FOA-AFRL-AFOSR-2024-0007 DEPSCoR-RC.pdf

AIR FORCE OFFICE OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT #

FOA-AFRL-AFOSR-2024-0007

FY24 DEFENSE ESTABLISHED PROGRAM TO STIMULATE

COMPETITIVE RESEARCH (DEPSCoR) –

RESEARCH COLLABORATION (RC)

OVERVIEW INFORMATION

The Department of Defense (DoD) announces the fiscal year 2024 (FY24) Defense Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (DEPSCoR) – Research Collaboration (RC) opportunity. The program is sponsored and managed by the Basic Research Office, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD [R&E]), awarded by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), and administered through the Office of Naval Research (ONR). The DoD plans to award FY24 DEPSCoR appropriations through this announcement.

DEPSCoR's objectives are to: (1) increase the number of university researchers in eligible States/Territories capable of performing science and engineering (S&E research responsive to the needs of the DoD; and (2) enhance the capabilities of institutions of higher education (IHE) in eligible States/Territories (listed below) to develop, plan, and execute (S&E) research that is relevant to the mission of the DoD, and competitive under the peer-review systems used for awarding Federal research assistance; (3) increase the probability of long-term growth in the competitively awarded financial assistance that IHE in eligible States receive from the Federal Government for S&E research.

Consistent with these long-term objectives of building research infrastructure, the DoD intends to competitively make, and fund from fiscal year 2024 appropriations, multiyear awards for S&E research in areas relevant to the DoD’s mission and important to national security.

This funding opportunity aims to create basic research collaborations between a pair of researchers, namely 1) Applicant/Principal Investigator (PI), henceforth referred to as

Applicant, a full-time faculty member who has never served as a PI on a prior DoD directly funded research Prime award and 2) Collaborator/co-Principal Investigator (co- PI), henceforth referred to as Collaborator, an investigator who will provide mentorship to the Applicant and has served as a PI on a DoD directly funded research Prime award actively between 1 October 2017 and 30 September 2024. This structure is aimed at introducing potential applicants to the DoD’s unique research challenges and its supportive research ecosystem.

Prime award defined in the context of this announcement is the DoD legal instrument (assistance or acquisition) that a Principal Investigator receives directly from a DoD awarding agency and not indirectly from a non-DoD pass-through entity to carry out scientific research.

You are eligible to apply as the Applicant under the DEPSCoR-RC FOA as long as you were NOT listed as the Principal Investigator on a previous DoD funded research award and are a full-time faculty member in a tenured or tenure track position in a DEPSCoR eligible State/Territory. Being a “Co-PI” or “sub-PI” on a prior DoD funded award does not count as being a “PI” for the purposes of eligibility of the Applicant for the DEPSCoR-RC FOA.

The DEPSCoR-RC White Paper package must include prior research award documentation which indicates that the Collaborator was a PI on a previous DoD directly funded research Prime award between 1 October 2017 and 30 September 2024. If the Collaborator is not identified as the PI within the award document, a letter from the awarding agency point of contact should be furnished supporting the assertion within the timeframe identified.

The Collaborator must have served as a Principal Investigator on a directly funded DoD research Prime award during the eligibility period and not have been subcontracted by other PIs, non-DoD entities, or companies as a Co-Principal Investigator. Subawards indirectly funded by the DoD where the Collaborator has served as a Co-Principal Investigator do not count as eligible criteria for the Collaborator for the purposes of this funding opportunity announcement.

The flow charts below serve as a guide for determining Applicant and

Collaborator eligibility. Each diamond shape is an eligibility criterion question which elicits either a “yes” or “no” response. You are not eligible to submit a White Paper or Full Proposal if any “yes” or “no” response leads to the “Not eligible” outcome. Submissions found to be “Not eligible” will not be subject to technical review. You are not eligible to submit a White Paper or Full Proposal if you do not meet this requirement.

Tenured or tenure-track faculty members with appointments at IHE, in the following States/Territories are eligible to apply for DEPSCoR opportunities under this announcement: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, U.S. Virgin Islands, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Hyperlinks have been embedded within this document and appear as underlined, and blue-colored words in the midst of paragraphs. The reader may “jump” to the linked section within this document by “clicking” (CTRL + CLICK or CLICK).

SUMMARY OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY INFORMATION

1. FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY NAME

Air Force Office of Scientific Research 875 North Randolph Street, STE 325, Room 3112 Arlington, VA 22203

2. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY TITLE

Defense Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (DEPSCoR) – Research Collaboration (RC)

3. ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE

Initial Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA)

4. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER

FOA-AFRL-AFOSR-2024-0007

5. CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA)

NUMBER(S)

12.431 – Basic Scientific Research

6. KEY DATES

Schedule of Events

Event Date Eastern Time RunGrants website open for White Paper submission

(https://dod-basicresearch.nvision.noblis.org/program/depscor) Tuesday, 16 April 2024 9:00 AM

DEPSCoR Webinar For details and registration, please visit

(https://dod-basicresearch.nvision.noblis.org/program/depscor) Tuesday, 16 April 2024 1:00 - 3:00 PM

RunGrants Registration (strongly suggested by)

Cut-off date for Q&As with Program Officers Thursday, 20 June 2024 NLT 11:59 PM

White Paper and Supporting Documentation submission on RunGrants website (https://dod-basicresearch.nvision.noblis.org/program/depscor)

