Keep up with the latest from the U.S. National Science Foundation. This is a daily look at notable news, scientific findings and stories brought to you by NSF.
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New grants support research on factors affecting infectious disease transmissionSeptember 26, 2022
Headlines on COVID-19 and monkeypox underscore the importance of understanding infectious diseases and how they're transmitted. Scientists are
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NSF BIO September 2022 Newsletter
09/27/2022
BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
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Message from the Assistant Director for Biological Sciences: One Last Update
Dear Colleagues,
As I noted in previous newsletters, I will be retiring at the end of September after 23 years with NSF. It is a bittersweet departure as I have enjoyed and am proud of all that the agency has accomplished over that time, especially all that we have accomplished within BIO over the last four years.
Most obviously, we weathered a pandemic and supported important work that you all did to help understand, track, and mitigate SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19. But that did not stop us from advancing in other areas, including beginning new partnerships; developing and releasing new strategically aligned broadening participation programs; deepening our interactions with other areas of science and engineering through engagements with other Directorates at NSF; increasing our community interactions, including through this newsletter; and supporting a breadth of biological science -- conducted by this community -- that has increased our knowledge of the life across species, time, and location.
There are more highlights of that support below including announcements of new awards, new solicitations, and new outcomes from the research you all are conducting.
Internally, I am proud that for the last two years BIO has been ranked among the top places to work across the federal government. Thanks go to my colleagues across the Directorate who work diligently and with dedication in supporting both you and each other. Their teamwork and shared commitment to NSF's mission and values is exemplary. It takes a village!
I also want to thank you all for the support you have given to BIO and NSF, and the great science you have conducted. Thank you.
The search for the next BIO AD is still ongoing. Beginning October 1, BIO's current Deputy Assistant Director, Dr. Simon Malcomber, will become Acting Assistant Director. Simon has served on numerous working groups at NSF and is intimately familiar with all facets of BIO. He began his time in BIO as a rotating program officer in the Systematics and Biodiversity cluster in the Division of Environmental Biology in August 2012 and most recently served as that division's Deputy Division Director. He is a systematist by training and received his Ph.D. in Evolutionary and Population Biology from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri and B.S. in Botany from University of Reading in the United Kingdom.
I know Simon will lead BIO capably and wish him and all of you the best moving forward!
Sincerely,
Joanne Tornow
NSF Assistant Director for Biological Sciences
📰 View BIO-funded Highlights
Even modest climate change may dramatically alter Earth's northernmost forests
Research supported by a Biology Integration Institute award found that even modest climate warming produced major problems for many species, including reduced growth and increased mortality. In addition, reduced rainfall amplified the negative effects of warming on the survival of several boreal species.
Researchers use artificial intelligence to create a 'treasure map' of undiscovered ant species
Supported by an award from the Division of Environmental Biology's Systematics and Biodiversity Cluster, researchers from institutions around the world stitched together nearly 1.5 million location records to produce the largest global map of insect diversity, which they hope will be used to direct future conservation efforts.
Scientists identify mechanism responsible for fruit and seed development in flowering plants
Research funded by the Plant Genome Research Program identified AGL62, a gene universally found in all flowering plants, as the trigger to a plant's production of fruit and seed.
Altered gene helps plants absorb more carbon dioxide, produce more useful compounds
Researchers supported by the Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences identified a way to release the brakes on plants' production of aromatic amino acids by changing, or mutating, one set of genes. The genetic change also caused the plants to absorb 30% more carbon dioxide than normal, without any ill effect on the plants.
Get more BIO-funded highlights
Reminder: Share your highlights and outcomes with your Program Officer as soon as possible. We also encourage you to illustrate how an NSF award enabled your work when discussing it publicly and promoting it.
Announcements
BIO Welcomes New Division Director in IOS (Posted August 15, 2022)
📆 Events
September 27, 2022
Intro to NSF's Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships
September 28, 2022
Waterman Lecture: Trends in U.S. faculty hiring and retention from ten years of data
October 11, 2022
Waterman Lecture: Past climates inform our future
🔎 Find Opportunities to Fund Your Research
You can always use the Funding Search to find new opportunities, upcoming deadlines, and programs that support your area of research.
BIO Core Programs
As a reminder, the core programs in all BIO Divisions accept proposal submissions at any time and have no deadlines. Submissions to these programs must now be made through Research.gov or Grants.gov.
