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A WARM WELCOME TO OUR DEPUTY DIVISION DIRECTOR, DR. CHARLES CUNNINGHAM! 

Dr. Charles Cunningham was appointed deputy division director of MCB in February 2024. 

Dr. Cunningham joined MCB in 2015 as a rotating program director with the Cellular Dynamics and Function (CDF) cluster. He became a permanent program director in 2017 and served as the CDF cluster leader for 4 years. In 2021, he detailed as acting science advisor to the Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO) and from 2022 – 2023 was acting deputy division director in the Division of Integrative Organismal Systems (IOS) and MCB. While at NSF, Dr. Cunningham has led several activities including the Synthetic Cell Ideas Lab associated with Understanding the Rules of Life and the Integrative Research in Biology program (now a track in BIO core programs), as well as providing oversight for the Science and Technology Center – Center for Cellular Construction at UC San Francisco.  

Prior to joining NSF, Dr. Cunningham was Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of New Mexico (UNM). He has also held positions at the Medical University of South Carolina, where he was the inaugural Senator Fritz Hollings Visiting Research Scholar;, the Michael Sars Center, Bergen, Norway as research group leader; and faculty member at the University of Aberdeen. He received his Bachelor of Science in Cell Biology from the University of Glasgow and Doctor of Philosophy in Immunology from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. 

While in academia, Dr. Cunningham’s research focused initially on the comparative biology of the immune systems of marine animals. On joining UNM, he changed his field to the study of the human parasite Schistosoma mansoni and the mechanism of action of the anti-schistosomal drug praziquantel. From 2015 -2018, Dr. Cunningham served as the President of the International Society of Developmental and Comparative Immunology. 

As MCB deputy division director, Dr. Cunningham hopes to encourage the science community to continue to send their best science to MCB and BIO and to help develop new initiatives for cross-disciplinary and integrative approaches to fundamental research. 

Theresa Good, MCB’s division director says of Dr. Cunningham, “I’m thrilled to have Charlie join the MCB leadership team.  His scientific vision and logical approach to management and operations will strengthen MCB.  Having him as a permanent deputy division director also brings welcome stability to the division.  At this time, I’d like to take the opportunity to thank Karen Cone and Bianca Garner, who both ably served in leadership positions in MCB in the past 18 months.” 

WILL YOU BE AT THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY (ASBMB) ANNUAL MEETING ON MARCH 23-26, 2024 IN SAN ANTONIO?

If so, then you’ll be joined by our very own NSF BIO Officials! If you spot any of our colleagues, then please say hello, and check out their informative events described below.

Our Assistant Director, Susan Marqusee, will participate in the Women’s Networking Dinner on Sunday, March 24, 6:45 – 9:00 pm. This special event offers attendees the opportunity to interact with a distinguished panel of women professionals and to cultivate meaningful connections with fellow participants.

The ASBMB is also hosting a series of chats to connect attendees of DiscoverBMB to funding opportunities from federal agencies. Program Directors, Manju Hingorani and Ishita Mukerji, will give two talks on NSF funding opportunities – the first for students and postdocs on Sunday March 24, 4 – 4.30 pm, and the second for PIs on Monday, March 25, 4 – 4.30 pm. After each twenty-minute chat, there will be a brief Q&A session. 

Lastly, the ASBMB will host a Symposium titled, “NIH and NSF perspectives on diversifying STEM sponsored by the ASBMB Mosaic Program,” on Tuesday, March 26, 2:30 – 4:15 pm. Program Director, David Rockcliffe, will participate in the symposium to discuss NSF Programs that address diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Our Program Directors will also be available at the NSF booth, #434, in the Exhibit Hall at various times during the conference.

See you there!

DEAR COLLEAGUE LETTER: NSF-DBT OF INDIA COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH OPPORTUNITY 

This NSF-DBT collaborative research opportunity focuses specifically upon discoveries and innovations in areas of mutual interest to support advancing knowledge, technologies, and innovation that advance biotechnology and promote the bioeconomy. Through this research agency partnership, U.S. researchers may receive funding from NSF and India researchers may receive funding from DBT respectively. 

