Project Grant 2543030
- Federal Grant Award Summary Texas A&M University received a $556,772 Project Grant from the National Science Foundation's Division of Earth Sciences (Geosciences program, CFDA 47.050) awarded August 1, 2025, with completion targeted for July 31, 2028. The project investigates the geologic controls on critical mineral and rare earth element deposits in the Colorado Mineral Belt, specifically examining the Ouray Stock and surrounding areas near a historic gold mining district in Ouray,...
- This $350,000 Project Grant award from the National Science Foundation's Geosciences (CFDA 47.050) program will enable researchers at The Washington University to investigate the biogeochemical processes affecting critical mineral resources in mine tailings and weathered ore zones in the United States. The primary research focus is characterizing rare earth elements in iron oxide-apatite and carbonatite ore waste materials, as well as platinum group elements in weathered ore zones, using...
- Federal Project Grant Award Summary The National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Chemistry awarded $850,000 to the University of Denver under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences program (CFDA 47.049) on July 15, 2025, to support a five-year CAREER project led by Dr. Allegra Aron. The project will identify and characterize small molecules (chelators) produced by soil and plant-associated bacteria that bind to lanthanide (LN) metals, including lanthanum and neodymium. Through liquid...
- This $451,225 Project Grant awarded by the National Science Foundation's Geosciences Program (CFDA 47.050) to the University of Kentucky Research Foundation will support collaborative research to explore new sources of rare earth elements (REEs) in the Southeastern U.S. The project aims to investigate the provenance and delivery of the REE-bearing mineral monazite from the Appalachian Mountains to the Atlantic Coastal Plain. Researchers will utilize advanced analytical techniques such as mass...
- Federal Grant Award Summary Kent State University received a $833,125 Project Grant from the National Science Foundation's Division of Earth Sciences (CFDA 47.050 - Geosciences program) effective September 1, 2025, through August 31, 2028. The award supports research evaluating hydrogeochemical controls on rare earth element (REE) and yttrium mobility during rock weathering across multiple spatial scales. The project investigates how acid mine drainage (AMD) from coal mining...
- Federal Project Grant Award Summary The National Science Foundation's Division of Materials Research awarded a five-year CAREER (Careers in Research and Education) Project Grant totaling $478,361 to the University of Texas at Dallas under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences program (CFDA 47.049), effective February 15, 2026 through January 31, 2031. Under the direction of Prof. Kyle McCall, this award funds research to characterize the local atomic structure of soft metal halide and...
- Federal Project Grant Award Summary The National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Earth Sciences awarded $326,896 to the University of California, Los Angeles, effective July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2031, under the Geosciences program (CFDA 47.050). This CAREER grant supports fundamental research investigating dynamic rebound basins—sedimentary basins formed by subsidence and rebound processes driven by gravitational instability in Earth's lower lithosphere. The project will evaluate...
- Federal Project Grant Award Summary Utah State University received a $362,421 Project Grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Ocean Sciences under the Geosciences program (CFDA 47.050), effective April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2031. This CAREER award funds research to advance understanding of the ancient carbon cycle through analysis of siliceous deep-sea sediments and microfossils. The project delivers three intersecting research approaches: (1) development and calibration...
- Federal Grant Award Summary North Carolina State University received a $469,380 Project Grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Office of Integrative Activities under the Geosciences program (CFDA 47.050), awarded August 1, 2026, with completion targeted for July 31, 2031. The award funds development of an integrated macrogeomorphic reconstruction framework that combines landscape evolution modeling with sediment provenance analysis to assess critical mineral resources along the North...
- Federal Grant Award Summary The University of Texas at Austin received a $315,000 Project Grant from the National Science Foundation's Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems under the Engineering program (CFDA 47.041) on September 1, 2025, with completion targeted for August 31, 2028. This collaborative research project develops advanced polymeric membranes designed to improve the recovery of critical mineral ions from aqueous waste and process streams. The...
The National Science Foundation's Office of Integrative Activities awarded $583,449 to the University of Texas at Austin for a five-year CAREER grant (August 1, 2026 – July 31, 2031) supporting research on rare earth element (REE) transport in carbonatite magmatic systems. The project delivers two primary products: (1) a quantitative modeling framework integrating high-temperature laboratory experiments with thermodynamic and petrologic modeling to simulate REE behavior under realistic geological conditions, providing predictive tools for interpreting mineralization processes and supporting discovery of new REE deposits; and (2) an interactive, software-supported educational platform that translates complex REE concentration concepts into inquiry-based learning modules designed to strengthen student skills in quantitative reasoning and data analysis. The research directly addresses critical resource security needs by advancing scientific understanding of how rare earth elements—essential for smartphones, electric vehicles, and wind turbines—concentrate in nature, thereby improving the capability to discover new sources and support responsible resource development. The grant falls under the NSF Geosciences program (CFDA 47.050), which supports basic research in earth sciences and related disciplines through investigator-initiated Project Grants that typically range from $24,000 to $775,000. The dual research-education focus exemplifies CAREER program objectives to integrate scientific discovery with curriculum development and workforce preparation.Federal Project Grant Award Summary
Mod # | Description | ReasonForModification | Federal Obligation | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Not listed | $583.4k | 6/30/26 |