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DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Mathematics and Science Education Research - 84.305A and B
United States Department of Education (ED)
Institute of Education Sciences (IES)
National Center for Education Research

The Institute intends for the research program on Mathematics and Science Education (Math/Science) to fulfill five goals: (1) identifying curriculum and instructional practices that are potentially effective for improving mathematics or science outcomes, as well as mediators and moderators of the effects of these practices; (2) developing new interventions and approaches to mathematics and science education that will eventually result in improving mathematics and science achievement; (3) establishing the efficacy of existing interventions and approaches to mathematics and science education with small efficacy or replication trials; (4) providing evidence on the effectiveness of mathematics and science interventions implemented at scale; and (5) developing and validating assessments for diagnosing sources of mathematics difficulties. The long-term outcome of this program will be an array of tools and strategies (e.g., curricula, programs) that have been demonstrated to be effective for improving mathematics and science learning and achievement.

More information  http://ies.ed.gov/funding/

Deadline:  July 26, 2007, and November 1, 2007

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Education Technology - 84.305B
United States Department of Education (ED)
Institute of Education Sciences (IES)
National Center for Education Research

Through the High School Reform initiative, the institute intends to support research that will identify ways to improve high school education, measured by such objective indicators as higher test scores, higher graduation rates, and more successful transitions from high school into the world of work and postsecondary education.

More information  http://ies.ed.gov/funding/

Deadline:  July 26, 2007, and November 1, 2007

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Early Childhood Programs and Policies - 84.305A and B
United States Department of Education (ED)
Institute of Education Sciences (IES)
National Center for Education Research

Through its Early Childhood Programs and Policies (Early Childhood) research program, the Institute intends to contribute to improvement of school readiness skills (e.g., pre-reading, early mathematical skills, language, vocabulary, social skills) of pre-kindergarten (i.e., four-year old) children by: (1) identifying early childhood curriculum, instructional practices, programs, and policies that are associated with better school readiness outcomes, as well as mediators and moderators of the relations between these interventions and child outcomes; (2) developing new early childhood curriculum, instructional practices, programs, and policies for improving school readiness; (3) evaluating fully developed early childhood curriculum, instructional practices, programs, and policies for improving school readiness through efficacy or replication trials; (4) evaluating the effectiveness of early childhood curriculum, instructional practices, programs, and policies that are implemented at scale; and (5) developing and validating assessments for use in early childhood instructional settings.

More information  http://ies.ed.gov/funding/

Deadline:  July 26, 2007, and November 1, 2007

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Postsecondary Education - 84.305A and B
United States Department of Education (ED)
Institute of Education Sciences (IES)
National Center for Education Research

The Institute intends for the Postsecondary Education research program to address five goals: (1) identifying policies, programs or practices that are associated with improving access to, persistence in, or completion of postsecondary education; (2) developing new programs, practices, or policies that are intended to improve access to, persistence in, or completion of, postsecondary education; (3) evaluating the efficacy of programs, practices, or policies that are intended to improve access to, persistence in, or completion of postsecondary education; (4) providing evidence on the effectiveness of programs, practices, or policies for improving access to, persistence in, or completion of, postsecondary education when they are implemented at scale; and (5) developing and validating assessments of cognitive (e.g., problem-solving, creativity, writing) and social cognitive (e.g., communication and interpersonal) skills that are outcomes of postsecondary education.

More information  http://ies.ed.gov/funding/

Deadline:  July 26, 2007, and November 1, 2007

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Cognition and Student Learning (CASL) Research Grant Program - 84.305B
United States Department of Education (ED)
Institute of Education Sciences (IES)
National Center for Education Research

The purpose of the Cognition and Student Learning (Cognition) research program is to improve student learning by bringing recent advances in cognitive science to (1) identify underlying processes involved in reading, writing, mathematics skills, or science that are predictive of student achievement in the relevant domain; (2) develop interventions û instructional approaches, practices, and curriculum--for improving student learning; (3) establish the efficacy of existing interventions and approaches for improving student learning with efficacy or replication trials; and (4) develop measurement tools that can be used to improve student learning and achievement. The long-term outcome of this program will be an array of tools and strategies (e.g., instructional approaches, computer tutors) that are based on principles of learning and information processing gained from cognitive science and that have been documented to be efficacious for improving learning in education delivery settings.

