University of Puerto Rico at
Mayaguez
February 11, 2009
Mr. Edward J. Lee
Ms. Terry B. Hodges
Air Force Office of Scientific Research
Approved for public release.
Air Force Research Laboratory
11 Aug 08
The Air Force’s Corporate Research and Development
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AFOSR Mission
AFOSR discovers, shapes, and champions basic science
to profoundly impact the future Air Force
• Identify Breakthrough Research Opportunities
– Here & Abroad
• Foster Revolutionary Basic Research for Air
Force Needs
• Transition Technologies to DoD and Industry
TODAY’S BREAKTHROUGH SCIENCE FOR TOMORROW’S AIR FORCE
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DoD Research Categories
6.1
BASIC
RESEARCH
6.2
APPLIED
RESEARCH
6.3
ADVANCED
TECHNOLOGY
DEVELOPMENT
Produces New
Knowledge
Develops New
Technologies
Experiments and
Demonstrations
Distribution A: Approved for public release; distribution unlimited.
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What is Basic Research?
Basic research is systematic study directed toward greater
knowledge or understanding of the fundamental aspects of
phenomena and observable facts without specific applications
towards processes or products in mind. It includes all scientific
study and experimentation directed toward increasing
fundamental knowledge and understanding in those fields of
physical, engineering, environmental, and for technical progress.
Basic research may lead to: (a) subsequent applied research and
advance technology developments in Defense-related
technologies, and (b) new and improved military functional
capabilities in areas such as communications, detection, tracking,
surveillance, propulsion, mobility, guidance and control,
navigation, energy conversion, materials and structures,
personnel support.
DoD Financial Management Regulation Volume 2B, Chapter 5,
Section 050201
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AFOSR Roles in FY08
AF Basic Research Manager
•
Identify Breakthrough Research Opportunities – Here & Abroad
– Regular interactions with leading scientists and engineers
– Liaison offices in Europe and Asia, soon in Latin America
– 156 short-term foreign visitors; 28 personnel exchanges
– 86 summer faculty; 46 postdocs/senior scientists at AFRL
•
Foster Revolutionary Basic Research for Air Force Needs
– 1181 extramural research grants at 227 universities
– 239 intramural research projects at AFRL, USAFA, AFIT
– 150 STTR small business - university contracts
– 501 fellowships; 1574 grad students, 530 post-docs on grants
•
Transition Technologies to DOD and Industry
–
–
1 Oct 08
61 workshops conducted; 219 conferences co-sponsored
686 funded transitions in FY08 data call (64% response rate)
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AFOSR Supports University
Individual Investigators
•
•
•
Goals
–
Provide revolutionary scientific breakthroughs to maintain
military air, space, and information superiority
–
Build collaborations between AFRL and universities
General Process
–
Researchers submit white papers to AFOSR program
managers
–
–
–
Promising white papers lead to request for full proposals
Proposal are merit reviewed for excellence and relevance
Individual grants can be proposed up to 5-years in duration
Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) is open at all times to
innovative ideas http://www.wpafb.af.mil/AFRL/afosr/
6 Jan 09
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HBCU/MI Core Program
•
Broad Area Agency Announcement 2009-1 (BAA) is
open at all times to good ideas (
http://www.afosr.af.mil/)
•
Review Process
–
Primary evaluation criteria are research excellence and
Air Force relevance
–
All proposals are merit reviewed
•
Partnerships with other funding agencies bring
outside funds to AFOSR for research support in areas
of common interest
•
Central to the success of this process is a cadre of
dedicated highly capable program managers
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HBCU/MI Programs (ISP)
• DoD Infrastructure Support*
– Proposals due in August 2008
– Solicitation open to all HBCU/MI
– 3-year basic research project up to $150K/yr
– Instrumentation at $200K
* Managed by the Army Research Office (ARO)
• Content of the solicitation changes every year.
