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Nanoscale Science and Engineering Initiative
Support for Interdisciplinary Initiatives in Nanoscale Science and Engineering
March 2005
Quick summary:
- Focus on: nanomaterials, nanoelectronics, nanobiotechnology
- Funding for faculty recruitment, proposal preparation, equipment & infrastructure
- $2M in FY05, $4M in FY06, $2M in FY07, and $2M in FY08
- Proposals to the NSE Steering Committee accepted throughout the year.
The Office of the Vice President for Research, in cooperation with the College of Engineering, the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, the School of Public Health, and the Medical School is initiating a competition for funds to support the expansion of interdisciplinary research in Nanoscale Science and Engineering.
Read NSEI Announcment
[Download this RFP]
- Background: The federal National Nanotechnology Initiative states that nanotechnology is likely to be "as socially transforming as running water, electricity, antibiotics, plastics and the integrated circuit," and this social transformation is already taking place. The Nanobusiness Alliance forecasts that the nanotechnology market will reach $225 Billion by 2005. According to the National Science Foundation, the global market for nanotechnology-related products and services will reach $1 trillion by 2015. Major research universities across the nation, including Harvard, Princeton, MIT, Purdue, Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt, Arizona State, and the University of California system, have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in establishing infrastructure to support collaborative faculty research in this far-reaching area of study.
The University of Michigan has been actively engaged in nanoscience and technology research and has demonstrated leadership in the specific areas of nanoelectronics, nanomedicine and nanomaterials. An advisory committee of faculty worked during the past year to formulate a long-term plan for the growth of nanoscience and technology research at Michigan, and their effort led to the creation of the Nanoscale Science and Engineering Initiative (NSEI). The overall goal of the initiative is to thrust Michigan to the forefront of NSE research, both nationally and internationally, by rapidly expanding current research and enhancing Michigan's competitiveness for extramural support. Consequently, the Vice President for Research and the Deans of the College of Engineering, School of Public Health, Medical School, and the College of Literature Science and the Arts are sponsoring the University of Michigan Nanoscale Science and Engineering Initiative (NSEI). The goal of this initiative is to promote nanoscience and engineering prominence at the university. The initiative will focus on three major areas that have been identified as particular strengths within the University: nanomaterials, nanoelectronics, nanobiotechnology.
- Initiative strategies: The purpose of this initiative is to improve our faculty's ability to compete for and conduct large-scale research efforts in nanoscience and nanotechnology. There are three ways in which university resources will be used to enhance Michigan's competitive position:
- Faculty Recruitment: In order to target faculty hires in nanoelectronics, nanomaterials, and nanobiotechnology, OVPR will work jointly with individual schools and colleges by providing up to 50% of the new hire's 9-month salary for the first three years and up to 50% of the necessary start-up funds. The OVPR contribution will not exceed $300k of the startup funds.
- Support for Proposal Preparation: Funds will be provided to conduct targeted research efforts that are directed toward the preparation of upcoming major interdisciplinary proposals. In particular, NSEI funds are expected to foster and strengthen collaboration and encourage risk-taking that enables the team of faculty to increase their competitiveness for major research centers. The amount and duration of the funding will be sufficient to provide preliminary results that will increase the competitiveness of proposed research efforts.
- Equipment and Infrastructure Development: Cost sharing support for purchases of major equipment or for development of laboratory infrastructure will be provided. This support will be used to augment the standard levels of institutional and School or College cost sharing currently available, rather than substitute for it.
- Overall Support: Total Funding for the NSEI will be $10M, with approximately $2M in FY05, $4M in FY06, $2M in FY07, and $2M in FY08. Half of the funding is provided by OVPR, with each approved expenditure item matched 1:1 with the participating School or College.
- Timing: Proposals to the NSE Steering Committee will be accepted throughout the year. We will strive to make funding decisions quickly, and our goal will be to have the final decision provided within 30 working days of the proposal submission for proposal preparation support and equipment cost sharing, and within 10 working days for faculty start-up support.
- Eligibility: The NSEI welcomes proposals from collaborating groups of faculty who have a shared vision for a major program in NSE and have developed plans to compete for a major research center such as National Science Foundation supported Engineering Research Centers (ERC), Science and Technology Centers (STC), Materials Research Centers (MRSEC), Nanoscale Science and Engineering Centers (NSEC), and other major centers. Support for smaller efforts on the scale of NSF Nanoscale Interdisciplinary Research Teams (NIRT) and Nanoscale Exploratory Research (NER) grants will also be considered, but will receive lower priority.
- Proposal Guidelines: Proposals must demonstrate how NSEI funds, when combined with existing research strengths at the University of Michigan, will better position the University to compete for a major research center in the areas of Nanomaterials, Nanoelectronics, and Nanobiotechnology. Proposals for activities outside these areas are welcome, but must be compelling and must show evidence of strong core programs and national competitiveness.
The requests for proposal-preparation support, equipment or facility upgrades should consist of the following elements. [Proposals for faculty start-up support will be coordinated with Research Associate Dean of the recruiting unit.] - A cover sheet. The cover sheet should list (i) the project title, (ii) the applicant's name and title, (iii) the applicant's address, fax, and phone numbers, (iv) the applicant's e-mail address, (v) the name and affiliation of key collaborators.
- A description of the existing NSE strength and activities. The investigators should describe their current level of research (funded projects, number of student, laboratory activities, publications, etc.) in NSE and any other information that will demonstrated expertise in NSE.
- A technical description of the proposed research objectives. A detailed description of the proposed proposal preparation funding and/or equipment and facilities cost should be provided, not to exceed 5 pages.
