DEPARTMENT
OF EDUCATION
Reading and Writing
Education Research - 84.305A
and B
United States Department
of Education (ED)
Institute of
Education Sciences
(IES)
National
Center for Education
Research
Through its Research on
Reading and Writing (Read/Write)
grants program, the Institute
intends to contribute to
improvement of reading and
writing skills by (1) identifying
curriculum and instructional
practices that are associated
with better reading or writing
outcomes as well as mediators
and moderators of the relations
between these practices
and student outcomes; (2)
developing new curricula
or instructional approaches
for teaching individuals
reading or writing skills
or for addressing the underlying
causes of reading or writing
difficulties (e.g., poor
oral language skills); (3)
evaluating fully developed
curricula or instructional
approaches for teaching
reading or writing skills,
or for reducing/preventing
reading or writing difficulties
through efficacy or replication
trials; (4) evaluating the
effectiveness of curricula
or instructional approaches
for teaching reading or
writing skills that are
implemented at scale; and
(5) developing and validating
assessments that can be
used in instructional settings
to identify sources of reading
and writing difficulties.
More information
http://ies.ed.gov/funding/
Deadline: July 26,
2007, and November 1, 2007
Education Leadership
- 84.305A
United States Department
of Education (ED)
Institute of
Education Sciences
(IES)
National
Center for Education
Research
The Institute's Education
Leadership research program
addresses five goals (1)
identifying the characteristics
and practices of education
leaders (e.g., principals,
district superintendents)
that are associated with
better student outcomes
from kindergarten through
Grade 12 and identifying
programs and practices for
the preparation or professional
development of education
leaders that are associated
with better student outcomes
(e.g., student achievement,
high school graduation)
from kindergarten through
Grade 12, as well as mediators
and moderators of the relations
between student outcomes
and these leadership characteristics,
programs, or practices;
(2) developing new programs
and practices for the preparation
or professional development
of education leaders that
will eventually result in
improving the teaching and
learning environment at
the local level and, ultimately,
student learning and achievement;
(3) establishing the efficacy
of programs and practices
for the preparation or professional
development of education
leaders for improving the
teaching and learning environment
and, ultimately, student
learning and achievement;
(4) providing evidence of
the effectiveness of programs
and practices for the preparation
or professional development
of education leaders that
are implemented at scale
and intended for improving
the teaching and learning
environment and through
it, student learning and
achievement; and (5) developing
and validating new assessments
of the quality of education
leaders, or validating existing
assessments of education
leaders against measures
of student achievement from
elementary grades through
high school.
Long term outcomes of the
Education Leadership program
will be an array of tools
and strategies (e.g., pre-service
and in-service programs,
policies, assessments) that
have been demonstrated to
be effective for improving
and assessing the performance
of education leaders (e.g.,
principals, superintendents)
in ways that are linked
to increases in student
achievement. In this Request
for Applications, the term
preparation refers to pre-service
training of education leaders,
and the term professional
development refers to the
in-service training of current
leaders. More information
http://ies.ed.gov/funding/
Deadline: July 26,
2007, and November 1, 2007
Teacher Quality Research
- Mathematics and Science
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 -- Mathematics and
Science 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 in
mathematics and science.
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 mathematics or science
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 mathematics or science
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 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 mathematics
or science from elementary
school through high school
and (b) teaching basic skills
in mathematics to adults.
More information
http://ies.ed.gov/funding/
Deadline: July 26,
2007, and November 1, 2007
Special Education Research:
Serious Behavior Disorders
- 84.324A
United States Department
of Education (ED)
Institute of
Education Sciences
(IES)
National
Center for Education
Research
The purpose of this program
is to support the development
and evaluation of interventions
designed to improve the
behavioral and social skills
and, concomitantly, the
academic outcomes of students
with disabilities or at
high risk of developing
such disabilities in kindergarten
through middle school. In
addition, this program will
support the development
and validation of assessment
tools and procedures that
can be used in home, instructional,
and non-instructional settings
to identify or diagnose
sources of behavior problems
in kindergarten through
middle school students with
disabilities or at high
risk for disabilities. More
information
http://ies.ed.gov/funding/
Deadline: July 26,
2007
Special Education Research:
Individualized Education
Programs and Individualized
Family Service Plans Research
- 84.324
United States Department
of Education (ED)
Institute of
Education Sciences
(IES)
National
Center for Education
Research
Through its program of
research on Individualized
Education Programs and Individualized
Family Service Plans (IEP/IFSP
Research), the Institute
intends to contribute to
the improvement of education
for infants, toddlers, children,
and students with disabilities
by (1) identifying practices,
programs, or systems designed
to improve the creation,
implementation, and monitoring
of appropriate and effective
individualized education
programs (IEPs) and individualized
family service plans (IFSPs)
for infants, toddlers, children,
and students with disabilities;
(2) developing practices,
programs, or systems designed
to enhance the abilities
of education practitioners,
administrators, and service
providers to create, implement,
and monitor appropriate
and effective IEPs and IFSPs
for infants, toddlers, children,
and students with disabilities
(3) determining the efficacy
of practices, programs,
or systems designed to improve
the use of IEPs and IFSPs
through efficacy or replication
trials; and (4) providing
evidence on the effectiveness
of practices, programs,
or systems designed to improve
the use of IEPs and IFSPs
when implemented at scale.