(required by) Monday, 24 June 2024 NLT 11:59 PM

Notification of White Paper Selection Friday, 6 September 2024 NLT 11:59 PM Full Proposal Submission (by invitation only) electronically on

Grants.gov website (submitted by)

Monday, 25 November 2024 NLT 11:59 PM

Notification of Selection for Award Monday, 17 March 2025 NLT 11:59 PM https://dod-basicresearch.nvision.noblis.org/program/depscor https://www.grants.gov/

Table of Contents

I. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

A. OBJECTIVES

B. COLLABORATION COMPOSITION

C. TOPICS

Topic 1: Natural Materials and Systems Topic 2: Atomic and Molecular Physics Topic 3: Mathematical Optimization Topic 4: GHz – THz Electronics and Materials Topic 5: Fluid Dynamics Topic 6: Polymer Chemistry Topic 7: Information Processing and Fusion Topic 8: Physical Properties of Materials Topic 9: Novel, Fast-response, Infrared (IR) Detector Concepts Enabling Higher

Temperature Operation Topic 10: Vertical Cloud and Aerosol Profiling Topic 11: Multifunctional Marine Antifouling Surfaces Topic 12: Understanding Mind and Body Relationship Through Respiratory Control Topic 13: Novel Attachment Methods for Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastics

II. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

A. ADDITIONAL DEPSCoR FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

B. INELIGIBLE ENTITIES

C. COST SHARING OR MATCHING

D. OTHER

E. PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY SUMMARY

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION PROCESS

A. ONLINE REGISTRATION VIA RunGrants

B. WHITE PAPER AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTION SUBMISSION

C. CONTENT AND FORMAT OF THE WHITE PAPER

D. FULL PROPOSAL SUBMISSION PACKAGE

E. INFORMATION YOU MUST SUBMIT IF SELECTED FOR POSSIBLE AWARD

F. SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT (SAM) REGISTRATION, GRANTS

CERTIFICATIONS, UNIQUE ENTITY IDENTIFIER,AND CAGE CODE

G. SUBMISSION DATES AND TIMES

H. INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW

I. FUNDING RESTRICTIONS

V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

A. CRITERIA

B. REVIEW PROCESS

C. DISCLOSURE OF ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESSING BY CONTRACTOR

PERSONNEL

D. NO GUARANTEED AWARD

VI. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

A. WHITE PAPER SELECTION AND NONSELECTION NOTICES

B. AWARD NOTICES

C. ADMINISTRATIVE AND NATIONAL POLICY REQUIREMENTS

D. REPORTING

VII. AGENCY CONTACTS

A. TECHNICAL INQUIRIES AND QUESTIONS

B. GENERAL INQUIRIES AND QUESTIONS

C. PROGRAMMATIC QUESTIONS

VIII. OTHER INFORMATION

A. OMBUDSMAN

B. GRANTS OFFICERS AUTHORITY

C. ADDITIONAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

I. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

A. OBJECTIVES

The aim of DEPSCoR is to improve the research capabilities at institutions of higher education (IHE) in eligible States/Territories to perform competitive basic research in science and engineering that is relevant to the DoD mission and reflect national security priorities. As defined in the DoD Financial Management Regulation:

Basic research is systematic study directed toward greater knowledge or understanding of the fundamental aspects of phenomena and of observable facts without specific applications towards processes or products in mind. It includes all scientific study and experimentation directed toward increasing fundamental knowledge and understanding in those fields of the physical, engineering, environmental, and life sciences related to long-term national security needs. It is farsighted high payoff research that provides the basis for technological progress (DoD 7000.14-R, vol. 2B, chap. 5, para. 1.5.1)

The DoD’s basic research program invests broadly in many scientific fields to ensure that it has early cognizance of new scientific knowledge.

To address the program’s aim, DEPSCoR will focus on capacity building through human and technical resources by soliciting applications in a DEPSCoR – Research Collaboration (RC) competition. DEPSCoR – RC seeks proposals that advance knowledge in basic science involving bold and ambitious research that may lead to extraordinary outcomes such as disrupting accepted theories and perspectives.

Authority for a grant award under this announcement is established in 10 U.S.C. 4001 for basic research. Authority for DEPSCoR specifically was established in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1995, and has subsequently been amended and reauthorized over the years since (see specifically 10 U.S.C. 4010 referring to DEPSCoR in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024).

B. COLLABORATION COMPOSITION

This funding opportunity aims to create basic research collaborations between a pair of researchers, namely 1) Applicant/Principal Investigator https://comptroller.defense.gov/portals/45/documents/fmr/current/02b/02b_05.pdf https://comptroller.defense.gov/portals/45/documents/fmr/current/02b/02b_05.pdf https://uscode.house.gov/browse/prelim@title10/subtitleA/part5/subpartE/chapter301/subchapter1&edition=prelim https://uscode.house.gov/browse/prelim@title10/subtitleA/part5/subpartE/chapter301/subchapter1&edition=prelim https://uscode.house.gov/browse/prelim@title10/subtitleA/part5/subpartE/chapter301/subchapter1&edition=prelim

(PI), henceforth referred to as Applicant, a full-time faculty member who has never served as a PI on a prior DoD directly funded research Prime award and 2) Collaborator/co-Principal Investigator (co-PI), henceforth referred to as Collaborator, an investigator who will provide mentorship to the Applicant and has served as a PI on a DoD directly funded research Prime award actively between 1 October 2017 and 30 September 2024.