What is the submission deadline? 
There is only one round of proposal submissions related to this DCL. Proposals submitted to an NSF program that accepts proposals at any time must be submitted by April 11, 2024. Proposals submitted to any other participating NSF program must be submitted following the program due dates for calendar year 2024. 

What types of proposals can be submitted? 
Proposals may be submitted that address complex scientific challenges and innovate novel solutions that leverage advances in synthetic and engineering biology, systems and computational biology, and other associated fields that are foundational to developing future biomanufacturing solutions and advance the bioeconomy. Examples of challenge areas include but are not limited to: 

  • Development of innovative tools, technologies, and resources for genome engineering, and genome manipulations of plants and other organisms of relevance in synthetic and engineering biology 
  • Designing organelles (ribosomes, mitochondria, membranes, regulatory modules, molecular machines, etc.), or synthetic components that could be integrated into cells or cell-like systems 
  • Understanding the biological principles for cell programming and strain engineering in microbes and host (plant) microbe interactions in phytobiomes and rhizosphere 
  • Engineering DNA, RNA, and protein/enzyme 
  • Modelling of metabolic networks and interactions among networks 
  • Designing host expression system for recombinant proteins 
  • Engineering novel microbial chassis 
  • Developing and applying synthetic gene circuits 
  • Engineering novel plant chassis 
  • Predictive models of cells and subcellular systems that support mechanistic understanding and engineering design 

Proposals submitted to this opportunity may focus on the development of foundational tools that would support all application spaces or focus on specific applications.  

What programs are participating? 
The following programs are participating in this opportunity: 

NSF 

  • Directorate for Biological Sciences 
  • Division of Integrative Organismal Systems 
  • Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences 
  • Directorate for Engineering 
  • Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental and Transport Systems 
  • Cross-Directorate 

DBT 

  • Proposals will be accepted for collaborative research in the proposed areas and coordinated by the Global Innovation Directorate of DBT [https://dbtindia.gov.in/]. 

As details on funding limits, grant durations, and specific research areas vary by NSF program, U.S. Principal Investigators (PIs) are encouraged to contact program directors of pertinent NSF programs for specific guidance. Indian Principal Investigators (PIs) are encouraged to contact program officers of the Global Innovation Directorate of DBT. 

How will programs be submitted and reviewed? 
Proposals will be submitted to NSF, with a separate copy of the same proposal submitted by the India applicants to DBT on the same day as the NSF submission. The proposals will be reviewed by experts contacted by NSF in competition with other proposals received for the same funding round of the program to which the proposal is submitted, using NSF’s merit review process. DBT will check that the Indian investigators have active and appropriate roles and confirm their eligibility at the onset of the process. DBT officials may attend and observe any discussions as part of the merit review process of U.S.-India collaborative proposals submitted in response to this opportunity but will not conduct a parallel review. DBT officials will have access to unattributed reviews and panel summaries where applicable. NSF intends to make awards to the U.S. investigators participating in the recommended collaborative proposals, and DBT intends to make awards to the Indian investigators participating in the recommended collaborative proposals. 

For more on specific proposal guidelines – https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2024/nsf24054/nsf24054.jsp 

How can I find out more? 
Questions about this DCL may be directed to india-collaboration@nsf.gov. Additionally, the NSF Office of International Science and Engineering helps to coordinate the overall engagement between NSF and DBT. The current OISE program manager for India is listed at https://www.nsf.gov/od/oise/country-list.jsp. 

For access to a live recording of an information/Q&A session regarding the NSF-DBT Collaborative Research Opportunity – https://mcbblog.nsfbio.com/office-hours/2/ 

The New Solicitation for Future Manufacturing (FM) is Now Available.

Future Manufacturing seeks inventive approaches to invigorate the manufacturing ecosystem and seed nascent future industries that can only be imagined today.

Fundamental research to overcome significant barriers will be required in quantum and semiconductor devices and integrated systems, robotics, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, sustainable chemistry and production, materials science, education and public policy, and workforce development. Research and education that enhances U.S. leadership in manufacturing by providing new capabilities for companies and entrepreneurs is also supported.