The long-term outcome of
this program will be an
array of programs, practices,
and systems that have been
documented to be effective
for providing services for
infants, toddlers, and children
in natural environments
(including the home) and
community settings in which
children without disabilities
participate, as well as
ensuring that students with
disabilities have access
to, participate in, and
make progress in the general
education curriculum in
the least restrictive environment.
More information
http://ies.ed.gov/funding/
Deadline: July 26,
2007
Special Education Research:
Reading, Writing, and Language
Development Special Education
Research - 84.324A
United States Department
of Education (ED)
Institute of Education
Sciences (IES)
National Center
for Education Research
Through its Special Education
Reading, Writing, and Language
Development Special Education
Research Grants Program,
the Institute intends to
contribute to the improvement
of reading, writing, and
language skills for students
with identified disabilities
and to prevent the development
of disabilities among students
at risk for disabilities
by (1) identifying curriculum
and instructional practices
that are potentially effective
for improving reading, writing,
or language outcomes for
students with identified
disabilities and students
at risk for disabilities
as well as mediators and
moderators of the effects
of these practices; (2)
developing interventions
or instructional approaches
and strategies for teaching
reading, writing, or language
skills to students with
identified disabilities
or students at risk for
disabilities; (3) establishing
the efficacy of existing
interventions or instructional
approaches and strategies
for teaching reading, writing,
or language skills to students
with identified disabilities
or students at risk for
disabilities; (4) providing
evidence on the effectiveness
of interventions or instructional
approaches and strategies
for teaching reading, writing,
or language skills implemented
at scale; and (5) developing
and validating reading,
writing, or language assessments
that can be used in instructional
settings.
Interventions appropriate
for development and/or evaluation
under this program are interventions
intended to improve reading/pre-reading,
writing/pre-writing, or
language outcomes of students
with disabilities and students
at risk for disabilities.
Interventions may be for
students from kindergarten
through grade 12. Interventions
may include programs and
practices for pre-service
or in-service training of
teachers or other service
providers to deliver instruction
in reading and writing for
students with disabilities.
The long-term outcome of
this program will be an
array of tools and strategies
(e.g., assessments, instructional
approaches) that have been
documented to be effective
for improving reading, writing,
or language outcomes for
students with identified
disabilities and students
at risk for disabilities.
More information
http://ies.ed.gov/funding/
Deadline: July 26,
2007, and November 1, 2007
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of page
DEPARTMENT
OF ENERGY
No
new program announcements
this week.
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of page
DEPARTMENT
OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
National Folic Acid
Promotion Program (E11)
Department of Health
and Human Services (HHS)
Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC)
National Center on
Birth Defects and Developmental
Disabilities (NCBDDD)
There are two main purposes
for this funding opportunity:
1) To facilitate concerted
action and collaboration
among the existing NCFA
partners for the promotion
of folic acid, and 2) To
promote folic acid consumption
among key primary and secondary
audiences through a multisectoral
approach. Methods of achieving
these purposes can include
a) drawing upon evidence-based
approaches to folic acid
promotion to develop culturally
appropriate lifestyle interventions
that support daily folic
acid consumption; b) evaluating
the acceptance and adherence
to these interventions among
individuals served by these
intervention approaches
or programs; c) selecting
and disseminating these
interventions through the
channels most relevant to
each particular audience;
and d) ensuring that effective
dissemination occurs. More
information
http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/funding/DD07-703.htm
Deadline: June 4, 2007
Retirement Economics
- (R03)(R21)
Department of Health
and Human Services (HHS)
National Institutes
of Health (NIH)
National Institute on Aging
(NIA)
The National Institute
on Aging (NIA) invites applications
for research on retirement
economics. The research
objectives of this program
announcement (PA) include,
but are not limited to,
the determinants of retirement
behavior; the variation
in work patterns in later
life; the evolution of health
and economic circumstances
of individuals through retirement
and into later life; time
use and life satisfaction
before and during retirement;
the implications of retirement
trends; retirement expectations;
international comparisons
of retirement; and the development
of innovative retirement
modeling techniques. More
information
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-06-235.html and http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-06-235.html
Deadline: June 16,
2007, October 16, 2007,
and February 16, 2008
Planning Grants For
Translational Research For
The Prevention And Control
Of Diabetes And Obesity
(R34)
Department of Health
and Human Services (HHS)
National Institutes
of Health (NIH)
The National Institute
of Diabetes and Digestive
and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
and the Office of Behavioral
and Social Sciences Research
(OBSSR) have issued a program
announcement designed to
foster the development of
cost effective and sustainable
translational research studies
to prevent and treat obesity
and diabetes. The interventions
designed should have the
potential to be disseminated
to clinical practice, individuals
or communities at risk.