This structure is aimed at introducing potential applicants to the DoD’s unique research challenges and its supportive research ecosystem. Only one Applicant/Principal Investigator and one Collaborator/co-PI are allowed per application.

Applicants must be aware of the following eligibility criteria:

You are eligible to apply as the Applicant under the DEPSCoR-RC

FOA as long as you were NOT listed as the Principal Investigator on a previous DoD funded research award and are a full-time faculty member in a tenured or tenure track position in a DEPSCoR eligible State/Territory. Being a “Co-PI” or “sub-PI” on a prior DoD funded award does not count as being a “PI” for the purposes of eligibility of the Applicant for the DEPSCoR-RC FOA.

The DEPSCoR-RC White Paper package must include prior research award documentation which indicates that the Collaborator was a PI on a previous DoD directly funded research Prime award between 1 October 2017 and 30 September 2024. If the Collaborator is not identified as the PI within the award document, a letter from the awarding agency point of contact should be furnished supporting the

The Collaborator must have served as a Principal Investigator on a directly funded DoD research Prime award during the eligibility period and not have been subcontracted by other PIs, non-DoD entities, or companies as a Co-Principal Investigator. Subawards indirectly funded by the DoD where the Collaborator has served as a Co-Principal Investigator do not count as eligible criteria for the Collaborator for the purposes of this funding opportunity announcement.

The flow charts below serve as a guide for determining Applicant and

Collaborator eligibility. Each diamond shape is an eligibility criterion question which elicits either a “yes” or “no” response. You are not eligible to submit a White Paper or Full Proposal if any “yes” or “no” response leads to the “Not eligible” outcome. Submissions found to be “Not eligible” will not be subject to technical review. You are not eligible to submit a White Paper or Full Proposal if you do not meet this requirement.

FY24 DEPSCoR Applicant Eligibility

No

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

ELIGIBLE

Is the Applicant faculty at an IHE* in a DEPSCoR state?

Does the Applicant’s choice for Collaborator meet all DEPSCoR eligibility requirements?

Has the Applicant served as a Principal Investigator on a prior DoD directly funded research Prime award?

Is the Applicant in a tenured or tenure-track position?

Is there a qualifying letter from IHE* stating the Applicant will be considered for a tenured or tenure-track position?

NOT ELIGIBLE No

Yes

Start

* Institution of Higher Education (IHE) must be in a DEPSCOR eligible State/Territory and with an advanced degree granting program in science, mathematics, and/or engineering.

Yes

FY24 DEPSCoR Collaborator Eligibility

No

ELIGIBLE

Is the Collaborator faculty at an IHE* in a DEPSCoR state?

Is award period of performance between 1Oct2017 and 30Sept2024?

Yes

Is the Collaborator listed as PI directly on the award documentation?

Yes

Is the Collaborator listed on award documentation as a Co-PI, Sub-PI, Site Lead or designation other than PI?

Is award or Subaward granted directly to another PI or DoD contractor?

No

No

Can the Collaborator provide a Government POC that can confirm eligibility?

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Has the Collaborator been funded on a DoD Prime research award?

Yes

Is the Collaborator in a tenured or tenure-track position?

Is there a qualifying Letter from IHE* stating the Collaborator will be considered for a tenured or tenure-track position?

No

Yes

NOT ELIGIBLE

No

Yes

Is award granted directly to the Collaborator from the DoD?

Yes

Yes

No

Start

The Applicant is permitted to submit only one DEPSCoR-RC White Paper per this DEPSCoR-RC FOA. Each White Paper is permitted a single Applicant and a single Collaborator.

Collaborators are allowed to work with more than one Applicant and thus aren't restricted from participating in more than one White Paper. However, please note it is expected that Collaborators serve as a vital component of the proposed team and commit to providing time for research collaboration and mentorship throughout the entire process.

The website https://discover.dtic.mil/products-services/ is a non-comprehensive repository of government-funded scientific, technical, and engineering information for the DoD. Researchers and Applicants new to DoD are encouraged to visit the site as a starting point for identifying past and present DoD-funded researchers.

The Basic Research Office has also established a “Connect and Collaborate” site where prospective Applicants and Collaborators, seeking collaboration in this DEPSCoR opportunity can post their interest. Please see (https://dod-basicresearch.nvision.noblis.org/program/depscor) for more information. Posting your interest is NOT a requirement.

While each member of the collaboration should be in a tenure-track appointment or tenured at an IHE in DEPSCoR-eligible States/Territories, you do not need to be in the same State/Territory. Likewise, the Applicant and Collaborator can have appointments at the same IHE.

Proposals should name the Applicant as the PI and their IHE as the primary institution. Awards will be issued to the IHE where the Applicant resides. It is anticipated but not a requirement that the Collaborator will be funded through a sub-award. The Applicant IHE must receive greater than 50% of the funding. The relationship among participating institutions and their respective roles, as well as the apportionment of funds including sub-awards, if any, shall be described in both the proposal text and the budget.

