September 08, 2004

 

January 24, 2005

(by invitation only)

Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers (MRSEC)

Supports interdisciplinary materials research and education while addressing fundamental problems in science and engineering. MRSECs require outstanding research quality and intellectual breadth, provide support for research infrastructure and flexibility in responding to new opportunities, and strongly emphasize the integration of research and education. These centers foster active collaboration between universities and other sectors, including industry, and they constitute a national network of university-based centers in materials research. MRSECs address problems of a scope or complexity requiring the advantages of scale and interdisciplinary interaction provided by a campus-based research center.

Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers (MRSECs) support interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary materials research and education of the highest quality while addressing fundamental problems in science and engineering. MRSECs require outstanding research quality, intellectual breadth, interdisciplinarity, flexibility in responding to new research opportunities, support for research infrastructure, and they foster the integration of research and education in the materials field. They are expected to have strong links to industry and other sectors, as appropriate, and to contribute to the development of a national network of university-based centers in materials research. MRSECs address fundamental materials research topics of intellectual and technological importance, contribute to national priorities by promoting active collaboration between academia and other sectors, and enable researchers to address problems of a scope and complexity requiring the advantages of scale and interdisciplinarity provided by a campus-based research center.

The NSF's mission is to promote and facilitate the progress of science, engineering, and related education in the United States. Its role in supporting research and education is particularly important in creating physical and human resources infrastructure in both traditional and emerging areas. NSF also promotes partnerships, including collaboration with other academic organizations, agencies, industry, national and government laboratories, for projects of mutual interest. International collaborations are also strongly encouraged.

The MRSEC program reinforces NSF's commitment to excellence in interdisciplinary research and education; it is national in scope and significance, requiring coordination of the overall effort among Centers. The MRSEC program complements, but does not substitute for, NSF support for individual investigators, small groups, national user facilities, and instrumentation in materials research.

MRSECs are supported by NSF to undertake materials research of a scope and complexity that would not be feasible under traditional funding of individual research projects. NSF support is intended to reinforce the base of individual investigator and small group research by providing the flexibility to address topics requiring an approach of broad scope and duration. MRSECs are university-based, and undertake an interactive, interdisciplinary approach to materials research and education while fostering active cooperation among university-based researchers and those concerned with the application of materials research in industry and elsewhere. A MRSEC may encompass one or more interdisciplinary research groups (IRGs). Each IRG involves several faculty members and associated researchers, addressing a major topic or area, which may range from fundamental to applied research, in which sustained support for interactive effort by several participants with complementary backgrounds, skills, and knowledge is critical to progress. The IRGs in a Center may be topically related, or they may address different topical aspects of materials research; they contribute to the synergy arising from the research and education activities of the Center and its common infrastructure, shared facilities and outreach programs. Thus, the Center as a whole is expected to be more than the sum of its parts.

The scope of activities of each MRSEC depends on the capabilities of the proposing organization. Smaller Centers normally consist of a single IRG addressing a particular topic in materials research. Larger Centers undertake a broader program of research and education, and may involve several IRGs. MRSECs incorporate most or all of the following activities to an extent consistent with the size and vision of the Center: 

• Programs to stimulate interdisciplinary education and the development of human resources (including support for underrepresented groups) through cooperation and collaboration with other organizations and sectors, as well as within the host organization. Cooperative programs with organizations serving predominantly underrepresented groups in science and engineering are strongly encouraged. 

• Active cooperation with industry to stimulate and facilitate knowledge transfer among the participants and strengthen the links between university-based research and its application.

• Cooperation and collaboration with other academic organizations and national laboratories.

• Active efforts to establish research collaborations and education activities at the international level are strongly encouraged. Cooperative activities may include, but are not limited to: joint research programs; affiliate programs; joint development and use of shared experimental facilities; access to user facilities; visiting scientist programs; joint educational ventures; joint seminar series, colloquia or workshops.

