Chemistry of Life Processes  (CLP)

PROGRAM GUIDELINES

Apply to PD 09-6883 in FastLane. (standard Grant Proposal Guidelines) apply.)

As announced on May 21st, proposers must prepare and submit proposals to the National Science Foundation (NSF) using the NSF FastLane system at http://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/. This approach is being taken to support efficient Grants.gov operations during this busy workload period and in response to OMB direction guidance issued March 9, 2009. NSF will continue to post information about available funding opportunities to Grants.gov FIND and will continue to collaborate with institutions who have invested in system-to-system submission functionality as their preferred proposal submission method. NSF remains committed to the long-standing goal of streamlined grants processing and plans to provide a web services interface for those institutions that want to use their existing grants management systems to directly submit proposals to NSF.

Please be advised that the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) includes revised guidelines to implement the mentoring provisions of the America COMPETES Act (ACA) (Pub. L. No. 110-69, Aug. 9, 2007.) As specified in the ACA, each proposal that requests funding to support postdoctoral researchers must include a description of the mentoring activities that will be provided for such individuals. Proposals that do not comply with this requirement will be returned without review (see the PAPP Guide Part I: Grant Proposal Guide Chapter II for further information about the implementation of this new requirement).

DUE DATES

Full Proposal Window:  November 1, 2009 - November 30, 2009

CHE Submission Window

Full Proposal Window:  July 1, 2010 - August 2, 2010

CHE Submission Window

SYNOPSIS

The Chemistry of Life Processes program deals with the investigation of novel chemistry in biological systems and the advancement of basic chemical research and transformative technologies through creative applications that address important aspects of life processes. Research of interest to the program includes fundamental chemistry-centered projects at the interface with biology. The program also welcomes projects that integrate experimental and theoretical approaches, as well as inter- and multi-disciplinary research efforts at the chemistry-biology interface. Some examples include but are not limited to: synthetic methods for site-specific modifications of macromolecules; the application of advanced spectroscopic techniques to study energy transformations in biological systems; metal speciation, coordination and function; chemical ("bottom-up") synthetic biology; chemical basis of ligand-macromolecule recognition; studies of enzyme and ribozyme catalysis that focus on the chemistry; and the design and synthesis of riboswitches and small molecules that modulate biological systems. The program also encourages research projects that exploit biological systems to advance fundamental and enabling aspects of chemistry. Proposals that are compatible with the program are those that advance the knowledge and practice of chemistry. Proposals that focus mainly on addressing a biological question are more appropriate for the Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences (MCB). Proposals that address biomedical problems may be more appropriate for the National Institutes of Health.

THIS PROGRAM IS PART OF

Disciplinary Research Activities

Abstracts of Recent Awards Made Through This Program