More information  http://ies.ed.gov/funding/

Deadline:  July 26, 2007, and November 1, 2007

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Teacher Quality Research - Reading and Writing Education - 84.305A and B
United States Department of Education (ED)
Institute of Education Sciences (IES)
National Center for Education Research

The general purpose of the Institute's Teacher Quality -- Reading and Writing research program is to identify effective strategies for preparing future teachers or improving the performance of current classroom teachers in ways that increase student learning and school achievement. The Institute intends for the Teacher Quality research program to fulfill five goals: (1) identifying the characteristics of teachers that are associated with better student outcomes in reading or writing in kindergarten through Grade 12; and identifying programs and practices for teacher preparation or teacher professional development that are associated with better student outcomes in reading or writing from kindergarten through Grade 12, as well as mediators and moderators of the relations between student outcomes and these teacher characteristics, programs, or practices; (2) developing new programs and practices for teacher preparation or professional development that will eventually result in improving teacher practices and through them student learning and achievement; (3) establishing the efficacy of programs and practices for teacher preparation or professional development for improving teacher practices and through them student learning and achievement; (4) providing evidence of the effectiveness of teacher preparation or professional development programs that are implemented at scale and intended for improving teacher practices and through them student learning and achievement; and (5) developing and validating new assessments of teacher quality, or validating existing assessments for teachers at any grade level from pre-kindergarten through high school against measures of student achievement. Under these goals, the Institute supports development and evaluation of teacher preparation and teacher professional development interventions for (a) teaching reading or writing from elementary school through high school and (b) teaching basic skills in reading or writing to adults.

More information  http://ies.ed.gov/funding/

Deadline:  July 26, 2007, and November 1, 2007

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability Research and Development
United States Department of Energy (DOE)
National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL)

The National Energy and Technology Laboratory, on behalf of the Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, is soliciting research proposals in two specific areas of interest:
1. Secure Control Systems for the Energy Sector
2. Renewable and Distributed Systems Integration

For Program Area of Interest 1, the announcement seeks applications to improve the security of controls systems for energy transmission and distribution, including electricity, oil, and natural gas, by performing research and development activities and verification testing in one or more of the following topics: hardened platforms and systems, secure communications, remote access, integrating control systems into the enterprise environment, security analysis and monitoring, risk-based tool to enumerate critical assets and intrusion detection systems. Prospective applicants are encouraged to assemble/coordinate an integrated team including a commercialization entity and an end-user (such as a utility or transmission operator).

For Program Area of Interest 2, the announcement seeks applications for the research, development, and demonstration of distribution system configurations with the integration of significant amounts of distributed resources for providing power or load management during peak load periods and for other functions and services. Distributed resources may include distributed generation technologies, renewable energy generation technologies, energy storage technologies, equipment capable of utilizing waste heat, and load curtailed via typical demand response methods. Applications are encouraged to reach the goal of at least a 15 percent reduction of power that would otherwise normally be supplied by the distribution feeder circuits during peak load periods. Optionally, applications may also include research, development, and demonstration for low-cost sensors for distribution level cables, advanced monitoring for distribution automation, and consumer information gateway development. Prospective applicants are encouraged to assemble/coordinate an integrated team including an electric distribution utility or a load serving entity and other team members such as technology product providers, technology developers (universities and research organizations), state agencies, etc.

More information https://e-center.doe.gov/iips/faopor.nsf/1be0f2271893ba198525644b006bc0be/080e4b7bb5cfb052852572c900632f78?OpenDocument

Deadline:  June 19, 2007

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Support of Advanced Coal Research at U.S. Colleges and Universities
United States Department of Energy (DOE)
National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) is seeking applications for the University Coal Research (UCR) Program. Since its inception in Fiscal Year 1980 (by congressional direction), the UCR Program has endeavored to maintain and upgrade the educational, training, and research capabilities of U.S. colleges and universities in the field of coal science and technology. The academic environment is well suited to fundamental research of high payoff potential. The involvement of professors and students will be conducive to the generation of fresh ideas and will ensure a future supply of U.S. coal scientists and technologists.

In support of advanced coal research at U.S. colleges and universities, the overall objective of this program is threefold: (1) to support the education of students in the area of coal science; (2) to maintain and upgrade the coal research capabilities at facilities of U.S. colleges and universities; and (3) to improve our understanding of the chemical and physical processes involved in the conversion and utilization of coal in an environmentally acceptable manner.

Financial assistance awards under this Program Announcement are intended to maintain and upgrade the education, training, and research capabilities of our colleges and universities in the fields of science, environment, energy, and technology related to coal. The deliberate environment of academia is well suited to fundamental research of high payoff potential, and the involvement of students in the research ensures continuing availability of scientists and engineers of appropriate expertise for the U.S. Energy Industry.

DOE is interested in innovative and fundamental research pertinent to coal conversion and utilization. This year, research is limited to the one board topic area: "Enabling Advanced Modeling and Simulation for Fuel-Flexible Combustors."

Examples of research interested under this topic are as follows:

1) Quantify Current Prediction Capability for Flashback and Lean Blowout, and Identify The Sensitivity to Physical Sub-Models -- Define the current capability and explore the limitations of Large Eddy Simulation (LES) of transient flame stability phenomenon in lean premixed combustion of variable syngas and hydrogen based fuels. This involves benchmarking current state-of-the-art LES combustion approaches against existing and emerging experimental data. The goal is not the development of new models and codes. NETL already has experimental data on this phenomenon in a representative hydrogen combustor, but attempts to simulate the observed experimental results using LES have not been consistent. The focus of this study is on the ability of the simulation to capture fuel variability effects on turbulent flame anchoring and propagation in a realistic gas turbine combustor. An example of a benchmarking target might be prediction of the hydrogen concentration in a syngas type fuel at which a combustor experiences blowout or flashback.

