Thermal Transport Processes

PROGRAM GUIDELINES

A revised version of the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG), NSF 09-1, was issued on October 1, 2008 and is effective for proposals submitted on or after January 5, 2009. Please be advised that the guidelines contained in NSF 09-1 apply to proposals submitted in response to this funding opportunity.  Proposers who opt to submit prior to January 5^th, 2009, must also follow the guidelines contained in NSF 09-1.

One of the most significant changes to the PAPPG is implementation of the mentoring provisions of the America COMPETES Act.  Each proposal that requests funding to support postdoctoral researchers must include, as a separate section within the 15-page project description, a description of the mentoring activities that will be provided for such individuals.  Proposals that do not include a separate section on mentoring activities within the Project Description will be returned without review (see the PAPP Guide Part I: Grant Proposal Guide Chapter II.C.2.d for further information).

Apply to PD 09-1406 as follows:

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)

DUE DATES

SYNOPSIS

The Thermal Transport Processes program supports engineering research aimed at gaining a basic understanding of the microscopic and macroscopic levels of thermal transport phenomena (heat and mass transfer) underlying energy conversion and conservation, the synthesis and processing of materials, cooling and heating of infrastructure and equipment, the interaction of industrial processes with the environment, the propulsion of air and land-based vehicles, and thermal phenomena in biological and environmental systems.  The program supports fundamental research and engineering education in transport processes that are driven by thermal gradients, and their manipulation to achieve engineering goals.  This engineering science forms an important part of the intellectual infrastructure of a wide array of modern technologies.

Basic research in convection heat and mass transfer with and without phase change, heat and mass transfer at nano- and molecular scales, radiative transport, and the fundamental characterization of material properties important to these processes are especially relevant to this program.  Priority is given to innovative, insightful investigations of fundamental problems with broad engineering and societal applications and to novel use of heat and mass transfer principles to meet the engineering needs of the nation.

Examples of critical fundamental areas include, but are not limited to:

• Thermal transport in energy conversion and conservation processes, including environmental interactions, is vital to reduce the nation’s dependence on petroleum
  
  
• Heat and mass transfer at length and/or time scales from the molecular to the continuum, is a subject of continuing importance to energy conversion and conservation, biotechnology, microelectronics, and biochemical detection
  
  
• The fundamental understanding of the interaction of energetic beams, such as produced by lasers, with solid, liquid or porous surfaces is vital to the evolution of advanced meso-, micro- and nano-manufacturing techniques

The duration of unsolicited awards is generally one to three years.  The average annual award size for the program is $90,000.  Small equipment proposals up to $100,000 will also be considered and may be submitted during these windows.  Any proposal received outside the announced dates will be returned without review.

The duration of CAREER awards is five years. The submission deadline for Engineering CAREER proposals is in July every year.  Please see the following URL for more information: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2005/nsf05027/nsf05027.jsp

Proposals for Conferences, Workshops, and Supplements may be submitted at any time, but must be discussed with the program director before submission.

Grants for Rapid Response Research (RAPID) and EArly-concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER) replace the SGER program.  Please note that proposals of these types must be discussed with the program director before submission.  Further details are available in the PAPPG download, available below. 

Please refer to the Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG), January 2009, (NSF 09-1) when you prepare your proposal.  The PAPPG is available for download at: http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf091
 

THIS PROGRAM IS PART OF

Transport and Thermal Fluids Phenomena

Abstracts of Recent Awards Made Through This Program

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