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EPA/NSF Networks for Sustainable Molecular Design and Synthesis (NSMDS)

Status: Archived

Archived funding opportunity

This document has been archived.

Important information about NSF’s implementation of the revised 2 CFR

NSF Financial Assistance awards (grants and cooperative agreements) made on or after October 1, 2024, will be subject to the applicable set of award conditions, dated October 1, 2024, available on the NSF website. These terms and conditions are consistent with the revised guidance specified in the OMB Guidance for Federal Financial Assistance published in the Federal Register on April 22, 2024.

Important information for proposers

All proposals must be submitted in accordance with the requirements specified in this funding opportunity and in the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) that is in effect for the relevant due date to which the proposal is being submitted. It is the responsibility of the proposer to ensure that the proposal meets these requirements. Submitting a proposal prior to a specified deadline does not negate this requirement.

Synopsis

This solicitation is jointly sponsored between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) Divisions of Chemistry and Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems (CBET) to encourage synergistic research activities and to enhance cooperation among the chemical sciences, materials research, geosciences, engineering, and biomedical and public health communities.  The agencies jointly issue the solicitation, but will separately fund awards for Networks for Sustainable Molecular Design and Synthesis (NSMDS).

Networks for Sustainable Molecular Design and Synthesis are groups of two or more researchers working in trans-disciplinary fields to promote the development of safe and sustainable chemicals as well as safe and sustainable synthetic procedures. For this solicitation, "chemicals" refers broadly to any and all materials, inorganic and organic compounds, and individual chemicals or mixtures of chemicals (e.g., endocrine disruptors, chlorofluorocarbons, transition metal-based catalysts, macromolecules, and nanomaterials).  Advances resulting from these Networks are expected to result in chemicals that are safer and more sustainable throughout their life cycle and thus, the replacement of rare, toxic, and expensive chemicals with earth abundant, benign, and renewable alternatives is anticipated.  The Networks will facilitate safe design strategies, processes, and pathways (including catalytic pathways) that consume less fresh water, generate less waste, and use less energy than current practice.  These new approaches will minimize hazards that arise not only from chemical structure and intended use, but also from their synthesis, production, consumption, reuse, and disposal.

Education, workforce development, and the translation or transfer of basic research results into social or economic benefits are critical aspects of NSMDS projects.  Networks will develop strong mentoring and training activities (which include broadening participation elements) for undergraduate and graduate students as well as postdoctoral associates.  Other educational activities, such as informal science communication and the education of K-12 students or the public, are encouraged.  Where appropriate, intellectual property protection and a proactive plan to engage industry in technology transfer is encouraged.

It is expected that research teams in the NSMDS awarded under this solicitation will coordinate / communicate with the funded research networks from the EPA/NSF Networks for Characterizing Chemical Life Cycle (NCCLC) solicitation (see:http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=504811). The researchers working in these two network groups are expected to conduct complementary research and; thus, will benefit from interaction with each other at annual EPA All-Investigators Meetings (also known as progress reviews).

 

 

Program contacts

Tingyu Li
Program Director
tli@nsf.gov (703) 292-4949 MPS/CHE
Tyrone Mitchell
Program Director
tmitchel@nsf.gov (703) 292-4947
Carol Bessel
Program Director
cbessel@nsf.gov (703) 292-4906 TIP/TI
Timothy Patten
Program Director
tpatten@nsf.gov (703) 292-7196 GEO/OAD
Luke Achenie
Program Director
lachenie@nsf.gov (703) 292-2098
Barbara Karn
Program Director
bkarn@nsf.gov (703) 292-7949
Nora Savage
Nano Team Lead
savage.nora@epa.gov (703) 347-8104 EPA

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