All key personnel proposed must hold appointments at an IHE in a DEPSCoR eligible state. In addition to providing technical expertise to the project, the Collaborator is strongly encouraged to provide guidance and mentorship to the Applicant in the DoD application process.

In this announcement, the term “you/your” refers to the Applicant.

https://discover.dtic.mil/products-services/

C. TOPICS

The FY24 DEPSCoR – Research Collaboration competition seeks proposals addressing the topics listed below. You are strongly encouraged to contact the Topic Area Program Officer prior to submitting a White Paper, preferably by email to discuss the current state of the art in his/her area of interest and how your research would advance it. This information will be requested in the IV.C.4 White Paper Package.

SECTION Topic Number SERVICE TOPIC AREA PROGRAM OFFICER

I.C.1 1 Air Force Office of Scientific Research

(AFOSR)

Natural Materials and Systems Dr. Bennett Ibey

I.C.2 2 AFOSR Atomic and Molecular Physics Dr. Boyan Tabakov

I.C.3 3 AFOSR Mathematical Optimization Dr. Warren Adams I.C.4 4 AFOSR Ghz - Thz Electronics Dr. Kenneth C. Goretta

I.C.5 5 Army Research Office (ARO) Fluid Dynamics Dr. Jack R. Edwards

I.C.6 6 ARO Polymer Chemistry Dr. Robert H. Lambeth

I.C.7 7 ARO Information Processing and Fusion Dr. John S. Hyatt

I.C.8 8 ARO Physical Properties of Materials Dr. Katherine J. Duncan

I.C.9 9 Office of Naval Research (ONR)

Novel, fast-response, infrared (IR) detector concepts enabling higher temperature operation

Dr. Richard Espinola

I.C.10 10 ONR Vertical Cloud and Aerosol Profiling Dr. Josh Cossuth

I.C.11 11 ONR Multifunctional Marine Antifouling Surfaces Ms. Danielle Paynter

I.C.12 12 ONR

Understanding Mind and

Body Relationship Through Respiratory Control

Dr. Sandra Chapman

I.C.13 13 ONR

Novel Attachment Methods for Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastics

Mr. Bill Nickerson

Topic 1: Natural Materials and Systems

Program Description: Materials found in nature combine many inspiring properties such as multifunctionality, self-assembly and hierarchical organization, tolerance, resilience, and adaptability.

Biological molecules are also interesting to explore for their exquisite sensitivity, selectivity, and energy efficiency. The vision of this program is to elucidate and use biological design principles and biological material for building novel functional materials to support AF’s future missions.

For example, multifunctional materials that can sense and respond while providing structural/thermal support, cell-based manufacturing platforms for on-demand material synthesis with locally sourced starting materials.

Biological design principles may enable us to build lighter, tougher materials for extreme loading conditions or dynamically responsive materials. The intent of this program is to study/understand the mechanism of existing natural systems, to utilize existing biological materials, or to add new capabilities to current systems and/or materials.

The research will encompass four general areas: biomaterials (non-medical only), biomolecular engineering, bio-interfacial sciences, and engineering biology for materials.

Basic Research Objectives: The non-medical Biomaterials area is focused on understanding how organisms synthesize materials and control their properties. The intent is to understand the property and structure relationship within the biomaterial to enable synthetic methods to be developed or to modify existing biomaterials genetically. Natural materials can also be engineered or re-engineered through targeted chemistry (both organic and inorganic), ordering, or tailored processing to modulate material properties.

The Biomolecular Engineering explores strategies for building novel functional materials from biological molecules (peptides, sugars, nucleic acids, etc.). For example, some metabolites can form higher-order structures through molecular interactions not found in nature. These relatively simple and scalable building blocks may lead to development of inexpensive/ubiquitous sensors for biological or non- biological targets.

The Bio-interfacial Sciences area is focused on the fundamental science at the biotic and abiotic interface of a biomaterial or organism with a non-natural material such as metals and inorganics (i.e., biotemplating).

Exploitation of the materials-selective binding of biomolecules is key to producing new hierarchically structured biological or bio-hybrid materials. The nanotechnology and mesotechnology sub-efforts under this area are focused on surface structure and new architectures using nature’s idea of directed assembly at the nanoscale to mesoscale to create desired effects, such as quantum electronics or three dimensional power structures. These structures could be used in the design of patterned and templated surfaces, new catalysts, and natural materials-based optics/electronics (biophotonics).

Engineering Biology for Materials requires fundamental understanding to drive the development of new synthetic biology tools and parts that will function robustly and predictively in cells under various environmental conditions for materials synthesis. There are three sub-effort areas:

1) cells as factories—borrow nature’s ability for self- assembly and guided assembly to have cells produce structures/materials of interest beyond small molecules. This approach offers the potential to build designed, nanostructured biomaterials with greater complexity of structure and/or function at multiple length scales.

2) cells as materials—engineered cells to interface with other biological or non-biological materials to form composites/hybrids for novel function.

3) beyond mesophiles— mechanistic understanding and harnessing of genetic parts from unusual chemistries/phenotypes found in nature, such as radiotrophy, lithotrophy, biostasis, solvent resistance, etc., and impart those phenotypes into different biosystems for materials synthesis and/or synergistic functionalities.

