October 3, 2008
In an effort to keep the Rensselaer research community apprised of current announcements and news regarding funding agencies, foundations and corporations, we regularly distribute an Office of Research Bulletin. If you would like further information regarding these or other research news and opportunities, please contact our office at extension 4863.
DOE Program Announcement: National Geothermal Database (GO)
Funding Opportunity Number: DE-PS36-08GO98020
The role of renewable energy alternatives has become increasingly important to the national energy landscape as energy security and climate change dominate the U.S. energy policy debate. Geothermal energy has the potential to emerge as a capable alternative to conventional energy resources due to its renewable baseload capabilities, little to no carbon emissions, and affordability relative to other alternative energy technologies. In early 2008, DOE GTP initiated the Geothermal Risk Mitigation Strategies Report to analyze the risks involved with geothermal energy development, which can be found at the following link: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/geothermal/pdfs/geothermal_risk_mitigation.pdf.
It is expected that wherever possible the recipient will collaborate with private companies to gain access to historical drilling information. DOE envisions creating an expansive, useful, user-friendly database that will continue to operate beyond the project period, even after all DOE funds have been expended. Data will be organized such that criteria useful in assessing and identifying sites with the best geothermal resource potential can be defined. The will be organized using a set of common metrics for assessing and comparing geothermal resources and include a standard financial risk classification system in order to provide geothermal prospectors with information needed to make the most informed decisions possible on the potential for success at specific locations. Additionally, an interactive mapping capability is preferred as part of the database which will utilize user-friendly overlays of pertinent site criteria in three main areas geothermal resource, institutional barrier (i.e. transmission lines), and power plant data. GTP is seeking to award one cooperative agreement, for a five year period, on a competitive basis that addresses all items mentioned above and also on the link provided below. Funding for each subsequent phase beyond the first (as described on the link) will be conditional on a DOE stage gate review with positive determination that the next project phase may advance based on successful completion of the prior phase. Recipient cost share is not required, but is encouraged and may be used as a Program Policy Factor. Initial funding for this award is listed at $1,300,000 in FY 2009; with additional anticipated funds of $3,700,000 in FY 2010 through FY 2013 for a total of $5,000,000; subject to change and Congressional appropriations.
For more information see: https://e-center.doe.gov/iips/faopor.nsf/UNID/7CAC4E5E3DA165D9852574D30071183E?OpenDocument
DOE Program Announcement: Continuation of Solicitation for the Office of Science Financial Assistance Program (SC)
Funding Opportunity Number: DE-PS02-09ER09-01
The Office of Science of the Department of Energy hereby announces its continuing interest in receiving grant applications for support of work in the following program areas: Basic Energy Sciences, High Energy Physics, Nuclear Physics, Advanced Scientific Computing, Fusion Energy Sciences, Biological and Environmental Research, and Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists. On September 3, 1992, DOE published in the Federal Register the Office of Energy Research Financial Assistance Program (now called the Office of Science Financial Assistance Program), 10 CFR Part 605, Final Rule, which contained a solicitation for this program. Information about submission of applications, eligibility, limitations, evaluation and selection processes and other policies and procedures are specified in 10 CFR Part 605.
For more information see: https://e-center.doe.gov/iips/faopor.nsf/UNID/1822D414FB0C1064852574D50071644C?OpenDocument
DOE Program Announcement: High-Performance Networks for Distributed Petascale Science(SC)
Funding Opportunity Number: DE-PS02-08ER08-27
The Office of Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR) of the Office of Science (SC), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), hereby announces its interest in receiving grant applications for research and development projects in high-capacity and high-performance networks to support distributed petascale science. Awards for this solicitation will be made in FY2009, subject to the availability of funds. The emergence of distributed petascale science in DOE, characterized by supercomputers that perform quadrillions of mathematical operations per second; large science experiments that generate petabyte-scale data; and large-scale scientific collaborations that are of National and International scale, have generated the need for a new generation of networks with unprecedented capabilities. The core capabilities of these networks include: 1) the ability to deliver multi-gigabits/sec - terabits/sec throughputs to high-end science applications; 2) the capability to dynamically provision on-demand bandwidth and circuit services to a variety of science applications across federated networks; and 3) the ability to diagnose faults, and to measure, monitor, and predict end-to-end performance of federated networks. This Notice solicits innovative basic and applied research to develop and deploy terabits network technologies in existing and new DOE network infrastructures to meet the short- and long-term needs of the emerging distributed petascale science.
For more information see: https://e-center.doe.gov/iips/faopor.nsf/UNID/BE2A41F607772D11852574D40066AE89?OpenDocument
DOE Program Announcement: Demonstration of Electron Beam Technology for SO2 & NOx Reduction (FE)
Funding Opportunity Number: DE-PS02-08FE68154
Pursuant to Section 416 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the Department of Energy is making available, up to $5,000,000.00 to initiate the demonstration of advanced technologies that use electron beam technology to achieve high levels of SO2 and NOx reduction from coal-based power system flue gas. For this announcement, DOE will support a grant for the definition, feasibility and design for demonstration of advanced technologies that use electron beam technology to achieve high levels of SO2 and NOx reduction from coal-based power system flue gas. The scope of work under the grant resulting from this announcement will be limited to the definition, feasibility and design stages of demonstration. The construction and operation phases of the demonstration are beyond the scope of this announcement. However, information related to the construction and operation phases will be required to assess the feasibility of this project. The Department will contribute up to 50 percent of the cost of the activities subject to the DOE share not exceeding $5,000,000.00. As part of the application, the Applicant shall identify a site in the United States where the technology will be demonstrated.