Division of Biological Infrastructure (DBI)Infrastructure Innovation for Biological Research (Innovation)
Infrastructure Capacity for Biological Research (Capacity)
Sustaining Infrastructure for Biological Research (Sustaining)
Division of Environmental Biology (DEB)DEB Core Programs
Division of Integrative Organismal Systems (IOS)IOS Core Programs
Plant Biotic Interactions
Plant Genome Research Program (PGRP)
Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences (MCB)MCB: Investigator-initiated research projects
Transitions to Excellence in Molecular and Cellular Biosciences Research (Transitions)
Newly releasedDear Colleague Letter: Provisioning Advanced Cyberinfrastructure to Further Research on the Monkeypox Virus
Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Biology (PRFB) (Full proposal deadline: November 3, 2022)
Inclusion across the Nation of Communities of Learners of Underrepresented Discoverers in Engineering and Science (NSF INCLUDES) (Full proposal deadline: October 25, 2022)
Ecology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases (EEID) (Full proposal deadline: November 16, 2022)
Dear Colleague Letter: UKRI/BBSRC - NSF/BIO Lead Agency Opportunity in Biological Informatics, Systems Understanding of Host-Microbe Interactions, Synthetic Cells and Cellular Systems, and Synthetic Microbial Communities
Dear Colleague Letter: Planning Proposals to Catalyze Innovative and Inclusive Wildland Fire Science through Diverse Collaborations
Upcoming DeadlinesBuilding Synthetic Microbial Communities for Biology, Mitigating Climate Change, Sustainability and Biotechnology (Synthetic Communities) (Full proposal deadline: October 3, 2022)
Accelerating Research through International Network-to-Network Collaborations (AccelNet) (Full proposal deadline: October 11, 2022)
Partnership to Advance Conservation Science and Practice (PACSP) (Full proposal deadline: October 11, 2022)
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (GRFP) (Full proposal deadline: October 17, 2022 for Life Sciences; October 18-21 for other fields)
Pathways to Enable Open-Source Ecosystems (POSE) (Full proposal deadline: October 21, 2022)
Macrosystems Biology and NEON-Enabled Science (MSB-NES) (Full proposal deadline: November 14, 2022)
Dynamics of Integrated Socio-Environmental Systems (DISES) (Full proposal deadline: November 15, 2022)
Organismal Response to Climate Change (ORCC) (Full proposal deadline: November 15, 2022)
Collaborative Research in Computational Neuroscience (CRCNS) (Full proposal deadline: November 22, 2022)
Integrative Strategies for Understanding Neural and Cognitive Systems (NCS) (Full proposal deadline: December 15, 2022)
Building Research Capacity of New Faculty in Biology (BRC-BIO) (Full proposal window: December 1 - December 30, 2022)
Synthesis Center for Molecular and Cellular Sciences (SCMCS) (Preliminary proposal deadline: January 13, 2023)
Get Program Announcements and Info via Email
New Awards Spur Novel Research
Over the last few months, NSF has made several sets of awards to support innovative research, training, and education efforts across the biological sciences, the tree of life, and the country.
Infusing human behavior into epidemiological models is focus of new NSF-supported research projects
NSF is investing more than $7.5 million in new research focused on empowering more reliable prediction of the spread of infectious diseases, the effects of mitigation measures and other critical aspects of national health crises.
New NSF center will advance, broaden and catalyze environmental data science
To support the analysis and integration of environmental data sets that provide information at varying scales and advance the use of data-intensive approaches and training in environmental science, NSF has announced the creation of the Environmental Data Science Innovation and Inclusion Lab, or ESIIL.
NSF announces new award to understand coastal systems and tackle coastal hazards
NSF's Coastlines and People, or CoPe, program has announced $51 million in new awards to protect the natural, social and economic resources of U.S. coasts, and to help create more resilient coastal communities.
New NSF awards seek to broaden participation in biology through research experiences for recent college graduates
NSF has made 12 new awards totaling more than $35 million through its Research and Mentoring for Postbaccalaureates in the Biological Sciences program, known as RaMP.
