Biosensing

The Biosensing Program is a funding initiative offered by the National Science Foundation (NSF), specifically within the Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems (CBET) under the Directorate for Engineering (ENG). This program is designed to support fundamental engineering research at the intersection of engineering, life sciences, and information technology. Its primary goal is to enable the monitoring, identification, and quantification of biological analytes and phenomena through innovative sensing technologies that further both engineering and life sciences. Projects under this program should contribute significantly to scientific understanding while advancing practical sensor capabilities across diverse fields. The program encourages applications that address national and global challenges through biosensing technologies. This includes supporting research that can benefit biomedical research, public health, agriculture, forensics, environmental protection, food safety, and homeland security. Of special interest are proposals that develop sensing systems capable of detecting novel infectious agents, are easily reconfigurable for emerging threats, or demonstrate adaptability and multiplexing capacity — all critical for rapid response during public health crises such as pandemics. Biosensing solutions that integrate artificial intelligence to enhance sensor specificity and responsiveness are also encouraged. Applicants may propose a wide range of topics provided they align with the program’s scope. Key interest areas include novel signal transduction mechanisms for sensitive biosensors; development of biorecognition elements with adaptive transducing systems; synthetic biology approaches for creating cell-based or cell-free sensors; and integration of biosensors with AI for performance optimization. Projects that deviate from the program’s scope, such as medical imaging-based sensing, microfluidics, or computational modeling not directly tied to biosensing innovations, may not be competitive and are advised to be submitted to more appropriate NSF programs. The program does not specify a maximum or minimum funding amount, but typical awards cover up to three years and support one graduate student and one month of principal investigator time annually. Projects with higher budgets or collaborative efforts involving multiple investigators are considered, but applicants are advised to consult the program director prior to submission if their budgets significantly exceed the norm. Proposals can be submitted year-round as there are no deadlines for this opportunity, although specific solicitations like CAREER, RAPID, EAGER, and GOALI have different submission guidelines and may include separate timelines and requirements. Applications must be submitted through either Research.gov or Grants.gov, following the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) guidelines in effect at the time of submission. Proposals that do not comply with these policies will be returned without review. The review process prioritizes novelty, transformative potential, relevance to engineering science, and potential societal or industrial impact. Proposals that rely heavily on descriptive research without innovation in sensing technologies will be deprioritized. For more information or clarification, applicants are encouraged to contact Program Director Aleksandr L. Simonian via email at [email protected] or phone at (703) 292-2191. The opportunity is open continuously, allowing researchers flexibility in proposal preparation. Given its broad applicability and the absence of state or institutional limitations, the program is available to a wide range of eligible institutions nationwide, particularly those able to contribute to technological advances in biosensing.

Proposals should emphasize novelty and transformative potential in engineering science. Lower priority is given to proposals focused on descriptive research or those optimizing existing methods without innovation.