To: BNC Faculty and Other Interested Parties Re: New NSF solicitation for NanoSystems ERCs In the next few weeks, NSF will be issuing an RFP for a special round of ERC proposals devoted to NanoSystems. NSF expects to create three new Engineering Research Centers in a special, odd-year cycle that will result in awards in September 2011. This is a unique situation for several reasons: (1) unlike the typical "open" solicitation, the topic is restricted, (2) the selection timeline is extremely short (40-page full proposals only, no pre-proposals), and (3) funding is not contingent on passage of the FY2011 budget, since the funds are coming from phase-out of existing NSECs. This is a unique opportunity for Purdue, but time is of the essence. The key is to define a suitable, compelling topic, then form an unbeatable team by enlisting the top people in the country. This needs to be done BEFORE competing teams begin to nucleate elsewhere, preferably before the RRP hits the streets. It is important to realize that the ERC has a SYSTEMS focus. It must address a compelling national need from the TOP DOWN, i.e. the national need is the driver, and the appropriate science and technology is selected based on its relevance to the systems need. As far as we can determine, any national grand challenge that can be addressed by nanotechnology could be considered. Some possible examples might include (these are my thoughts, they did not come from NSF): (1) Nanoelectronics beyond Moore's Law (exploring all-spin logic, graphene, topological insulators, excitonic devices, collective phenomena, etc.) (2) Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (photovoltaics, thermoelectrics, nanoparticles for batteries or supercapacitors, MEMs devices for energy harvesting, etc.) (3) Advances in Life Sciences (nanoparticles for in-vivo imaging, directed cancer therapy, drug delivery; implantable biomedical systems; electronic-neural interfaces; etc.). To provide more details, an informal briefing and open discussion will be held Tuesday from 3:00 - 4:30 in BRK-2001. Anyone interested in leading a team, or being part of a team, is invited to attend. -- Jim ~ Monica M. Cortez Allain, Ph.D. ~ ************************************************************ Monica M. Cortez Allain, Ph.D. Managing Director Birck Nanotechnology Center 1205 W. State Street West Lafayette, IN 47907-2057 Phone: (765) 494-5138 Fax: (765) 496-8299 ************************************************************