2) Conduct Numeric Investigations of Boundary Condition Effects On CFD Simulations of Thermo-Acoustic Instabilities -- Numeric and analytic studies are sought to determine the sensitivity of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) combustion dynamics (thermo-acoustic) predictions to experimental boundary conditions. The goal is to determine if/how poorly defined experimental boundaries (especially acoustic) impact the success of CFD dynamics predictions. A key issue is developing a method to describe time domain boundaries for acoustic terminations (i.e., a combustor inlet) which represent the acoustic response of distant hardware (i.e., the reflection or noise from compressor and diffuser). The analysis would be conducted with the goal of defining experiments to affirm the predicted sensitivity, and it is expected these experiments would occur in combustor geometries similar to NETL combustion experiments.

3) Evaluate The Role of Transport Parameters In Model Prediction Accuracy -- The goal of this effort is to determine how/if inaccurate transport representation within a numeric simulation (i.e. assumption of unity Lewis number) can affect the ability to predict turbulent flame behavior. The emphasis is on comparing how different fuel transport properties would affect a simulation of a practical flame. A key feature of this study is to determine the effect of transport properties at conditions and Reynolds numbers relevant to gas turbine operating conditions with pressures up to 30 bar, and maximum turbulent fluctuating velocities on the order of 20 m/s. Fuels of interest include hydrogen, carbon monoxide, methane and propane as well as even heavier hydrocarbons.

More information  https://e-center.doe.gov/iips/faopor.nsf/UNID/E27D4634C780BF63852572C9006F852A?OpenDocument

Deadline:  June 20, 2007

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US Dep. of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Collaborative Studies on Systems Biology of Complex Phenotypes (R01)
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
National Institutes of Health (NIH)

The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) invites applications for collaborative research projects that use systems biology approaches to investigate the mechanisms that underlie genetic determination of complex phenotypes. These projects will combine computational modeling approaches and experimental validation of predictive models. It is expected that a team of at least two principal investigators (PIs), one with expertise in systems biology and the other with expertise in the genetics of humans or model organisms, will apply for funding under this FOA. Applications from a single investigator or that propose solely data production and accumulation will be considered non-responsive and will not be reviewed.

More information  http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-GM-08-001.html

Deadline:  October 24, 2007

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Research on Ethical Issues in Human Subjects Research (R01)
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
National Institutes of Health (NIH)

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), issued by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), solicits research project grant applications (R01) addressing ethical issues that accompany the conduct of research involving human subjects

The purpose of this funding opportunity announcement is to solicit research addressing the ethical challenges of human subjects research in order to optimize the protection of human subjects and enhance the ethical conduct of human subjects research. Recent developments in biomedical and behavioral research which include the rapid growth of new interventions and technologies, increasing involvement of foreign populations in human subjects research, and concerns about financial conflicts of interest among researchers, challenge investigators' abilities to interpret and apply the regulations.

Other situations (e.g., research with vulnerable populations, research on stigmatizing diseases or conditions) may present difficulties for identifying strategies, procedures, and/or techniques that will enhance/ensure the ethical involvement of human subjects in research. Thus, research on ethical issues in human subjects research is necessary to enhance interpretation and application of ethical principles and regulatory requirements.

The research design for studies on ethical issues in human subjects research should be appropriate to the nature of the project(s) proposed and the disciplines involved. Given the conceptual and methodological complexity of many of these research questions, interdisciplinary and collaborative projects are encouraged, particularly those involving clinical researchers, ethicists, and behavioral/social scientists.

More information  http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-07-277.html

Deadline:  June 5, 2007, October 5, 2007, and February 5, 2008

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Erythroid Lineage Molecular Toolbox (R21)
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) announces a new program designed to stimulate research in erythroid cells. The aim of this program is to contribute to a complete description of expressed erythroid molecular biological components and to create reagents useful for study of the erythroid cell lineages. Components include genes that are expressed in erythroid cells, either during development or during differentiation, and the proteins that are translated in erythroid cells, potentially with post-translational modifications or subcellular localizations that are unique to erythroid cells. A long range goal of this program is to unify genetics and the study of function by facilitating characterization of the structure-function relationships between the expressed genes in the erythroid lineages and cell morphology, physiology, and disease phenotypes. Development of new technologies to facilitate applications of this genomic information is also encouraged.

More information  http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-07-352.html

Deadline:  June 16, 2007, October 16, 2007, and February 16, 2008

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Protein Biomarkers of Infection-Associated Cancers (R21)
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
National Institutes of Health (NIH)

This initiative encourages research to identify proteomic markers for risk assessment and early detection in individuals exposed to infectious agents that have been linked to cancer. Listed below, but not limited to, are several programmatic areas in need of support for developing proteomic signatures for infectious agent-associated cancers:

1. Proteomic profiles of normal, precancerous, and cancerous lesions following infection and of body fluids from infected individuals
2. Evaluation of these proteomic profiles for use in early detection, risk assessment, and prevention of cancer (in all known cases, infectious agents that are associated with cancers persist for long periods in the host before cancer develops)

Proposals may involve a number of infectious agents showing associations with cancer. Noteworthy viral agents of interest to this program are human papilloma virus (HPV), hepatitis B and C viruses, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and Simian Virus 40. Furthermore, an escalating association of early cervical, lung, and colon cancers has emerged, among HIV patients. Proposals are also invited to investigate bacterial etiology in cancer, such as the role of Helicobacter pylori with gastric cancers. The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) has particular interest in EBV and HPV-associated head and neck cancers. Proposals covering basic science (infectious life cycle, viral replication, etc.) or treatment studies of these infectious agents are not encouraged by this program announcement (PA).

