OSA NEWS

November 21, 2003

RESEARCH INTERESTS OF THE AIR FORCE OFFICE OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT 2004-1

The Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) invites proposals for basic research in support of the Air Force Defense Research Sciences Program. This program is described in the document entitled Research Interests and Broad Agency Announcement 2004-1. This document will guide proposers through AFOSR's research program and facilitate their preparation of research proposals. It is available on the AFOSR web site. A very limited number of hard copies will be available for individuals without access to the AFOSR web site. To request a hard copy, contact AFOSR/PKC at pkcontracting@afosr.af.mil.

The general areas of interest are:

1. Aerospace and Materials Sciences; e.g., structural mechanics; mechanics of materials and devices; unsteady aerodynamics and hypersonics; turbulence and rotating flows; combustion and diagnostics; space power and propulsion; metallic materials; ceramics and nonmetallic materials; organic matrix composites.
2. Physics and Electronics; e.g., plasma physics; space electronics; atomic and molecular physics; remote sensing and Imaging; optoelectronics; laser and optical physics; quantum electronic solids; semiconductor materials; sensors in the space environment; high density optical memory.
3. Chemistry and Life Sciences; e.g., polymer chemistry; surface and interfacial science; theoretical chemistry; molecular dynamics; chronobiology; biomimetics, biomaterials, and biointerfacial sciences; perception and cognition; sensory systems; biological response profiling and assessment.
4. Mathematics and Space Sciences; e.g., dynamics and control; physical mathematics and applied analysis; computational mathematics; optimization and discrete mathematics; signals communication and surveillance; software and systems; artificial intelligence; electromagnetics; space sciences.
5. Researcher Assistance Programs; e.g., United States Air Force/National Research Council-Resident Research Associateships; National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship Program; United States Air Force/Summer Faculty Fellows Programs.

Our overriding purpose in supporting this research is to advance the state-of-the-art in areas related to the technical problems the Air Force encounters in developing and maintaining a superior Air Force; in lowering the cost and improving the performance, maintainability, and supportability of Air Force weapon systems; and in creating and preventing technological surprise. AFOSR will seek technical options that may address our need for heightened attention to homeland defense, funding those good ideas that are relevant to the AF role, and assisting in getting other good ideas to the agencies that may find them of special relevance to their role. All pertinent information, including contact persons, evaluation criteria, and details on specific areas of interest, is discussed in the AFOSR pamphlet entitled "RESEARCH INTERESTS AND BROAD AGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT 2004-1". Before sending a proposal, inquire if someone at AFOSR is interested in your field of work. That person can also provide guidance for preparing a proposal before you begin to develop the proposal. Additional information and guidance on format and proposal submittal may be found in AFOSR Pamphlet, "Proposer's Guide to AFOSR's Research Programs". This pamphlet is also available on the AFOSR web site.