Chemical and physical processes that operate under spatial confinement often exhibit complex, interesting, and poorly understood variations in chemical properties and physical dynamics. Many such systems are intrinsically nonlinear and dynamic, often involving simultaneous reaction, diffusion and convection and/or chemical processes far from equilibrium. Improved experimental and computational tools are needed to predict how variations over the confinement length scale affect the overall dynamics and efficiency of large-scale processes. Much of the needed research requires synergistic efforts among those versed in the applications and experts in measurement techniques, modelling methods, and data analysis.
Proposals eligible to apply for this lead agency activity will need to have a research focus relevant to the topic areas identified above.
Proposals will be reviewed by either NSF or DFG as the lead agency, depending on where the largest proportion of research lies. Proposals must provide a clear rationale for the need for a US-German collaboration, including the unique expertise and synergy that the collaborating groups will bring to the project.
For applicants to be invited to submit a formal proposal, an Expression of Interest (EOI) is required and should be submitted to the prospective lead agency no later than 29 November 2021, 5pm local time.
Upon confirmation from both funding organisations that the collaborative research proposal is appropriate for the NSF-DFG Confine solicitation, the lead agency will contact the researchers to inform them that they may submit a full research proposal.
All full research proposals must be submitted by 7 March 2022, 5pm local time (for first-time users of the DFG’s online submission system “elan” pre-registration is necessary by 21 February 2022).
