NSF materials research centers to accelerate science from lab to factory
06/26/2023
NSF invests $162 million in research centers to accelerate materials science from lab to factory
NSF backs nine Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers to create novel materials that can solve big challenges and enable the industries of tomorrow.
A $162 million investment from the U.S. National Science Foundation will drive the creation of advanced materials capable of remarkable things — from being tough enough to withstand the heat of a fusion reactor to processing information at the quantum level. Nine Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers (MRSECs) will each receive $18 million over six years. The centers aim to transform fundamental scientific breakthroughs into tangible benefits for multiple sectors of the U.S. economy and innovations that can be produced on tomorrow's factory floors.
"NSF's Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers will help us seize new opportunities in semiconductors, biotech, quantum information and more, addressing the needs of our society and advancing critical emerging technologies," said NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan. "They will do so by expanding and enriching the ecosystem of innovation across our country."
From Tennessee to Washington state, the 2023 class of MRSECs are located at nine institutions across the country. In total, NSF now supports 20 such centers. The latest ones will expand the centers' portfolios to pursue a broad range of research projects to unlock new capabilities in a number of areas: semiconductors, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, sustainable energy sources and storage, advanced manufacturing, quantum computing and sensing, and other areas critical for U.S. leadership in materials research. In addition to enabling new commercial opportunities and industries in the U.S., the centers will train students and early career researchers who will become tomorrow's scientific and technical leaders.
"Since the 1970s, NSF's Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers have yielded countless breakthroughs, from shape-morphing materials to plastics that conduct electricity," said NSF Assistant Director for Mathematical and Physical Sciences Sean L. Jones. "Our current centers continue that proud tradition and provide the essential catalyst — born in the materials lab — which ignites American innovations that propel our country's scientific and economic leadership."
Read more about the centers
Did someone forward this message to you?
You can sign up to receive NSF updates and announcements directly to your inbox.
Sign up today
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 Director Panchanathan meets three Members of Congress at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, for project kick-off, announces funding for UT's advanced materials and manufacturing centerJune 26, 2023
U.S. National Science Foundation Director Panchanathan traveled to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, for the Tennessee Mobility Showcase on…
NSF News
Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by NSF Director Sethuraman PanchanathanJune 26, 2023
It is indeed an historic day for NSF as we advance science, technology and innovation at speed and scale. It is truly an honor to welcome the…
Research News
First study to quantify the total carbon sequestration for a region of the oceanJune 26, 2023
Researchers at Florida State University have analyzed the carbon exported from surface waters of the California Current ecosystem — the first-ever…
Research News
Butterfly tree of life reveals an origin in North AmericaJune 26, 2023
About 100 million years ago, a group of trendsetting moths started flying during the day rather than at night, taking advantage of nectar-rich flowers…
NSF News
NSF invests $162 million in research centers to accelerate materials science from lab to factoryJune 26, 2023
A $162 million investment from the U.S. National Science Foundation will drive the creation of advanced materials capable of remarkable things — from
NSF News
This week with NSF Director PanchanathanJune 23, 2023
This week, NSF Director Panchanathan had the honor of hosting First Lady Dr. Jill Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at NSF headquarters…
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for the Noyce Program 2023
See this in PDF format
Document Number: nsf23122
Continue reading on NSF.gov
Research News
Scientists discover easy way to make materials with atomically thin metal layersJune 27, 2023
The secret to a perfect croissant is in the layers — as many as possible, each one interspersed with butter. Similarly, a material with promise for…
Research News
Perfect 'pathogen' storm: Vibrio bacteria, Sargassum and plastic marine debrisJune 27, 2023
A new U.S. National Science Foundation-supported study has uncovered how the interplay between Sargassum spp., plastic marine debris andVibrio…
Dear Colleague Letter: Teacher Salary Supplements in the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program
See this in PDF format
Document Number: nsf23123
Continue reading on NSF.gov
Research News
What did the earliest animals look like?June 28, 2023
For more than a century, biologists have wondered what the earliest animals were like when they first arose in the ancient oceans over half a billion…
Research News
Scientists find double quasar in early universeJune 28, 2023
Scientists have made an unexpected discovery — a pair of gravitationally bound quasars inside two merging galaxies that existed when the universe was…
Dear Colleague Letter: Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology (CREST Centers) Interest in Engineering Research
See this in PDF format
Document Number: nsf23124
Continue reading on NSF.gov
A Message from CISE Leadership
Dear CISE community.
