SBSA-Assay Development to Detect Viruses

Sponsor:   USDA/APHIS
Due Date: 08/08/08
Synopsis: The overall objective is for the contractor to work with the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA – APHIS) to develop a sensitive, specific assay capable of detecting all Avian Influenza viruses in a mixed sample, including known and unknown strains (i.e., virus drift that would be flagged for follow-up). Once a technology is established for detecting Avian Influenza other viruses (e.g., Foot and Mouth Disease) will be added.

 

Fiscal Year 2009 Defense Univeristy Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP) - For Proposal Submission to the Army

Sponsor:   Dept of the Army -- Materiel Command
Due Date: 08/26/08
Synopsis: The Department of Defense announces the Fiscal Year 2009 Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP), a part of the University Research Initiative (URI). DURIP is designed to improve the capabilities of U.S. institutions of higher education to conduct research and educate scientists and engineers in areas important to national defense, by providing funds for the acquisition of research equipment. The research areas of interest for the Army Research Office are available on-line at the following address: http://www/aro.army.mil (select "For the Researcher" and then "Funding Opportunities"). See BAA W911NF-07-R-0003-02, ARO Broad Agency Announcement-Revised, FY 2007-FY 2011.

 

Interpreting Americas Historic Places Planning Grants

Sponsor: National Endowment for the Humanities
Due Date: 08/27/08
Synopsis: As part of the NEH's We the People program, Interpreting America’s Historic Places grants support public humanities projects that exploit the evocative power of historic places to address themes and issues central to American history and culture, including those that advance knowledge of how the founding principles of the United States have shaped American history and culture for more than two hundred years. Interpreting America’s Historic Places planning grants support planning that leads to the interpretation of a single historic site or house, a series of sites, an entire neighborhood, a town or community, or a larger geographical region. The place taken as a whole must be significant to American history, and the project must convey its historic importance to visitors. The audience for Interpreting America’s Historic Places projects is the general public. (For other public humanities projects that may not focus so closely on historic places, refer to the planning grant guidelines for America’s Historical and Cultural Organizations.) The goals of Interpreting America’s Historic Places grants are to enhance lifelong learning in American history by connecting nationally significant events, people, ideas, stories, and traditions with specific places; foster the development of interpretive programs for the public that address central events, themes, and issues in American history; and encourage consultation with humanities scholars and history organizations in the development of heritage tourism destinations. Interpreting America’s Historic Places projects should interpret a place that played a significant role in American history; enrich the visitor experience at one or more historic places by interpreting these places in light of broader themes in American history; make use of the specific features of one or more historic places—the site, its location, buildings, or other natural or built features—as integral parts of the proposed interpretation; be based on sound humanities scholarship; involve humanities scholars in all phases of development and implementation; approach the subject thematically, analytically, and interpretively through an appropriate variety of perspectives; interest broad audiences; and employ appealing and accessible program formats that will actively engage the public in learning.

 

ROSES 2008: Planetary Protection Research

Sponsor:  NASA Headquarters
Due Date: 09/05/08
Synopsis: This NASA Research Announcement (NRA) solicits proposals for supporting basic and applied research and technology across a broad range of Earth and space science program elements relevant to one or more of the following NASA Research Programs: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Planetary Science, and Astrophysics. This ROSES NRA covers all aspects of basic and applied supporting research and technology in space and Earth sciences, including, but not limited to: theory, modeling, and analysis of SMD science data; aircraft, stratospheric balloon, and suborbital rocket investigations; development of experiment techniques suitable for future SMD space missions; development of concepts for future SMD space missions; development of advanced technologies relevant to SMD missions; development of techniques for and the laboratory analysis of both extraterrestrial samples returned by spacecraft, as well as terrestrial samples that support or otherwise help verify observations from SMD Earth system science missions; determination of atomic and composition parameters needed to analyze space data, as well as returned samples from the Earth or space; Earth surface observations and field campaigns that support SMD science missions; development of integrated Earth system models; development of systems for applying Earth science research data to societal needs; and development of applied information systems applicable to SMD objectives and data.

 

DARPA Mathematical Challenges

Sponsor: Defense Sciences Office  (DSO)
Due Date: 09/08/08
Synopsis: DARPA is soliciting innovative research proposals in the area of DARPA Mathematical Challenges, with the goal of dramatically revolutionizing mathematics and thereby strengthening the scientific and technological capabilities of DoD. To do so, the agency has identified twenty-three mathematical challenges, listed below, which were announced at DARPA Tech 2007. 