Studies submitted to this
program should focus on
developing preliminary data
demonstrating that the proposed
approach is feasible and
will improve weight control
or glycemia.
It is not the intent of
this program to support
the development of initial
efficacy trials; rather,
it is for the translation
of interventions that have
previously been shown to
be efficacious in the research
setting. Proposed studies
must address issues of sustainability,
cost effectiveness, and
dissemination. Studies addressing
minority populations at
disproportionate risk for
obesity, diabetes and diabetes
complications are encouraged.
Study design and its accompanying
analysis plan must be linked
to the research question.
The general goal is to select
a design that maximizes
generalizability and minimizes
bias.
Relevant topics include
but are not limited to:
- strategies to enhance
glycemic control and reduce
risk factors for the development
of the complications of
type 1 or type 2 diabetes
such as blood pressure and
lipids,
- strategies to promote
the adoption of healthy
lifestyles which will reduce
obesity and diabetes,
- strategies for less burdensome
and more cost effective
methods to identify those
with or at risk of pre-diabetes
and/or type 2 diabetes,
- studies that test interventions
to enhance long-term maintenance
of weight loss and prevention
of weight regain after weight
loss,
- studies to test approaches
for cost effective delivery
of diabetes education and
self-management instruction
for improvement of glycemia,
- studies that test interventions
to treat childhood and adolescent
overweight in primary care
or community settings, -
strategies to overcome health
care system barriers that
reduce the efficiency or
effectiveness of patient/provider
interaction and health outcomes,
and
- strategies to promote
the adoption of healthy
lifestyles in women with
or at risk for the development
of GDM.
Of particular interest
are studies to improve self-management
and enhance health care
delivery to underserved
and minority populations.
Such studies may seek to
improve outcomes in populations
(with either type 1 or type
2 diabetes) that historically
have had poor glycemic,
blood pressure, and other
risk factor control, or
promote effective prevention
strategies in minority populations
known to be at high risk
for the development of type
2 diabetes and/or its complications.
More information
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-06-358.html
Deadline: June 16,
2007, October 16, 2007,
and February 16, 2008
Preapplication for the
Molecular Libraries Probe
Production Centers Network
(MLPCN) [X02]
Department of Health
and Human Services (HHS)
National Institutes
of Health (NIH)
This announcement solicits
pre-applications for three
types of screening and chemical
probe generation centers
with complementary capabilities
and a high degree of flexibility
to address a wide range
of biological targets and
phenotypes in the production
phase of the Molecular Libraries
Program (MLP). The goal
of the MLP is to screen
compounds in the Small Molecule
Repository in target-based
and phenotypic assays to
identify and subsequently
optimize small molecules
as research probes. These
probes will be used by the
community to explore the
function of major components
of the cell in health and
disease, with data and information
made rapidly available in
PubChem. Applicants may
submit a pre-application
for a Comprehensive Screening
Center, a Specialized Screening
Center, or a Specialized
Chemistry Center.
This announcement is developed
as an NIH Roadmap Initiative
(http://nihroadmap.nih.gov).
All NIH Institutes and Centers
participate in roadmap initiatives.
The announcement will be
administered by the National
Institute of Mental Health
(NIMH) and the National
Human Genome Research Institute
(NHGRI) on behalf of the
NIH. An individual can serve
as a PD/PI on only one pre-application.
More information
http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-07-368.html
Deadline: June 28,
2007
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of page
DEPARTMENT
OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Improvised Explosive
Device & Vehicle-Borne
Explosive Device Defeat:
Technologies for Blast Mitigation
and Suicide Bomber Defeat
United States Department
of Homeland Security (DHS)
Through this BAA, the United
States department of Homeland
Security (DHS) is seeking
technologies capable of
defeating or mitigating
the explosive force resulting
from a bombing by detecting
and deactivating the explosive
device, hardening the target
of the bombing, or dissipating
the force of the blast.