TOPIC 1 POC: DR. BENNETT IBEY, AFOSR/RTB2

Email: afosr.nature@us.af.mil

(703) 965-5327

Topic 2: Atomic and Molecular Physics

Program Description: This program encompasses fundamental experimental and theoretical Atomic and Molecular Physics research that is primarily focused on studies of cold and ultra-cold quantum gases, precision measurement, matter-wave optics, and non- equilibrium quantum dynamics. These research areas support technological advances in application areas of interest to the U.S. Air and Space Force, including precision navigation, timekeeping, remote sensing, metrology, and novel materials for the U.S. Air and Space Force needs in the future.

Basic Research Objectives: AMO (Atomic, Molecular and Optical) physics today offers an unprecedented level of coherent control and manipulation of atoms and molecules and their interactions, allowing for significant scientific advances in the areas of cold and ultra-cold matter and precision measurement. Specific research topics of interest in this mailto:afosr.nature@us.af.mil program include, but are not limited to, the following: physics of quantum degenerate atomic and molecular gases; precision control techniques; strongly-interacting quantum particles; new quantum phases of matter; non- equilibrium dynamics of cold quantum particles; ultra-cold chemistry; precision spectroscopy; and high-precision techniques for navigation, guidance, and remote sensing.

TOPIC 2 POC: DR. BOYAN TABAKOV, AFOSR/RTB1

Email: amphysics@us.af.mil

(703) 696-9518

Topic 3: Mathematical Optimization

Program Description: The program goal is to develop novel theory, algorithms, and software for the many classes of Mathematical Optimization problems that arise in support of decision, design, and allocation problems confronting the U.S. Air Force and Space Force.

Areas of fundamental interest include resource allotment, planning, logistics, interdiction, engineering design, resiliency, and scheduling.

Problems can be deterministic in that input parameters and objectives are known with certainty or can have data uncertainty that is addressed using such methods as stochastic programming and robust optimization. The research, while of fundamental importance to such problems, can also profoundly impact related areas of study, including the operation of autonomous vehicles and the effectiveness of machine learning.

Basic Research Objectives: The program welcomes basic research in theory, algorithms, and computational methods for continuous and discrete problems, both deterministic and stochastic.

Contributions/impacts can be generally applicable to large families of problems or be specially tailored to exploit specific mathematical structures found within special, important classes. As basic research aimed at having the broadest possible impact, the development of computational methods should include an emphasis on theoretical underpinnings, on rigorous convergence analysis, and on establishing provable bounds for approximation methods. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Integer and mixed-integer programming

• Continuous, nonconvex optimization

• Multi-level optimization

• Conic programming

• Combinatorial optimization

• Stochastic programming mailto:amphysics@us.af.mil

Methodologies include:

• Cutting plane and polyhedral methods for mixed-integer programs

• Decomposition methods for large, specially structured problems

• Global optimization for nonconvex programs

• Interior-point and first- and second order methods for conic/convex/nonconvex optimization

A key evaluation criterion is the identification of innovative idea(s) that show promise for advancing the field of mathematical optimization, with reference to the optimization/mathematical programming literature.

TOPIC 3 POC: DR. WARREN ADAMS, AFOSR/RTA2

E-mail: warren.adams.2@us.af.mil

(703) 835-6487

Topic 4: GHz – THz Electronics and Materials

Program Description: This program seeks scientific breakthroughs in materials, heterostructures, and devices that can lead to game-changing capabilities in digital electronics, RF sensing and amplification, transmit/receive functions, wideband operation, and novel functionalities.

The primary frequencies of interest range from GHz to THz.

Basic Research Objectives: The focus of the portfolio is on fundamental interactions of electrons and quasiparticles with each other and their host materials in all regions of device operation. Technical challenges include understanding and controlling (1) interactions between particles/quasiparticles and host lattices, boundaries, and defects, including thermal effects and changes over time that limit lifetime and performance; (2) carrier velocity; and (3) methods of device operation that do not rely solely on conventional transistors or transport mechanisms such as drift, diffusion, and tunneling. Efficiency, volume, speed, and power are important figures of merit. It is expected that to understand fully well the various new phenomena and device configurations, novel techniques to study and control nanoscale structures, defects, and operations may be required. Fundamental studies of radiation damage and its effects on properties and performance and of superconductors are of special interest. The program emphasizes experiments and supports theory and modeling.

TOPIC 4 POC: DR. KENNETH C. GORETTA, AFOSR/RTA1

E-mail: ghz.thz@us.af.mil

(703) 835-2221 mailto:warren.adams.2@us.af.mil mailto:ghz.thz@us.af.mil

Topic 5: Fluid Dynamics

Program Description: Fluid dynamics plays a critical role in many Army operational capabilities. Accurate and efficient prediction of the flow physics required for the design of future advanced capabilities and improvements to the performance of existing systems is challenged by the nonlinear and high-dimensional character of the governing equations. In addition, Army relevant platforms are often dominated by flows with high degrees of unsteadiness, turbulence, multiple and widely separated spatio-temporal scales, and geometrical complexity of solid or flexible boundaries. The program seeks to support basic research investigations of fundamental and novel flow physics to gain the necessary physical insights underpinning future concepts and capabilities spanning Army vehicles, munitions, manufacturing, and logistics. The program seeks basic research proposals in the following three thrust areas:

Dynamics of Unsteady and Separated Flows Efforts in this research area require novel and aggressive strategies for examination of the interplay between disparate spatio-temporal scales, the inclusion of physically significant sources of three dimensionality, and the characterization of the role of flow instabilities and nonlinear interactions across a range of Mach and Reynolds numbers appropriate to Army aerial vehicle and weapons systems. In all cases, the flow is characterized by a high degree of unsteadiness. Criteria for identifying the signature of unsteady separation and/or incipient separation are of particular interest.