DARPA seeks innovative proposals addressing these Mathematical Challenges. Proposals should offer high potential for major mathematical breakthroughs associated to one or more of these challenges. Responses to multiple challenges should be addressed individually in separate proposals. Submissions that merely promise incremental improvements over the existing state of the art will be deemed unresponsive.

Mathematical Challenge One:  The Mathematics of the Brain  

• Develop a mathematical theory to build a functional model of the brain that is mathematically consistent and predictive rather than merely biologically inspired.

Mathematical Challenge Two:  The Dynamics of Networks

• Develop the high-dimensional mathematics needed to accurately model and predict behavior in large-scale distributed networks that evolve over time occurring in communication, biology, and the social sciences.

Mathematical Challenge Three:  Capture and Harness Stochasticity in Nature

• Address Mumford’s call for new mathematics for the 21^st century. Develop methods that capture persistence in stochastic environments.

Mathematical Challenge Four:  21st Century Fluids

• Classical fluid dynamics and the Navier-Stokes Equation were extraordinarily successful in obtaining quantitative understanding of shock waves, turbulence, and solitons, but new methods are needed to tackle complex fluids such as foams, suspensions, gels, and liquid crystals.

Mathematical Challenge Five:  Biological Quantum Field Theory

• Quantum and statistical methods have had great success modeling virus evolution. Can such techniques be used to model more complex systems such as bacteria? Can these techniques be used to control pathogen evolution?

Mathematical Challenge Six:  Computational Duality

• Duality in mathematics has been a profound tool for theoretical understanding. Can it be extended to develop principled computational techniques where duality and geometry are the basis for novel algorithms?

Mathematical Challenge Seven:  Occam’s Razor in Many Dimensions

• As data collection increases can we “do more with less” by finding lower bounds for sensing complexity in systems? This is related to questions about entropy maximization algorithms.

Mathematical Challenge Eight:  Beyond Convex Optimization

• Can linear algebra be replaced by algebraic geometry in a systematic way?

Mathematical Challenge Nine:  What are the Physical Consequences of Perelman’s Proof of Thurston’s Geometrization Theorem?

• Can profound theoretical advances in understanding three dimensions be applied to construct and manipulate structures across scales to fabricate novel materials?

Mathematical Challenge Ten:  Algorithmic Origami and Biology

• Build a stronger mathematical theory for isometric and rigid embedding that can give insight into protein folding.

Mathematical Challenge Eleven:  Optimal Nanostructures

• Develop new mathematics for constructing optimal globally symmetric structures by following simple local rules via the process of nanoscale self-assembly.

Mathematical Challenge Twelve:  The Mathematics of Quantum Computing, Algorithms, and Entanglement

• In the last century we learned how quantum phenomena shape our world. In the coming century we need to develop the mathematics required to control the quantum world.

Mathematical Challenge Thirteen:  Creating a Game Theory that Scales

• What new scalable mathematics is needed to replace the traditional Partial Differential Equations (PDE) approach to differential games?

Mathematical Challenge Fourteen:  An Information Theory for Virus Evolution

• Can Shannon’s theory shed light on this fundamental area of biology?

Mathematical Challenge Fifteen:  The Geometry of Genome Space

• What notion of distance is needed to incorporate biological utility?

Mathematical Challenge Sixteen:  What are the Symmetries and Action Principles for Biology?

• Extend our understanding of symmetries and action principles in biology along the lines of classical thermodynamics, to include important biological concepts such as robustness, modularity, evolvability, and variability.

Mathematical Challenge Seventeen:  Geometric Langlands and Quantum Physics

• How does the Langlands program, which originated in number theory and representation theory, explain the fundamental symmetries of physics? And vice versa?

Mathematical Challenge Eighteen:  Arithmetic Langlands, Topology, and Geometry

• What is the role of homotopy theory in the classical, geometric, and quantum Langlands programs?

Mathematical Challenge Nineteen:  Settle the Riemann Hypothesis

• The Holy Grail of number theory.

Mathematical Challenge Twenty:  Computation at Scale

• How can we develop asymptotics for a world with massively many degrees of freedom?

Mathematical Challenge Twenty-one:  Settle the Hodge Conjecture

• This conjecture in algebraic geometry is a metaphor for transforming transcendental computations into algebraic ones.

