NIST Seeks Project Proposals for 1995 Precision Measurement Grants

The Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology is seeking project proposals for two research grants for fiscal year 1995 in the field of precision measurement and fundamental constants.

Each Precision Measurement Grant of $50,000 for one year may  be renewed by NIST for up to two additional years for a total of $150,000.  Prospective candidates must submit summaries of their proposed projects and biographical information to  NIST by Feb. 1, 1994, to be considered for the current grants, which will run from October 1994 through September 1995.

NIST Precision Measurement Grants are awarded each year to scientists in academic institutions for work in determining values for fundamental constants, investigating related physical phenomena, or developing new, fundamental measurement methods.

The grants were instituted in 1970 to augment research programs of the then-National Bureau of Standards in physical constants and fundamental measurements, and to encourage research in these fields at colleges and universities.  To date, 54 grants have been awarded in such areas as precision spectroscopy, the determination of mass ratios between atomic particles, atomic collision processes at extremely low temperatures, the precise timing of millisecond pulsars and the redetermination of various constants (such as the gas constant and Rydberg constant).

Proposals are evaluated according to the importance of the  proposed research; the relation of the project to the improvement of basic measurement methodologies, measurement units, or physical standards; the feasibility of the research; and past accomplishments of the applicant.

By Feb. 1, applicants should submit a pre-proposal summary of not more than five double-spaced pages outlining the objective, motivation and technical approach of the research, and the amount and source of current funding for the research, together with a concise biographical sketch of the applicant and a list of the applicant's most important publications.  At least three copies of this material should be sent to Barry N. Taylor, chairman, NIST Precision Measurement Grants Committee, B160 Physics Building, NIST, Gaithersburg, Md. 20899-0001.

Four to eight candidates will be chosen by March 22, 1994, on the basis of this material, and they will be asked to submit more complete proposals.  The final selection will be made by Aug. 15, 1994.  For further information, contact Taylor at the
above address or call (301) 975-4220.