Synopsis of Program:

The Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers
(MRSECs) program provides sustained support of materials research and education
of the highest quality while addressing fundamental problems in science and
engineering. Each MRSEC addresses research of a scope and complexity requiring
the scale, synergy, and multidisciplinarity provided by a campus-based research
center. The MRSECs support materials research infrastructure in the United
States, promote active collaboration between universities and other sectors,
including industry and international organizations, and contribute to the
development of a national network of university-based centers in materials
research, education, and facilities. A MRSEC may be located at a single
institution, or may involve multiple institutions in partnership, and is
composed of two to three Interdisciplinary Research Groups (IRGs), each
addressing a fundamental materials science topic aligned with the Division of
Materials Research (DMR).

Proposals are encouraged to develop and incorporate AI
tools and full or partial autonomous experimentation (AE) approaches to address
fundamental materials research problems. The following areas are of particular
interest:

• Advancing Materials for Semiconductors and
  Microelectronics
• 
  
  Materials for Biotechnology
• 
  
  Materials for Biomanufacturing
• 
  
  Architected Materials Across Scales
• 
  
  Materials Far-From-Equilibrium
• 
  
  Structural Materials under Extreme Conditions
• 
  
  Alternative Approaches to Development and Processing of
  Clean, Sustainable Materials

Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization: 1

Only one MRSEC preliminary proposal may be submitted by
any one organization as the lead institution in this competition. An
institution proposing research in several groups should submit a single MRSEC
proposal with multiple Interdisciplinary Research Groups (IRGs). A MRSEC
proposal must contain a minimum of 2 IRGs and a maximum of 3 IRGs. The IRGs in
a Center may be thematically related, or they may address different aspects of
materials research typically supported by DMR. Integration of multiple, differing
IRGs into one MRSEC allows efficient utilization of resources, including common
infrastructure, and better coordination of education and other activities of
the Center.

Institutions that were awarded a MRSEC in the FY 2023
competition as the lead institution are not eligible to submit a MRSEC proposal
as a lead institution in this competition.

Limit on Number of Proposals per PI or co-PI: 1

An individual may be the Principal Investigator (PI) or
co-PI for only one preliminary proposal, i.e., no investigator, PI or co-PI,
can be listed on the NSF proposal Cover Sheet on more than one proposal.

Anticipated Funding Amount: Individual MRSEC awards are
expected to range in size from approximately $3 million/year for a 2-IRG MRSEC
to a maximum of $4.5 million/year for a 3-IRG MRSEC.

Cost Sharing Requirements: Inclusion of voluntary
committed cost sharing is prohibited.