For more information see: https://e-center.doe.gov/iips/faopor.nsf/UNID/2069850DC6A4EE9A852574D400583E73?OpenDocument
DOD Program Announcement: DARPA Mathematical Challenges
Funding Opportunity Number: DARPA-BAA08-65
DARPA is soliciting innovative research proposals in the area of coal utilization as an energy resource. In particular DARPA is interested in processes that will ultimately enable the United States to economically extract energy from its coal resources in the form of liquid fuels using coal to liquid conversion technologies that are environmentally friendly and cost competitive with petroleum based fuels.
For more information see: http://www.darpa.mil/dso/solicitations/solicit.htm
DOD Program Announcement: DARPA Heterostructural Uncooled Magnetic Sensors (HUMS)
Funding Opportunity Number: DARPA-BAA08-70
DARPA is soliciting innovative proposals in the area of multiferroic magnetic sensors that will enable room temperature sensitivity not currently available. Specifically, DARPA is interested in low-frequency, room-temperature sensors with SQUID-like performance that will ultimately enable important defense capabilities such as through-wall imaging, security fences, tagging/reading, and small, deployable sensors. (SQUID = Superconducting Quantum Interference Device)
For more information see: http://www.wpafb.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=8127
NIH Program Announcement: Superfund Basic Research & Training Program (P42)(NIEHS)
Funding Opportunity Number: RFA-ES-08-005
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) is announcing the continuation of the Superfund Hazardous Substances Basic Research and Training Program [referred to as the Superfund Basic Research Program (SBRP)]. SBRP grants will support coordinated, multi-project, interdisciplinary research programs to address the mandates legislated under the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986. These mandates include the development of (1) methods and technologies to detect hazardous substances in the environment; (2) advanced techniques for the detection, assessment, and evaluation of the effect on human health of hazardous substances; (3) methods to assess the risks to human health presented by hazardous substances; and (4) basic biological, chemical, and physical methods to reduce the amount and toxicity of hazardous substances. The objective for the SBRP is to develop a holistic research agenda for the protection of human health. This is accomplished by the establishment of interdisciplinary programs that link and integrate biomedical research with related engineering, hydrogeologic, and ecologic components within the context of unique scientific themes developed by the applicant. -Mechanism of Support. This FOA will utilize the NIH P42 multi-project grant mechanism. Successful applicants must include a minimum of two biomedical projects and two non-biomedical projects. -Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards. The NIEHS intends to commit a total of approximately $11.0 million dollars in FY 2010 to fund four to five SBRP grants in response to this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA).
For more information see: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-ES-08-005.html
NIH Program Announcement: Biosignatures of Chronic Drug Exposure (R21)
Funding Opportunity Number: RFA-DA-09-022
In relation to this FOA, biosignatures are defined as biological indicators obtainable through assays, which can be used to ascertain facts about an individual's past exposure to drugs of abuse. Biosignature could be comprised of more than one biomarker. The total number of biomarkers must be reasonably limited to address the developability of the screening assay. This FOA would support high risk projects to search for peripheral, not associated with the central nervous system, biosignatures (not drug or drug metabolites) that could serve as surrogates to monitor changes that are taking place in the brain in response to illicit and licit drug exposure, withdrawal or relapse. These projects are intended to be feasibility projects using animal models only to identify appropriate clinically accessible biomaterial (e.g., blood, lymphocytes, bladder epithelial cells, stem cells) and to identify the best class or classes of molecules (proteins, peptides, RNA, miRNA, etc.) suitable for assay development . These feasibility projects are intended to address technical issues such as sensitivity and signal-to-noise ratio, in addition to predictive validity. . -Mechanism of Support. This FOA will utilize the R21 grant mechanism, as The National Institute on Drug Abuse recognizes the high risk nature of this project. -Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards. The total amount of funding that the NIDA expects to award through this announcement is $2,000,000 for an anticipated 5-7 awards.