More information
http://fedbizopps.cos.com/cgi-bin/getRec?id=20070502a1
Deadline: July 23,
2007
First Responder Reliable
Link (First NET)
United States Department
of Homeland Security (DHS)
Through this BAA, the United
States department of Homeland
Security (DHS) is seeking
to develop a working concept
for innovative technologies
capable of providing first
responders with resilient
and durable communications
capabilities damaged or
destroyed by natural disasters,
major incidents, and terrorist
acts. More information
http://fedbizopps.cos.com/cgi-bin/getRec?id=20070502a2
Deadline: June 15, 2007
Biometric Detector
United States Department
of Homeland Security (DHS)
Through this BAA, the United
States department of Homeland
Security (DHS) is seeking
to develop a laboratory
proof-of-concept contactless
fingerprint collection device.
This should result in an
operational field demonstration
of a Biometric Detector
(contactless fingerprint)
within one to two years
of contract award. More
information
http://fedbizopps.cos.com/cgi-bin/getRec?id=20070502a4
Deadline: July 9, 2007
Document Validator
United States Department
of Homeland Security (DHS)
Through this BAA, the United
States department of Homeland
Security (DHS) is seeking
to develop a prototype Document
Validator that will not
only have the ability to
validate thousands of documents
but will also recognize
when versions of documents
have been revised. The operator
of the Document Validator
will then be able to generate
templates for new or revised
documents on site, thereby
minimizing "down-time"
and the associated costs
to mission and maintenance.
More information
http://fedbizopps.cos.com/cgi-bin/getRec?id=20070502a3
Deadline: June 29, 2007
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of page
DEPARTMENT
OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
No
new program announcements
this week.
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of page
DEPARTMENT
OF INTERIOR
No
new program announcements
this week.
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of page
DEPARTMENT
OF JUSTICE
No
new program announcements
this week.
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of page
DEPARTMENT
OF
STATE
No
new program announcements
this week.
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of page
DEPARTMENT
OF
TRANSPORTATION
Broad Agency Announcement
for Acceleration of TRANSIMS
Deployment
United States Department
of Transportation (DOT)
Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA)
The goal of this Broad
Agency Announcement (BAA)
is to support applied research
and scientific study directed
toward increasing knowledge
and understanding to broaden
the Transportation Analysis
and Simulation System (TRANSIMS)
user base and to provide
for applications of TRANSIMS
representing a diversity
of populations, geographic
regions and analytical methods.
Multiple awards are possible
and the Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA) has
an interest not only in
the individual offers but
also in the selected projects
collectively meeting the
goals of the BAA.
The Transportation Analysis
and Simulation System (TRANSIMS)
is an agent-based travel
simulation system designed
to meet the State Department
of Transportations' (DOTs')
and Metropolitan Planning
Organizations' (MPOs') need
for more accurate and more
sensitive travel forecasts
for transportation planning
and emissions analysis.
It consists of mutually
supporting simulations,
models, and databases. By
employing advanced computational
and analytical techniques,
it creates an integrated
environment for regional
transportation system analysis.
Because TRANSIMS simulates
and tracks travel by individuals,
the benefits to and impacts
on different geographies
and travel markets can be
evaluated as well. Furthermore,
TRANSIMS has the capability
to evaluate highly congested
scenarios and operational
changes on highways and
transit systems. TRANSIMS
differs from previous travel
demand forecasting methods
in its underlying concepts
and structure. These differences
include a consistent and
continuous representation
of time; a detailed representation
of persons and households;
time-dependent routing;
and a person-based microsimulator.
There are four primary
modules: Population synthesizer,
Activity generator, Route
planner, and Traffic microsimulator.
Using these components,
a model may be constructed
that estimates activities
for individuals and households,
plans trips satisfying those
activities, assigns trips
to routes, and creates a
microsimulation of all persons,
vehicles and resulting traffic
on modeled transport systems
in given study area.
FHWA is seeking to expand
the knowledge, understanding,
and implementation of TRANSIMS
capabilities and applications,
and seeks to develop new
approaches/tools/applications
covering a diversity of
methods, users and geographic
area. Prospective offerors
will submit proposals which:
(1) Increase deployment
of TRANSIMS, and/or (2)
Broaden the TRANSIMS user
base, and/or (3) Develop
new applications of TRANSIMS.
More information
http://fedbizopps.cos.com/cgi-bin/getRec?id=20070430a527
Deadline: June 28,
2007
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of page
ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AGENCY
Indoor Environments:
Reducing Public Exposure
to Indoor Pollutants
United States Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA)
The goal of this request
for proposals is to support
demonstration, training,
outreach, or education projects
that are aligned with the
Environmental Protection
Agency's (EPA's) strategic
objective to increase the
number of people breathing
healthier indoor air, as
well as the EPA's indoor
air pollutant priority air
objectives, and the agency's
annual measures and long-term
measures. More information
http://www.epa.gov/region09/funding/reduce-indoorair-2007.html
Deadline: June 8, 2007
Quality Assurance Support
United States Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA)
The Environmental Protection
Agency has a requirement
to provide support for the
ambient air monitoring and
quality assurance program
in support of the Office
of Air Quality Planning
and Standards (OAQPS), Central
Operations and Resources.
