materials, ceramics, and biomaterials. The program supports fundamental research that advances conceptual, analytical, and computational techniques for materials research. A broad spectrum of research is supported using electronic structure methods, many-body theory, statistical mechanics, and Monte Carlo and molecular dynamics simulations, along with other techniques, many involving advanced scientific computing. Emphasis is on approaches that begin at the smallest

appropriate length scale, such as electronic, atomic, molecular, nano-, micro-, and mesoscale, required to yield fundamental insight into material properties, processes, and behavior and to reveal new materials phenomena. Areas of

recent interest include, but are not limited to: strongly correlated electron

systems; low-dimensional systems; nonequilibrium phenomena, including pattern formation, microstructural evolution, and fracture; high-temperature superconductivity; nanostructured materials and mesoscale phenomena;

quantum coherence and its control; and soft condensed matter, including systems of biological interest.

10/31/2010

Condensed Matter Physics

The Condensed Matter Physics program supports experimental, as well as combined experiment and theory projects investigating the fundamental physics behind phenomena exhibited by condensed matter systems. Representative research areas in such systems include: 1) phenomena at the nano- to macro-scale including: transport, magnetic, and optical phenomena; classical and quantum phase transitions; localization; electronic, magnetic, and lattice structure or excitations; superconductivity; and nonlinear

dynamics. 2) low-temperature physics: quantum fluids and solids; 1D & 2D electron systems. 3) soft condensed matter: partially ordered fluids,

granular and colloid physics, and 4) understanding the fundamental physics of new states of matter as well as the physical behavior of condensed matter under extreme conditions e.g., low temperatures, high pressures, and high magnetic fields. Questions of current interest that span these research areas are: How and why do complex macroscopic phenomena emerge from simple

interacting microscopic constituents? What new physics occurs far from equilibrium and why? What is the physics behind the behavior of matter confined to the nanoscale in one or more dimensions? What is the physics of spin systems and quantum states of matter that could lead to their coherent manipulation and control?

10/31/2010

Solid State and Materials Chemistry This multidisciplinary program supports basic research in solid state and materials chemistry comprising the elucidation of the atomic and molecular basis for material development and properties in the solid state from the nanoscale to the bulk. General areas of interest include but are not limited to

innovative approaches to design, synthesis, bulk crystal and/or film growth,

and characterization of novel organic, inorganic, and hybrid materials, as well as liquid crystal materials and multi-component material systems exhibiting new phenomena and/or providing new scientific insights into structure/composition/property relationships in the solid state. Relevant topics include original material design principles, new approaches to assembly or

crystalline material growth, characterization of new material phenomena or superior behavior, investigations of surface and interfacial effects on material system structures and properties, and unraveling the relationships between structure/composition (e.g. self- or program-assembled materials, crystalline material growth, and nanostructured material systems) and properties (e.g. charge, ionic, thermal or spin transport, exciton diffusion, chemical reactivity and selectivity, etc.). Development of new organic solid state materials,

environmentally-safe and sustainable materials, and fundamental studies of novel material and material systems for efficient energy harvesting, conversion and storage are encouraged. The SSMC program works closely

with other programs within the Division of Materials Research (DMR) and in the Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS) and Engineering (ENG) directorates to accommodate the multidisciplinary nature of proposal submissions.

10/31/2010

Polymers The DMR Polymers Program supports fundamental research and education on polymeric materials. The program portfolio is mainly experimental and highly

diverse with components of materials science, chemistry, physics, and related disciplines. While interdisciplinarity is stressed, central goals include advancing the foundations of polymer science through innovative research and education

and pushing back the wide horizon of the field. Polymers are studied from the

molecular level through the nano-to-macro continuum using fundamental materials-focused scientific approaches. Broad areas addressed include synthesis, molecular assembly, characterization, phase behavior, structure,

morphology, and properties. Particular focus is on transformative approaches to innovative materials with superior properties, as well as on fundamental understanding and optimization of structure-property relationships. Materials-focused proposals of high promise that integrate research, education, and other broader impacts are welcome.

10/31/2010

Ceramics This program supports fundamental research including combined experiment and theory projects in ceramics (e.g., oxides, carbides, nitrides and borides), glasses, ceramic-based composites and inorganic carbon-based materials. The objective of the program is to increase fundamental understanding and

develop predictive capabilities for relating synthesis, processing, and microstructure of these materials to their properties and ultimate performance

in various environments and applications. Development of new experimental techniques or novel approaches to carry out projects is encouraged. Topics supported include basic processes and mechanisms associated with nucleation and growth of thin films; bulk crystal growth; phase transformations and equilibria; morphology; surface modification; corrosion, interfaces and grain

boundary structure; and defects. The microstructures investigated range from crystalline, polycrystalline, and amorphous to composite and nanostructured materials.

11/02/2010

Geometric Analysis The program in Geometric Analysis supports research on differential geometry and its relation to partial differential equations and variational principles; aspects of global analysis, including the differential geometry of complex manifolds and geometric Lie group theory; geometric methods in modern mathematical physics; and geometry of convex sets, integral geometry, and related geometric topics.

11/07/2010

Statistics The Statistics Program supports research in statistical theory and methods, including research in statistical methods for applications to any domain of

science and engineering. The theory forms the base for statistical science. The methods are used for stochastic modeling, and the collection, analysis and interpretation of data. The methods characterize uncertainty in the data and facilitate advancement in science and engineering. The Program encourages proposals ranging from single-investigator projects to interdisciplinary team projects.