Materials Research Science and Engineering Center Renewal Competition

The Center for Nanoscale Science, Penn State’s NSF Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC), will compete for renewal in 2019, with the preproposal due at NSF in June. NSF expects substantial change in the focus and composition of the interdisciplinary research groups (IRGs) that will comprise the renewal proposal.

A talk will be held on Monday, January 7, at 12:00 PM in S-5 Osmond to describe:

1. the internal down select competition to become one of the IRGs in the renewal proposal,
2. the events, people, and resources that will be available throughout the winter and early spring to help teams in generating compelling IRG white papers,
3. the key measures of a successful IRG proposal.

Alignment to the NSF Big Ideas is important: these include (among others) Rules of Life, Harnessing the Data Revolution, Quantum Leap, Convergence, and Multi-messenger Astrophysics. Sustainability is another important theme. In the last cycle, 54 external review were secured on 9 internal IRG white papers, to identify 5 for inclusion in the renewal.

If you are interested but unable to attend, Vin Crespi, MRSEC director, is available anytime for discussion at vhc2@psu.edu.