• Support for shared experimental facilities, properly staffed, equipped and maintained, and accessible to users from the Center, the participating organizations, and other organizations and sectors. 

Each MRSEC has the responsibility to manage and evaluate its own operation with respect to program administration, planning, content and direction. NSF support is intended to promote optimal use of university resources and capabilities, and to provide maximum flexibility in setting research directions, developing cooperative activities with other organizations and sectors, and responding quickly and effectively to new opportunities in materials research and education that are important to the nation's research and technology base. NSF encourages MRSECs to include support for junior faculty, high-risk projects, and emerging areas of interdisciplinary materials research. 

The MRSECs constitute a spectrum of coordinated Centers of differing scientific breadth and administrative complexity, which may address any area of materials research. The MRSEC program enables specialized areas of interdisciplinary excellence to be integrated into a national network of Centers. These in turn provide, in addition to research excellence, the infrastructure of equipment, education and outreach needed to ensure that the program as a whole meets its objectives and provides for effective coordination within and beyond the MRSEC community. MRSEC Directors are expected to contribute to the network addressing common problems and applications.

Universities in the US with broad research and education programs in the area of condensed matter physics, solid state and materials chemistry, materials science and engineering, and related areas of science and engineering may submit preliminary proposals.

In order to reduce the burden of proposal writing for the materials research community and the burden of subsequent proposal review and evaluation for reviewers and NSF staff, NSF will accept full proposals for MRSECs by invitation only, based on the results of the preliminary proposal evaluation.

While more than one organization may participate in a single proposal or preliminary proposal, one organization must accept overall management responsibility for the Center. A single organization may not be the lead organization in more than two preliminary proposals. An individual may be the Principal Investigator for only one preliminary proposal. The MRSEC program will not normally provide support simultaneously for more than one Center based at any one organization. 

Individual MRSEC awards are expected to range in size from about $1.0 million/year to a maximum of $5.0 million/year. The average award of currently funded MRSECs is about $1.9 million/year.

Awards will be made for an initial duration of up to six years, but the level of funding for the last two years of it will be contingent upon the outcome of a thorough external review. The number of awards will depend on the availability of funds and the quality of proposals received. Any funding provided to existing Centers after the initial duration will be based on the submission of a re-competing proposal as described below.

Proposals from existing (re-competing) Centers will be evaluated in open competition with new proposals at the preliminary proposal stage. If a proposal from an existing Center is not successful, phase-out support may be provided at a reduced level for up to two additional years under the current award. If a proposal from an existing Center is successful, a new cooperative agreement will be awarded for the new Center.

Awards are based on comprehensive, competitive merit review. Re-competing Centers must demonstrate excellence, significant achievements, and organizational and national impact in materials research; substantive accomplishments in the integration of research and education; active and effective collaboration with industry and other sectors, as appropriate; and effective development and operation of shared facilities. Achievements under prior NSF support are a critical factor when re-competing proposals are considered. The commitment of each Center to introducing substantially new research topics and undertaking innovative research will also be important in considering re-competing proposals.

Anticipated effective date of new awards: September 2005.

Preliminary proposals submitted in response to this program announcement/solicitation should be prepared and submitted in accordance with the general guidelines contained in the NSF Grant Proposal Guide (GPG). The complete text of the GPG is available electronically on the NSF Website at: https://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/getpub?gpg. Paper copies of the GPG may be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, telephone (703) 292-7827 or by e-mail from pubs@nsf.gov.

Preliminary proposals that exceed the page limitations will be ineligible for consideration and will be returned without review.

1. NSF Cover Sheet

Proposers are reminded to identify this program solicitation number in the program announcement/solicitation block of the NSF Cover Sheet, and to select "Materials Rsch Sci and Eng Cent" from the FastLane organization unit pull-down list. Compliance with this requirement is critical to determining the relevant proposal processing guidelines. Failure to submit this information may delay processing.