Historical management of complexity has often resulted in scientific approaches that lead to the elimination of potentially critical flow physics.

Research efforts capable of gaining deep understanding of highly complicated flows are likely to allow these critical physics to be exploited.

Nonlinear Flow Interactions and Turbulence Many Army relevant flows are governed by strong nonlinearities and turbulent behaviors. Historically, many analysis tools developed for linear dynamics have been applied to gain understanding of flow behaviors. The practical usefulness of such techniques has saturated; the ability to gain global understanding of the evolution of flows requires the development and use of approaches that are capable of dealing directly with inherent nonlinearities. Operator theoretic methods are making great strides in tackling the perennial difficulties associated with the Navier-Stokes equations. Turbulent dynamics are also benefitting from new approaches based in dynamical systems theory to build frameworks beyond the notions based on Reynolds averaging and stochastic dynamics. By leveraging the existence of underlying deterministic structures, significant advances in the ability to design systems capable of not just dealing with turbulence but exploiting its dynamics. Modeling flows near walls is a continuing challenge to accurate numerical prediction of complex physics that may benefit from novel non-intrusive diagnostics to inform creative numerical and theoretical constructs capable of efficiently producing a high degree of fidelity near physical boundaries.

Dynamics of Particle-Laden Flows Understanding the dynamics and control of particle-laden flows has the potential to permit flow-assisted assembly of heterogeneous materials and address the role of dust, sand, and other particulates in degraded performance of Army systems. Accurate prediction and description of the interactional physics of particle-fluid, particle-particle, and particle-boundary interactions represents an exciting opportunity to contribute to the creation of next-generation materials and capabilities. Use of a variety of mechanisms, including (but not limited to) electro-kinetics, diffuseophoretics, or selective permeability, should allow the identification of fundamental mechanisms related to the dynamics and control of such multi-phase flows.

TOPIC 5 POC: DR. JACK R. EDWARDS, ARO

Email: jack.r.edwards36.civ@army.mil

(919) 549-4235

Topic 6: Polymer Chemistry

Program Description: The Polymer Chemistry program supports basic, foundational research in polymer design, synthesis, and characterization with the goal of linking the molecular level structure through the atomic/molecular- nano- and microstructural continuum to bulk macroscopic properties. Innovative methodologies are sought for synthesizing polymers with well-defined functionality and architecture with the objective of gaining a more acute understanding of how chemical structure influences microstructure, morphology, phase behavior, self-assembly, processing and ultimately, functional/structural properties. The continued development of these relationships is critical to creating new generations of materials with superior mechanical, thermal, optical, chemical, electrical, and other transport properties to perform well under extreme operating conditions. Research areas of interest include but are not limited to the following:

Polymer Synthesis Methodology New synthetic approaches are sought for preparing polymers with well-defined molecular weight, functionality, architecture, tacticity, and sequence. This could include new methodologies for controlled polymerization, catalyst and initiator design for tacticity or sequence control, novel strategies for post-polymerization functionalization or mailto:jack.r.edwards36.civ@army.mil transformation and accessing ultra-high molecular weights. Proposals are also sought which link molecular level control to polymer assembly to access increasingly complex structures with improved selectivity driven by non-covalent chemistry, solvent effects, and/or immiscibility. Of particular interest are methodologies that leverage autonomy, high-throughput experimentation, and machine learning to accelerate the pace of discovery.

Advanced Polymer Networks Polymer networks find broad utility in defense applications yet suffer numerous limitations due to the nature of their polymerization and the resulting defects that are formed which tend to dominate their mechanical response. New architectures, topologies and synthetic approaches are desired to access polymer networks with limited defects and extraordinary properties. Incorporation of novel molecular mechanisms for energy dissipation, sensing, self-healing, actuation, and recyclability which are triggered by external stimuli such as light, heat, and stress are also wanted. Mechanisms that induce responsiveness and local molecular motion in thermosets below Tg/Tm are of particular interest. New approaches and chemistries for the synthesis of porous crystalline networks are also sought which target new linking groups and backbone chemistry for improved stability, unique functionality, improved mechanical response and/or ease of processing.

TOPIC 6 POC: DR. ROBERT H. LAMBETH, ARO

Email: robert.h.lambeth2.civ@army.mil

(410) 306-0281

Topic 7: Information Processing and Fusion

Program Description: With ubiquitous data acquisition capabilities, effective data and information processing is of critical importance to defense missions. The Information Processing and Fusion program is concerned with the creation of innovative theories and algorithms for extracting actionable intelligence from diverse, distributed multimodal data to support Army operations.