Mathematical Challenge Twenty-two:  Settle the Smooth Poincare Conjecture in Dimension 4

• What are the implications for space-time and cosmology? And might the answer unlock the secret of “dark energy”?

Mathematical Challenge Twenty-three:  What are the Fundamental Laws of Biology?

• Dr. Tether’s question will remain front and center in the next 100 years. I place this challenge last as finding these laws will undoubtedly require the mathematics developed in answering several of the questions listed above.

 

Young Faculty Award (YFA)

Sponsor:   DARPA - Microsystems Technology Office
Due Date: 09/14/08
Synopsis: DARPA would like to encourage new faculty members at institutions of higher learning to participate in its programs. This Research Announcement offers a venue by which research ideas proposed by young faculty can be sponsored and promoted within the Microsystems Technology Office (MTO) at DARPA. The Young Faculty Award (YFA) is expected to provide MTO with revolutionary research ideas that are critical to future technology developments. This solicitation is for single-author grant proposals for concept development and validation in one, or combinations of, the following thrust areas of interest to MTO: 1) electronics, 2) photonics, 3) micro and nano electro mechanical systems (MEMS/NEMS), 4) architectures, and 5) algorithms. Proposers must select one of these thrust areas for their proposal and identify this thrust on the cover page. Proposed research should focus on innovations that enable revolutionary advances in physics, materials, and devices. Speculative and high-risk ideas are strongly encouraged. The proposal should clearly state the problem being addressed, the proposed solution, and critical milestones the YFA research activity will address. Note the problem statement can be broader than the focused effort addressed in the first year of research, but the interrelationship of the two must be clearly articulated. The initial research should focus on a clearly defined problem which can be answered in a 12 to 18-month activity consisting of critical analysis, design, or experimental exploration. MTO expects that successful YFA efforts will be a precursor and proof of a concept solution to a larger problem that is sufficiently important and challenging to warrant a follow-on, full-scale DARPA program embodied in a future Broad Agency Announcement (BAA). Specifically excluded is research that primarily results in evolutionary improvements to the existing state of practice. This solicitation is limited to participation by young investigators as defined in the Proposer Eligibility section. See Research Announcement.

 

Focused Research Groups in the Mathematical Sciences (FRG)

Sponsor: National Science Foundation
Due Date: 09/19/08
Synopsis: The purpose of the FRG activity is to allow groups of researchers to respond to recognized scientific needs of pressing importance, to take advantage of current scientific opportunities, or to prepare the ground for anticipated significant scientific developments in the mathematical sciences. Groups may include, in addition to mathematical scientists, researchers from other science and engineering disciplines appropriate to the proposed research. The activity supports projects for which the collective effort by a group of researchers is necessary to reach the scientific goals. Projects should be scientifically focused and well-delineated. It is not the intent of this activity to provide general support for infrastructure. Projects should also be timely, limited in duration to up to three years, and substantial in their scope and impact.

 

CreativeIT Program

Sponsor: National Science Foundation: Directorate for Computer and Information Sciences and Engineering
Due Date: 09/26/08
Synopsis: The CreativeIT Program solicits proposals for projects that explore synergistic cross disciplinary research in creativity and computer science and information technology. Information technology is playing an increasing role in extending the capability of human creative thinking and problem solving.

 

Foundations (Mathematics)

Sponsor:  National Science Foundation
Due Date: 10/07/08
Synopsis: The program in Foundations supports research in mathematical logic and the foundations of mathematics, including proof theory, recursion theory, model theory, set theory, and infinitary combinatorics. ---In furtherance of the President's Management Agenda, in Fiscal Year 2005, NSF has identified 23 programs that will offer proposers the option to utilize Grants.gov to prepare and submit proposals. Grants.gov provides a single Government-wide portal for finding and applying for Federal grants online. Proposers may opt to submit proposals in response to this Program Description via Grants.gov or via the NSF FastLane system. In determining which method to utilize in the electronic preparation and submission of the proposal, please note the following: All collaborative proposals must be submitted via the NSF FastLane system. This includes collaborative proposals submitted: by one organization (and which includes one or more subawards); or as separate submissions from multiple organizations. Proposers are advised that collaborative proposals submitted in response to this Program Description via Grants.gov will be requested to be withdrawn and proposers will need to resubmit these proposals via FastLane. (Chapter II, Section D.3 of the Grant Proposal Guide provides additional information on collaborative proposals.)For full proposals submitted via FastLane: standard Grant Proposal Guidelines apply.For full proposals submitted via Grants.gov: NSF Grants.gov Application Guide; A Guide for the Preparation and Submission of NSF Applications via Grants.gov Guidelines apply (Note: The NSF Grants.gov Application Guide is available on the Grants.gov website and on the NSF website at: http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/docs/grantsgovguide.pdf)