On June 21, as part of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US, our NSF building in Alexandria, Virginia was the venue for a conversation between Prime Minister Modi and US First Lady Dr. Jill Biden on technology, education, and workforce. It was exciting for me to be present for this visit, which allowed NSF to showcase how our efforts are catalyzing research opportunities and career pathways for the next generation of scientists and innovators.
Please also note NSF's current US-India funding opportunity, which supports collaborative research involving US-based and India-based researchers on all aspects of computing, communications, and information science and engineering, advanced cyberinfrastructure, secure and trustworthy computing, and cyber-physical systems. You can learn more by joining the next informational webinar on July 11.
A second important item of note is the National AI Strategy. First, the US recently released the 2023 update to the National AI R&D Strategy (first released in 2016, and later updated in 2019). Second, this document will now feed into a larger and broader process towards an overall National AI Strategy. This broader strategy document will consider AI's impacts on many aspects of government and society, beyond the R&D focus. If you would like to offer input towards the strategy, please respond to the Request for Information (RFI) by July 7.
Finally, I was pleased to participate as a plenary speaker in this year’s ACM Federated Computing Research Conference (FCRC). Held every four years, ACM FCRC brought together over 2500 researchers via co-locating over a dozen different ACM research conferences. My presentation focused on how working together across traditional topical boundaries will be key to progress on societal challenges. Entitled “Taking on the World’s Challenges: The Role of Computing Research and Innovation”, the talk recording is available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MS9Xk0nTW04, minute seven. Please take a look and let me know what you think!
Respectfully,
Margaret Martonosi
NSF Assistant Director for CISE
Funding Opportunities and Deadlines
Historically Black Colleges and Universities - Excellence in Research (HBCU-EiR).
Aims to establish stronger connections between researchers at public and private HBCUs and NSF's research programs.
Letter of intent:
July 13, 2023.
Full proposal deadline:
October 17, 2023.
BioFoundries to Enable Access to Infrastructure and Resources for Advancing Modern Biology and Biotechnology (BioFoundries).
Provides the intellectual, technical, digital, and physical frameworks needed for tight integration of technology innovations and applications with foundational interdisciplinary research and training.
Letter of intent:
August 1, 2023.
Full proposal deadline:
October 2, 2023.
Expanding TRIPODS through Partnerships (XTRIPODS).
Supports partnerships between non-R1 universities and current TRIPODS Phase II Institutes to broaden participation and diversity in data science research.
Submission window:
August 2-26, 2023.
Dear Colleague Letter: Joint NSF-JST Proposals to Advance Human-Centered Data for Disaster Resilience Research (HCDDRR).
Encourages teams of U.S. and Japan researchers to submit proposals for advancing human-centered data and data-driven science and engineering for disaster resilience.
Proposals deadline:
August 18, 2023.
Cyberinfrastructure Technology Acceleration Pathway (CITAP).
Focuses on the translation of innovative research cyberinfrastructure software, such as system software, libraries, application codes, and software enabling data services.
Full proposal deadline:
September 6, 2023.
Community Infrastructure for Research in Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CIRC).
Supports research infrastructure in computer and information science and engineering.
Full proposal deadline:
September 8, 2023.
Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) Research Initiation Initiative (CRII).
Supports early-career scientists at non-Carnegie R1 institutions in computer and information science and engineering who lack access to organizational resources.
Full proposal deadline:
September 20, 2023.
Dear Colleague Letter: Equitable and Transformative Approaches to Educating the Semiconductor Workforce (ETA-ESW).
Supports the development of a skilled STEM workforce in advanced memory manufacturing and/or semiconductor manufacturing and design.
News & Announcements
National Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Strategic Plan 2023 Update.
The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) released a National AI Research and Development (R&D) Strategic Plan — updated for the first time since 2019 — a roadmap that outlines key priorities and goals for federal investments in AI R&D.
Helping robots handle fluids.
Researchers funded in part by the NSF create a new simulation tool for robots to manipulate complex fluids in a step toward helping them more effortlessly assist with daily tasks.
Engineers to unlock new possibilities for autonomous systems.
NSF-funded researcher at Washington University in St. Louis aims to develop data-efficient machine learning methods that can create safe and verified controllers that allow autonomous robots to satisfy complex mission and safety requirements.