The ambient air monitoring
and quality assurance program
focuses on issues concerning
implementation and operation
of national, state/local,
and tribal air monitoring
networks. In addition, the
program addresses the quality
of the measurement data
of the criteria air pollutants
(carbon monoxide (CO), ozone
(O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2),
lead (Pb), sulfur dioxide
(SO2), and various sizes
of particulate matter (PM10,
PM10-2.5, PM2.5), chemical
speciation of particulate
matter, air toxic compounds,
and ozone precursors required
to be measured by the Photochemical
Assessment Monitoring Stations
(PAMS) program. A principal
objective of EPA's monitoring
and quality assurance role
is to ensure that the quality
of the data collected and
reported by state/local/tribal
agencies, federal agencies,
and other parties, can be
quantified and can be used
to support programs such
as the National Ambient
Air Quality Standards (NAAQS),
the federal reference and
equivalency program, and
the nation's air quality
management programs. Solid
technical support is critical
to the U.S. EPA's ability
to support air quality management
policies and programs, as
this support will directly
impact federal, state, and
local air quality monitoring
activities. The efficient
use of air quality data
to obtain useful and defensible
environmental protection
results is also an important
concern for EPA. The development
and application of statistical
techniques to meet this
need involves areas, such
as trends analysis, data
screening, risk assessment,
model performance evaluation,
and comparisons with respect
to the National Ambient
Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).
Key considerations in the
successful implementation
of these techniques are
not limited simply to the
validity of the statistical
assumptions, but must address
the feasibility of employing
the technique, the practicality
of implementation and how
the underlying statistical
framework relates to existing
methodologies. In some cases,
it may be necessary to develop
and assemble alternative
environmental indicators
to help explain air quality
trends and to reconcile
these trends with emissions,
modeling, health, and ecological
information. The contractor
shall provide support for
the U.S. EPA's ambient air
monitoring and quality assurance
programs including, but
not limited to, the associated
federal regulations and
policies, outreach activities,
technical guidance, field
activities, special studies,
program and quality system
development, statistical
support, desktop publishing
support, web site design,
and operation and data retrievals.
More information
http://fedbizopps.cos.com/cgi-bin/getRec?id=20070424a3
Deadline: June 14,
2007
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NATIONAL
AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
Near Earth Object Observations
National Aeronautics
and Space Administration
(NASA)
Research Opportunities
in Space and Earth Sciences
(ROSES) - 2007
The Near Earth Object (NEO)
Observations program supports
ground-based telescopic
observations to, primarily,
inventory the population
of Near Earth Objects and,
secondarily, to characterize
a representative sample
of them. The National Aeronautics
Space Administration is
seeking proposals that promise
a sustained, productive
search for NEOs or that
obtain follow-up observations
of sufficient astrometric
precision to allow the accurate
prediction of the orbits
of discovered objects. This
program also seeks to characterize
NEOs to the maximum extent
possible by measuring the
sizes, shapes, and compositions
of newly discovered objects.
Although this objective
is of lower priority than
that of discovery and orbit
determination, it is deemed
important from the standpoint
of identifying potential
targets of future space
flight missions that NASA
or other U.S. space agencies
may sponsor. More information
http://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/summary.do?method=init&solId=%7BDE7EE55C-FD56-2039-E285-0DFAE85FD1F1%7D&path=open
Deadline: August 8,
2007
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of page
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
The
NSF
E-Bulletin provides
key dates on which grant
proposals are due at NSF
for the current 4 months.
Geobiology and Low-Temperature
Geochemistry NSF 06-563
National Science
Foundation (NSF)
Directorate for Geosciences
(GEO)
Division of Earth
Sciences (EAR)
The Geobiology and Low-Temperature
Geochemistry Program supports
research on 1) the interactions
between biological and geological
systems at all scales of
space and time; 2) geomicrobiology
and biomineralization processes;
3) the role of life in the
evolution of the Earth's
system; 4) inorganic and
organic geochemical processes
occurring at or near the
Earth's surface now and
in the past, and at the
broad spectrum of interfaces
ranging in scale from planetary
and regional to mineral-surface
and supramolecular; 5) mineralogy
and chemistry of soils and
sediments; 6) surficial
chemical and biogeochemical
systems and cycles and their
modification through natural
and anthropogenic change;
and 7) development of tools,
methods, and models for
low-temperature geochemistry
and geobiological research.