- An evaluation of potential external research support. The investigator should explain how the requested support would enhance interdisciplinary research activity in NSE and increase the prospects for significant external research support. The proposal should outline specific sources of external research support that will be targeted as a result of the proposed research effort.
- The proposed budget and schedule. The proposed budget should show and justify planned expenditures in the broad categories of (i) salaries, wages, and fringe benefits, (ii) supplies and services, (iii) equipment, and (iv) travel, and (v) miscellaneous expenses. The proposed schedule should show important milestones and the planned completion date.
- A description of the key research team members. The resumes of the principal investigator and other key personnel should be included.
- Statement of Cost Sharing Support. A letter of support detailing the level of cost sharing commitment from the Colleges and/or Schools of the participating investigators should be included. If this is a proposal to a sponsor, cost sharing should be negotiated through the normal channels such that the NSEI cost sharing component will augment the normal level of cost sharing rather than merely substitute for the expected unit and OVPR cost sharing amounts).
- Point of Contact: Two hard and one electronic copy of the proposal should be sent to:
Nanoscale Science and Engineering Initiative
Questions regarding the details of proposal preparation should be sent to:
Office of the Vice President for Research
4080 Fleming Building -1340
Steven Ceccio, Associate Vice President for Research
e-mail: ceccio@umich.edu
phone: 936-3933 - Review of Proposals: Proposals submitted to the NSEI will be reviewed by members of the NSEI Steering Committee. The Steering Committee will then make funding recommendations to the NSEI Executive Committee. The Executive Committee will make the final funding decisions.
- Review of Funded Research Efforts: The expenditures of the funded research and cost sharing will be periodically reviewed to determine if expenditures generally conform to the proposed budget and timeline. The NSEI Steering Committee will annually review research efforts extending beyond one year, and continued support will be contingent upon a positive review. At the conclusion of the NSEI supported research, the investigator will be asked to report to the Steering Committee on (i) the technical results of the research effort and (ii) the status of any continuing or proposed externally funded research efforts that resulted from the proposal preparation funding.
- Confidentiality and Conflict of Interest: Proposals submitted to the NSEI will be treated as confidential documents. Members of the Steering or Executive Committee will be able to review all proposals. Committee members of the NSEI may submit proposals, but they and their collaborators will not take part in the review process of their own proposals.
- Selection Criteria: Proposals for proposal preparation funding and cost sharing will be judged against the following criteria:
- What is the intellectual merit of the proposed activity? How important are the proposed activities, equipment, and/or facilities to advancing knowledge and understanding within its own field or across different fields? How well qualified are the proposers to conduct the project? How well conceived is the proposed activity?
- Does the proposal identify a realistic goal for securing major outside funding? What are the prospects that the proposed activity will result in longer term external funding? What external funding sources and programs have been targeted, and how realistic are these targets? How will the support lead to the formation of large-scale research activity in nanoscience and engineering?
- Will a successful outcome of this proposal and the identified external funding opportunity constitute a major advance for Michigan in NSE?
- Does the proposal build on existing strengths of the University of Michigan? Would the proposal lead to increased interactions across campus?
- Do the proposers have a demonstrated record of collaboration and successful research activity in nanoscience?
- Is the participation by the faculty of different units sufficiently balanced to maximize their competitiveness for a major research center?
The NSEI will be administered through two committees. A Steering Committee will develop proposal guidelines and oversee proposal review. Professor Steven Ceccio, Associate Vice President for Research, will chair the committee. The members will include faculty active in nanoscience and engineering and research associate deans from the most NSE-active schools and colleges. The NSEI Executive Committee will develop policy, approve funding commitments, and take up other strategy questions raised by the Steering Committee. Fawwaz Ulaby, Vice President for Research, will chair the Executive Committee. The members will include the deans of the Medical School, the College of Engineering, the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, and the School of Public Health.
The National Science Foundation and other external sponsors frequently limit the number of NSE proposals that may be submitted by a research institution. OVPR will work within the NSEI to solicit white papers from the faculty and identify prospective teams of faculty who will respond to the calls for large-scale research centers. Our goal will be to make institutional selections early in the process, and to assist the selected team in creating a competitive proposal.
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Steering Committee
The steering committee of the NSEI will consist of the following persons:
Steven Ceccio (Chair), Associate Vice President for Research, Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Professor of Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering, College of Engineering
James Baker Jr., Ruth Dow Doan Professor of Biologic Nanotechnology, Professor of Internal Medicine, Chief, Division of Allergy and Associate Professor of Pathology, and Professor of Biomedical Engineering
Pallab Bhattacharya, Charles M Vest Distinguished University Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, James R Mellor Professor of Engineering and Professor of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, College of Engineering
Rodney Ewing, Donald R Peacor Collegiate Professor of Geological Sciences, College of Literature, Science and the Arts; Professor of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Science, Professor Material Science and Engineering, College of Engineering
Sharon Glotzer, Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering, Associate Professor of Materials Science and Engineering and Associate Professor of Macromolecular & Engineering, College of Engineering and Associate Professor of Physics, College of Literature, Science and the Arts
Theodore Norris, Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, College of Engineering
Bradford Orr, Professor of Physics and Director, Applied Physics Program, College of Literature, Science and the Arts
Stella Pang, Associate Dean for Graduate Education and professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, College of Engineering
Martin Philbert, Associate Dean for Research and Professor of Toxicology, Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health
Raymond Ruddon Jr., Professor of Pharmacology and Senior Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies, Medical School
Gary Was, Associate Dean for Graduate Research, Professor of Materials Science and Engineering and Professor of Nuclear & Radiological Science, College of Engineering
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