•FY06 Research and Instrumentation
•FY07 Instrumentation only
•FY08 Research and Internships for Students
•FY08 Research and Instrumentation
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AFOSR Supports Multidisciplinary
University Research (MURI)
•
Achieve significant scientific advances
– Capture attention of top researchers
– Build on results of individual-researcher grants
– Encourage multidisciplinary collaboration
•
•
Up to $1.5M/yr for five years
Typically 8 research topics per Service
– Occasional joint topics
– One or two awards per topic
•
1 Apr 08
More info at http://www.wpafb.af.mil/AFRL/afosr/
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Small Business (University-Industry)
Collaborations (STTR)
•
Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program provides up
to $850,000 for early-stage R&D directly to small companies
working cooperatively with research institutions (
http://www.acq.osd.mil/sadbu/sbir/)
–
Company must be U.S. for-profit small business; 500 or less
employees
–
Research institution must be a U.S. college or university, FFRDC,
or non-profit research institution
–
Principal investigator must be employed at small business or
research institution
• Air Force plans to support 30 topics for FY09
– July 27, 2009: Solicitation issued for public release
– August 24, 2009: DoD Began accepting proposals
– September 23, 2009: Deadline for receipt of proposals
– January 10, 2010: Contracts awarded
1 Oct 08
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Other Research Opportunities
•
USAF/National Research Council Resident Research
Associates (RRA)
–
Offers postdoctoral and senior scientists and engineers
opportunities to perform research at sponsoring AF
laboratories; 46 Current Associates
–
More info:
http://www.afosr.af.mil/Education/edu_residentProg.htm
•
–
Summer Faculty Fellowship Program (SFFP)
–
More info: http://asee.org/sffp
11 Jun 08
Offers fellowships to university faculty to conduct research at
Air Force research facilities in the summer normally 8-12
weeks; 86 Fellowships total in FY08
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Basic Research Focused Areas
Aerospace, Chemical &
Materials Sciences
(NA)
Physics &
Electronics
(NE)
Math, Information
& Life Sciences
(NL)
• Aero-Structure
Interactions and
Control
• Complex Electronics
and Fundamental
Quantum Processes
• Information and
Complex Networks
• Energy, Power, and
Propulsion
• Plasma Physics and
High Energy Density
Nonequilibrium
Processes
• Dynamical Systems,
Optimization, and
Control
• Complex Materials
and Structures
• Optics, Electromagnetics,
Communication, and
Signal Processing
• Decision Making
• Natural Materials
and Systems
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Trends in AFOSR Emphasis
Increased Emphasis
OSD Priority DCT Both
• Hypersonics (incl turbulence control)
• Advanced mathematics
• Complex, Multi-Functional Materials
•High-Temperature Superconductivity
• Info Assurance and Network Sciences
• Micro Air Vehicles (Autonomy, Adaptive Aero)
• Counter-Directed Energy Weapons
• Interfacial Sciences (Thermal, Tribology)
•Quantum Information Sciences
•Robust Decision-Making, Info Fusion
•Space Situational Awareness
•fs-laser material interactions
•Socio-Cultural Modeling, Minerva
Decreased Emphasis
•Human physiology, Health, Safety
•Semiconductor Materials
22 Oct 08
14
AFOSR Supports Tomorrow’s S&Es
•
National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship
(NDSEG)
 Full tuition assistance + $31K/per year stipend
 Fellows do not incur any service obligation
 Supports over 500 PhD-track graduate students
 More info: http://www.asee.org/ndseg
•
Awards to Stimulate and Support Undergraduate
Research Experience (ASSURE)
 Provide undergraduates with research opportunities
in
S&E fields of DoD interest
 Supports over 480 undergraduate students during
summer months
 More info:
http://www.wpafb.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=9333
•
Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART)
1 Aug 08
 Scholarships to undergraduate & graduate students (174 awards in FY08)
 Full tuition assistance + up to 41K/per year stipend
 Continue their research in civil service roles following graduation
 More info: http://www.asee.org/SMART
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AFOSR Supports Tomorrow’s S&Es
(Cont.)
•
Young Investigator Program (YIP)
Develop long-term relationships with leading junior PIs
95 YIP awards (3 years at $105K/yr) since FY07
Awards up to 5 years at $120K/yr beginning in FY09
Must have received PhD in the last five years
Additional info available in AFOSR BAA
• Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists &
Engineers (PECASE)
Recognize outstanding young S&Es in AF interest areas
5-year awards $200K/year (up from $100K)
More info: http://www.wpafb.af.mil/AFRL/afosr/
6 Jan 09
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National Security Science and Engineering
Faculty Fellowship (NSSEFF)
•
Objectives
 Recruit and retain highly innovative university researchers that support military
needs
 Create a forum to recognize and reward outstanding researchers
 Demonstrate DoD commitment to high quality university researchers
 Familiarize select university researchers and their students with DoD missions,
operations, and technology
 Foster long-term relationships between S&E faculty members and the DoD
 Increase the number of exceptionally talented and cleared technical experts that
are contributing to DoD’s mission and upon which DoD may draw from to serve
on advisory boards, panels, and groups
•
Award Information
 Awards up to $600k/yr in direct costs for 5 years, plus overhead at approved
rates
 Currently 18 Fellows (8 - FY08, 10 - FY09)
 Third competition expected to start in Feb 09
 More info: http://nsseff.ida.org/
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AFRL Seeking Well Qualified S&Es
•
Excellent opportunities in research and
program management
– Spanning physical and life sciences and engineering
– Excellent facilities, meaningful programs
•
Competitive, contribution-based compensation
– Rewards scientists and engineers for top performance
– Provides comprehensive benefits package
•
Interested in joining the AFRL team? For more
information visit
– www.AFRL.af.mil
– www.usajobs.gov
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Contact Information and More
• AFOSR Home Page: http://www.afosr.af.mil
• POC at AFOSR:
Mr. Ed Lee
Deputy Chief, External Programs
ed.lee@afosr.af.mil 703-696-7318
Ms. Terry Brailsford-Hodges
Director, Operations Management
terry.hodges@afosr.af.mil 703-696-9587
Dr. Kathleen Kaplan
Chief, External Programs & Resources Interface
kathleen.kaplan@afosr.af.mil 703-696-7312
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