Information and Computing Technology

A UB 2020 Academic and Strategic Strength

Funding Opportunities

ICT faculty members are encouraged to take advantage of the following funding opportunities broadly related to information science, computational science, and human-computer interaction. Many of the programs listed below provide faculty members with an opportunity to enhance their research, build multidisciplinary teams within UB, and develop partnerships with other institutions. Program announcements are arranged by sponsor:


Department of Energy (DOE)

EPA Fall 2009 Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Fellowships for Graduate Environmental Study

Deadline: 10-22-2009

Synopsis: EPA STAR is offering Graduate Fellowships for master’s and doctoral level students in environmental fields of study. Fellowship topics are as follows: Global Change; Clean Air; Drinking Water; Water Quality: Hydrogeology and Surface Water; Water Quality: Coastal and Estuarine Processes; Human Health: Public Health Sciences; Ecosystem Services: Terrestrial Systems Soli and Plant Ecology; Ecosystem Services: Terrestrial Systems Animal Ecology; Pesticides and Toxic Substances; Land Protection; Science & Technology for Sustainability: Green Engineering/Building/Chemistry/Materials; Science & Technology for Sustainability: Energy; Science & Technology for Sustainability: Environmental Behavior and Decision Making; Emerging Environmental Approaches: Informatics.

 

Computational Biology and Bioinformatic Methods to Enable a Systems Biology Knowledgebase

Deadline: 01-29-2010

Synopsis: The Office of Biological and Environmental Research (BER) of the Office of Science (SC), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) advances world-class biological and environmental research and provides scientific facilities to support DOE missions in scientific discovery and innovation, energy security, and environmental responsibility. BER hereby announces its interest in receiving applications for potential funding of computational biology and bioinformatic methods and analytics to enable the planned Systems Biology Knowledgebase. The goal of systems biology is to understand living systems, a simple microbe or a complex ecosystem, so well that we can develop predictive, computational models of the systems that behave the same way as the living system. Such predictive models would enable scientists to accurately predict an organism’s or a more complex system’s behavior.

NOTE: Use Reference No: DE-FOA-0000143 to access RFP.

 

Department of Defense (DOD)

Air Force Research Laboratory Information Fusion Test-Bed Technologies and Applications, BAA-09-05-RIKA

Deadline (white papers): 11-02-2009

Synopsis: The overall objective of this BAA is to develop and demonstrate innovative and advanced information fusion technologies for dominant situational awareness and assessment. This effort will investigate the research and development, evaluation, and demonstration/application of emerging information fusion technologies, products or standards to; (1) automate the fusion of collected, or stored information in support of ISR applicable to the ground, air, space and cyberspace domains; (2) enhance the ability to fuse or correlate data from multi-platform, multi-intelligence sources; and (3) provide for situational awareness, threat assessment, and resource management derived from multiple intelligence sources and within a common operational picture. Specific technologies should deliver advanced capabilities that include, but are not limited to advanced data fusion technologies, fusion analytical tools, fusion algorithm developments, fusion metrics and evaluation standards, fusion performance modeling, scenarios for fusion technology testing and the integration of fusion evaluation techniques into an information fusion design for legacy and future ISR systems.

 

Department of Homeland Security Science & Technology University Programs Innovative Educational Environments Research and Development Opportunity, BAA09-07

Deadline: 02-28-2010

Synopsis: The focus of this initiative is to research, create, develop, deploy, and evaluate innovative educational tools, approaches, and resources that will assist with the development of an educated and well trained scientific and technical workforce, representative of the US population that DHS and its partners will need to protect the country in the foreseeable future.  At least one of the following topical areas of strategic interest must be a component of proposals submitted (see solicitation for full list): Risk, Economics, and Decision Sciences; Border Security; Natural Disasters and Related Geophysical Studies; Communications and Interoperability (including cyber security); and Advanced Data Analysis and Visualization.