Foundations of Image and Multimodal Data Analysis Innovative research is sought concerning: (1) novel representations of multimodal data to enable the understanding of multimodal sensor data and contextual information, including nonstandard data types beyond image and video; (2) detection, localization, and recognition of objects and locations from image data with particular emphasis on provable performance guarantees; (3) detection of events, actions, and activities to mailto:robert.h.lambeth2.civ@army.mil extract activity-based intelligence, especially when no extensive training data is available; and (4) integrated approaches that enable semantic descriptions of objects and events including relations. Learning and adaptation should enable the representation at both low and high levels, where inputs from actual users of the systems are used to improve the performance of the algorithms and the fidelity of models at all levels of the modeling hierarchy. Of high interest are methods to exploit the structure of the data, capture its intrinsic dimensionality, and extract information content of data, and which go beyond correlative modeling to incorporate causality, symbolic reasoning, and physics. The development of an “information/complexity theory” and a “learning theory” specific for remote sensing, imaging data, and decision tasks is highly desirable.

Data and Information Fusion Multimodal data acquisition systems are increasingly prevalent with disparate sensors and other information sources, ranging in design from a finite number of locally grouped sensors to a very large, geographically dispersed sensor network. This thrust seeks advanced mathematical theories and approaches for integrating multimodal data and contextual information to provide actionable intelligence. Of particular interest are systematic and unifying approaches for data and information fusion from diverse sources with heterogeneous fidelities and timescales, varying degrees of overlap, and differing levels of uncertainty. Scalable methods are needed for efficiently handling vast amounts of data, as are methods for preserving data provenance and identifying the key raw data used to generate fused representations or make predictions. Fusion in networked environments addressing issues such as adaptive, distributed, and cooperative fusion is emphasized. Theories and principles for performance analysis and guarantees at all fusion levels to support robust, uncertainty-aware data and information fusion are important to ensure successful military operations.

Active and Collaborative Sensing Modern sensing systems typically include multiple networked sensors with communication capabilities where the whole network can be thought of as a meta-sensor that can be controlled, in addition to each individual node having some controllable degrees of freedom such as mobility for unmanned aerial/ground systems, pan-tilt-zoom for infrastructure sensors, or waveform for agile radar. Depending on the task or query, it is desirable for the system to control the data acquisition process to acquire the “most informative data” for the specific task or query, to minimize uncertainty, or to identify the type and deployment scheme of additional sensors required. Consequently, of particular interest are methods that address the integration of mobility, sensor-selection, modality selection, and active observation for real-time assessment and improvements of sensing performance. Another research area of interest is performance-driven active data collection, where a query is given to the system together with a desired performance bound. Where the confidence in answering the query is insufficient, the system should actively interrogate or control sensors to achieve the desired confidence. Such an active learning and information-driven sensor control should include the user in the feedback loop.

TOPIC 7 POC: DR. JOHN S. HYATT, ARO

Email: john.s.hyatt11.civ@army.mil

(240) 309-8380

Topic 8: Physical Properties of Materials

Program Description: The Physical Properties of Materials program seeks to discover novel functional materials and elucidate fundamental mechanisms responsible for achieving extraordinary electronic, photonic/optical, magnetic, and thermal properties in materials to enable future innovative Army applications. There are mainly three focus areas in this program:

Novel Functional Materials Discovery area supports the discovery of novel functional materials with unique compositions and/or structures to realize unique physical properties. Examples of materials include oxides, nitrides, carbides, chalcogenides, super-lattices, free-standing low dimensional (0D, 1D, 2D organic / inorganic) materials, hetero-structures, polymers, organic-inorganic hybrids, co-crystals, etc. Basic research ideas in the areas such as synthesis (thin films as well as bulk materials), modeling, and influence of external stimuli such as light, magnetic field etc. to determine unprecedented functional properties (semiconducting, superconducting, ferroelectric/multiferroic, photonic, magnetic, thermal etc.) are encouraged.

Science & Engineering of Crystal Imperfections area explores the influence (either positive or negative) of various crystalline imperfections (e.g., point, line, area, volume defects etc.) on the physical properties (electronic, optical, magnetic, and thermal) in functional materials. Basic research ideas in the areas such as elucidation of different mechanisms of incorporation/elimination of the defects during thin film growth/bulk materials processing of materials, characterization of novel defects, and influence of them on the extraordinary functional properties of the materials etc. are encouraged.

mailto:john.s.hyatt11.civ@army.mil

Novel materials characterization techniques: Development of novel characterization techniques to determine composition- structure- defects-stimuli- property relationships in functional materials.

TOPIC 8 POC: DR. KATHERINE J. DUNCAN, ARO

Email: katherine.j.duncan8.civ@army.mil

(410) 278-5456

Topic 9: Novel, Fast-response, Infrared (IR) Detector Concepts Enabling Higher Temperature Operation

Background: Infrared (IR) imagers operating in the mid-wave infrared (MWIR) (3-5 um) and long-wave infrared (LWIR) (8 – 12 um) enable the Navy and Marine Corps to see long distances in all lighting conditions (day and night) as well as through challenging atmospheric conditions.

Typically, these high-performance imagers have detectors that must be cooled between 45 K and 120 K, depending on wave band. This is to enable them to operate at the background limited infrared photon (BLIP) condition. Progress has been made in recent years within semiconductor materials and detector designs to increase this operating temperature. But S&T challenges remain in infrared material selection, crystal growth, and quality, as well as device design optimization that alleviate the need for cryocooled temperature operation.