 

Grants Program

Sponsor: Electronic Data Systems Foundation Program
Due Date: 10/13/08
Synopsis: The sponsor provides support to non-profit organizations involved in education, health and human services, and arts & culture. The sponsor will also focus on supporting comprehensive technology solutions that increase performance and productivity in educational institutions and community organizations globally.  Program elements include: access to technology; content; technical infrastructure; professional development; and evaluation.

 

American Masterpieces: Dance

Sponsor: National Endowment for the Arts/National Fndn. on the Arts & Humanities
Due Date: 10/24/08
Synopsis: The sponsor plans to support a variety of projects that are artistically, historically, and culturally significant and that reflect the breadth of dance forms, styles, and techniques.

 

Sensors and Sensing Systems

Sponsor: National Science Foundation
Due Date: 10/31/08
Synopsis: The SSS program supports research on methods to acquire and use sensor data on civil, mechanical, and manufacturing systems.?? The program supports fundamental research on advanced actuators, sensors, wireless sensor networks, new materials and concepts for sensing applications, power generation and energy supply for sensors and sensing systems.?? Also of interest is research on the strategic incorporation of sensors into both natural and engineered systems to achieve effective data acquisition and on processing and transmission of sensor data.

 

New Faculty Fellowship Program

Sponsor: Microsoft
Due Date: 11/03/08
Synopsis: The sponsor seeks nominees who are advancing computing research in novel directions with the potential for high impact on the state of the art, and who demonstrate the likelihood of becoming thought leaders in the field.

 

Statistics

Sponsor: National Science Foundation: Directorate for Mathematics and Physical Sciences
Due Date: 11/07/08
Synopsis: The Statistics Program supports research in statistical theory and methods, including research in statistical methods for applications to any domain of science and engineering.

 

High Performance Computing System Acquisition: Towards a Petascale Computing Environment for Science and Engineering

Sponsor:  National Science Foundation
Due Date: 11/28/08
Synopsis: NSF's five-year goal for high performance computing (HPC) is to enable petascale science and engineering through the deployment and support of a world-class HPC environment comprising the most capable combination of HPC assets available to the academic community. By the year 2010, the petascale HPC environment will enable investigations of computationally challenging problems that require computing systems capable of delivering sustained performance approaching 1015 floating point operations per second (petaflops) on real applications, that consume large amounts of memory, and/or that work with very large data sets. Among other things, researchers will be able to perform simulations that are intrinsically multi-scale or that involve the simultaneous interaction of multiple processes. HPC Resource Providers - those organizations willing to acquire, deploy and operate HPC systems in service to the broad science and engineering research and education community - play a key role in the provision and support of a national HPC environment. With this solicitation, NSF requests proposals from organizations willing to serve as HPC Resource Providers, and who propose to acquire and deploy a new, and/or upgrade an existing, HPC system. Competitive HPC systems will: 1) Enable researchers to work on a range of computationally-challenging science and engineering applications; 2) Incorporate reliable, robust system software essential to optimal sustained performance; and 3) Provide a high degree of stability and usability. A robust and effective HPC acquisition process, driven by the requirements of the science and engineering research and education community, is one of the key elements of NSF's HPC strategy. System performance on an appropriate set of benchmarks will thus be a key factor in system selection. These benchmarks will be designed to capture the salient attributes of those science and engineering applications placing the most stringent demands on the systems to be provisioned. The performance requirements and benchmarks for this competition are posted on the NSF website at http://www.nsf.gov/div/index.jsp?div=OCI. Up to two awards will be made as a result of this competition.

 

Grants Program

Sponsor:  IBM
Due Date: 12/31/08
Synopsis: The sponsor provides support for organizations which have a tax-exempt classification under Sections 170(c) or 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, in the areas of Education, Adult Education and Workforce Development, Arts and Culture and Communities in Need.

 

ARL/ARO Broad Agency Announcement