ECosystem for Leading Innovation in Plasma Science and Engineering

The National Science Foundation (NSF) supports the ECosystem for Leading Innovation in Plasma Science and Engineering (ECLIPSE) program, designed to foster translational research and workforce development at the intersection of fundamental plasma science and technological innovation. NSF, an independent federal agency established in 1950, has a long history of advancing multidisciplinary plasma research. Through this program, NSF seeks to create an inclusive ecosystem that spans multiple directorates and divisions, helping to bring fundamental plasma science investigations to bear on societal and technological needs while encouraging collaborations that may not fit neatly into traditional disciplinary structures. The ECLIPSE program focuses on plasma science, a field that draws from physics, chemistry, materials science, space science, and engineering. Proposals must articulate a clear scientific or engineering challenge in plasma science that relates to more than one NSF program, and demonstrate how addressing this challenge will advance societal or technological priorities. Example areas of interest include plasma surface interactions for advanced manufacturing and catalysis, atmospheric and microplasmas applied to agriculture and environmental remediation, dusty plasmas for nanomaterials and aerosols, novel sensors for non-equilibrium plasma diagnostics, computational modeling of plasma systems for space weather prediction and reactor design, and studies of plasmons in nanophotonics for applications like wireless communication and photocatalysis. Applicants must ensure that their proposed projects align with societal or technological needs within NSF’s scope of science and engineering. Projects that fall primarily within the domain of other federal funding agencies will not be eligible. The program also emphasizes diversity, equity, and inclusion, welcoming proposals from Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Minority Serving Institutions, and EPSCoR-eligible jurisdictions, and encourages collaborations that broaden participation in STEM fields. Proposals should address how workforce development and career preparation in plasma science and engineering will be enhanced through the project. Submissions must follow NSF’s Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) and be marked with the acronym “ECLIPSE” in the title. Proposals should be submitted to one of the listed related programs most relevant to the research scope. NSF notes that proposals may be transferred to a different program or returned without review if they fall outside the scientific scope of the receiving program. The review process evaluates intellectual merit and broader impacts, including contributions to diversity and workforce development. Deadlines vary by division and program, with multiple annual submission windows. Examples include proposals for divisions such as Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences (AGS) and Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental and Transport Systems (CBET) accepted between September 30 and September 29 annually; proposals for the Division of Chemistry’s Structure, Dynamics, and Mechanisms-B program accepted between September 1 and September 30 annually; and deadlines for specific programs such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities initiatives in October, Plasma Physics in November, and Centers of Research Excellence in December. All proposals are due by 5:00 p.m. local time of the submitting organization. Program contacts span several NSF directorates, including Engineering, Geosciences, Mathematical and Physical Sciences, STEM Education, and the Office of Integrative Activities. Cognizant program officers can be reached collectively at eclipse@nsf.gov, with individual officers listed by division and contact number for applicants needing direct guidance. The program also allows for information sharing with other funding agencies under certain Memoranda of Understanding, meaning proposals may be considered for joint funding opportunities. This broad approach ensures that innovative plasma science projects with strong societal relevance can receive coordinated support within NSF’s mission.