 

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Sciences Research & Technology, BAA-09-31

Deadline: 03-08-2010

Synopsis: Research areas include: bioelectric and biophotonics interfaces; nanotechnological modulation of cellular signal transduction pathways; advanced molecular analysis and synthesis devices; artificial recognition elements (antibody mimetics); micro/nano-scale technologies for non-invasive and/or remote assessment of health; neuromorphic information processing systems and architectures; machine intelligence; computation that can be applied to design and control complex systems.

 

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Strategic Technology Office, BAA-09-22

Deadline: (open through) 03-10-2010

Synopsis: Topics of interest include the following (see solicitation for full list): strategic and tactical networks including distributed, grid and networked computing systems and miniature low-power sensors and networks; information assurance such as quantum key distribution and quantum data encryption, and novel technologies to revolutionize cyber security testing and evaluation; and counter underground facilities such as large geophysical inversions of multi-source data.

 

Army Medical Research and Materiel Command BAA 10-1

Deadline: (open through) 09-30-2010

Synopsis: Topics of interest to this BAA include (see solicitation for full list): Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Program - to explore medical science and engineering technologies ahead of programmed research, and to leverage programs to maximize benefits to military medicine. To accomplish this, research is centered around a number of scientific domains: Medical Robotics, Health Information Technologies, Medical Imaging Technologies, Advanced Prosthetics and Human Performance, Computational Biology, Biomonitoring Technologies, Simulation and Training Technology, Genomics and Proteomics, Integrative Disease Management, Infectious Disease, Neuroscience, Regenerative Medicine, Nanomedicine and Biomaterials, Trauma, Medical Logistics, and Telemedicine. Health Information Technologies – include: Establishment of a common development environment to allow rapid prototyping for standard military health care systems; Establish a research data cube and clinical data mart dataset to support the research community; Natural language processing; Voice recognition; Scanning paper based records; Interoperability; Usability testing of electronic health records; Terminology services/ontologies. Medical Imaging Technologies – include: Advanced high performance imaging; Computational methods and decision support; Advanced surgical cameras. Computational Biology - Research focus is in the development and application of methods for analysis, interpretation, prediction and modeling of biological data. The objective is to use mathematical tools to extract practical information from data produced by high throughput biological techniques. Chronic Disease and Integrative Medicine - Research in this area focuses on the use of a wide variety of advanced medical technologies to diagnose, treat, and manage patients with ongoing health problems. Technologies include telemedicine, remote monitoring, biosensors, advance immunologic testing, health information technologies for care management and decision support, and technologies for patient empowerment and education. Neuroscience - Research in this area includes training, treatment, prevention, protection, assessment, and diagnosis, using a variety of methodologies, techniques, materials, and technologies.

 

Army Research Office (ARO), Core BAA for Basic and Applied Scientific Research for FY 2007 through 2011

Deadline: (open through) 09-30-2011

Synopsis: General research areas are: mechanical sciences; environmental sciences; mathematical sciences; electronics; computing and information sciences; physics; chemistry; life sciences; and materials science.

 

Warfighter Interface Technologies Advanced Research Programs (WITARP)

Deadline: (open through) 09-30-2014

Synopsis: The objective of this BAA is to address highly unique and innovative R&D concept areas in Warfighter Interface Technologies. Proposed work should address the innovative and strategic thought of the 21st century adversaries, and develop new concepts to counter these adversaries with innovative warfighter interface capabilities. The technology research in the BAA will be primarily focused in the following four areas: Battlespace Acoustics; Battlespace Visualizations; Human Role in Autonomous Systems; and Distributed Decision Making. The following sections provide further details of each research area: Battlespace Acoustics -Research the fundamental underpinnings of human auditory and speech perception and the effects of noise to optimize the design of auditory interfaces, acoustic models, and communication technologies. Battlespace Visualizations -Research the fundamental underpinnings of human visual performance, develop visualizations and interface techniques that improve warfighter situation awareness and give enhanced ability to manipulate massive space and cyber domain data sets. Human Role in Autonomous Systems -Research the fundamental underpinnings of human-automation interaction, design the human-machine interface to enhance the operator’s continuous situation assessment, and support decision making in ways that assure flexible and fault-tolerant mission operations. Distributed Decision Making -Research the fundamental underpinnings of increasing decision-making effectiveness by embedding knowledge of cognitive state and capability into interfaces of individuals and systems operating as distributed teams.