For more information see: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-DA-09-022.html
NIH Program Announcement: Behavioral Pharmacology & Genetics: Translating & Targeting Individual Differences(R03)(NIH)
Funding Opportunity Number: RFA-DA-09-016
Individual differences in response to drugs of abuse may confer vulnerability or resistance to drug abuse or the development of addiction. Several lines of evidence indicate that genetic variation contributes to drug abuse and addiction as well as to the propensity to use specific classes of drugs, such as psychostimulants, opiates, marijuana and nicotine. Recently developed genetic methodologies make it possible to better understand drug abuse phenotypes in terms of underlying genetic factors. This FOA seeks applications that use controlled, human laboratory-based experimental techniques for the measurement of behavior, combined with genetic analyses, to study drug abuse phenotypes and/or endophenotypes, and their relationship to (a) individual differences in response to drugs of abuse; (b) individual differences in the consequences of repeated abuse; or (c) pharmacogenetic differences in response to putative or currently used pharmacotherapeutic agents for treating addiction. Research in these areas may identify genetic variations that will help define the biochemical mechanisms underlying drug effects and the associated biological and/or behavioral processes responsible for individual differences, and may suggest genetically targeted pharmacotherapeutic approaches for treating addiction. -Mechanism of Support. This FOA will utilize the R03 grant mechanism to support projects including pilot and feasibility studies; small, self-contained research projects; and to foster the establishment of new research collaborations between geneticists and drug abuse researchers. As the R03 is intended to support small research projects that can be carried out in a short period of time with limited resources, it is intended that, with the use of this mechanism, investigators and collaborative research groups will be able to conduct initial pilot and feasibility studies to better position them for a subsequent R01 application.
For more information see: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-DA-09-016.html
NASA Program Announcement: (NSCOR) Carcinogenesis & Central Nervous System Risks from Space Radiation
Funding Opportunity Number: NNJ08ZSA003N
This National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Research Announcement (NRA) solicits proposals for NASA Specialized Centers of Research (NSCOR) in support of the Space Radiation Program Element within the Human Research Program. NNJ08ZSA003N, entitled, " NASA Specialized Centers of Research (NSCORs): Carcinogenesis and Central Nervous System Risks from Space Radiation," will be available on or about September 9, 2008. The central focus of this solicitation is research that will provide the basis for improved estimation and uncertainty reduction for solid cancer, leukemia and central nervous system (CNS) risks from space radiation. In addition the discovery of biological countermeasure approaches to reduce solid cancer risks from galactic cosmic rays (GCR) is a focus. To be responsive to this research solicitation, proposed studies should be hypothesis-driven using cutting edge approaches that will lead to new knowledge within accepted scientific standards. Purely phenomenological approaches with no significant mechanistic basis or likely gain in scientific knowledge will not be funded. An NSCOR consists of a team of investigators who have complementary skills and who work together to solve a closely focused set of research questions. The home laboratories of NSCOR team members may be geographically contiguous or dispersed, as long as the NSCOR team members have a mechanism for working together. The research must be focused on experimental studies simulating space radiation biological effects using the NASA Space Radiation Laboratory at Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, NY. Proposals are due on January 15, 2009.
For more information see: http://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/
NSF Program Announcement: Innovations in Engineering Education, Curriculum & Infrastructure (IEECI)
Funding Opportunity Number: 0108-6
The Innovations in Engineering Education, Curriculum, and Infrastructure (IEECI) program supports research which addresses four aspects of engineering education: (1) how students best learn the ideas, principles, and practices to become creative and innovative engineers, and how this learning is measured (2) how application of cyberlearning resources of networked computing and communication, interactive visualization capabilities, and well designed user interfaces can be used to develop easily transportable tools and systems with low barriers to adoption which significantly improve learning, (3) integration of sustainability into engineering education, and (4) future directions of U.S. engineering doctoral programs.
For more information see: http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf08610
NSF Program Announcement: Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS)
Funding Opportunity Number: 08-611
The CPS program is seeking proposals that address research challenges in three CPS themes: Foundations; Methods and Tools; and Components, Run-time Substrates, and Systems. Foundations research will develop new scientific and engineering principles, algorithms, models, and theories for the analysis and design of cyber-physical systems. Research on Methods and Tools will bridge the gaps between approaches to the cyber and physical elements of systems through innovations such as novel support for multiple views, new programming languages, and algorithms for reasoning about and formally verifying properties of complex integrations of cyber and physical resources. The third CPS theme concerns new hardware and software Components, Run-time Substrates (infrastructure and platforms), and (engineered) Systems motivated by grand challenge applications. Three sizes of research and education projects will be considered: Small Projects are individual or small-team efforts that focus on one or more of the three defined CPS themes. Funding for Small Projects will be provided at levels of up to $200,000/year for up to three years; Medium Projects also span one or more CPS themes and may include one or more PIs and a research team of students and/or postdocs. Funding for Medium Projects will be provided at levels up to $500,000/year for up to three years; Large Projects are multi-investigator projects involving teams of researchers and their students and/or postdocs representing the same or multiple disciplines in computer science, engineering, and physical application domains, who together address a coherent set of research issues that either cut across multiple CPS themes or that explore in great depth a particular theme. Funding for Large Projects will be provided at levels up to $1,000,000/year for up to five years. In addition, NSF will consider proposals to establish a CPS-VO. Only one award will be made, at annual levels of up to $200,000 for up to five years. It is expected that more modest levels of funding will be provided in the first year or two of this award. A more complete description of the CPS program is provided in Section II. Program Description of this solicitation.
For more information see: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2008/nsf08611/nsf08611.htm?govDel=USNSF_30
Please note that this bulletin is not intended to be an exhaustive listing of funding opportunities.