The Geobiology and Low-Temperature
Geochemistry Program facilitates
cross-disciplinary efforts
to harness new bioanalytical
tools--such as those emerging
from molecular biology--in
the study of the terrestrial
environment. More information
http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=13689
Deadline: July 16,
2007, and January 16, 2008
Biological Physics
National Science
Foundation (NSF)
Directorate for Mathematical
and Physical Sciences (MPS)
Division of Physics
(PHY)
The Biological Physics
program supports projects
in which the analytical
and experimental tools of
physics are applied to the
study of problems originating
in the living world. Both
experimental and theoretical
projects will be considered,
although the main focus
of the program is in the
experimental area. Of particular
interest are projects in
which new experimental approaches
are brought to bear on a
well-identified problem.
These approaches should
at the same time have the
potential for broad applicability
to a set of similar problems,
thereby adding to the set
of tools the scientist has
for addressing biological
problems in general. While
the problems under study
must be important to advancing
understanding of the living
world in a meaningful way,
particular emphasis will
be placed on those projects
in which the lessons learned
from the application serve
to foster new concepts and
ideas that expand the intellectual
basis of physics. The program
funds individual investigators,
although collaborative proposals
between physicists and biologists
are welcome. More information
http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=6673&org=NSF&from=fund
Deadline: July 31,
2007
Science of Learning
Centers (SLC)
National Science
Foundation (NSF)
The Science of Learning
Centers program (SLC) offers
awards for large-scale,
long-term Centers that create
the intellectual, organizational
and physical infrastructure
needed for the long-term
advancement of Science of
Learning research. It supports
research that harnesses
and integrates knowledge
across multiple disciplines
to create a common groundwork
of conceptualization, experimentation
and explanation that anchor
new lines of thinking and
inquiry towards a deeper
understanding of learning.
The goals of the Science
of Learning Centers Program
are to advance the frontiers
of all the sciences of learning
through integrated research;
to connect the research
to specific scientific,
technological, educational,
and workforce challenges;
to enable research communities
to capitalize on new opportunities
and discoveries; and to
respond to new challenges.
The SLC Program construes
learning broadly, including
that of animals, humans
and machines. The program
is open to many possible
approaches and topics that
can be brought to examine
what learning is, how it
is affected, how it works
at different levels, how
biologically-derived learning
principles can inform artificial
systems and vice versa.
The Program places high
value on creativity, integration
of theoretical and empirical
work, innovative models
of research and research
transfer, and inventive
uses of technology.
Science of Learning Centers
are built around a unifying
research focus and incorporate
a diverse, multidisciplinary
environment involving appropriate
partnerships with academia,
industry, all levels of
education, and other public
and private entities.
Catalyst awards are made
during the initial years
of the program. Catalyst
awards are designed to enable
partnership-building and
research activities that
facilitate interdisciplinary
approaches to questions
that require multiple areas
of expertise.
There will be no SLC Centers
or Catalyst competitions
for FY07 and FY08. However,
the Science of Learning
Centers Program is currently
accepting proposals for
workshops, Small Grants
for Exploratory Research
(SGERs), and supplements
to NSF awards, including
those funded by other programs.
Please contact the SLC Program
Officers for additional
information and guidelines
prior to proposal submission.
More information
http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5567&org=NSF&sel_org=NSF&from=fund
Deadline: August 6,
2007, and February 4, 2008
Atomic Molecular and
Optical Physics
National Science Foundation
(NSF)
Directorate
for Mathematical and Physical
Sciences (MPS)
Division of Physics
(PHY)
The Atomic Molecular and
Optical Physics program
encompasses four sub-areas
of this broad discipline:
Precision Measurements,
Atomic and Molecular Dynamics,
Atomic and Molecular Structure,
and Optical Physics. Research
supported in the first three
sub-areas includes activities
in quantum control, cooling
and trapping of atoms and
ions, low-temperature collision
dynamics, the collective
behavior of atoms in weakly
interacting gases (Bose-Einstein
Condensates and dilute Fermi
degenerate systems), precision
measurements of fundamental
constants, and the effects
of electron correlation
on structure and dynamics.
In Optical Physics, support
is provided in areas such
as nonlinear response of
isolated atoms to intense,
ultra-short electromagnetic
fields, the atom-cavity
interaction at high fields,
and quantum properties of
the electromagnetic field.
More information
http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=13622
Deadline: September
26, 2007
Theoretical Physics
National Science
Foundation (NSF)
Directorate for Mathematical
and Physical Sciences (MPS)
Division of Physics
(PHY)
The Theoretical Physics
program supports the development
of qualitative and quantitative
understanding of fundamental
physical systems, ranging
from the most elementary
constituents of matter through
nuclei and atoms to astrophysical
objects. This includes formulating
new approaches for theoretical,
computational, and experimental
research that explore the
fundamental laws of physics
and the behavior of physical
systems; formulating quantitative
hypotheses; exploring and
analyzing the implications
of such hypotheses computationally;
and, in some cases, interpreting
the results of experiments.
