FY24 NSP Webinar.pdf

Basic Research HBCU/MSI/TCU National Science Portals (NSP)

Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Informational Webinar

3 1 M A Y 2 0 2 4 HBCU: Historically Black Colleges and Universities MSI: Minority-Serving Institution TCU: Tribal Colleges and Universities

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AFRL NSP FOA Informational Webinar Agenda

Description/Topic Speaker

1100 Opening Remarks and Overview of AFRL Basic Research National Science Portals Program

Dr. LaShauna Evans AFRL/AFOSR Program Manager, National Science Portal

1115 Acquisitions Overview for Funding Opportunity Announcement Mr. Calvin Scott AFRL/AFOSR, Senior Procurement Analyst, Contracting Division

1125 Technical Topic: Quantum Computing

Dr. Grace Metcalfe Dr. Gregg Abate Dr. Fariba Fahroo Dr. Bennett Ibey Dr. Arje Nachman Dr. Andrew Strickrath Dr. Jennifer Talley

1155 BREAK

1205 Technical Topic: Unique Advantages to Biologically Based Materials for Space

Dr. Bennett Ibey and Dr. Jennifer Talley AFRL/AFOSR Program Officer, Science & Engineering Division

1220 Technical Topic: Ferrimagnetic Electronics Dr. Kenneth Goretta and Dr. Arje Nachman AFRL/AFOSR Program Officer, Science & Engineering Division

1235 Final Remarks Dr. LaShauna Evans AFRL/AFOSR Program Manager, National Science Portal

AFRL/AFOSR Program Officer, Science & Engineering Division

C l e a r e d f o r P u b l i c R e l e a s e D i s t r i b u t i o n A A F R L

Dr. LaShauna Evans Program Manager, National Science Portal

Opening Remarks and Overview of AFRL Basic Research National Science Portals

Engineering and Complex Systems

Dynamic Materials and Interactions

GHz-THz Electronics

Energy, Combustion, and Non- Equilibrium Thermodynamics Unsteady Aerodynamics and

Turbulent Flows

High-Speed Aerodynamics

Aerospace Composite Materials

Multiscale Structural Mechanics and Prognosis

Propulsion and Power

Agile Science of Test and Evaluation (T&E)

Chemistry and Biological Sciences

Biophysics

Human Performance and Biosystems

Mechanics of Multifunctional Materials and Microsystems

Molecular Dynamics and Theoretical Chemistry

Natural Materials and Systems

Organic Materials Chemistry

Computational Cognition and Machine Intelligence

Computational Mathematics

Mathematical Optimization

Science of Information, Computation, Learning, and Fusion

Trust and Influence

Dynamical Systems and Control Theory

Dynamic Data and Information Processing

Information Assurance and Cybersecurity

Complex Networks

Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience

International Office

Asian Office of Aerospace R&D Tokyo

European Office of Aerospace R&D London

Southern Office of Aerospace R&D Santiago

North America - Arlington

Information and Networks Physical Sciences

Aerospace Materials for Extreme Environments

Atomic and Molecular Physics

Electromagnetics

Laser and Optical Physics

Optoelectronics and Photonics

Plasma and Electro-Energetic Physics

Quantum Information Sciences

Physics of Remote Sensing

Space Science

Condensed Matter Physics

Ultrashort Pulse Laser-Matter Interactions

Science &Technology Portfolios

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Our mission is to advance discovery in basic science and future technologies for air, space, and cyber domains, uniting strategists and investigators from government, academia, and small business to build collaborative relationships across the scientific enterprise to benefit the Air Force, Space Force, and Department of Defense.