More information  http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-06-297.html

Deadline:  June 16, 2007, October 16, 2007, and February 16, 2008

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Exploratory Cancer Prevention Studies Involving Molecular Targets for Bioactive
Food Components (R21)
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
National Institutes of Health (NIH)

The goal of this funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is to foster exploratory and developmental research on important topics in nutrition and cancer prevention through use of the NIH R21 mechanism. Specifically, this initiative seeks to promote cancer prevention research focused on the identification and characterization of molecular targets for bioactive food components. A bioactive food component is defined as a dietary constituent that has a health benefit by altering one or more cellular processes when provided in quantities over and beyond that needed for basic nutrition.

The importance of diet in cancer prevention was highlighted in the 2007 National Cancer Institute (NCI) Bypass Budget. This special notation stemmed from reports that a variety of dietary components spanning the gamut of essential and non-essential food components can modify cancer risk and tumor behavior. Research continues to provide evidence for unprecedented opportunities for the expanded use of bioactive food components as a strategy for cancer prevention. Although there is substantial evidence suggesting that there are meaningful linkages between diet and cancer risk, it remains unclear what food components account for the protection and which cellular processes are critically involved. A greater understanding of specific molecular targets for individual bioactive food components is fundamental for the development of effective, tailored, and "pre-emptive" nutritional strategies for reducing cancer in humans.

More information  http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-07-362.html

Deadline:  June 16, 2007, October 16, 2007, and February 16, 2008

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Methodology and Measurement in the Behavioral and Social Sciences (R03) (R21)
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
National Institutes of Health (NIH)

The behavioral and social sciences offer significant fundamental insights into the comprehensive understanding of human health, including disease etiology and treatment, and the promotion of health and well-being. To encourage the investigation of the impact of social and behavioral factors on health and disease, the participating institutes and centers (ICs) invite qualified researchers to submit research grant applications on methodology and measurement in the behavioral and social sciences. Methodology and measurement encompass research design, data collection techniques, measurement, and data analysis techniques. The goal of this program announcement is to encourage research that will improve the quality and scientific power of data collected in the behavioral and social sciences, relevant to the missions of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) ICs. Research that addresses methodology and measurement issues in diverse populations, issues in studying sensitive behaviors, issues of ethics in research, issues related to confidential data and the protection of research subjects, and issues in developing interdisciplinary, multimethod, and multilevel approaches to behavioral and social science research is particularly encouraged, as are approaches that integrate behavioral and social science research with biomedical, physical, or computational science research or engineering.

This program announcement (PA) encourages applications addressing four general areas of methodology and measurement research in the social and behavioral sciences. These areas include research design, data collection techniques, measurement, and data analysis. Within the broad spectrum of research defined by these areas, applicants are particularly encouraged (but are not required) to consider studies that address one or more of the following key issues:

1. Methodology and measurement issues in developing innovative interdisciplinary, multimethod, and multilevel research designs for use in behavioral and social science research, with special emphasis on both developing new technologies and addressing the analytical complexities associated with the integration of behavioral, social, and biological data
2. Methodology and measurement issues in research relating to diverse populations, for example, populations that are distinctive by virtue of age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, culture, including culture-specific medical systems, socio-economic status, literacy, language, or disability
3. Methodology and measurement issues in studying how dramatic changes in economic, social, environmental, physical, or political context affect human health and well-being, including developing new methods if older ones are no longer valid in the face of significant changes in populations and societies over the last several decades
4. Methodology and measurement issues in studying potentially sensitive behaviors, such as sexual behavior and abortion, and covert or illegal behaviors such as drug use, abuse, and violence
5. Methodology and measurement issues concerning ethics in research, with emphasis on the topics of informed consent, assessment of risk and benefit, and selection and retention of subjects, and ensuring subjects' confidentiality

Multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches are strongly encouraged. Potential applicants are urged to explore the ideas and methods developed in social science and behavioral fields other than their own and to consider the development and integration of behavioral and social science measures with those of the biomedical, physical, or computational sciences or engineering. Consulting relevant literature and collaborating with colleagues from other disciplines may provide important opportunities for cross-fertilization in developing improved methodology and measurement.