Proposals must perform fundamental research to enable new manufacturing capabilities in one or more of the following three thrust areas:

  • Future Cyber Manufacturing Research,
  • Future Eco Manufacturing Research, and
  • Future Biomanufacturing Research.

Proposals are accepted into one of the following two award tracks:

  • Future Manufacturing Research Grants (FMRG) – up to $3,000,000 for up to four years
  • Future Manufacturing Seed Grants (FMSG) – up to $500,000 for up to two years

The goal of this solicitation is to enable new manufacturing that represents a significant change from current practice. Therefore, proposers responding to this solicitation must include within the Project Description a section titled Enabling Future Manufacturing.

It is anticipated the results of Future Manufacturing could change how workers interact with technology. Investigators may choose to address challenges in this area by including an optional component of research which focuses on future workers and their interactions with the new technology. Please see “Proposal Preparation Instructions” for specifics.

Applications are due on April 11, 2024. For more information, including a recorded webinar, please visit the Future Manufacturing solicitation page. General inquiries regarding this program should be made to futuremanufacturing@nsf.gov

DON’T MISS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH NSF’S BIO PROGRAM DIRECTORS & STAFF FROM MCB, IOS, & DBI 

Are you attending The Allied Genetics Conference (TAGC24) in National Harbor, MD from March 6th to 9th? 

If so, then you’ll be joined by several Program Directors and Staff from the NSF’s Directorate for Biological Sciences.  

Name Directorate/Division Title 
Clifford Weil BIO/MCB Program Director 
Matthew Buechner BIO/MCB Program Director 
Stephen DiFazio BIO/MCB Program Director 
Kaidra Riggins BIO/MCB Science Assistant 
Theodore (Ted) Morgan BIO/IOS Program Director 
Anna Allen BIO/IOS Program Director 
Amanda Simcox BIO/DBI Program Director 

We’d love to meet you and answer any questions you may have so please stop by our booth, #424, in the Exhibit Hall during the following time periods: 

Wednesday, March 6 6:15 p.m. – 10:15 p.m. 
Thursday, March 7 12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.   6:15 p.m. –10:15 p.m.  
Friday, March 8 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.   6:30 p.m. –10:30 p.m.  
Saturday, March 9 12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.   6:00 p.m. –10:00 p.m.  

To access the full schedule for TAGC24, please use the following link: https://genetics-gsa.org/tagc-2024/schedule/ 

See you there! 

Dear Colleague Letter (DCL): Leveraging Innovations From Evolution

Across millennia, life on Earth has solved challenges to innumerable biotic and abiotic pressures. In some cases, similar adaptations and innovations have arisen independently in separate lineages (i.e., convergent evolution). However, despite the remarkable proliferation of genomic resources, organismal and phylogenetic knowledge, and computational capabilities, most of life’s functional solutions remain poorly understood for the vast majority of species. Through this new DCL, NSF BIO is encouraging proposals that use comparative approaches to identify convergent adaptations to life’s challenges and the mechanisms that underlie them.

NSF BIO seeks to speed discovery and understanding of biological innovations that hold significant potential for applications in the bioeconomy, including industrial processes, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, energy production, nature-based solutions to climate change, and planetary sustainability and resilience. Proposals should include relevance of the proposed work to inform applications towards a sustainable global bioeconomy, interpreted broadly.

Read the full DCL on www.nsf.gov for further information and points of contact.

Process for Submitting Proposals relevant to LIFE

Proposals responsive to this DCL should be submitted to one of the following programs, and Principal Investigators (PIs) are strongly encouraged to reach out to a cognizant Program Officer (PO) (see the points of contact in the DCL linked above) to discuss the topic before submission.

  • Core Programs in any of the following divisions, including as part of the Integrative Research in Biology (IntBIO) track:
    • Division of Environmental Biology (currently NSF 23-549)
    • Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences (currently NSF 23-548)
    • Division of Integrative Organismal Systems (currently NSF 23-547)
  • Infrastructure Innovation for Biological Research program (currently NSF 23-578)

DON’T MISS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH MCB’S LEADERSHIP AND PROGRAM DIRECTORS 

Are you attending the 2024 Biophysical Society (BPS) Annual Meeting held in Philadelphia, PA from February 10th to 14th? 

