The U.S. National Science Foundation is an independent federal agency that supports science and engineering in all 50 states and U.S. territories. NSF was established in 1950 by Congress to promote the progress of science, advance the national health, prosperity and welfare, and secure the national defense.
The Interfacial Engineering program aims to fund fundamental research focused on atomic- and molecular-scale interfacial phenomena. Its objectives are to enhance the understanding and engineering of interfacial properties, processes, and materials significant to chemical and biochemical processes. The program seeks proposals that offer innovative solutions to longstanding challenges or new research areas and technologies. Key areas of interest include chemical separations, biological separations, interfacial phenomena at engineered interfaces and surfaces, and nanoconfinement and engineered surfaces. The grant encourages collaborative efforts that integrate experimentation with theory or modeling. Proposals should highlight the project's novelty, its importance to engineering science, and its potential societal or industrial impact. The program also supports the Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) program, with a special interest in projects that can translate fundamental research into practical applications. Proposals for Conferences, Workshops, and specific grants like Rapid Response Research (RAPID), EArly-concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER), and Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI) are welcome and encouraged to be discussed with the Program Director before submission.