RTC Mission Statement

Basic Research Grants

Strengthening Academic Research Capabilities

Transfer & Transition

Expanding Air & Space Force Academic Reach

Strengthening Air & Space Force Research Capabilities

Workforce Development

• Awards to Stimulate and Support Undergraduate Research Experiences (ASSURE)

• National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship Program (NDSEG)

• K-12 STEM & LEGACY

• AFRL Scholars

• Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI) Program

• Defense University Research Instrumentation Program

(DURIP)

• Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE)

• Defense Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (DEPSCoR)

• Young Investigator Program (YIP)

• Historically Black Colleges & Universities/Minority Serving Institutes

(HBCU/MSI) Program

• National Science Portal Program (NSP)

• Government University Industry Research Roundtable (GUIRR)

• Gordon Research Conference (GRC) Bundle

• US Air Force Academy Program (USAFA)

• Summer Faculty Fellowship Program (SFFP)

• Science & Technology Fellowship Program (STFP)

• Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT)

All qualified, responsible organizational applicants from academia, the non-profit sector, and industry are eligible to submit research proposals.

• Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)/Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program

• Office of Research and Technology Applications Liaison

Science and Engineering Collaboration Branch Programs

Addresses National Academies’ Recommendations, Executive Orders, and Congressional Direction

• The Department of the Air Force (DAF) faces unprecedented scientific and technological challenges that require better leveraging of the nation's defense ecosystem to develop innovative solutions.

• Create National Science Portals (NSPs) to

1) accelerate science in research areas critical to the future DAF, and

2) build capacity in HBCU/MSI/TCUs to further goal #1

• First portals launched March 2023

• National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Reports

• 2022 - Defense Research at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and

Other Minority Institutions

• 2024 - Building Defense Research Capacity at Historically Black Colleges and

Universities and Other Minority Institutions: A Workshop Series

AFRL Basic Research National Science Portal (NSP) Proposal

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Addresses National Academies’ Recommendations, Executive Orders, and Congressional Direction

• Focus investment in ONLY HBCU/MSI/TCUs to address Department of Defense (DoD) scientific challenges for strategic competition

• Expect to be funded with basic research funds

• Supplement with other programs, such as Defense University Research

Instrumentation Program (DURIP) to supply equipment and build laboratories

• Explore ways to connect NSP institutions with other DoD & DAF Outreach

Programs for talent development

• Explore ways to connect K-12 STEM with the NSP universities

• Piloted first NSP in FY24; explore optimal number of Portals in a given year

AFRL Basic Research National Science Portal (NSP) Proposals

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Match DoD Needs and HBCU/MSI Expertise using Data Analytics and Institution Input

• Cislunar Space

• Non-traditional propulsion

• Synthetic Biology

• Int’l Polar/Arctic Initiative

• Data Analytics

• Autonomy for “Internet of Things” terrestrial/space

• Next Gen Software

• Digital Engineering

• Quantitative Biology

• Microelectronics

• Directed Energy

• 5G

• Biotechnology

• Hypersonics

• Fully Networked Command and Control

• Organic Electronics

• Quantum

• Artificial Intelligence

• Cyber

Potential NSP Research Areas

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Bolstering MSIs will attract more students to STEM and increase U.S. minority STEM graduates

FLOODING THE U.S. WITH DIVERSE STEM TALENT

AFRL Basic Research National Science Portal

• Published AFRL NSP Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) in May 2024 on Grants.gov (See funding opportunity number (FOAAFRLAFOSR20240008 )

• Funding several teams of HBCU/MSI/TCU researchers in three topic areas:

• Quantum Computing

• Unique Advantages to Biologically Based Materials for Space

• Ferrimagnetic Electronics

• Encourages applicants to also view OSD Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP) FOA for relevant instrumentation to further build capacity

• Expecting at least three awards of $750K - $1.5M per year per award for a maximum of three years https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/353974

Acquisitions Overview for Funding Opportunity Announcement

C l e a r e d f o r P u b l i c R e l e a s e D i s t r i b u t i o n A A F R L

Mr. Calvin Scott AFRL/AFOSR Senior Procurement Analyst, Contracting Division

FOA

Important

Dates

Event Date

White Papers Due 10 June @5pm EDT

Notifications of White Paper Evaluations 25 June

Last Day to Submit Questions for Grants Officer

2 July

Proposals Due 26 July

• Proposals must include a detailed budget justification for all work to be performed containing a breakout of the proposed costs