2. Project Summary: include a brief overview of the Center as a whole, a concise rationale for establishing the Center, outline of the existing and planned capabilities of the participating organizations in materials research and education, and highlight the main activities, administration, infrastructure and partnerships of the Center. It must indicate, in separate paragraphs, the intellectual merit of the proposed work and its broader impacts. Limit: 2 pages.

3. Table of Contents. Will be generated automatically by FastLane

4. Project Description:

The entire Project Description section is limited to no more than twenty five pages total, including tables and illustrations, regardless of the number of IRGs. Limits are set on each Section as indicated. 

Include the following:

• a). A list of participating senior investigators (faculty level and equivalent) by name, organizational and departmental affiliation. Limit: 1 page.
• b). A description of pertinent achievements under prior NSF support, where applicable. Limit: 2 pages.
• c). A description of each proposed area of multi-investigator, interdisciplinary group research, including names of faculty-level participants and numbers of students and postdoctoral associates in each group (limit this section to no more than three pages for each IRG).
• d). A description of seed funding and emerging areas. Through this mechanism, NSF intends to provide flexibility for the Center to respond quickly and effectively to new opportunities. Briefly describe other proposed research plans and related activities, showing clearly how they are related to the mission of the Center. These may include (but are not limited to): seed support for junior faculty and for investigators changing fields; high-risk research projects; emerging areas of interdisciplinary research; experimental programs to link the university effort in materials with industry and other sectors; the development of tools for remote access to instrumentation; and innovative interdisciplinary educational ventures. Seed funding through the Center is not intended to provide a substitute for NSF individual investigator funding: the criteria and mechanisms for selecting and evaluating projects must be clearly addressed in the management plan.  Include the names of key personnel for the first year. Limit: 2 pages.
• e). Other significant activities include:
  • e.1) Education and human resource development.   Describe the education and human resource goals, provide a rationale for those goals, and indicate desired outcomes for the 6 year period. Briefly describe how the education goals integrate strategically with the research and organizational/partnership opportunities of the Center. Outline plans for increasing the participation of women and underrepresented minorities in Center research and education activities. Limit: 2 pages.
  • e.2). Collaborations with industry and/or other sectors; Describe plans for significant intellectual and resource exchange, cooperation, and partnership with other organizations that may involve academic organizations, national laboratories, industry, federal, state, and local governments and others. Limit: 1 page.
  • e.3). Shared Experimental Facilities. Describe the shared experimental facilities existing and to be established, including specific major instrumentation, and plans for the development of instrumentation. Describe plans for maintaining and operating the facilities, including staffing, provision for user fees, and plans for ensuring access to outside users. Distinguish clearly between existing facilities and those still to be developed. Limit: 1 page. 
  • e.4). International Collaboration (complete this section if appropriate). Describe the nature of the collaboration and the expected international and scientific or engineering benefits to the research and education program. Include a description of the research facilities at the foreign site, as appropriate, and of the division of effort and expertise among the collaborators. Limit: 1 page.
  • e.5). Leadership, administration and management of the Center. Describe the Center management team and provide outline of the proposed arrangements for the integrated Center management structure. Limit: 1 page.
• f). A synopsis of organizational and other commitments to the proposed Center. Limit: 1 page.
• g). A Summary Table of Requested NSF Support (see Full Proposal section below).

5. References Cited  in the Project Description should be listed here.

6. Biographical Sketch of Principal Investigator Center Director (PI) and key participants: co-PIs and IRG leaders. Limit: 1 page each.

7. Budget pages and budget justification. Complete budget pages for each year of support (1-6). Also provide a six-year summary budget justification that may not exceed a total of 3 pages.  A six-year budget summary will be automatically generated.  Provide separate budget pages for the Center as a whole and for each sub award organization.

No additional material is required or accepted with the preliminary proposal submission.

