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Publication Date - 12/3/1999

64. DOE - Biotechnological Investigations - Ocean Margins Program (BI-OMP)

The Office of Biological and Environmental Research (OBER) of the Office of Science (SC), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), announces its interest in receiving research applications involving the use of molecular biological and biogeochemical techniques to understand the linkages between carbon and nitrogen cycles (primary production and microbial processes) in ocean margins. This information is critical to understanding carbon fixation and sequestration in ocean margin ecosystems and global biogeochemical cycles.

Applications must involve mutually collaborative partnerships between institutions with a strong tradition of research in marine sciences and those institutions with developing research capabilities in marine science. Partnerships are particularly encouraged with institutions that traditionally have served groups under-represented in the sciences. The goals of such collaborative research projects are to enhance the research capabilities of both institutions, to promote significant interactions between institutions, to foster long-term collaboration among investigators, and to advance understanding at the molecular and biogeochemical level of the linkages between nitrogen cycling and carbon fixation and sequestration in coastal oceans.

The primary research goal of the Biotechnological Investigations - Ocean Margins Program (BI-OMP) is to establish a more thorough understanding of the molecular to global scale links and feedback mechanisms between solar irradiance, marine microbial activity, primary productivity, carbon and nitrogen cycles and remotely-sensed ocean color data. Specifically, DOE seeks applications to:

(I) Apply new and innovative techniques in marine molecular biology and marine biotechnology to assess fixation of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, determine the mechanisms and processes that control the dynamics of nitrogen fixation or denitrification in coastal waters and sediments, define the coupling and/or decoupling of carbon and nitrogen cycles in coastal environments, and determine the linkages between the function and structure of microbial communities mediating carbon and nitrogen cycling in coastal environments, and

(II) Examine the environmental factors (including nutrient availability, temperature, irradiance, and biopolymer lability) that affect the linkages between primary productivity, the utilization of particulate and dissolved organic matter (POM and DOM) by bacterial populations, and nitrogen cycling in coastal areas.

It is anticipated that a total of up to $2 million will be available for multiple grants awarded in FY 2000 and FY 2001, contingent upon availability of appropriated funds. Applications may request project support up to three years, with out-year support contingent on availability of funds, progress of the research and programmatic needs. Annual budgets are expected to range from approximately $50,000 to $500,000, depending on the number of partnerships involved and the nature of the research proposed.

Formal applications must be received by DOE by FEBRUARY 10, 2000.