 

Science and Technology For Warfighter Training and Aiding

Deadline: (open through) 09-30-2014

Synopsis: The objective of this BAA is to research, demonstrate, evaluate, and transition human performance methods and technology to enable warfighters to have the right skills, knowledge, experience and capabilities at the right time to make the right decisions. This objective shall be met through the following three science and technology areas: Cognitive Modeling. Advance cognitive, computational, and computer sciences to create innovative cognitive technologies that enable and optimize our future warfighters. Research lines of interest include, but are not limited to: Develop functional, cognitively valid, language-capable, and situationally-aware synthetic teammates; Use generative mechanisms to semi-automate the development of cognitive models; Explore alternative processing architectures and exploration/optimization algorithms for faster progress in cognitive modeling; and Predict Performance for Individual Warfighters and Small Teams. Immersive Environments. Development of immersive decision making and Live-Virtual-Constructive (LVC) environments, component technologies which emulate real-world experiences to an extent that will greatly reinforce robust decision making processes, and modeling and simulations technologies and environments that promote development of appropriate cognitive states or behaviors. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to: high fidelity real-time physics-based electronic warfare (EW) and spectrum modeling, cultural/behavioral entity modeling, multi-participant tracking, hardware in-the-loop simulation/stimulation, automated database correlation (for visual, sensors, EW, etc) for LVC participants, enhanced brief/debrief capabilities for LVC scenarios, high bandwidth datalink technologies, embedded EW training for crew aircraft, high entity count automated scenario generation, real-time data feeds for LVC scenarios, and advanced hardware and software architectures to support warfighter training in all domains including air, space, and cyber. Continuous Learning. Enhance understanding of human learning and instruction; Methods to define training and readiness requirements; Methods to evaluate and quantify costs, benefits, and fidelity tradespace associated with training, rehearsal, and exercise environments; Methods and technologies to accelerate the attainment of mission critical competencies, to define intervals for maintain and refreshing competencies, and to ensure that content continuously available anytime, anywhere, to anyone; Methods to assess, track, and warehouse performance and proficiency data for individuals, teams and teams of teams and to use data to adapt training and instruction within and across secure live and virtual contexts; and Methods to evaluate alternative approaches to training, rehearsal, and exercise within a “family of complimentary trainers” construct.

 

Research Interests of the U.S. Air Force Academy, USAFA-BAA-2009-1

Open through: 09-30-2019

Synopsis: USAFA is seeking white papers and proposals in areas including the following:

  • Bioenergy: The vision involves a mix of research and alternative energy production facilities in solar electric, biofuels, waste-to-methane and other multiple conservation efforts.
  • Computer Science: Current research focus areas for ACCR include cyberspace education and training, offensive and defensive cyber-warfare and information assurance. State of the art computing facilities are available to students and researchers for conducting studies in an isolated network environment running VM software for rapid reconfiguration and testing. Parallel architectures are also available for studies using neural networks and parallel algorithms.
  • Aircraft Structural Life Extension: vehicle structural integrity research; mechanics, mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, corrosion engineering, and material science research efforts.
  • Simulation: research involving experiment and simulation to solve complex static stability, static strength and fracture mechanics problems; high temperature materials development; advanced barrier coatings; static strength, corrosion and static stability design, test, analysis and methods development; computational structural and fracture mechanics; failure analysis, flight data acquisition system development, installation, maintenance and data analysis; structural risk analysis.
Department of Justice (DOJ)

No opportunities at this time. Check back soon!

 

Department of Transportation (DOT)

Demonstration Projects and Technology Advancements for Positive Train Control (PTC) / Communication Research and Development Program

Deadline: 09-30-2011

Synopsis: One particular area of new development to help achieving this goal is in the advanced train control system, such as the new concept of Positive Train Control (PTC), which uses microprocessors, advanced navigation and tracking systems, and wireless technology to interconnect the various segments of railroad operation to virtually eliminate train to train collision and over-speed derailments, as well as to provide roadway worker protection.