Support is given for research
in the following areas:
elementary particle physics;
nuclear physics; atomic,
molecular, optical, and
plasma physics; astrophysics
and cosmology; and a broad
spectrum of topics in mathematical
physics, computational physics,
nonlinear dynamics, chaos,
and statistical physics.
The effort also includes
a considerable number of
interdisciplinary grants.
In addition, the program
supports infrastructure
activities such as the Institute
for Theoretical Physics
at the University of California
at Santa Barbara, the Harvard-Smithsonian
Institute for Theoretical
Atomic, Molecular, and Optical
Physics, and the Aspen Center
for Physics. These activities
include both short- and
long-term visitor programs,
workshops, and research
involving the participation
of external scientists from
universities, national laboratories,
and industry, as well as
graduate students and postdoctoral
fellows. More information
http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5626&org=PHY&from=fund
Deadline: September
26, 2007
NSF/DOE Partnership
in Basic Plasma Science
and Engineering
National Science Foundation
(NSF)
Directorate
for Mathematical and Physical
Sciences (MPS)
Division of Physics
(PHY)
Unless otherwise modified
by a special solicitation
including partners other
than the Physics Division,
the NSF/DOE Partnership
funds research in the fundamental
physics of plasmas. The
types of phenomena investigated
include transport in plasmas
in confined magnetic structures,
non-neutral plasmas in traps,
dusty plasmas in laboratory
configurations, and high-field
laser-plasma interactions.
Both theoretical and experimental
research is included. Review
of proposals is conducted
jointly between the Physics
Division and the Office
of Fusion Energy Sciences
at the DOE. However, research
directly related to fusion
is not a part of the Partnership
and is not funded by the
Physics Division at the
NSF. Awards arising from
the Partnership are either
held at the NSF or transferred
to the DOE for management.
More information
http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5602&org=NSF&more=Y
Deadline: December
12, 2007
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OTHER
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Beckman Young Investigators
(BYI) Program
Arnold and Mabel
Beckman Foundation
The Arnold and Mabel Beckman
Foundation makes grants
to nonprofit research institutions
to promote research in chemistry
and the life sciences, broadly
interpreted, and particularly
to foster the invention
of methods, instruments,
and materials that will
open up new avenues of research
in science. The Beckman
Young Investigator (BYI)
Program is intended to provide
research support to the
most promising young faculty
members in the early stages
of academic careers in the
chemical and life sciences.
Projects should show promise
for contributing to significant
advances in the research
fields of interest to the
foundation. They should
represent innovative departures
in research rather than
extensions or expansions
of existing programs. Proposed
research that cuts across
traditional boundaries of
scientific disciplines is
encouraged.
Funding will not be considered
for
- general institutional
expenses;
- general fundraising campaign
expenses such as dinners
and mass mailings;
- as a contribution to unified
funds or to a pooled fund
that is itself used to award
grants of any kind; and
- social science, religious,
political, or other research
that does not fall within
the foundation's areas of
interest, as described above.
More information
http://www.beckman-foundation.com/byi_guides.html
Deadline: September
28, 2007
Learning in the Arts
for Children and Youth
National Foundation
for the Arts and the Humanities
National Endowment for the
Arts (NEA)
The National Endowment
for the Arts is committed
to providing leadership
in arts education by inspiring
all young Americans through
rich arts experiences. A
high quality education in
the arts opens a critical
gateway to a lifetime of
appreciation and engagement.
For two reasons, learning
in the arts is an indispensable
part of American education:
1) children celebrate and
participate in their cultural
inheritance, and 2) academic
and social maturity follow
directly from arts education
experiences.
The Learning in the Arts
for Children and Youth category
offers funding for projects
that help children and youth
acquire knowledge and understanding
of and skills in the arts.
Projects must provide participatory
learning and engage students
with skilled artists, teachers,
and excellent art. Funded
projects apply national
or state arts education
standards. All projects
submitted to the Learning
in the Arts category must
include:
1. Experience: Students
and their teachers will
have the chance to experience
exemplary works of art --
in live form where possible.
2. Study: Through the guidance
of teachers, teaching artists,
and cultural organizations,
students will study works
of art in order to understand
the cultural and social
context from which they
come, and to appreciate
the technical and/or aesthetic
qualities of each work.
Where appropriate, study
will include the acquisition
of skills relevant to practicing
the art form.
3. Performance: Informed
by their experience and
study, students will create
artwork. In the case of
literature, the primary
creative activities will
be writing and/or recitation.
