Call for Applications: NSF Engineering: Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation (EFRI)
URL: https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2024/nsf24508/nsf24508.htm
OBJECTIVES:
The NSF Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation program (EFRI) provides critical, strategic support of fundamental discovery at the frontiers of engineering research and education. To identify promising future research opportunities, the EFRI program seeks continual input from the engineering community. This input comes from workshops, advisory committees, technical meetings, professional societies, proposals and awards, and NSF committees of visitors, as well as from periodic calls for EFRI topic ideas. From this comprehensive input, the Engineering Directorate identifies, evaluates, and prioritizes those frontier topics that best match the EFRI criteria:
- holds potential for transformative outcomes,
- addresses a national need or grand challenge,
- involves multi- or interdisciplinary research,
- includes a community who is poised to respond, and
- offers a clear leadership role for Engineering.
The topic for the fiscal year (FY) 2024 and 2025 competitions is Biocomputing through EnGINeering Organoid Intelligence (BEGIN OI). BEGIN OI aims to build on novel advances in “biological sciences, engineering, material sciences, and computer sciences toward designing 3D in vitro biological systems that are capable of information processing and actuation.” BEGIN OI aims to advance artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) technologies towards the computing capabilities seen in biology related to adaptability, continuous learning, and efficiency.
An informational webinar will be offered on December 4, 2023, at 4:00 p.m. ET.
FUNDING INFORMATION:
NSF plans to make up to eight awards in each competition available; individual teams will be supported at up to $2 million over four years.
ELIGIBILITY RESTRICTIONS:
For proposals submitted by Institutions of Higher Education, the lead Principal Investigator (PI) must be full-time, tenured or tenure-track faculty. A minimum of one PI and two co-PIs must participate in each proposal. Either the PI or one of the co-PIs must have a full-time, tenured or tenure-track faculty appointment within a College/Department of Engineering.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:
Letter of Intent (one page) containing the following:
- THE TITLE – Title of the EFRI proposal, preceded by the words “EFRI BEGIN OI:” .
- THE TEAM – Names, departmental and organizational affiliation, and expertise of the Principal Investigator and at least two co-Principal Investigators.
- THE SYNOPSIS (GOALS) – Brief description of the specific goals of the proposal (maximum of 250 words).
Full Proposal submitted via Research.gov or Grants.gov, prepared and submitted in accordance with the guidelines of either website.
DEADLINES:
Letter of Intent Due: Wednesday, January 17, 2024, at 5 p.m. ET
Full Proposals Due: Thursday, February 22, 2024, at 5 p.m. ET