If so, then you’ll be joined by the Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences’ leadership, Dr. Theresa Good and Dr. Charles Cunningham, in addition to our Molecular Biophysics Program Directors: Dr. Wilson Francisco, Dr. Jaroslaw Majewski, Dr. Ishita Mukerji, and Dr. Engin Serpersu. If you spot any of our colleagues, then please say hello! 

Our Division Director, Dr. Theresa Good, will speak on the panel titled “Opportunities for International Collaboration” on Sunday, February 11, from 2:30 – 4:00 PM. Additionally, our Molecular Biophysics Program Directors will speak on the panel titled, “Inside Perspectives and Opportunities: NSF Grants” on Tuesday, February 13, from 3:30 – 5:00 PM. Please check out these informative sessions if you’re interested in hearing the Molecular and Cellular Biosciences Division discuss our approach to exploring, expanding, and advancing biophysical research at the 2024 BPS Annual Meeting. See you there! 

MCB WELCOMES RASHID BAIG

Rashid joined MCB as a Program Specialist in January 2024.

What is your educational background? 

I attended Montgomery College in Rockville, Maryland and University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland, earning a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. 

What were you doing before you came to NSF? 

I worked at The Catholic University of America in the Enrollment Management department as an Enrollment Management Technical Assistant. 

What attracted you to the NSF? 

I am fascinated by scientific innovations, and I am excited to work at place committed to the advancement of science. 

What has surprised you most about working at NSF? 

I didn’t know until I started working here that it was ranked #2 among the 2022 Best Places to work in the Federal Government. The few people I have met so far have been very nice and kind. This includes BIO staff, my supervisors, and colleagues across NSF. Everyone is helpful and works to get you what you need to do your job.

Share Your Creative Idea to Spur the Bioeconomy

To work towards creating a unified, collaborative strategy to advance the U.S. bioeconomy, Catalyzing Across Sectors to Advance the Bioeconomy (CASA-Bio; www.casa-bio.net) was created.

As a first step, representatives from government, industry, and non-profit organizations met in early December to identify R&D areas of possible synergy.

Now we need your input!!!

To learn how members of the research community can participate in CASA-Bio, please use the link(s) below to view the recording of the CASA-Bio virtual office hour hosted by MCB. MCB hosts virtual office hours every second Wednesday of each month. To register for future virtual office hours, or view previous webinars, please visit our site at https://mcbblog.nsfbio.com/office-hours/.

  • January 10, 2024 from 2:00-3:00 PM ET (hosted by the NSF Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences (MCB)): Catalyzing Across Sectors to Advance the Bioeconomy (CASA-Bio)               Recording Slides Transcript 

There will be several virtual town halls where the community (that’s you) can provide ideas on research and development possibilities within the areas of synergy identified by representatives from government, industry, and non-profit organizations. The tentative dates for the the first couple of town halls are listed below. More information is and will be available at www.casa-bio.net.

  • February 12, 2024 from 7-8:30 PM ET
  • February 15, 2024 from 9-10:30 AM ET
  • February 21, 2024 from 12-1:30 PM ET
  • February 22, 2024 from 5-6:30 PM ET

CASA-Bio is facilitated by KnowInnovation under contract No. 49100423P0058 from the National Science Foundation.

MCB WELCOMES BOLAJI OYEGBOLA

Bolaji joined as a Program Assistant in December 2023.

What is your educational background? 

I have a Bachelor of Arts  in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Maryland, College Park. Fear the turtle!!! 

What were you doing before you came to NSF? 

I worked at the Center for Tobacco Products  within the U.S. Food and Drug Administration  as a Technical Information Specialist. 

What has surprised you most about working at NSF? 

The work culture. It is amazing. Every person that I have met in my department has been super friendly, warm, and welcoming. And not just the people in my department. When I step into an elevator and someone’s already in it, they warmly say hello, and the same goes if they are stepping into the elevator and I’m in it. 

What was your first impression of the NSF? Has this impression changed since you’ve begun? 

The answer to this question is the same answer I gave for the previous question. Everyone is very nice, friendly, and welcoming. That impression has not changed.