Why protecting forests means reduced emissions at global scale.
A team of researchers funded in part by the NSF found that worldwide protected forests have an additional 9.65 billion metric tons of carbon stored in their aboveground biomass—a finding that quantifies the importance of climate mitigation efforts.
Researchers developing smart ring for health care and extended reality.
Researchers at Penn State funded in part by NSF have developed OmniRing, a smart sensing ring that uses photoplethysmography (PPG) sensors to collect and analyze healthcare metrics like heart rate, glucose levels and oxygen levels.
Unlocking Photonic Computing Power with Artificial 'Life'.
A team of researchers funded in part by the NSF is using optical hardware to realize cellular automata for photonic computing, allowing operations up to three orders of magnitude quicker than the fastest digital computers.
Get more NSF News
Events
Listen and Learn: Implementing Public Access 2.0:
June 29, 2023. 1-2 p.m. (ET)
Growing Access for Nationally Transformative Equity and Diversity (GRANTED) Office Hours:
July 12, 19, 26, 2023. 3-4 pm. (ET)
The Opportunities and Challenges of Artificial Intelligence for Communications Networks and Consumers:
July 13, 2023. 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. (ET)
CISE Research Initiation Initiative Webinar:
July 20, 2023. 2-3:30 p.m. (ET)
Career Opportunities
Program Director within the Computer and Network Systems Directorate.
Open until filled.
Interdisciplinary Program Director within the Computing and Communication Foundations (CCF) Division.
Open until filled.
Faces of CISE: Timothy M. Pinkston, Ph.D.
Timothy M. Pinkston, Ph.D., is a highly esteemed professor of electrical and computer engineering, and vice dean (for faculty affairs) in the Viterbi School of Engineering at the University of Southern California (USC). With a passion for advancing technology and inspiring future engineers, he has made significant contributions to the field of electrical and computer engineering through extensive research, academic leadership, and mentorship.
Throughout his career, Pinkston has received multiple NSF grants, including an NSF CAREER Award to advance state-of-the-art solutions in interconnection network design, a High-Performance Computing and Communications award to improve network data throughput and latency, and a Software & Hardware Foundations award to develop cross-cutting approaches and techniques to enable energy and performance efficient on-chip network (NoC) designs for chip multiprocessors (CMPs).
He heads the SMART Interconnects Group at USC, which engages in research on advanced technologies and techniques for achieving high-performance communication in parallel computer systems, and efficient network interface and routing architectures. With over 100 peer-reviewed technical publications, he has made key research contributions to deadlock-free adaptive routing, router microarchitecture, and interconnection networks (both distributed and on-chip networks) that achieve high-performance and energy-efficient data movement in multicore and multiprocessor computer systems--from embedded processors to compute servers to large-scale datacenters.
“NSF funding has been instrumental in advancing my career and pushing the boundaries of knowledge and discovery in my field. The NSF grants I have received provided the essential resources and support needed to undertake ambitious research projects that enabled me to develop groundbreaking approaches and solutions to important computing and communication challenges,” Pinkston said.
From 2005 to 2008, Pinkston served as a program director for CISE and was the inaugural lead program director of CISE’s Expeditions in Computing program at its inception. He is a member of the CISE Advisory Committee (May 2021 to present), and has been CISE’s liaison to CEOSE since February 2022.
Pinkston co-organizes the national Center for Minorities and People with Disabilities in Information Technology’s (CMD-IT) annual academic careers mentoring workshop, and engages in many other efforts to broaden the participation and development of persons from populations currently underrepresented in computing and engineering. Dr. Pinkston is an American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Fellow, ACM Fellow, and IEEE Fellow.
CISE Units
Division of Computer and Network Systems (CNS)
Supports research and education in computer systems and networks, hardware and software systems, future-generation computing and communication systems, cyber-physical systems, and secure and trustworthy cyberspace.
Division of Computing and Communication Foundations (CCF)
Supports research and education in mathematical, scientific and technological foundations of computing communication, hardware, software, and emerging technologies.
Division of Information and Intelligent Systems (IIS)
Supports research and education on the interrelated roles of people, computers, and information to advance knowledge of artificial intelligence, data management, assistive technologies, and human-centered computing.
Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure (OAC)
Supports the conceptualization, design, implementation, and operation of research cyberinfrastructure to advance and transform research and education in science and engineering.