• You should itemize labor, materials, supplies, travel, equipment (include quote), or any cost proposed

• Proposals including request to purchase equipment must include equipment quotes or vendor agreements

• "Equipment" is nonexpendable, tangible personal property with a unit cost of $5,000 or more having a useful life of more than 1 year, unless determined otherwise by recipient’s internal policy

• Items that do not meet the "equipment" definition can be included under supplies

Budget Justification

Agency Point of Contacts Quantum Computing Select the appropriate POC that aligns with the technical area above under “Objective”

(a) Drs. Gregg Abate (gregg.abate@us.af.mil) and Fariba Fahroo (fariba.fahroo@us.af.mil)

(b) Dr. Bennett Ibey (bennett.ibey@us.af.mil)

(c) Drs. Arje Nachman (arje.nachman@us.af.mil) and Andrew Stickrath (andrew.stickrath@us.af.mil)

(d) and (e) Dr. Jennifer Talley (jennifer.talley.1@us.af.mil) QIS support: Dr. Grace Metcalfe (grace.metcalfe@us.af.mil)

Unique Advantages to Biologically Based Materials for Space

Dr. Jennifer Talley jennifer.talley.1@us.af.mil

Dr. Bennett Ibey bennett.ibey@us.af.mil

Ferrimagnetic Electronics Dr. Kenneth Goretta kenneth.goretta@us.af.mil

Dr. Arje Nachman arje.nachman@us.af.mil

General Inquiries and Questions Ms. Denise Johnson, Grants Officer denise.johnson.19@us.af.mil mailto:gregg.abate@us.af.mil mailto:fariba.fahroo@us.af.mil mailto:bennett.ibey@us.af.mil mailto:arje.nachman@us.af.mil mailto:andrew.stickrath@us.af.mil mailto:jennifer.talley.1@us.af.mil mailto:grace.metcalfe@us.af.mil mailto:jennifer.talley.1@us.af.mil mailto:bennett.ibey@us.af.mil mailto:kenneth.goretta@us.af.mil mailto:arje.nachman@us.af.mil mailto:denise.johnson.19@us.af.mil l e a r e d f o r P u b l i c R e l e a s e D i s t r i b u t i o n A A F R L

Technical Topic: Leveraging Quantum Computing to Explore Computational Challenges

AFOSR Program Officers Dr. Gregg Abate, Unsteady Aerodynamics and Turbulent Flows

Dr. Fariba Fahroo, Computational Mathematics Dr. Bennett Ibey, Natural Materials and Systems

Dr. Arje Nachman, Electromagnetics Dr. Andrew Stickrath, Ultrashort Pulse Laser-Matter Interactions

Dr. Jennifer Talley, Space Biosciences support: Dr. Grace Metcalfe, Quantum Information Science

Leveraging Quantum Computing to Explore Computational Challenges

Objective: This topic seeks to explore the viability of novel quantum algorithms relevant for the DoD and DAF and build QIS research capabilities in technical disciplines outside the usual framework of QIS.

Technical sub-areas of interest include:

(a) plasma and turbulent flow problems, wall-bounded turbulent flows, fluid-structure interaction, and/or turbulent combustion;

(b) biomolecular-based material design (e.g., protein, DNA, and RNA);

(c) innovative computational approaches to improving upon or bypassing Density Functional Theory (DFT) (e.g., determination of accurate exchange-correlation functionals from electron density for input into DFT calculations, non-adiabatic quantum mechanics, etc.);

(d) biochemical processes design (e.g., catalyst efficiency or selectivity);

(e) and novel neural network representations (e.g., non-binary output units).

Proposers do not have to address multiple topic sub-areas within a submission.