Interaction between humans and the environment is focus of 15 new NSF-funded projects
Fifteen new projects totaling more than $21.6 million funded by NSF will explore complex interactions in ecosystems around the globe, examine how they affect a variety of species from humans to bees to trees, and develop tools and models that can be used to predict future impacts to vital resources.
Integrative biological science and training are the focus of 4 new institutes
NSF has made four related awards totaling more than $38 million over five years. The grants will support the creation of four Biology Integration Institutes that will engage in integrative science.
Research Into the Impacts of a Changing Climate Supported by Two New NSF Programs
26 projects from two new NSF programs will support investigations into climate impacts on the organism and on biodiversity. 12 projects, totaling over $14.7 million over three years, are part of the Organismal Response to Climate Change (ORCC) program. The remaining 14 are from the Biodiversity on a Changing Planet (BoCP) program and total $16.9 million over five years.
Predicting and preventing pandemics is goal of new NSF awards
Nearly $26 million in new awards as part of the Predictive Intelligence for Pandemic Prevention (PIPP) program will support interdisciplinary investigations and collaborations that aim to predict and prevent the next infectious disease outbreak, significantly contributing to national security, public health and economic stability.
Connect with BIO: Virtual Office Hours
Each division hosts regular office hours on topics of relevance to the community that provide investigators the opportunity to communicate with and ask questions of program officers. Notices are posted on NSF.gov, and more information is available on each division's blog. Division of Biological Infrastructure: Third Tuesday of each month
from 3-4 p.m. (October 18: - Bioinformatics and Cyberinfrastructure; November 15: Broadening Participation Programs)
Division of Environmental Biology: Second Monday of each month
from 1-2 p.m. (October 17*: How to Write a Great Proposal; November 14: Opportunities for Research on Climate Change)
Division of Integrative Organismal Systems: Third Thursday of each
month from 1-2 p.m. (October 20: Integrative Research in Biology; November 17: Mid-Career Advancement)
Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences: Second Wednesday
of each month from 2-3 p.m. (October 12: Mid-Career Advancement; November 9: Integrative Research in Biology)
* - change from regular day due to Federal Holiday
To get the latest on what’s happening in BIO and learn about announcements, opportunities, upcoming deadlines and more, visit our directorate page.
BIO Divisions
Division of Biological Infrastructure (DBI)
DBI supports development and enhancement of resources for research, human capital, and mid-to-large-scale infrastructure and centers to promote advances in all areas of biological research.
Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences (MCB)
MCB supports quantitative and interdisciplinary approaches to deciphering the molecular underpinnings of complex living systems.
Division of Environmental Biology (DEB)
DEB supports fundamental evolutionary and ecological research on species, populations, communities and ecosystems, across all spatial and temporal scales.
Emerging Frontiers (EF)
EF supports multidisciplinary research opportunities and networking activities that arise from advances in disciplinary research.
Division of Integrative Organismal Systems (IOS)
IOS supports fundamental research aimed at understanding organisms as units of biological organization, encouraging the use of integrative, interdisciplinary approaches to solving complex problems in organismal biology
What’s hot in science and engineering? Check out NSF news for the day of September27, 2022
09/27/2022
Keep up with the latest from the U.S. National Science Foundation. This is a daily look at notable news, scientific findings and stories brought to you by NSF.
NSF News
NSF joins USPTO Council for Inclusive InnovationSeptember 27, 2022
Today, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office announced U.S. National Science Foundation Director Sethuraman Panchanathan as a co-vice chair of the…
Research News
Antarctic deep-sea coral larvae may be resistant to climate changeSeptember 27, 2022
The larval health of an Antarctic cold-water coral species may be resistant to warming water temperatures, a University of Maine study finds, bringing…
Research News
COVID radar: Genetic sequencing can help predict severity of next variantSeptember 27, 2022
As public health officials around the world contend with the latest variant in the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. National Science Foundation-supported
See all the latest NSF news.
For cool science bytes, explainers and more, visit Science Matters.
NSF’s Convergence Accelerator releases 2022 Portfolio Guide
09/28/2022
NSF’s Convergence Accelerator releases 2022 Portfolio Guide
Featuring 45+ use-inspired research projects across 6 convergence research tracks
The U.S. National Science Foundation's Convergence Accelerator released its comprehensive 2022 Portfolio Guide, showcasing novel, use-inspired solutions from more than 45 NSF-funded multidisciplinary teams across six distinct convergence research track topics.
