Brief Description:

This solicitation is seeking high-risk/high-reward research and education proposals. Its focus is on nanomanufacturing challenges and societal and educational issues associated with continuing advances in nanomanufacturing and the ensuing increasing use of nanoscale materials, devices and systems. All proposals should clearly state what roadblocks to scale-up exist and what new approach or approaches will be investigated to overcome those roadblocks. The scientific and technical barriers to commercialization, in terms of production rate, throughput, quality, reproducibility, yield and cost should be addressed in
the proposal. Harvard University, as one single, lead institution, may put forward one proposal for this opportunity.

Description:

Although many nanofabrication techniques have demonstrated the ability to fabricate small quantities of nanomaterials, nanostructures and nanodevices for characterization and evaluation purposes, the emphasis of the Scalable Nanomanufacturing program is on research to overcome the key scientific and technical barriers that prevent the production of useful nanomaterials, nanostructures, devices and systems at an industrially relevant scale, reliably, and at low cost and within environmental, health and safety guidelines. Competitive proposals will incorporate three elements in their research plans:

A persuasive case that the nanomaterials, nanostructures, devices or systems to be produced have or are likely to have sufficient demand to justify eventual scale-up

A clearly identified set of research issues for science and engineering solutions that must be addressed to enable the production of high quality nano-enabled products at low cost

A compelling research plan with clear objectives and approaches to overcome the identified research issues.

The mode of support is Nanoscale Interdisciplinary Research Teams (NIRT).

Proposals submitted to this program should consider addressing aspects of the nanomanufacturing value chain:

Novel scalable processes and techniques for large-area or continuous manufacturing of nano-scale materials and structures and their assembly and integration into higher order systems

Fundamental scientific research in well-defined technical areas that are compellingly justified as approaches to overcome critical barriers to scale-up and integration

Design principles for production systems leading to nanomanufacturing platforms; identification of metrology, instrumentation, standards and control methodologies needed for process control and to assess quality and yield.

Competitive proposals are expected to address the training and education of students in nanomanufacturing. An inter-disciplinary approach is strongly encouraged. Disciplines could range from
mathematics to the physical sciences to engineering. While not required, the involvement of an industrial
or small business partner or partners is encouraged. These collaborations have the potential to
significantly strengthen a proposal.

Please refer to the RFP regarding requirements for submitting proposals for collaborations; a single proposal with sub-contracts must be submitted for collaborations and the submission of separate proposals from multiple investigators for collaborative projects ('collaborative proposals') is not allowed.

Application Information:

Interested applicants are asked to carefully review the RFP for this opportunity and then submit the following:

A three page (max) proposal in response to the points raised in the Program Description section of the RFP. Please include in this response how the required interdisciplinary training and education of students in nanomanufacturing will be incorporated into the proposed project

CV(s) of the proposed PI(s). No specific format requested

A list of proposed collaborators (if any), including researchers external to Harvard University and/or proposed collaboration with an industrial or small business partner or partner(s)

Eligibility Criteria:

Principal Investigators must be at the faculty level or equivalent.

Additional Information, Related Websites, and Proxy Instructions:

The RFP for this opportunity can be viewed here

Questions about proposal preparation and funding opportunities should be directed to the Research or Sponsored Funding professional at the appropriate school. A list of contacts by school can be found here

Questions or difficulties concerning the Harvard University Funding Portal can be sent to Autumn_Bennett@harvard.edu

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Institution

Harvard Business School
Harvard Divinity School
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
Graduate School of Design
Graduate School of Education
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Harvard Law School
Harvard Medical School (Quad)
Harvard School of Dental Medicine (HSDM)
School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Harvard School of Public Health

Position

Assistant Professor
Associate Professor
Professor

Type of Competition

Limited Submission

Discipline

Engineering
Multidisciplinary
Physical Science
Other

Type of Award

Career Development
Equipment
Research
STEM Education