4. Assessment: Students
will be assessed according
to national or state arts
education standards. Where
appropriate, projects will
employ multiple forms of
assessment including pre-
and post-testing.
The guidelines divide Learning
in the Arts for Children
and Youth into two areas:
1. School-Based
School-based projects are
for children and youth between
kindergarten and grade 12,
are directly connected to
the school curriculum and
instructional program, and
ensure the application of
national or state arts education
standards. Such activities
may take place in or outside
of the school building at
any time of the day. This
includes after-school and
summer enrichment programs
that are formally connected
to school curricula.
NOTE: The Arts Endowment
does not make awards directly
to individual elementary
or secondary schools --
charter, private, or public.
Schools may participate
as partners in projects
for which another eligible
organization applies. Local
education agencies (school
districts) and state and
regional education agencies
are eligible. If a single
school also is the local
education agency, as is
the case with some charter
schools, the school may
apply with documentation
that supports its status
as the local education agency.
2. Community-Based
Community-based projects
are for children and youth
generally between ages 5
and 18. Activities must
occur outside of the regular
school day, and may take
place in a variety of settings.
These activities may be
offered by arts organizations
or by other community-based,
non-arts organizations or
agencies in partnership
with artists and arts groups.
While not formally linked
to schools or their instructional
programs, projects must
be based on a curriculum
that ensures the application
of national or state arts
education standards. More
information
http://www.nea.gov/grants/apply/GAP08/LITA.html
Deadline: June 11,
2007
Anti-Markovnikov Hydration
NineSigma
NineSigma, representing
The Dow Chemical
Company
invites research proposals
for catalytic anti-Markovnikov
hydration of terminal olefins
to terminal alcohols
(e.g., 1-dodecanol from
1-dodecene). More information
http://www.ninesigma.com/mx/30509-S2-3
Deadline: June 1, 2007
Fast Analytical Measurement
of Vitamin/Mineral Content
NineSigma
NineSigma, representing
a Global Food Company,
is seeking proposals for
the development of analytical
techniques to measure
vitamins and minerals in
food products. More information
http://www.ninesigma.com/mx/50471-1
Deadline: June 1, 2007
Nanofoam in Coatings
NineSigma
NineSigma, representing
a Fortune 500 company
is seeking a process or
chemical additive to introduce
controlled foam
or nanofoam air voids in
the applied and dried film
of water based
coatings. More information
http://www.ninesigma.com/mx/50455-1
Deadline: June 1, 2007
Seeking Novel, Eco-Friendly
Insulation Materials
NineSigma
NineSigma, representing
General Electric
Company is seeking
proposals for innovative
insulation solutions
that could be applied to
mass produced refrigerators.
More information
http://www.ninesigma.com/mx/30512-5
Deadline: June 1, 2007
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POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS
No
new program announcements
this week.
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of page
GRADUATE FELLOWSHIPS
Food and Agricultural
Sciences National Needs
Graduate and Postgraduate
Fellowship Grants Program
United States
Department of Agriculture
(USDA)
Cooperative State Research,
Education, and Extension
Service (CSREES)
Higher Education
Program
This program awards grants
to train students for master's
and/or doctoral degrees
and provide additional postdoctoral
training for Fellows who
have completed their doctoral
degrees at colleges and
universities that have demonstrable
teaching and research competencies
in the food and agricultural
sciences. Grants are specifically
intended to support fellowship
programs that encourage
outstanding students to
pursue and complete their
degrees or obtain postdoctoral
training in areas where
there is a national need
for the development of scientific
and professional expertise.
Applications are being solicited
in the following Targeted
Expertise Shortage Areas:
1) agricultural genomics
and bioinformatics; 2) natural
resources and the environment;
3) agricultural systems
and natural resource engineering;
4) agricultural management
and economics; 5) food science;
6) human nutrition; 7) sciences
for agricultural biosecurity;
and 8) training in sustainable
sciences. More information
http://www.csrees.usda.gov/fo/fundview.cfm?fonum=1280
Deadline: June 1, 2007
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UNDERGRADUATE
RESEARCH
Higher Education Research
Experiences at Oak Ridge
National Laboratory for
Students
Oak Ridge Associated
Universities (ORAU)
Oak Ridge Institute for
Science and Education (ORISE)
Graduate and Undergraduate
Student Opportunities
This program is for students
studying chemistry, environmental
sciences, geology, hydrogeology,
hydrology; chemical engineering,
civil engineering, environmental
engineering, mechanical
engineering; and computer
sciences (technical database
development). This program
provides opportunities for
students to participate
in energy-related research.
More information
http://see.orau.org/ProgramDescription.aspx?Program=10044
Deadline: June 1, 2007
and October 1, 2007
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