"NSF's Convergence Accelerator is a unique and fast-growing initiative that fosters multidisciplinary collaboration between diverse groups of talented researchers and experts," said Erwin Gianchandani, NSF assistant director for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships. "In this way, the Convergence Accelerator furthers the mission of NSF's new Technology, Innovation and Partnerships Directorate, which aims to accelerate breakthrough technologies and solutions that address national-scale societal and economic challenges. We are excited to share this guide that illustrates the variety of ways NSF-funded Convergence Accelerator teams are developing impactful solutions that do just that."
Yearly, the program releases a solicitation featuring multiple convergence research topics. Convergence research topics are called "tracks" and funded teams within the tracks make up a cohort. All teams within a cohort begin in Convergence Research Phase 1.
The 2022 Portfolio Guide highlights projects from Phase 2 teams funded in the 2019 and 2020 cohorts and Phase 1 teams from the 2021 cohort. Each project features a detailed executive summary with information about the solution, it's differentiators, current roadmap and partners.
The Convergence Accelerator track topics include:
Track A: Open Knowledge Networks: Knowledge networks correlate data to create new understandings. The Convergence Accelerator is funding the creation of Open Knowledge Networks infrastructure and domains in urban flooding, judicial court records, biomedical health and geospatial information.
Track B: AI & the Future of Work: Artificial intelligence or AI, machine learning and robotics are shifting the future of work. The Convergence Accelerator is funding solutions to train, reskill, upskill the current and future workforce with industry needs and jobs of the future, as well as build a talent pipeline to stimulate the U.S. workforce.
Track C: Quantum Technology: Quantum technologies can improve the U.S. industrial base, create jobs, and provide significant progress toward economic and societal needs. The Convergence Accelerator is funding solutions for a diverse set of applications.
Track D: AI-Driven Data Sharing & Modeling: AI research and development requires access to high-quality datasets and environments, and testing and training resources. The Convergence Accelerator is funding solutions to address data and model-related challenges and data types.
Track E: Networked Blue Economy: Ocean-related industries and resources, or the blue economy, play a central role in addressing societal challenges like climate, sustainability, and pollution. The Convergence Accelerator is creating a smart, integrated and open ecosystem for ocean innovation, exploration and sustainable use.
Track F: Trust & Authenticity in Communication Systems: Modern life depends on access to communications systems that offer trustworthy and accurate information. The Convergence Accelerator is funding tools and techniques to help the nation effectively prevent, mitigate and adapt to critical threats to communication systems
"The Convergence Accelerator is very hands-on with our funded researchers," said Douglas Maughan, head of NSF's Convergence Accelerator program. "Not only do we provide tools to help them develop their idea into a proof of concept and later a tangible solution, but we also want to help our teams with transition to practice. The Convergence Accelerator's Portfolio Guide is one of the products we developed to help highlight our funded teams. Others have the opportunity to learn more about each track topic, and the funded solutions aligned to the track."
The Convergence Accelerator's portfolio of funded work will continue to grow throughout the year as four more research track topics will begin Phase 1 of the Convergence Accelerator program before 2023. Please visit beta.nsf.gov/funding/initiatives/convergence-accelerator/portfolio for more information.
About NSF's Convergence Accelerator
Research is often driven by a compelling societal or scientific challenge; however, it may take the research community years to develop a solution. To deliver tangible solutions that have a nation-wide societal impact and at a more accelerated pace, NSF's Convergence Accelerator brings together multiple disciplines, expertise and cross-cutting partnerships to develop solutions through a convergence research approach and innovation processes. The Convergence Accelerator is a Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships program. Learn more at beta.nsf.gov/funding/initiatives/convergence-accelerator.
About the TIP Directorate
NSF's Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships, TIP, harnesses the nation's vast and diverse talent pool to accelerate critical and emerging technologies and address pressing societal and economic challenges. TIP comprises three primary focus areas: fostering innovation and technology ecosystems; establishing translation pathways; and partnering across sectors to improve U.S. competitiveness, grow the U.S. economy and engage and train a diverse workforce for future, high-wage jobs. For more information about TIP, visit beta.nsf.gov/tip/latest.