Concurrently with submission of the preliminary proposal, please submit via FastLane and send an e-mail to mrsec@nsf.gov  the following:

1. The title of the preliminary proposal, the submitting organization(s), and the name of the PI(s);

2. a list of individuals (and their affiliations) outside the participating organizations whose participation in the review of the preliminary proposal might constitute a conflict of interest through association with the participants;

3. a list of individuals who might be suitable to act as impartial reviewers. Please include their contact information, phone number, e-mail, affiliation, and area of expertise.

A full proposal may be submitted only by invitation. Proposals that exceed the page limitations or that contain items other than those described below will be ineligible for consideration and will be returned without review. 

1. NSF Cover Sheet.

2. Project Summary. Provide a clear vision for and description of the proposed MRSEC and its potential impact. Briefly describe the organizational setting of the Center, its proposed scope and organization, activities in research and education and their integration, development of human resources, shared experimental facilities, collaborative activities with industry, national laboratories, and other sectors, links with related major research centers on or off campus, and management plan. Indicate in a separate paragraph, the intellectual merit and broader impacts of the proposed work. Limit: 3 pages.

3. Table of Contents. Generated automatically by FastLane.

4. Project Description. Include the following:

• a). List of Participants. List each senior investigator (faculty level or equivalent), by full name, and his/her organizational and departmental affiliation; also enter each name in "Add/Delete Non Co-PI Senior Personnel" FastLane form.

• b). Achievements Under Prior NSF Support. Currently NSF funded MRSECs must describe achievements under prior NSF support that pertain to the present proposal. Recompeting proposals should also list publications and patents from prior NSF support under section (l) below. Other proposals may use this section to describe their scientific achievements under prior NSF support. Collaborative research and related activities funded by other agencies also may be included here. Limit: 5 pages.

• c). Interdisciplinary Research Groups (IRGs). The Center may encompass one or more IRGs. For each IRG proposed, provide a concise description of the long-term research goals and intellectual focus, and describe the planned research activities in sufficient detail to enable their scientific merit and significance to be assessed. Describe the role and intellectual contribution of each senior participant in the IRG, and briefly outline the resources available or planned to accomplish the research goals (it will be helpful to underline the name of each senior investigator wherever it occurs). The need for an interactive, interdisciplinary approach involving several investigators, and the means of achieving this, should be clearly established.  Place the IRG in the context of the Center as a whole, and describe interactions with other groups and organizations. At the beginning of each IRG section in the proposal, name the senior personnel who will participate, and state the proposed number of postdoctoral and graduate student participants. Limit for each IRG: 10 pages, including tables and figures.

• d). Seed Funding and Emerging Areas. Through this mechanism, NSF intends to provide flexibility for the Center to respond quickly and effectively to new opportunities. Briefly describe other proposed research plans and related activities, showing clearly how they are related to the mission of the Center. These may include (but are not limited to): seed support for junior faculty and for investigators changing fields; high-risk research projects; emerging areas of interdisciplinary research; experimental programs to link the university effort in materials with industry and other sectors; the development of tools for remote access to instrumentation; and innovative interdisciplinary educational ventures. Seed funding through the Center is not intended to provide a substitute for NSF individual investigator funding: the criteria and mechanisms for selecting and evaluating projects must be clearly addressed in the management plan.  Include the names of key personnel for the first year. Limit: 3 pages.

• e). Other significant activities include:

  • e.1). Education, Human Resources Development. Describe the education and human resource goals, provide a rationale for those goals, and indicate desired outcomes for the 6 year period. Briefly describe how the education goals integrate strategically with the research and organizational/partnership opportunities of the Center. Outline plans for increasing the participation of women and underrepresented minorities in Center research and education activities. Outline plans for seminar series, colloquial workshops, conferences, summer school and related activities, as appropriate. Describe any additional education programs not included in other sections of the proposal. Limit: 3 pages.