 

Grants for Aviation Research

Deadline: 01-12-2012

Synopsis: Specific areas of interest, which contribute to the FAA mission of improving aviation safety, capacity, efficiency, and security, are: (1) capacity and air traffic control, (2) communications, navigation and surveillance, (3) aviation weather, (4) airports, (5) aircraft safety technology, (6) human factors and aviation medicine, (7) environment and energy, (8) systems science/operations research, and (9) commercial space transportation.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

No postings at this time. Check back soon!

National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST)

No postings at this time. Check back soon!

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

National Eye Institute (NEI) Research Grants for Secondary Data Analysis

Deadline: 11-16-2009

Synopsis: Supports an extensive portfolio of clinical trials and large-scale epidemiologic research projects, wherein numerous data collection activities are required to meet each project’s specific aims. The resultant wealth of data generated by these studies often provides unique, cost-effective opportunities to investigate additional research questions or develop new analytical approaches secondary to a project’s originally intended purpose. The NEI Research Grant for Secondary Data Analysis (R21) provides support for secondary analyses of data derived from NEI-funded studies or of data derived from other sources. But data collected under NEI support are of highest programmatic interest. This mechanism may be used to develop new statistical methodologies or to test hypotheses using existing data.

 

Exploratory Innovations in Biomedical Computational Science and Technology (R21)

Deadline: 02-16-2010

Synopsis: Supports biomedical computing that will enable progress in biomedical research. Examples of data types that could be considered include but are not limited to genomic sequences, gene expression, proteomics, pathway data, scientific and biomedical images, qualitative descriptors for health and social science, and remote sensing and geospatial images. Specific research areas solicited in informatics or computational science include but are not limited to research, development and application of: (a) Tools for data acquisition, archiving, querying, retrieval, visualization, integration and management. (b) Platform-independent translational tools for data exchange and for promoting interoperability. (c) Analytical and statistical tools for interpretation of large data sets. (d) New models or simulations of complex biological processes at single and multiple levels or across multiple scales (and the development of computational and/or mathematical tools for the analysis of these processes).

 

National Science Foundation (NSF)

Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)

Deadline: 10-22-2009

Synopsis: Supports active research participation by undergraduate students in any of the areas of research funded by the National Science Foundation. REU projects involve students in meaningful ways in ongoing research programs or in research projects specifically designed for the REU program. This solicitation features two mechanisms for support of student research: (1) REU Sites are based on independent proposals to initiate and conduct projects that engage a number of students in research. REU Sites may be based in a single discipline or academic department, or on interdisciplinary or multi-department research opportunities with a coherent intellectual theme. Proposals with an international dimension are welcome. A partnership with the Department of Defense supports REU Sites in DoD-relevant research areas. (2) REU Supplements may be requested for ongoing NSF-funded research projects or may be included as a component of proposals for new or renewal NSF grants or cooperative agreements.

 

Physics at the Information Frontier (PIF)

Deadline: 10-28-2009

Synopsis: PIF is intended to provide support for physics proposals in three subareas: 1) computational physics, 2) information intensive physics, and 3) quantum information science and revolutionary computing. The computational physics subarea focuses on computational problems in physics requiring significant long-term code development, and/or medium to large collaboratories involving physicists or physicists interacting with applied mathematicians and computer scientists. Priority will be given to proposals which 1) advance computational capabilities crossing intellectual boundaries in physics, 2) result in dramatic new computational advances within a specific sub-area of physics or 3) provide generally useful software tools for the physics community. Information intensive physics seeks proposals to develop rapid, secure and efficient access to physics data stores rising from Petabytes (today) to Exabytes (in 10 years) via heterogeneous and distributed computing resources and networks of varying capability and reliability and to develop internally consistent approaches to the usage of common resources required in the multiple collaborations and serving virtual science organizations on a global scale.

