NSF Center for the Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology (CEIN)

WHAT:        Limited Submission Proposal for the National Science Foundation (NSF) Center for the Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology (CEIN)

WHO:          Texas A&M University faculty, including TAES, TEES and TTI personnel.

WHY:          NSF anticipates making a single award of up to $5,000,000 per year for a maximum of five years.

WHEN:        Internal proposal deadline of October 15, 2007.

HOW:          Faculty should submit internal proposal via email for review by the internal selection committee.
 

THE FINE PRINT:

The funding agency below has limited the number of preliminary proposals to one per institution. If the number of faculty wishing to submit a proposal exceeds the number allowed by the agency, we will conduct an internal selection process. Below are due dates for the program, including the due date of the internal proposal for review by the internal selection committee, the date for announcement of the internal selection and the due date for submission to the agency.                                                       

AGENCY:  National Science Foundation (NSF)

AGENCY PROGRAM TITLE:  Center for the Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology (CEIN)

BRIEF PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:  The focus of the CEIN Program is on fundamental research and education on the interactions of naturally derived, incidental (i.e., derived from human activity) and engineered nanoparticles and nanostructured materials, devices and systems (herein called “nanomaterials”) with the environment and living world at all scales.  The goal of this Center is to understand the potential implications of nanotechnology for environmental health and safety.

Three essential elements of this Center will include:  understanding the bioaccumulation of nanomaterials and their effects of living systems including their routes of environmental exposure, deposition, transformation, bio-persistence, clearance and translocation, as well as mechanisms for their absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion by organisms; understanding the interactions of nanomaterials with cellular constituents, metabolic networks and living tissues including interactions at the molecular, cellular, organ and systemic levels, and affects on organism ontogeny and multi-generational life histories; and determining the biological impacts of nanomaterials dispersed in the environment including the ecological and evolutionary effects of nanomaterials on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems such as:  species interactions, factors that contribute to bioaccumulation and biomagnification of nanomaterials in food webs, distribution of nanomaterials and their byproducts within ecosystems, biotic processes that influence the persistence and chemical transformations of nanomaterials in the environment, and the mode and duration of effects on ecosystems.

The CEIN proposal must include each of the following eight components:  a plan to achieve major goals that requires the coherence and critical mass of a university-based center; a well integrated, cross-disciplinary research program distinguished by intellectual excellence and driven by a clear vision; justifications for specific research foci; a strong emphasis on education, incorporating extensive student participation in the Center’s interdisciplinary research; partnerships with industry, government laboratories and agencies, non-governmental organizations, and/or users of research outcomes where applicable and appropriate; activities to foster human resource development and enhanced participation of underrepresented  groups in relevant fields; a long-term Center vision for reducing uncertainty about the environmental health and safety implications of nanotechnology through research, education, public outreach and dissemination; and plans for collaboration with other Nanotechnology Science and Engineering Centers (NSEC) where appropriate, including but not limited to the Center for Nanotechnology in Society (CNS), the Center for Learning and Teaching in Nanoscale Science and Engineering (NCLT) and the Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network (NISE Net).

On the other hand, the Center will not support pilot plant efforts, research requiring security classification, the development of products for commercial marketing or market research for a particular project or invention.  Research with disease-related goals, including work on the etiology, diagnosis or treatment of physical or mental disease, abnormality or malfunction in human beings will not be supported.  The development or testing of drugs or other procedures for the treatment of disease also is not eligible for support.

More information can be found here.      

AGENCIES ELIGIBLE TO SUBMIT:  The CEIN Program is open to academic institutions located in the U. S.: U.S. universities and colleges located in the U. S.

AWARD INFORMATION:   A single award of up to $5,000,000 per year for a maximum of five years is anticipated.
 

ELIGIBLE PROJECT COSTS:    NONE.

COST SHARING:  NONE.    

Internal Selection Procedures and Deadlines

October 12, 2007:  Deadline for an email of intent, including the names of the PI and co-PIs, title of internal proposal and a 1-3 sentence description of the project.  Send email of intent.

October 15, 2007: Deadline to obtain signatures of approval from your department head and college dean to submit an internal proposal to the Office of Sponsored Projects for review by the internal selection committee.  The internal proposal should include:

(1)     An executive summary, up to three pages, based on the proposal description as outlined in the NSF program announcement;

(2)     Summary budget;

(3)     Project and Management Plans (including team members);

The form for completing the internal proposal is here. 

This completed form should be submitted electronically (via email) for review by the internal selection committee.

Please read the RFP carefully for specific requirements of the program (here).

Selection of a proposal will be based on NSF guidelines.  Meeting the needs of the university’s reinvestment plan will also be taken into account. 

During the selection process, the internal selection committee may contact departments and colleges for their opinions and commitments.  They may also request additional information from PIs.

October 26, 2007: The Internal Selection Committee will notify PIs of the result of the internal competition.

December 10, 2007:  Deadline for the required preliminary proposal.

Full proposals may ONLY be submitted by invitation from NSF.