Dr. Bennett Ibey

Drs. Arje Nachman & Andrew Stickrath

Dr. Jennifer Talley

Drs. Gregg Abate & Fariba Fahroo

Leveraging Quantum Computing to Explore Computational Challenges

Research Concentration Areas: Suggested research areas include, but are not limited to:

1. Appropriate translation of classical computational challenges into algorithms that can be processed by quantum computers with a computational speedup. Both purely quantum and hybrid quantum-classical algorithms are of interest.

2. Assessment of the trade-off between the computational cost and the speed and accuracy of the quantum or hybrid algorithm relative to state-of-the art classical computational approaches

3. No-go theorems or proofs of computational gains of quantum computers for the proposed computational challenge.

• Projects should be supported by but not led by QIS experts.

• While proposed efforts can include employing quantum cloud computers, proposed budgets should not include access to quantum cloud computing costs. Purely theoretical proposals are acceptable.

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AFOSR Program Officers Dr. Bennett Ibey, Natural Materials and Systems

Dr. Jennifer Talley, Space Biosciences

Technical Topic: Unique Advantages to Biologically Based Materials for Space

Identifying distinct advantages of biologically-derived materials for use in space-specific applications.

Natural Materials and Systems

• A biological system or product will be uniquely advantageous in the space domain if it provides a new capability, extends the operational life of existing capabilities, or a new efficiency that reduces launch upmass.

• The goal of the Space Biosciences program is to identify these unique opportunities for existing and future biological systems/products/processes to improve or extend operations or increase efficiency and discover how they can operate in the uniquely challenging space environment.

• Mission: To discover and exploit the evolutionarily-tested engineering and scientific principles of biological systems/biomolecules to realize better materials for the USAF and US.

• Biomaterials (Non-Medical) – Understanding biological material synthesis and function within a complex living organism

• Bio-Interfacial Sciences – Understanding the interaction(s) between biotic/living systems and abiotic materials.

• Engineering Biology for Materials – Utilizing living systems to generate materials

• Biomolecular Engineering – Using Biological Components (DNA/Proteins) to construct materials at the nano and mesoscale

Dr. Bennett Ibey Dr. Jennifer Talley

• Biological processes/products/mechanisms/materials uniquely advantageous in the Space Domain through increased capability or reduced upmass.

• Living systems in the space environment providing continuing operations including Biotic- Abiotic Teaming, Autonomous Maintenance.

• Simulation/Modeling/Testing/Evaluation improving high-throughput biological experiments in space like environments.

Space Biosciences

Unique Advantages to Biologically Based Materials for Space

Objective: The objective is to advance the understanding and potential applications of biologically- derived materials for space exploration. Specifically, to evaluate synthetic biological materials, bio- manufactured products, and traditional engineered alternatives in space launch applications in the context of the space environment.

Research Concentration Areas: Suggested research areas include, but are not limited to:

(1) Mechanical Strength at Low Weight: Explore the mechanical strength of biologically derived materials at low-weight, with a focus on applications in spacecraft design and construction.

(2) Self-healing materials: Explore the capacity of living biological materials to self-heal with a focus on extension into the space environment.

Unique Advantages to Biologically Based Materials for Space

References

1. SPACE FORCE WASHINGTON DC. “Space Capstone Publication: SPACE POWER.

Doctrine for Space Forces.” (2020).

2. Averesch, Nils JH, et al. “Microbial biomanufacturing for space-exploration—what to take and when to make.” Nature Communications 14.1 (2023): 2311.

3. Santomartino, Rosa, et al. “Toward sustainable space exploration: a roadmap for harnessing the power of microorganisms.” Nature communications 14.1 (2023): 1391.

4. Chen, Po-Yu, Joanna McKittrick, and Marc André Meyers. “Biological materials: functional adaptations and bioinspired designs.” Progress in Materials Science 57.8 (2012): 1492-1704.

