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Semiconductor Synthetic Biology for Information Processing and Storage Technologies (SemiSynBio)

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This document has been archived.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

The National Science Foundation (NSF), through its Division of Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems (ECCS) in the Directorate for Engineering (ENG), Division of Computing and Communication Foundations (CCF) in the Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE), and Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences (MCB) in the Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO), has established a partnership with the Semiconductor Research Corporation (SRC), through its Global Research Collaboration (GRC) program, and the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA) to announce a solicitation on the "Semiconductor Synthetic Biology for Information Processing and Storage Technologies (SemiSynBio)".  Future ultra-low-energy computing, storage and signal-processing systems can be built on principles derived from organic systems that are at the intersection of chemistry, biology, and engineering.  New information technologies can be envisioned that are based on biological principles and that use biomaterials in the fabrication of devices and components; it is anticipated that  these information technologies could enable stored data to be retained for more than 100 years and storage capacity to be 1,000 times greater than current capabilities.   These could also facilitate compact computers that will operate with substantially lower power than today’s computers.  Research in support of these goals can have a significant impact on advanced information processing and storage technologies. This focused solicitation seeks high-risk/high-return interdisciplinary research on novel concepts and enabling technologies that will address the scientific issues and technological challenges associated with the underpinnings of synthetic biology integrated with semiconductor technology. This research will foster interactions among various disciplines including biology, engineering, physics, chemistry, materials science, computer science, and information science that will enable heretofore-unanticipated breakthroughs as well as meet educational goals.

Program contacts

Usha Varshney
Program Director
uvarshne@nsf.gov (703) 292-8339 ENG/ECCS
Mitra Basu
Program Director
mbasu@nsf.gov (703) 292-8910 CISE/CCF
Arcady Mushegian
Program Director
amushegi@nsf.gov (703) 292-8528 BIO/MCB
Shubhra Gangopadhyay
Program Director
sgangopa@nsf.gov (703) 292-8339
Richard Brown
Program Director
ribrown@nsf.gov (703) 292-8910
Devaki Bhaya
Program Director
dbhaya@nsf.gov (703) 292-7131
Khershed Cooper
Program Director
khcooper@nsf.gov (703) 292-7017

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