Unlock Funding for Heat & Mass Transfer Innovations!

The Thermal Transport Processes program supports engineering research aimed at gaining a basic understanding of the microscopic and macroscopic levels of thermal transport phenomena (heat and mass transfer) in energy conversion and conservation, the synthesis and processing of materials, cooling and heating of infrastructure and equipment, the interaction of industrial processes with the environment, the propulsion of air and land-based vehicles, and thermal phenomena in biological and environmental systems. The program supports fundamental research and engineering education in transport processes that are driven by thermal gradients, and manipulation of these processes to achieve engineering goals. Currently, basic research in conduction and convection heat and mass transfer with and without phase change, heat and mass transfer at nano- and molecular scales, radiative transport, and the fundamental characterization of material properties important to these processes are especially relevant to this program. Priority is given to insightful investigations of fundamental problems with broad engineering and societal impact, and to novel use of heat and mass transfer principles to meet the engineering needs of the nation.

Examples of critical fundamental areas include, but are not limited to: Thermal transport in energy conversion and conservation processes, including environmental interactions Heat and mass transfer at length and/or time scales from the molecular to the continuum, including applications in energy conversion and conservation, biotechnology, microelectronics, and biochemical detection The fundamental understanding of the interaction of energetic beams, such as produced by lasers, with solid, liquid or porous surfaces in advanced meso-, micro- and nano-manufacturing Proposals should address the novelty of the concept being proposed, compared to previous work in the field. Also, it is important to address why the novelty might be important in terms of engineering science, as well as to also project the potential impact on society and /or industry of success in the research. The information requested in this paragraph should be included, as a minimum, in the Project Summary of each proposal.The duration of unsolicited awards is generally one to three years. The average annual award size for the program is $100,000.

Small equipment proposals of less than $100,000 will also be considered and may be submitted during these windows. Any proposal received outside the announced dates will be returned without review.The duration of Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program awards is five years. The submission deadline for Engineering CAREER proposals is in July every year. Please see the following URL for more information:http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503214 Proposals for Conferences, Workshops, and Supplements may be submitted at any time, but must be discussed with the program director before submission.

Grants for Rapid Response Research (RAPID) and EArly-concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER) replace the SGER program. Please note that proposals of these types must be discussed with the program director before submission. Further details are available in the PAPPG download..