Federal Grant Award Summary

Columbia University received a $495,000 Project Grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Materials Research under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences program (CFDA 47.049), awarded July 1, 2026, with completion targeted for June 30, 2029. The grant funds research to establish predictive design principles for solid polymer electrolytes by systematically connecting molecular architecture to ion transport behavior and interfacial performance. The research team will design new families of polymers with controlled molecular variations, measure how each variation affects ion transport mechanisms and electrode surface behavior, and employ machine learning platforms for polymer informatics populated with laboratory data to identify general rules linking polymer chemical structure to real-world performance.

The project deliverables include fundamental scientific knowledge governing ion movement through polymer electrolytes applicable to wearable and implantable health sensors, next-generation batteries, and advanced mineral recovery membranes. The research strengthens U.S. domestic manufacturing capabilities in advanced materials and semiconductors while advancing artificial intelligence applications in materials science. Additionally, the award supports graduate student training in modern polymer chemistry and machine-learning-guided discovery, and funds continuation of the March Materials Madness outreach program, which delivers hands-on materials science demonstrations to elementary and middle school students to broaden participation in science.