More information  http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/open/HHS-2007-ACF-ACYF-CV-0029.html and http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-06-343.html

Deadline:  June 16, 2007, October 16, 2007, and February 16, 2008

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Collaborative Studies on Systems Biology of Complex Phenotypes (R01)
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
National Institutes of Health (NIH)

This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is intended to encourage collaborations between scientists with expertise in applying the approaches of systems biology and scientists with expertise in the genetics of humans or model organisms to investigate the mechanisms by which complex human phenotypes are produced from information encoded in the DNA. Scientists now recognize that even those clinical phenotypes referred to as "simple" Mendelian traits are not solely determined by the function of a single allele. A challenge for the foreseeable future is to identify the collection of genes whose expression results in a particular normal or disease trait, and the mechanisms by which these genes and their products interact.

Systems biology is viewed as an evolving discipline at the intersection of biological and physical sciences that merges experimental and computational approaches to observe, record, and integrate information from the molecular, cellular, tissue, and whole organism level into testable models of a dynamic biological process. The application of systems biology to genetics and genomics appears to be a promising approach to begin to understand the mechanisms underlying complex phenotypes.

The long-term goal of the research to be supported by this FOA is to understand the molecular mechanisms that underlie complex diseases in humans in order to improve diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Although research on complex human phenotypes should ideally be conducted with human subjects, the technology and state of the science currently preclude the in-depth level of analysis of human material that is necessary for many systems biology investigations. Thus, it is expected that many of the proposed projects may require the use of appropriate animal models to test hypotheses. Applicants proposing studies on animal models must specifically justify how that research will inform future experiments on human complex phenotypes. This FOA requires a collaboration between a systems biologist and a geneticist, both of whom must be independent investigators.

More information  http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-GM-08-001.html

Deadline:  October 23, 2007

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

University Research in Homeland Security Science and Technology Mission Areas
United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate is soliciting applications for research projects aligned with the mission and requirements of DHS S&T. These projects should be designed to augment and complement, through international research and collaboration, the depth and breadth of homeland security science and technology research. Specifically, the S&T Directorate seeks proposals that will contribute to homeland security science and technology, including but not limited to: Evaluation of novel tools or approaches to confronting homeland security challenges; Basic research to provide data, understandings, or models that support S&T or policy decisions by the Department of Homeland Security; and S&T and operations research evaluations to support revolutionary improvements in DHS's mission and its component agencies' operations. This funding mechanism does not seek to support prototype or product development--but proposals that address real-world testing and evaluation of novel approaches or tools will be considered for funding.

More information  rosemary.springer@dhs.govor (202) 447-5608.

Deadline:  May 21, 2007

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High Altitude Endurance Unmanned Aerial System (HAE UAS)-Based Counter-MANPADS Technology Assessment
United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

Through this BAA, the United States department of Homeland Security (DHS) intends to evaluate, develop as required, and demonstrate at the prototype level an alternative concept of providing persistent stand-off airborne MANPADS protection for all commercial aircraft. This effort will couple proven High Altitude Endurance Unmanned Aerial Systems (HAE UAS) with counter-MANPADS technology solutions that prove to be the most promising in defeating the MANPADS threat to commercial aviation.

More information  http://fedbizopps.cos.com/cgi-bin/getRec?id=20070328a1

Deadline: June 8, 2007

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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

No new program announcements this week.

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DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR

National GAP Analysis Program
United States Department of the Interior (DOI)
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)

The Gap Analysis Program (GAP) of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is offering grant opportunities for projects performed in partnership with USGS GAP. The GAP has developed project partnerships across the country for nearly twenty years. Gap analysis is a scientific method for identifying the degree to which native animal species and natural communities are represented in our present-day mix of conservation lands. Those species and communities not adequately represented in the existing network of conservation lands constitute conservation "gaps." The purpose of the Gap Analysis Program is to provide broad geographic information on the status of ordinary species (those not threatened with extinction or naturally rare) and their habitats in order to provide land managers, planners, scientists, and policy makers with the information they need to make better-informed decisions. The specific mission of the GAP is to provide state, regional, and national assessments of the conservation status of native vertebrate species and natural land cover types of the U.S. and to facilitate the application of this information to land management activities. This is accomplished through the following five objectives: 1) map the land cover of the U.S.; 2) map predicted distributions of vertebrate species for the U.S.; 3) document the representation of vertebrate species and land cover types in areas managed for the long-term maintenance of biodiversity; 4) provide this information to the public and those entities charged with land use research, policy, planning, and management; and 5) build institutional cooperation in the application of this information to state and regional management activities.

More information  http://www.usgs.gov/contracts/grants/

Deadline:  May 23, 2007

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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

No new program announcements this week.

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

No new program announcements this week.

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Training Workshops for Wastewater Management
Environmental Protection Agency

EPA is soliciting proposals from eligible applicants for projects that provide logistical and technical support for the development and delivery of training workshops in five National Workshop Priority Areas to build the capacity of State and local government officials and other interested stakeholders to better understand and implement associated regulations.

