NSF Condensed Matter and Materials Theory

The Condensed Matter and Materials Theory (CMMT) program is an initiative of the Division of Materials Research (DMR) within the National Science Foundation (NSF). The program supports fundamental theoretical and computational research that seeks to advance the conceptual understanding of both hard and soft materials, as well as materials-related phenomena. CMMT operates under the umbrella of the Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences and addresses areas represented in other DMR Topical Materials Research Programs (TMRPs), including condensed matter physics, biomaterials, ceramics, electronic and photonic materials, metals and metallic nanostructures, polymers, and solid-state and materials chemistry. CMMT funds research that integrates analytical, computational, and data-centric methodologies, aiming to develop predictive theories and simulations related to material behavior. Examples of such techniques include quantum many-body and field theories, statistical mechanics, molecular dynamics, and Monte Carlo simulations. Of particular interest are approaches that start at atomic or smaller length scales and span across multiple scales to understand macro-level behavior. Emerging areas like data-driven modeling, machine learning in materials science, and explainable AI for material properties prediction are also emphasized, especially when they reveal new states of matter or mechanisms behind material properties. The program encourages proposals that are potentially transformative, including those that advance understanding of emergent properties in condensed matter systems, explore new computational paradigms, integrate subdisciplines, or establish new theoretical frameworks. CMMT also supports work that involves software and data infrastructure development if it is broadly shared and advances the computational materials science community. Such proposals, however, must follow the guidelines of the Computational and Data-Enabled Science and Engineering (CDS&E) program when applicable. Eligibility is open to accredited U.S.-based institutions of higher education, including community colleges, and to U.S.-based nonprofit non-academic organizations like museums and research laboratories that are directly engaged in research or education. There are no limitations on the number of submissions per institution; however, investigators (PIs or co-PIs) are restricted to submitting only one proposal per fiscal year to any DMR TMRP. Exceptions exist for proposals to non-TMRP programs such as DMREF or MRSEC, as well as for proposals under the CAREER program or for conference support and RAPID/EAGER/RAISE submissions, with prior approval. The funding mechanism may be through standard or continuing grants, depending on the availability of funds and proposal quality. The total anticipated funding amount is approximately $15,000,000, with an estimated 40 awards. Individual awards typically range from $85,000 to $160,000 per year, and projects may last between 2 and 4 years. No cost sharing or matching is required. Applications are accepted year-round through Research.gov or Grants.gov; however, applicants are advised to avoid submissions between April 15 and June 15. The submission process must follow the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) in effect at the time of application. Proposals must include a data management plan that adheres to FAIR principles and details how data and software will be made available. Proposals that fail to follow these guidelines or are incorrectly submitted may be returned without review. Contact for the program includes Maija M. Kukla ([email protected]) and Daryl W. Hess ([email protected]), both reachable at 703-292-4940. Projects should refer to the current version of the solicitation (NSF 23-611), and investigators are encouraged to consult with program officers for clarification or pre-submission guidance.