New Funding Opportunity for Projects in Computational and Theoretical Chemistry
UPDATE, January 9, 2009: 109 Preapplications were received. The initial selection process is now complete and all PIs that will be encouraged at this time have been notified by email. Additional information will be sent to all applicants soon.
Starting in FY2009, the Chemical Sciences, Geosciences, and Biosciences Division of BES will invest $1.0-$2.0 million annually for projects in the area of Computational and Theoretical Chemistry. Successful proposals should have a sharp focus on tightly coupling research in theory, computation and simulation to fundamental chemistry matters related to the future energy needs of the nation (See http://www.sc.doe.gov/bes/reports/list.html ). Research addressing fundamental problems, in the short- or long- term, which will enhance or enable conversion to clean, sustainable, renewable, novel or highly efficient energy use, are of particular interest. Approaches must include application to real molecular-scale systems and should address a current shortcoming in theory, algorithm, computation, or modeling and simulation capabilities.
Approximately 6-12 new awards in the range of $120K/year are expected during FY2009. Awards are expected to be made for both immediate-need projects expected to conclude within 3-years (Not Renewable), and for longer-term efforts that anticipate the necessity of renewal awards following an initial 3-year period (Renewable)
To ensure consideration, pre-applications must be submitted in pdf format electronically to mark.pederson@science.doe.gov by November 21, 2008. BES program managers will evaluate preapplications for relevance to this expression of interest and to the BES research portfolio. Based on these evaluations, proposers will either be encouraged to submit a full proposal application or discouraged, in which case a full application will not be accepted. Approximately 24 invitations for full proposals for FY2009 funding will be sent out by January 9, 2009. A researcher may not participate in more than one submission.
Problems that require software and algorithm development or improvement on scaling and performance and which require large-scale computing platforms or new hardware paradigms may be considered for co funding with the Office of Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR) under the SciDAC Program in consultation with ASCR Program Managers. Investigators may be advised to submit revised proposals in partnership with researchers from Computer Science or Applied Mathematics Communities for funding in FY2010.
The subject line of email preapplication submissions should be “PCTC-First.Lastname-YourInstitution” (no spaces). Preapplications should be no more than 4 pages in length, including references and a one-page CV. A 5th title page should contain requested contact information only. An optional one paragraph proposal summary may be placed on the title page. Preapplications must be submitted as a single pdf email attachment entitled “PCTC-First.Lastname-YourInstitution.pdf”. Font should be 12 pt or higher with one inch margins.
The preapplication title page should have the following format:
NamePI: First Name of PI, Last Name of PI, Optional PI Middle Initial(s)
NamesOtherPIs: Name of other investigators (if applicable)
Title: A one-line title of the preapplication
Institution: A one line name for your institution
Email: Email address for the point of contact
Budget: Estimated two or three digit Annual Budget (For example $83K or $117K)
Length: Choices are “Not Renewable”, or “Renewable”
Keywords: Keyphrase1
Keywords: Keyphrase2
Keywords: Keyphrase3
Address: Line 1 of Postal Address
Address: Line 2 of Postal Address
…..
Address: Line N of Postal Address
Graphics are welcome but the preapplication pdf file size must be smaller than 1MByte.
The preapplication should address: (1) A missing or incompletely integrated theoretical or computational capability or computationally attainable piece of chemical information that is needed to positively impact the community’s efforts for improving energy technologies; (2) A focused plan for addressing the shortcoming with simultaneous application to a real molecular or nanoscale system; (3) How the project addresses the priorities of BES and whether it can couple to, enhance or be enhanced by initiatives by other DOE activities (4) Whether/why large-scale or novel computing platforms are required; and (5) Whether/how, contingent upon successful review and available funding, the effort is expected to evolve or conclude after the initial three-year funding period. Preapplications addressing fundamental problems, in the short- or long- term, which will enhance or enable conversion to clean, sustainable, renewable, novel or highly efficient energy use, are of particular interest.
Application Procedures:
Universities and Other Research Institutions:
Full proposal applications must be submitted in response to the Office of Science Funding Opportunity Announcement DE-PS02-09ER09-01. Invited applications must be submitted through grants.gov by 4:30 PM, ET, March 13, 2009, to be accepted for merit review and funding in Fiscal Year 2009. (Note: Please disregard the application due date of December 31, 2008 on SC Notice 09-01, which is given in order to accommodate a scheduled change in grants.gov submission forms. Notice 09-01 will be reposted on January 1, 2009 with an application due date corresponding to the end of FY2009.)
DOE/NNSA FFRDCs (National Laboratories):
Each laboratory will manage its own process of selecting preapplications for submission to BES, and each laboratory may submit no more than two preapplications. Only preapplications communicated to BES via approved laboratory contacts will be considered. If encouraged, full proposals must be submitted via the normal Field Work Proposal process for DOE/NNSA FFRDCs and should follow the BES Guide for Preparation of Lab Proposals.
Invited proposals must be submitted by 4:30 PM, ET, March 13, 2009, to be accepted for merit review and funding in Fiscal Year 2009.