More information  http://www.epa.gov/wastewatergrants/workshops.pdf

Deadline:  June 11, 2007

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NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

Planetary Protection Research
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) - 2007

This program element solicits planetary protection research in the following areas (currently without priority):

- the development and use of modern molecular analytical methods to detect and classify the widest possible spectrum of Earth microbes on spacecraft surfaces during assembly and launch processing, especially microbes capable of surviving spacecraft conditions;

- methods, procedures and conditions for spacecraft sterilization that are compatible with spacecraft materials, and methods, procedures and conditions for sample sterilization that largely preserve sample information, including conditions that may be associated with dust sample collection; and

- characterizations of the limits of life, including biological and/or planetary environmental studies of the potential for organisms to originate and thrive in conditions present on bodies such as Europa and other Jovian satellites, asteroids, comets, or conditions on or in robotic spacecraft en route to these bodies.

More information  http://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/summary.do?method=init&solId=%7BACB336BF-3B97-E75E-9F35-5ADD8E2E7521%7D&path=open

Deadline:  August 7, 2007

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EarthScope: The InSAR and Geodetic Imaging Component
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) - 2007

The EarthScope Program is managed by the National Science Foundation in coordination with the U.S. Geological Survey and NASA.

This is the first NASA solicitation to specify support for research proposals addressing the InSAR or Geodetic Imaging Component of EarthScope. This announcement seeks to strengthen the role of remote sensing in the determination of crustal dynamics and geologic history through the development and application of geodetic imaging technologies. Geodetic imaging is the precise metrology of the Earth surface via remote sensing techniques to yield measurements of an area’s topography and its surface deformation. The three principal techniques currently ascribed to geodetic imaging are InSAR, altimetric Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), and stereo-optical imaging.

This solicitation is open to all proposals that seek to address the EarthScope goals through the demonstration and application of geodetic imaging technologies. The proposals that respond to this solicitation must explain in succinct language how the proposal will advance the scientific objectives of the EarthScope program in general and the InSAR and Geodetic Imaging component of EarthScope in particular.

More information  http://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/summary.do?method=init&solId=%7B7BD70801-31AD-21E6-1A02-415614BC5F52%7D&path=open

Deadline:  August 10, 2007

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Living With a Star Targeted Research And Technology
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) - 2007

The goal of the Sun Earth Connection (SEC) Living With a Star (LWS) program is to develop the scientific understanding necessary to enable the United States to effectively address those aspects of the connected Sun-Earth system that affect life and society. To answer these questions, this LWS Targeted Research and Technology (TR&T) program element solicits proposals that provide both physics-based understanding as well as experimental measurements to test knowledge of the Sun-Heliosphere-Earth system. This objective can be achieved by exploiting data from past and present space missions for scientific analysis, theory, and modeling efforts as well as technology improvements that contribute to operational answers concerning specific areas relevant to societal needs.

More information  http://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/summary.do?method=init&solId=%7BA0A59C04-6316-C6CA-4B84-28A193E76417%7D&path=open

Deadline:  August 31, 2007

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GLAST Guest Investigator Cycle 1
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) - 2007

The Gamma-Ray Large Area Space Telescope (GLAST) Guest Investigator (GI) program solicits proposals for basic research relevant to the GLAST mission. The primary goal of this mission is to perform 20 MeV to >300 GeV gamma-ray measurements over the entire celestial sphere, with sensitivity a factor of 30 or more greater than obtained by earlier space missions. A secondary goal includes the study of transient gamma-ray sources with energies extending from 10 keV up to 300 GeV. The GLAST GI program is intended to encourage scientific participation by providing funding to carry out investigations using GLAST data to conduct correlative observations at other wavelengths, to develop data analysis techniques applicable to the GLAST data, and to carry out theoretical investigations in support of GLAST observations.

More information  http://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/summary.do?method=init&solId=%7B622231E2-534C-6B45-1E53-5F3E162C6BBC%7D&path=open

Deadline:  September 7, 2007

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Outer Planets Research
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) - 2007

The Outer Planets Research (OPR) program supports diverse scientific investigations that contribute to the understanding of the outer Solar System, ranging from the asteroid belt to the Kuiper Belt. The program includes both fundamental research and data analysis from NASA missions.

The objectives of this OPR program include:
- enhancing the scientific return from the Galileo, Voyager, Ulysses, NEAR, and Deep Space 1 missions by broadening scientific participation in the analysis of their respective data sets;
- improving the understanding of the formation and evolution of the outer Solar System, including the giant planets, their satellites, and other small bodies;
- defining the dynamical processes operating in the outer Solar System; and
- providing further refinement of key Galileo mission datasets to improve their usefulness to the general scientific community.

In addition to investigations to enhance the science return from the missions identified above, an investigator may also propose tasks that involve one or more of the following activities, all of which must be relevant to the outer planets missions identified above:
- development of basic theory, laboratory studies, and/or modeling relevant to the interpretation of mission data or the formation of giant planets, their satellites, and other small bodies in planetary systems;
- correlative analyses combining data from the outer planets missions with other sources such as ground-based observations; and/or
- research that seeks to place the results of these outer planets missions in a larger context of processes and evolution bodies in the outer planetary system.