 

Collaborative Research in Computational Neuroscience

Deadline: 10-30-2009

Synopsis: Program supports innovative interdisciplinary collaborative research to make significant advances in the understanding of nervous system function, mechanisms underlying nervous system disorders, and computational strategies used by the nervous system.

 

CISE Cross-Cutting Programs

Deadline: 10-30-2009 (small); 11-28-2009 (large); and 12-17-2009 (medium)

Synopsis: Supports cross-cutting programs: data intensive computing; network science and engineering; and trustworthy computing.

 

Computer and Network Systems: Core Programs

Deadline: 10-30-2009 (small); 11-28-2009 (large); and 12-17-2009 (medium)

Synopsis: Supports research in the areas of: computer systems research (CSR); and networking technology and systems (NeTS).

 

Electronic and Photonic Materials (EPM)

Deadline: 10-31-2009

Synopsis: The goal of this program is to advance the field of electronics and photonics through basic, potentially transformative materials science research. The scope of the program encompasses the discovery and understanding of materials and material combinations with potential for major technological advantages. Program focus is on identification and understanding of fundamental atomic and molecular level mechanisms and phenomena associated with synthesis and processing of electronic and photonic materials. High risk, high payoff research is encouraged. For example, novel materials are sought that may offer new paradigms in critical computing and communications components, or enable low cost, highly efficient, and stable photovoltaics, solid state lighting, and displays. Research topics include, but are not limited to, nucleation and growth of thin films and nanostructures; self-assembly; nanostructure definition and etching processes; interface bonding and structure; crystal and interface defects; doping; bulk crystal growth; and interrelationships between synthesis/processing, structure, and properties.

 

Statistics

Deadline: 11-07-2009

Synopsis: The Statistics Program supports research in statistical theory and methods, including research in statistical methods for applications to any domain of science and engineering. The theory forms the base for statistical science. The methods are used for stochastic modeling, and the collection, analysis and interpretation of data. The methods characterize uncertainty in the data and facilitate advancement in science and engineering.

 

Probability

Deadline: 11-07-2009

Synopsis: The Probability Program supports research on the theory and applications of probability. Subfields include discrete probability, stochastic processes, limit theory, interacting particle systems, stochastic differential and partial differential equations, and Markov processes. Research in probability which involves applications to other areas of science and engineering is especially encouraged.

 

Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) in Engineering

Deadline: 11-16-2009

Synopsis: Supports the active involvement of K-12 teachers and community college faculty in engineering research in order to bring knowledge of engineering and technological innovation into their classrooms.The goal is to help build long-term collaborative partnerships between K-12 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) teachers, community college faculty, and the NSF university research community by involving the teachers in engineering research and helping them translate their research experiences and new knowledge of engineering into classroom activities.

 

Information and Intelligent Systems

Deadline: 11-28-2009 (large); and 12-17-2009 (small)

Synopsis: Supports three core programs: (1) Human Centered Computing (HCC); (2) Information Integration and Informatics; and (3) Robust Intelligence.

 

Interdisciplinary Research (IDR)

Deadline: 12-07-2009

Synopsis: IDR submissions should have a level of interdisciplinary content not covered in the core programs of ENG, and ultimately attract funding from at least two programs in at least two divisions of the NSF.IDR proposals may be on any topic relevant to engineering and, in particular, should not be constrained by the current program structures. It is hoped that new fields of research will eventually emerge from IDR awards.

 

Non-Government Funding Sources

American Association of University Women Community Action Grants

Deadline: 01-15-2010

Synopsis: The program's one-year grants ($2,000 to $7,000 each over one year) provide seed money for new projects. Two-year grants ($5,000 to $10,000 each over two years) provide start-up funds for longer-term programs that address the particular needs of the community and develop girls' sense of efficacy through leadership or advocacy opportunities. Topic areas are unrestricted but should include a clearly defined activity that promotes education and equity for women and girls. Special consideration will be given to projects focused on K-12 and community college girls' and women's achievements in science, technology, engineering or math.