Credit: J. Stroscio, R. Celotta/NIST.

I am not sure how much (if any) of this could be affected by the sequestration decisions, but this is a reminder that NIST has issued a call for grant proposals covering the institute’s interests in measurement science and engineering (MSE), spanning eight research units:

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

In 2012, these programs supported $31.5 million in research. Funds can also be used to support conferences, workshops, or other technical research meetings that are relevant to NIST’s work.

NIST says proposals for all programs—except the EL grants—will be considered on a continuing/rolling basis. Proposals received after 5 p.m. Eastern Time on June 3, 2013 may be processed and considered for funding in the current fiscal year or in the next fiscal year, subject to the availability of funds.

Note: the primary deadline for applications to the EL Grant Program is Friday, March 1, 2013. EL will continue to accept applications on a continuing/rolling basis in the current fiscal year and the next fiscal year, depending on available funds.

The grants.gov website has details of scope, anticipated award sizes, requirements and the proposal submission and review process for each of the grant programs. Search under “Opportunity Number” 2013-NIST-MSE-01.

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