As part of the Materials Genome Initiative (MGI) announced last summer, the Department of Energy (DoE), through its Basic Energy Sciences (BES) program, this week unveiled a new Predictive Theory and Modeling program, seeking “research [that] could lead to a theory/modeling design paradigm, validated through experiment, [that] could enhance the rate of discovery of new or vastly improved materials, material systems, and chemical processes.” What’s interesting is that this solicitation contains opportunities for computing researchers. According to the announcement: We envision the BES activities will include the development of new software tools and data standards that catalyze a fully integrated approach from material discovery to applications. BES also expects to support research to advance ab-initio methods […]

Just a week after announcing a Proposers Day for its new Power Efficiency Revolution for Embedded Computing Technologies (PERFECT) program, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) Microsystems Technology Office (MTO) has issued the official Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), soliciting proposals for innovative R&D in the area of embedded power efficient computing. As we’ve previously noted in this space, the goal for PERFECT is “to provide more effective embedded computing per watt of electrical power.” According to the DARPA BAA: The goal of the Power Efficiency Revolution For Embedded Computing Technologies (PERFECT) program is to provide a power efficiency of 75 GFLOPS/w for embedded computing systems [more following the link].  

Microsoft’s Technology Policy Group (TPG) has announced a new internship program that will offer “a limited number of internships to exceptional candidates interested in helping characterize the long-term policy implications of disruptive technologies.” The program — which entails a separate application and selection process from the long-running Microsoft Research Internship Program — aims to place policy-minded graduate students in computing or related fields in paid internships at Microsoft’s Redmond, WA, campus for 12 weeks this summer. According to the announcement: TPG is charged with exploring how disruptive technologies affect Microsoft’s business outlook and policy landscape in key areas such as Internet Governance, Wireless Spectrum Management, Next Generation Networks, 21st Century Research Universities, […]

The National Academy of Engineering (NAE) has just announced the election of 66 new members and 10 foreign associates, including a number of esteemed computing researchers. Among the highest professional distinctions accorded to an engineer, “Academy membership honors those who have made outstanding contributions to ‘engineering research, practice, or education, including, where appropriate, significant contributions to the engineering literature,’ and to the ‘pioneering of new and developing fields of technology, making major advancements in traditional fields of engineering, or developing/implementing innovative approaches to engineering education’.” This year’s new members in Section 5 — Computer Science and Engineering are (following the link):

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announced last week a new competition to fund pilot projects that accelerate progress toward “improved systems for interoperable, trusted online credentials that go beyond simple user IDs and passwords.” NIST expects to make available about $10 million for the first year of the new multi-year awards, anticipating funding five to 8 projects for up to two years at a rate of $1.25 million to $2 million per project per year. NIST will hold a proposers’ conference on February 15, and initial (“abbreviated”) proposals must be submitted by 5pm EST on March 7. According to the press release:

The National Science Foundation (NSF) yesterday released a report on its support for cloud computing, describing the outcomes of “investments in cloud computing research, recommendations for research focus and program improvements, and other related recommendations.” Emphasizing the role of cloud computing — “a vital area of national importance that requires further research and development” — the report highlights some of the 125 cloud computing research awards issued by NSF’s Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) directorate between 2009 and 2011, spanning areas of architecture, algorithms, big data, security and privacy, green computing, and so on. Among these are the set of awards enabled by a partnership between NSF and Microsoft over […]