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AFOSR Program Officers Dr. Kenneth Goretta, GHz-THz Electronics

Dr. Arje Nachman, Electromagnetics

Technical Topic: Ferrimagnetic Electronics

Objective: Understanding fundamental processing/structure/property relations; direct observations of well-made materials, structures, and devices, coupled with study of properties and theory and modeling/simulation for electronics relevant to USAF and USSF missions.

Approach: (1) Focus portfolio to a handful of topics 70% turnover of subjects since 2016;

(2) build confederated teams across AFRL, various agencies, and selected countries.

Major decisions made 2015-2023: (1) retain semiconductor basics, 2-D materials, magnetics, THz sciences, reconfigurability, and fundamental studies; (2) reduce sensors/detectors; (3) add ultrawide-bandgap semiconductors and superconductors; expand radiation damage.

Science and Engineering for High Power

• Ultrawide-bandgap (UWBG) semiconductors/prototype devices

• Thermal properties

Science and Engineering for Low Power, Very High Speed

• 2-D devices & 2-D/3-D integration

• Spin- or valley-based devices

• Novel THz-speed devices

• Superconductors

Fundamental Science and Engineering for Electronics

• Electromagnetic surfaces

• Fundamentals, including defects, interfaces, and radiation damage

GHz-THz Electronics Portfolio

Distribution A: Public release

Motivation: Ferrimagnets composed of antiferromagnetically coupled magnetic elements exhibit promise for applications such as spintronics, memory, and neuromorphic computing. Unlike in an antiferromagnet, each sublattice in a ferrimagnet has its own magnetic moment…. The two magnetic sublattices react independently to changes of external parameters, and so the magnetization and magnetic dynamics of a ferrimagnet can be readily manipulated by tuning chemical composition or temperature. Optimizing magnetization switching is crucial to, for example, realizing write operations in spintronic devices. Stimulation for such switching has been accomplished light, current, or voltage. This topic focuses only on electronic means.

Objective: The objectives of this topic are (1) to advance fundamental understanding of materials properties and spin-charge dynamics in films and heterostructures of ferrimagnets; (2) to identify ferrimagnetic films with properties suitable for applications.

Suggestion: Discuss the basic-research questions to be addressed, why they are important, how they are to be addressed, and what will be learned.

Ferrimagnetic Electronics

Distribution A: Public release

Dr. Kenneth Goretta

Electromagnetics Portfolio Objectives

Interrogate (Model/Simulate) Linear/Nonlinear Maxwell’s Equations together with Signal Processing

Wave Propagation Through Complex Media

• random/turbulent media

• dispersive/conductive media

• cluttered surfaces (multipathing)

• metamaterials

Signal Processing

• correlation-based radar processing

• moving sensor methods (SAR and drones)

Theoretical Nonlinear Optics

• First-principles design of semiconductor lasers

• propagation of ultrashort, intense laser pulses

Dr Ilya Vitebsky (AFRL/RYDHC) AFOSR Lab Task Metamaterial Nonsacrificial Sensor Protector l e a r e d f o r P u b l i c R e l e a s e D i s t r i b u t i o n A A F R L

Dr. LaShauna Evans Program Manager, National Science Portal

Final Remarks

33Cleared for Public Release – Distribution A (AFRL-2021-1600)

Bolstering MSIs will attract more students to STEM and increase U.S. minority STEM graduates

FLOODING THE U.S. WITH DIVERSE STEM TALENT

AFRL Basic Research National Science Portal

• Published AFRL NSP FOA in May 2024 on Grants.gov (See funding opportunity number (FOAAFRLAFOSR20240008 or search “National Science Portal)

• Due Dates – White Paper 10 June (submission optional), Proposal 26 July

• Funding several teams of HBCU/MSI/TCU researchers in three topic areas:

• Quantum Computing

• Unique Advantages to Biologically Based Materials for Space

• Ferrimagnetic Electronics

• Encourage applicants to also view OSD Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP) FOA for relevant instrumentation to further build capacity

• Expecting at least three awards of $750K - $1.5M per year per award for a maximum of three years https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/353974

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Questions?