More information  http://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/summary.do?method=init&solId=%7BE8DB293E-31C4-6890-246B-7A979712962E%7D&path=open

Deadline:  November 2, 2007

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Living With a Star Space Environment Testbeds
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) - 2007

The Living With a Star (LWS) Space Environment Testbeds (SET) project's goal is to improve the engineering approach to mitigate or accommodate the undesirable effects of solar variability on technological systems. Investigations are sought that produce improved or new design and operations models, guidelines, and databases for investigations from the analysis of existing in-space flight data (data mining).
The investigation products should (1) better characterize the environment in the presence of a spacecraft or aircraft and/or (2) perform better predictions of hardware’s performance in the space environment.

Five focused technology categories have the highest priority: (1) the environment in the presence of the spacecraft; (2) effects on microelectronics technologies; (3) effects on detector and/or sensor technologies; (4) degradation and shielding properties of materials; and (5) spacecraft charging/discharging.

More information  http://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/summary.do?method=init&solId=%7B59CE051C-7AE3-8498-D94F-D242564F527B%7D&path=open

Deadline:  November 16, 2007

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Virtual Observatories for Heliophysics Data
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) - 2007

This program solicits proposals to develop, demonstrate, and enhance prototypes of software applications generally known as virtual observatories. This program particularly targets the integration of the many data services for solar and
space physics data necessary to the conduct of research in the Heliophysics field. A secondary part of this program permits holders of Heliophysics data to propose for small grants to upgrade their data services in order to participate in one of the several VxOs2 either in existence or proposed.

More information  http://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/summary.do?method=init&solId=%7BB3B3FF13-C7C3-0D94-A0BE-23E7B2350222%7D&path=open

Deadline:  November 15, 2007

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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION (NSF)

Disclaimer - we only list the more recently announced NSF opportunities in the Update. We urge you to explore the many NSF opportunities available at the NSF website. For a complete listing of deadlines and target dates from the previous month and for the next 4 months check the NSF deadline website

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The NSF E-Bulletin provides key dates on which grant proposals are due at NSF for the current 4 months.

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Thermal Transport Processes
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Directorate for Engineering (ENG)
Division of Chemical and Transport Systems (CTS)

Thermal Transport and Thermal Processing projects should be aimed at gaining a basic understanding at the microscopic and macroscopic levels of thermal phenomena underlying the production of energy, the synthesis and processing of materials, the cooling and heating in equipment and devices, the interaction of industrial processes with the environment, and the thermal phenomena in biological systems. Higher priority will be given to those projects that deal with problems on the cutting edge of technology while developing human resources in engineering.

More information http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=13367

Deadline:  September 15, 2007

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Mechanics and Structures of Materials (MSM)
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Directorate for Engineering (ENG)
Division of Chemical and Transport Systems (CTS)
Engineered Materials and Mechanics Cluster

The Mechanics and Structures of Materials (MSM) program element supports research on computational, theoretical, analytical, and experimental solid mechanics, biomechanics, and nanomechanics; model-based simulation and constitutive models; and the link of microstructure to nano-, meso-, and macro-scale structural behavior. The program also supports experimental and analytical research on deformation, fatigue, and fracture and underlying nano- and micro-structural states and their origin, transformation, and evolution.

More information http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=13355&org=ENG&sel_org=ENG&from=fund

Deadline:  October 1, 2007

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Physical and Dynamic Meteorology
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Directorate for Geosciences (GEO)
Division of Atmospheric Sciences (ATM)

The Physical and Dynamic Meteorology program supports research involving studies of cloud physics; atmospheric electricity; radiation; boundary layer and turbulence; the initiation, growth, and propagation of gravity waves; all aspects of mesoscale meteorological phenomena, including their morphological, thermodynamic, and kinematic structure; development of mesoscale systems and precipitation processes; and transfer of energy between scales. The program also sponsors the development of new techniques and devices for atmospheric measurements.

More information http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=12728&org=ATM

Deadline:  Continuous

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Paleoclimate
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Directorate for Geosciences (GEO)
Division of Atmospheric Sciences (ATM)

The Paleoclimate program supports research on the natural evolution of Earth's climate with the goal of providing a baseline for present variability and future trends through improved understanding of the physical, chemical, and biological processes that influence climate over the long term.

More information http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=12727&org=ATM

Deadline:  Continuous

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Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry (SYO/DYN)
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS)
Division of Chemistry (CHE)

This program supports:

1. Organic Chemical Dynamics--research that will advance the knowledge of carbon-based molecules, metallo-organic systems, and organized molecular assemblies. Experimental, computational, and theoretical projects that illuminate chemical structures, reactivity, and properties and that provide organic mechanistic, structural, and kinetic foundations for the understanding of biological processes are all considered. The program has links to other programs within NSF that support chemistry research, including Solid State Chemistry and Polymers (Materials Research Division, MPS Directorate); Chemical Reaction Processes (Chemical and Transport Systems Division, ENG Directorate); Biochemistry and Biophysics (Molecular and Cellular Biosciences Division, BIO Directorate); and Atmospheric Chemistry (Atmospheric Sciences Division, GEO Directorate).