What’s hot in science and engineering? Check out NSF news for the day of September 28, 2022
09/28/2022
Keep up with the latest from the U.S. National Science Foundation. This is a daily look at notable news, scientific findings and stories brought to you by NSF.
NSF News
NSF’s Convergence Accelerator releases 2022 Portfolio GuideSeptember 28, 2022
The U.S. National Science Foundation's Convergence Accelerator released its comprehensive 2022 Portfolio Guide, showcasing novel, use-inspired…
Research News
Neurons that have food on the brainSeptember 28, 2022
A gooey slice of pizza. A pile of crispy French fries. Ice cream dripping down a cone on a hot summer day. When people look at any of these foods, a…
Research News
Global tsunamis driven by underwater volcanic eruptionsSeptember 28, 2022
In 1883, there was a volcanic eruption so large it killed tens of thousands of people. It expelled so much ash that, for a time, it changed the colors…
Keep up with the latest from the U.S. National Science Foundation. This is a daily look at notable news, scientific findings and stories brought to you by NSF.
Research News
Researchers engineer novel material capable of 'thinking'September 29, 2022
Someone taps your shoulder. The touch receptors in your skin send a message to your brain, which processes the information and directs you to look…
Research News
New seafloor data upend understanding of Antarctica's Thwaites GlacierSeptember 29, 2022
The Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica — about the size of Florida — has been an elephant in the room for scientists trying to make global sea-level…
Science Matters
NSF 101: Geographic diversity through EPSCoRSeptember 29, 2022
Ensuring that every citizen has access to STEM experiences is a critical piece to building an equitable research enterprise. Since 1979, the U.S. National Science Foundation has addressed the need for geographic diversity through EPSCoR. EPSCoR provides funding to institutions in jurisdictions that receive a disproportionately small percentage of NSF funding for research and development. The mission of NSF's EPSCoR program is to build the research competitiveness and STEM capacity of each jurisdiction using investments in research capacity, workforce development, and local infrastructure. Today, eligible regions include 28 jurisdictions that have been awarded 0.75% or less of NSF's budget over the last five years…
Advanced Chip Engineering Design and Fabrication
Solicitation: NSF 22-636
Due Date: January 17, 2023
Institutional Limit: See Limit Summary
Limit Summary:
None.
ICYMI - September’s Research News Highlights from NSF
09/30/2022
ICYMI - September’s Research News Highlights from NSF
'Forever chemicals' destroyed by simple method
New process causes PFAS to degrade into benign end products
'Beautiful swimmers' attack at low tide
Researchers observe blue crabs ambushing fiddler crabs from shallow, water-filled pits
Mimicking termites to generate new materials
Researchers design new materials that mimic the fundamental rules in nature's growth patterns
Reintroducing bison to grasslands increases plant diversity, drought resilience, study finds
Bison were once an integral part of North American grasslands
Thinking like a cyber-attacker to protect user data
Researchers develop defense mechanisms against attacks targeting interconnection of chips in computers
Researchers develop an integrated method to measure stability during walking
Using mechanical energetics to study stability while walking provides insights into why and when people fall
Burying short sections of power lines could drastically reduce hurricanes' impact on coastal residents
People living near coasts more likely to experience heat waves while grappling with power outages
Fish 'chock-full' of antifreeze protein found in iceberg habitats off Greenland
Snailfish study reveals highest expression levels of antifreeze proteins ever reported
Study shows 'unprecedented' changes to world's rivers
Researchers find that dams and land use are altering flows of sediment
Sharpest image to date of universe's most massive known star
This star and possibly other colossal stars may be less massive than previously thought
Advanced Chip Engineering Design and Fabrication (ACED Fab)
See this in PDF format
Document Number: nsf22636
Continue reading on NSF.gov
Keep up with the latest from the U.S. National Science Foundation. This is a daily look at notable news, scientific findings and stories brought to you by NSF.
NSF News
This week with NSF Director PanchanathanSeptember 30, 2022
NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan dove into a busy schedule this week, with multiple meetings with international representatives and a reception to…
See all the latest NSF news.
For cool science bytes, explainers and more, visit Science Matters.
Office of Polar Programs Postdoctoral Research Fellowships (OPP-PRF)
09/30/2022
Office of Polar Programs Postdoctoral Research Fellowships (OPP-PRF)
See this in PDF format
Document Number: nsf22635
Continue reading on NSF.gov
