As part of the organizational realignment of the U.S. National Science Foundation, the five divisions previously within the NSF Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (NSF MPS) were realigned into sections according to the broad scientific areas the directorate supports: astronomical sciences, chemistry, materials research, mathematical sciences and physics.

To provide management and oversight within this new structure, NSF implemented new leadership roles across all the agency's directorates and sections, including those within NSF MPS.

MPS is led by Directorate Head Tie Luo and Assistant Director David B. Berkowitz. Two deputy directorate heads are now part of the MPS leadership team and jointly assist in supervising MPS staff, programs and activities:

• Junping Wang, MPS deputy directorate head, overseeing Materials Research and Mathematical Sciences
• Saul Gonzalez, MPS deputy directorate head, overseeing Astronomical Sciences, Chemistry and Physics

The MPS leadership team works together to develop and coordinate scientific strategy to ensure that the directorate's research portfolio is foundational, transformative and consistent with NSF's mission and priorities. Additional information about MPS funding opportunities will be communicated and posted on NSF's website in the coming months. 

MPS sections are led by section heads, who supervise staff and manage programs and activities within their respective sections. The MPS section heads are:

MPS Astronomical Sciences (MPS-Astro)

• Hans Krimm, acting MPS-Astro section head

MPS Chemistry (MPS-Chem)

• Lin He, MPS-Chem section head

MPS Materials Research (MPS-Materials)

• Miriam Deutsch, MPS-Materials A section head
• Z. Charles Ying, MPS-Materials B section head

MPS Mathematical Sciences (MPS-MathSci)

• Joanna Kania-Bartoszynska, MPS-MathSci A section head
• Swatee Naik, MPS-MathSci B section head

MPS Physics (MPS-Physics)

• Michael Cavagnero, MPS-Physics section head

Intergovernmental Personnel Act rotators who previously served as division directors now serve as senior science advisors. Senior science advisors provide expert advice and guidance to MPS. Judith Burstyn was previously division director of the MPS Chemistry Division and now serves as senior science advisor for chemistry in MPS.

Germano Iannacchione and David Manderscheid both recently completed their multi-year terms at NSF and have returned to their home institutions. Iannacchione and Manderscheid were the division directors and later senior science advisors for materials research and mathematical sciences, respectively. MPS is grateful for their service to NSF and the nation.

NSF is fortunate for the dedication, scientific excellence and management acumen that all these leaders, past and present, bring to the agency in service to the American public.

Together, the staff and leadership of MPS will continue to deliver on NSF's mission to advance the progress of science and enable better quality of life, greater economic opportunities and stronger national security.

🔎 Find MPS funding opportunities

Organizational updates to the NSF website are currently in progress. In the meantime, prospective PIs considering submitting a proposal should refer to the MPS programs listed on the pages below:

• MPS Astronomical Sciences
• MPS Chemistry
• MPS Materials Research
• MPS Mathematical Sciences
• MPS Physics

Additional funding opportunities can be found and filtered using the NSF-wide funding search page. 

📰 Results from MPS awardees

Brian Long/UC Santa Barbara

Chip-scale magnetometer uses light for high-precision magnetic sensing

The precision magnetometer could enable light-weight and low-power sensing for space, navigation and medical applications.

NYU Applied Mathematics Laboratory

Scientists put teeth into water-driven gears

The invention holds potential for a new generation of mechanical devices that offer greater flexibility and durability than existing gears.

David Baillot/UC San Diego

Spray-on antibacterial coating offers protection for plants against disease and drought

The coating is made from a specially designed synthetic polymer containing positively charged chemical groups in its structure that have antibacterial properties.

UChicago Talapin Lab

Research reinvents MXene synthesis

The new method is a faster, more efficient way of building futuristic 2D materials at a fraction of the cost.

NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory/P. Marenfeld

NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory spots record-breaking asteroid in pre-survey observations

First peer-reviewed paper using LSST Camera data identifies an asteroid, nearly the size of eight football fields, rotating every two minutes.

FSU/Ian Campbell

Researchers explore chemical boundaries to create new magnetic material

The new crystalline material has unusual magnetic patterns that could be used for data storage and quantum technologies.

Opinions, findings or recommendations of NSF awardees or their institutions do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. National Science Foundation.

Science that creates the future

The NSF Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS) is one of the preeminent federal forces behind over 75 years of major scientific breakthroughs and innovations. MPS enhances America's national security, economic growth and quality of life by advancing human understanding of the fundamental nature of the universe at all scales.

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