The second class of detectors most commonly used in the LWIR band for uncooled infrared imaging is the microbolometer. While this design does enable room temperature operation, it’s fundamentally limited by the material properties for electrical and thermal conductivity. In the case of the uncooled microbolometers, they are further limiting in the response time and typically must dwell longer per imaging frame compared to a cooled imager. In either case, both of these devices are ultimately limited by photon shot noise from the background leading to an inevitable cooling limit based the desired SNR. The key S&T challenges are in the discovery of a new class of materials and/or microbolometer design that can obviate the fundamental limit of electrical and thermal conductivity and signal sensitivity.

Objectives: This topic aims to increase our fundamental understanding of the physics and quantum limitations of current infrared detection and to explore novel concepts, such as novel architectures, materials, and light-matter interactions, to overcome photon shot noise and BLIP limits without sacrificing response time or sensitivity.

Basic research approaches are sought to explore novel materials platforms for the design of detector architectures that can break the inherent signal to noise sensitivity, temporal bandwidth, and operating mailto:katherine.j.duncan8.civ@army.mil temperature parameters of existing state-of-the-art across a wide infrared spectral range. Research interests include high-gain processes such as avalanche, phonon assisted gain, and stochastic photon methods, although alternative novel concepts are highly desired as well.

Proposals should include high fidelity modeling of material properties that can enable high temperature infrared detector operation, material growth/procurement, detector design and fabrication, and laboratory experimentation to validate modeling predictions.

All proposed concepts should be passive based and improve the fundamental understanding of imaging and detection without the use of active IR illumination.

TOPIC 9 POC: DR. RICHARD ESPINOLA, ONR/CODE 31

Email: richard.l.espinola.civ@us.navy.mil

(703) 696-1299

Topic 10: Vertical Cloud and Aerosol Profiling

Program Description: This topic solicits novel basic research to characterize vertical profiles of atmospheric particles that affect visibility, including aerosol speciation, cloud and fog microphysics, and multiphase water.

The Marine Meteorology and Space Weather program sponsors innovative research in atmospheric prediction and processes, atmospheric effects, air-sea interaction and boundary layer processes, satellite remote sensing, and ionospheric analysis and prediction. Emphasis is placed on basic research to improve the fundamental understanding of atmospheric processes critical to Navy and Marine Corps operations in maritime and littoral regions.

Particularly, analysis and forecast of three-dimensional visibility in the atmosphere remains a difficult scientific and operational problem.

Current approaches are typically limited to coarse derivations of vertically integrated properties. Where there are observations that discriminate in more detail, it is relegated to layer averaged binning, partitioned into coarse/fine mode, and otherwise smoothed out spatially and temporally. There is also limited neighboring spatial and temporal context that limits assessment of lifecyle evolution. Such information also makes it difficult to validate numerical parameterized physics processes and formulate methods to improve skill in predictive models.

To inform how new data and methodologies should be formulated and attained, this call seeks to understand fundamental strengths and weaknesses in how three-dimensional distributions of cloud and aerosol mailto:richard.l.espinola.civ@us.navy.mil properties and their changes in time are measured. In particular, efforts should attempt to better sort specific physical properties that distinguish the types and varieties of hydrophobic, hydroscopic, and hydrometeor particles and how those properties vary with the meteorological environment they reside in. Given difficulties in constraining vertical placement and transport of water, cloud condensation nuclei, and aerosol particles, innovative approaches are desired to assess the quality and character of observed three-dimensional atmospheric visibility and the constituents that affect it.

Objectives: Research objectives include, but are not limited to:

• Improved theoretical development on radiative transfer, small scale physics, and/or turbulent processes that modulate injection heights and transport.

• Systematic study or meta-analysis of state of the science field datasets that elucidate the modes of atmospheric visibility and particle distributions with respect to meteorological conditions and source regions.

• Understanding fundamental properties of particle geometry that facilitate synthesis of atmospheric visibility relationships across electromagnetic spectrum, particularly in the near-ultraviolet, optical, infrared, and microwave frequencies.

TOPIC 10 POC: DR. JOSH COSSUTH, ONR/CODE 32

Email: joshua.h.cossuth.civ@us.navy.mil

(703) 696-0703

Topic 11: Multifunctional Marine Antifouling Surfaces

Program Description: This topic solicits research focused on developing surfaces that improve antifouling (AF) or fouling release (FR) mechanisms.

The ONR Environmental Quality Program addresses challenges in marine antifouling and has previously explored both bioinspired research in textured topographies as well as development of chemically modified surfaces for fouling deterrence. Previous research has shown that textured surfaces are effective when the pattern features are tailored to the biofouling species. They can thus be designed against a specific class of biofoulers and have transitioned to medical implants for in vivo use.

However, marine biofouling organisms have highly varied geometries, making viability of this approach challenging. For chemically modified surfaces, tethered biocides provide short-term activity against marine mailto:joshua.h.cossuth.civ@us.navy.mil bacteria, but collected cell debris interrupts biocide interaction with marine settlers and negates biocide efficacy. Another class of chemical surface modifiers, zwitterions, highly hydrate the coating surface and are capable of broadly deterring settlement though mode of deterrence is little understood. Other surface modifiers such as those found in biofilms and natural derivatives are being studied, but these singular approaches are also rendered ineffective when exposed to more complex environments. This is likely because there is a confluence of multiple variables (physical, chemical, biological) in realistic environmental settings that are difficult to mimic with a single AF or FR solution.

Achievin…