  • e.2). Collaboration with Industry and Other Sectors. Describe plans for significant intellectual and resource exchange, cooperation, and partnership with other organizations that may involve academic organizations, national laboratories, industry, federal, state, and local governments and others. Define the goals of the collaboration, describe the planned activities, and expected outcomes. Describe the roles of the senior participants, the mechanisms planned to stimulate and facilitate knowledge transfer, and the potential long-term impact of the collaborations. Limit: 3 pages.

  • e.3). Shared Experimental Facilities. Describe the shared experimental facilities existing and to be established, including specific major instrumentation, and plans for the development of instrumentation. Describe plans for maintaining and operating the facilities, including staffing, provision for user fees, and plans for ensuring access to outside users. Distinguish clearly between existing facilities and those still to be developed. Limit: 3 pages.

  • e.4). International Collaboration (complete this section if appropriate). Describe the nature of the collaboration and the expected international and scientific or engineering benefits to the research and education program. Include a description of the research facilities at the foreign site, as appropriate, and of the division of effort and expertise among the collaborators. Limit: 1 page.

  • e.5). Management. Describe the plans for administration of the Center, including the functions of key personnel and the role of any advisory committee, executive committee, and/or program committee or their equivalent. Describe the procedures and criteria used to select, administer, and evaluate the Interdisciplinary Research Groups and other research programs of the Center, including seed funding and collaborative programs with other groups and organizations. Plans for administering the shared experimental facilities should be described under item (e.3). Describe plans for administering the educational programs and outreach activities of the Center, as appropriate. Limit: 3 pages.

• f). Organizational Commitments and Other Sector Support. Outline organizational and other commitments to the Center, including matching funds, space, faculty and staff positions, capital equipment, access to existing facilities, commitments for collaboration and outreach programs, and other commitments. Note: letters of support may be included in the Supplementary Documents section of FastLane (Limit 5 pages). Limit: 1 page.

• g). Studies of Societal Implications (complete this section if appropriate). Describe the research addressing the potential economic, legal, ethical and other societal implications of newly developed technology and emerging science fields. Limit: 3 pages.

• h). Publications and Patents under Prior NSF Support. For re-competing proposals only, list publications and patents under prior NSF MRSEC support.

• i). Summary Table of Requested NSF Support (for both preliminary proposal and full proposal). In tabular form as follows, summarize the overall support levels planned for each of the major activities of the MRSEC as a whole.

* Funding in years 5 and 6 will be contingent upon the outcome of an external review during the fourth year of the award.

For each entry in the Table include indirect costs. Column totals must equal the total budget requested from NSF for the period shown. Include major capital equipment under shared experimental facilities. Support for graduate students should normally be included under research, not under education and human resources.

5. References Cited in the Project Description should be listed here.

6. Biographical Sketches. Include a biographical sketch for each faculty level participant according to GPG guidelines. Include contact information, PhD and Postdoc advisors. Limit: 1 page for each senior investigator.

7. Budget pages and budget justification

Complete budget pages for each year of support (1-6). Also provide a six-year summary budget justification that may not exceed a total of 3 pages.  A six-year budget summary will be automatically generated.  Provide separate budget pages for the Center as a whole and for each sub award organization.

8. Current and Pending Support. List current and pending support for each faculty level investigator.

9. Letters of Support. Include only official letters of support verifying specific commitments of resources from participating organizations. Scan your signed letters into the Supplementary Documents section of FastLane, but do not send originals. Limit: 5 pages.

Additional Information :

Reviewer Information: Enter the following information into the FastLane "List of Suggested Reviewers" section:

1. a list of individuals (and their affiliations) outside the participating organizations whose participation in the review of the full proposal might constitute a conflict of interest through association with the participants; and

2. a list of individuals who might be suitable to act as impartial reviewers. Concurrently with the above submission send an e-mail to mrsec@nsf.gov with the above information; include the title of the full proposal, the submitting organization(s) and the name of the PI(s).

September 08, 2004

January 24, 2005
(by invitation only)

Full Proposals (by invitation only):

January 24, 2005