Division of Physics: Investigator-Initiated Research Projects | 23 615

Opportunity Information: Apply for 23 615

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Physics (PHY) grant opportunity, titled "Division of Physics: Investigator-Initiated Research Projects" (Funding Opportunity Number 23-615), supports investigator-driven physics research and workforce development across U.S. colleges and universities and other eligible organizations. The program is designed to fund a wide spectrum of experimental and theoretical research, covering physics across enormous ranges of scale in space and time, from the largest and oldest phenomena in the universe to the smallest and most fundamental. In addition to advancing scientific discovery, the solicitation emphasizes the preparation and training of future scientists, reinforcing the role of research projects in mentoring students and strengthening the national STEM talent pipeline.

PHY organizes support around major disciplinary areas, and proposals generally align with one of its core programs. The listed subfields include Atomic, Molecular and Optical (AMO) Physics; Elementary Particle Physics; Gravitational Physics (including LIGO Research Support); Integrative Activities in Physics; Nuclear Physics; Particle Astrophysics; Physics at the Information Frontier; Physics of Living Systems; Plasma Physics; and Quantum Information Science. Applicants can propose either theoretical or experimental work depending on the program area, and the solicitation explicitly spans both approaches across multiple subfields.

A notable priority highlighted in the opportunity is broader participation in physics. Principal Investigators are encouraged to incorporate concrete efforts that increase diversity in the physics community and broaden participation of groups historically under-represented in STEM. While the solicitation does not prescribe a single required model for these activities in the provided text, it signals that thoughtfully designed inclusion, recruitment, mentoring, and training components are welcome and encouraged as part of project planning.

NSF PHY also provides process guidance aimed at reducing fragmented submissions. The Division strongly encourages investigators to submit a single proposal for potential co-review rather than submitting multiple, closely related proposals to different PHY programs. If a PI is considering submitting more than one proposal under this solicitation, or already holds an active PHY award, the Division recommends consulting the relevant program officer(s) before investing significant effort in proposal preparation. The notice clarifies that this particular caution does not apply to submissions or awards through NSF MRI, REU, and/or center programs, nor to renewal proposals.

Deadline timing depends on the specific program area, with full proposals due by 5:00 p.m. local time of the submitter. Plasma Physics proposals are due the third Monday in November. AMO (theory and experiment), Gravitational Physics (theory and experiment), LIGO Research Support, and Integrative Activities in Physics are due the fourth Wednesday in November. Elementary Particle Physics (experiment) and Particle Astrophysics (experiment) are due the first Tuesday in December. Nuclear Physics (theory and experiment), Elementary Particle Physics (theory), Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology (theory), Physics of Living Systems, and Quantum Information Science are due the second Tuesday in December. The source record also lists an "OriginalClosingDate" of 2024-12-10, which corresponds to the second Tuesday in December cycle for that year.

Eligibility is broad and includes multiple organization types. Eligible applicants include U.S.-based Institutions of Higher Education (two- and four-year, including community colleges) submitting on behalf of faculty; U.S.-based for-profit organizations (including small businesses) with strong research or education capabilities; non-profit, non-academic organizations such as museums, observatories, research labs, and professional societies; state and local governments such as state education offices and local school districts; Tribal Nations that are federally recognized under the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act; and, with prior coordination, other federal agencies and Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs). Foreign organizations may also submit, but for cooperative projects involving U.S. and foreign partners, NSF support is limited to the U.S. portion of the work. For proposals involving funding to an international branch campus of a U.S. institution (including via subawards or consultants), the proposer must explain the benefits of performing work at the branch campus and justify why the activities cannot be carried out at the U.S. campus.

From the source data, the opportunity is a discretionary grant under CFDA 47.049 (Physics), administered by the National Science Foundation, and categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development. The listing does not provide an award ceiling or expected number of awards in the text shown, implying applicants should consult the full solicitation and program guidance for typical award sizes, durations, and portfolio expectations by subfield.

• The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Division of Physics: Investigator-Initiated Research Projects" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.049.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-08-11.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-12-10. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

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