2. Organic Synthesis--research on the synthesis of carbon-based molecules, organometallic systems, and organized molecular assemblies. Research includes the development of new reagents and methods for organic synthesis and characterization, and the investigation of natural products and new organic materials. Such research provides the basis for designed syntheses of new materials and natural products important to the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. The research has links to other programs within NSF that support chemistry research, including Biochemistry (Molecular and Cellular Biosciences Division, BIO Directorate) and Polymers (Materials Research Division, MPS Directorate).

More information http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5640

Deadline:  Continuous

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Aeronomy
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Directorate for Geosciences (GEO)
Division of Atmospheric Sciences (ATM)
Atmospheric Sciences Project Support

The Aeronomy program supports research on upper and middle atmosphere phenomena of ionization, recombination, chemical reaction, photoemission, and transport; the transport of energy, momentum, and mass in the mesosphere-thermosphere-ionosphere system, including the processes involved and the coupling of this global system to the stratosphere below and magnetosphere above; and the plasma physics of phenomena manifested in the coupled ionosphere-magnetosphere system, including the effects of high-power radio wave modification.

More information http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=11686&org=ATM

Deadline:  Continuous

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Solar-Terrestrial Research
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Directorate for Geosciences (GEO)
Division of Atmospheric Sciences (ATM)

The Solar-Terrestrial Research program supports research on the processes by which energy in diverse forms is generated by the sun, transported to earth, and ultimately deposited in the terrestrial environment. Major topics include helioseismology, the solar dynamo, the activity cycle, magnetic flux emergence, solar flares and activity, coronal mass ejections, solar wind heating, interactions with cosmic rays, and solar wind or magnetosphere boundary problems.

More information http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=12741&org=ATM

Deadline:  Continuous

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Research Initiation Grants and Career Advancement Awards to Broaden
Participation in Biology (RIG CAA BP) - NSF 07-560
National Science Foundation
Directorate for Biological Sciences
      Division of Environmental Biology
      Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences
      Division of Biological Infrastructure
      Division of Integrative Organismal Systems

With the goal of broadening participation to all biologists including members from groups under-represented in biology, the Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO) at NSF offers two funding opportunities under this solicitation:
1. Research Initiation Grants (RIG) and
2. Career Advancement Awards (CAA).
Currently, African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders are under-represented in biology. These grants are intended to increase the diversity of researchers who apply for and receive BIO funding to
1. initiate research programs early in their careers and
2. advance their careers by adding new approaches or directions to their on-going research programs.
By providing these funding opportunities, BIO intends to further broaden participation of biological researchers who share NSF's commitment to diversity in the following ways:
• Expand the population of role models who will interact with an increasingly diverse student population, the workforce of the future
• Increase the number of scientists at minority serving institutions actively and competitively engaged in research as independent investigators, thereby creating new research opportunities for students from under-represented groups
• Fund biological research projects that use innovative ways to attract and retain members of under-represented groups to careers in biology
Awards are for 24 months and are limited to a maximum of $150,000 total costs (direct plus indirect) with up to an additional $25,000 for equipment. Principal Investigators must be U.S. citizens or lawfully admitted U.S. permanent residents at the time of application; visa-holders are not eligible.

Co-investigators are not permitted, but collaborations with other scientists and/or visiting scientist status in other laboratories are permitted. Principal investigators must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. One proposal per PI per target date.

Deadline: January 14, 2008

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OTHER FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Call for Research in Patterning
Semiconductor Research Corporation (SRC)

The Semiconductor Research Corporation (SRC) Nanomanufacturing area is soliciting white papers in the Patterning, Emerging Research Materials, and Nanocharacterization/Metrology areas for work to begin January 1, 2008 for an expected three-year period. This call for research is issued to universities worldwide. Successful white paper authors will be invited to submit a full proposal, and a limited number of contracts will be awarded based on these proposals according to the schedule below. GRC may elect to negotiate a project's research scope or composition to meet funding or distribution needs.   All applications must be submitted electronically.  

More information  http://www.src.org/fr/S200704_NMS_Call.asp?bhcp=1

Deadline:  May 18, 2007

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Grants
Motorola
Motorola Foundation

The Motorola Foundation was established in 1953 primarily to support leading universities in the United States. Today, the foundation focuses its funding on education, especially programs that support math and science teacher-training programs and charitable organizations that excite young people about these subjects.

Through the foundation, Motorola nurtures relationships with local, national, and international non-profit organizations to extend resources to communities in need and to help expand the scope of their missions. The foundation is interested primarily in funding engineering/technical/science or mathematics programs in K-12 schools or in universities and colleges; programs reaching traditionally under-represented groups in the areas of math, science, engineering, and business; programs providing technical assistance, research and statistical information on the state of science and engineering education; and programs that support the protection and preservation of the environment.

The Motorola Foundation does not lease or donate Motorola products or equipment. More information: http://www.motorola.com/content.jsp?globalObjectId=8152

Deadline:  Continuous

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POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS

No new program announcements this week.

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GRADUATE FELLOWSHIPS

No new program announcements this week.

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UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH

No new program announcements this week.

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