Theoretical and Computational Astrophysics Networks

Post Date

November 5th 2012

Application Due Date

February 14th 2013

Submission Window Date(s) (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time): February 01, 2013 - February 14, 2013

Funding Opportunity Number

13-512

CFDA Number(s)

43.001
47.049

Funding Instrument Type(s)

Grant

Funding Activity Categories

Science and Technology and other Research and Development

Number of Awards

6

Eligibility Categories

Other

*Organization Limit: Proposals may only be submitted by the following: -For-profit organizations: U.S. commercial organizations, especially small businesses with strong capabilities in scientific or engineering research or education. -Non-profit, non-academic organizations: Independent museums, observatories, research labs, professional societies and similar organizations in the U.S. associated with educational or research activities. -Other Federal Agencies and Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs): Contact the appropriate program before preparing a proposal for submission. -Universities and Colleges - Universities and two- and four-year colleges (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members. Such organizations also are referred to as academic institutions. *PI Limit: FFRDCs (including those funded by NSF) and NASA centers will be eligible to submit proposals as components of multi-institution collaborative sets. Proposals from non-NSF-funded FFRDCs or NASA centerswill be eligible for funding only by NASA. In order for any component of a collaborative project to be eligible for NSF funding, the lead proposal of the collaborative set must be from an organization that is eligible for NSF funding. Thus, all components of a collaborative project in which the lead proposal is from a non-NSF-funded FFRDC or NASA center will be eligible for funding only by NASA. Proposals from FFRDCs must obey NSF budget guidelines and may not include costs already covered by federal funds.

Funding

• Estimated Total Funding:

  $3000000

• Award Range:

  $None - $None

Grant Description

The New Worlds, New Horizons report of the Astro2010 Decadal Survey observed that key challenges in theoretical astrophysics "are of a scale and complexity that require sustained, multi-institutional collaborations," but that there was "no mechanism to support these coordinated efforts at the needed level in the US." NSF's Division of Astronomical Sciences (AST) and NASA's Astrophysics Division (APD) agree that theory and computation are highly complementary "pillars of science," and that major progress in one can enable progress in the other. NSF/AST and NASA/APD have therefore initiated the Theoretical and Computational Astrophysics Networks (TCAN) program with the following goals:To support coordinated efforts in fundamental theory and computational techniques in order to make groundbreaking advances in astrophysics;To strengthen theoretical and computational astrophysics in the US by uniting researchers in collaborative networks that cross institutional and geographical divides; andTo advance the training of the future workforce of theoretical and computational scientists.A network is a combination of nodes and connections. A node is a group of researchers at an existing institution, along with the local resources (e.g., computational, educational, communications) that sustain them. A connection is a significant exchange of expertise or capabilities between nodes (e.g., exchange of personnel, web-based training, sharing of access to resources). Multiple connections between nodes, that enable an integrated and focused collaborative effort, constitute a network. The TCAN program will support research networks with 3 or more nodes at distinct institutions. Proposals must demonstrate clear management structure and clear protocols for communication, planning, distribution of effort, and tracking of progress. Supported projects will develop new theoretical and/or computational paradigms directly addressing key "frontier" questions in astrophysics. In cases where code will be produced for community use, projects will develop a transition plan to maintain and sustain it.TCAN projects are expected to target fundamental issues in theoretical and computational astrophysics and to display a depth and breadth of concept qualitatively beyond those typical of the existing NSF Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Grants (AAG) and NASA Astrophysics Theory Program (ATP) programs. Prospective proposers are strongly urged to contact the cognizant program officers in either or both agencies to discuss the suitability of their projects for the TCAN program before preparing their proposals.

Contact Information

• Agency

  National Science Foundation

• Office:

  None

• Agency Contact:

  NSF grants.gov support
  grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov
  

• Agency Mailing Address:

  If you have any problems linking to this funding announcement, please contact

• Agency Email Address:

  grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov

• More Information:

  NSF Publication 13-512