Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002448
This funding opportunity (DE-FOA-0002448) is a discretionary research grant announcement from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Science, within the Biological and Environmental Research (BER) program. It sits specifically in the Biological Systems Science Division (BSSD) Genomic Science Program (GSP) mission space, meaning the emphasis is on genome-enabled, systems-level biology that can be translated into capabilities important to DOE energy and environmental goals. The overall aim is to expand the scientific foundation needed to use microbes more effectively for producing next-generation biofuels and bioproducts, and to push forward biology-based solutions for breaking down certain synthetic polymers into reusable chemical building blocks.
The FOA is centered on two main research directions. The first track focuses on systems biology research that advances the development of promising new model organisms and microbial functional capabilities. In practice, this means identifying, characterizing, and improving microbes (including non-traditional or emerging organisms) that have traits useful for bioenergy applications, and building the kind of foundational knowledge that turns them into reliable experimental and engineering platforms. It also includes discovering and understanding biosynthetic pathways that microbes use (or could be engineered to use) to produce fuels and other valuable bioproducts. The underlying idea is that if researchers can map and predict how these organisms function at the genetic, regulatory, and metabolic levels, they can more rationally design microbial systems that perform well under real process conditions and produce targeted molecules efficiently.
The second track targets research into metabolic pathways capable of synthetic polymer deconstruction and conversion to recycled monomers. This is aimed at understanding and enabling biological or bio-inspired routes for breaking down man-made polymer materials and transforming them into monomers that can be reused, supporting a more circular approach to materials and carbon. Rather than simply studying degradation as an environmental fate process, the emphasis here is on the mechanistic biology and metabolism that would allow controlled deconstruction and productive conversion, which aligns with broader goals around sustainable manufacturing and waste reduction.
From an administrative standpoint, the award instrument is a grant, and the funding activity category is science and technology research and development. The opportunity lists an award ceiling of $500,000, with an expectation of around 15 awards, indicating a competitive program intended to support a portfolio of projects rather than a single large center. The CFDA number is 81.049. The announcement was created on December 3, 2020, with an original application deadline of April 6, 2021. Eligibility is listed as "Others" with additional eligibility details referenced in the full announcement, which typically signals that eligibility may include a range of institution types depending on the FOA language (for example, universities, national laboratories, nonprofits, or other research entities), but applicants would need to confirm the exact allowable applicant categories in the complete text.
In short, this DOE Office of Science FOA is designed to fund genomics- and systems biology-driven research that strengthens the microbial science toolkit for biofuel and bioproduct manufacturing, while also advancing biological understanding and capability for breaking down certain synthetic polymers into recyclable monomers. The common thread across both areas is building predictive, mechanistic knowledge of microbial pathways and functions so they can be harnessed and improved for energy-relevant, sustainability-focused outcomes.Apply for DE FOA 0002448
- The Department of Energy - Office of Science, Office of Science in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "SYSTEMS BIOLOGY OF BIOENERGY-RELEVANT MICROBES TO ENABLE PRODUCTION OF NEXT-GENERATION BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.049.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 03, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 06, 2021. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 15 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the funding opportunity number for this grant?
The funding opportunity number is DE-FOA-0002448.
Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?
This opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
Which DOE office and program area does this FOA fall under?
It is administered through the DOE Office of Science, within the Biological and Environmental Research (BER) program. The FOA sits in the Biological Systems Science Division (BSSD) Genomic Science Program (GSP) mission space.
What type of funding mechanism is being used?
The award instrument is a grant.
What is the funding activity category?
The funding activity category is science and technology research and development.
What is the main purpose of this FOA?
The overall aim is to expand the scientific foundation needed to use microbes more effectively for producing next-generation biofuels and bioproducts, and to advance biology-based solutions for breaking down certain synthetic polymers into reusable chemical building blocks.
What are the two main research directions supported by this FOA?
The FOA is centered on two main research directions: (1) systems biology research to advance new model organisms and microbial functional capabilities relevant to bioenergy and bioproducts, and (2) research into metabolic pathways for synthetic polymer deconstruction and conversion to recycled monomers.
What kinds of projects fit under the first research track (systems biology/model organisms)?
This track supports identifying, characterizing, and improving microbes (including non-traditional or emerging organisms) with traits useful for bioenergy applications, and building foundational knowledge that turns them into reliable experimental and engineering platforms. It also includes discovering and understanding microbial biosynthetic pathways used (or that could be engineered) to produce fuels and other valuable bioproducts.
What does "genome-enabled, systems-level biology" mean in the context of this FOA?
In this FOA, it refers to using genomics and systems biology approaches to build predictive, mechanistic understanding of how microbes function at genetic, regulatory, and metabolic levels, so they can be more rationally designed and improved for DOE-relevant energy and environmental outcomes.
Does the FOA encourage work on non-traditional or emerging microbes?
Yes. The description explicitly includes non-traditional or emerging organisms as targets for identifying, characterizing, and improving microbial capabilities.
What is meant by developing "promising new model organisms"?
It refers to building the foundational scientific knowledge and experimental basis needed to make certain microbes reliable platforms for research and engineering, especially where their traits could be useful for bioenergy or bioproduct applications.
What kinds of outcomes are expected from the systems biology track?
The emphasis is on creating predictive, mechanistic knowledge that enables improved microbial systems that perform well under real process conditions and produce targeted molecules efficiently, especially fuels and other valuable bioproducts.
What kinds of projects fit under the second research track (synthetic polymer deconstruction)?
This track targets research into metabolic pathways capable of deconstructing synthetic polymers and converting them to recycled monomers that can be reused. The focus is on mechanistic biology and metabolism that would enable controlled deconstruction and productive conversion, rather than only studying environmental degradation or fate.
Is the polymer work focused on environmental biodegradation studies?
No. The FOA emphasizes controlled deconstruction and productive conversion into reusable monomers, not simply studying polymer degradation as an environmental fate process.
What is meant by "conversion to recycled monomers"?
It refers to transforming polymer materials into monomers (chemical building blocks) that can be reused, supporting a more circular approach to materials and carbon.
How does this FOA connect to DOE energy and environmental goals?
The common thread is building predictive, mechanistic understanding of microbial pathways and functions so microbes can be harnessed and improved for energy-relevant and sustainability-focused outcomes, including biofuel/bioproduct production and polymer-to-monomer recycling approaches.
What is the award ceiling?
The opportunity lists an award ceiling of $500,000.
About how many awards does DOE expect to make?
The FOA indicates an expectation of around 15 awards.
What does the expected number of awards suggest about the program structure?
It suggests a competitive program intended to support a portfolio of projects, rather than a single large center.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number is 81.049.
When was this FOA created?
The announcement was created on December 3, 2020.
What was the original application deadline?
The original application deadline was April 6, 2021.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as "Others," with additional eligibility details referenced in the full announcement. The summary notes this often signals that eligibility may include a range of institution types depending on the FOA language, but applicants need to confirm allowable applicant categories in the complete FOA text.
Does the provided summary specify exactly which institution types can apply?
No. It states that additional eligibility details are referenced in the full announcement, and that applicants would need to confirm the exact allowable applicant categories in the complete text.
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