NDnano NDNF Grants
The Notre Dame Nanofabrication Facility (NDNF), a world-class 9,000 ft2 teaching and research cleanroom, provides a comprehensive suite of state-of-the-art nanofabrication and testing equipment. These can be used across a wide range of materials and processes, including silicon-related electronic devices, compound semiconductors, nanowires, carbon nanotubes, graphene, and organic polymer-based materials. In addition, the NDNF facilitates the study of microfluidic technologies for medical applications and micron-scale mechanical device fabrication.
NDnano is pleased to announce a small grant program designed to catalyze new research involving the NDNF. This program is specifically intended to support faculty members who have no or limited prior experience utilizing the advanced tools and infrastructure of the NDNF.
Purpose
To provide initial financial support to enable faculty to explore the research possibilities within the NDNF, generate preliminary data, and integrate nanofabrication into their research programs.
Award Funding
Up to $10,000 per award. Funding is expected to be used within one year of issuance. Funds will be available to the awarded proposals before July 1, 2026.
Eligible Expenses
Funds may be used to cover:
- NDNF Time & Access Fees
- Instrument and Equipment Charges
- Materials and Consumables for use within the cleanroom.
Eligibility
- Faculty Status: Open to full-time faculty members in the Colleges of Engineering and Science.
- Faculty Experience Level: Applicants must have no or limited usage history with the NDNF.
- NDnano Faculty Affiliation: Award recipients must either be current NDnano affiliated faculty or agree to affiliate with NDnano upon acceptance of the grant.
Application
Submit a proposal using the NDNF grant template.
Download NDnano NDNF Grant Template [DOC, 7k]
Submission and Due Date
Submit proposals as PDFs via this form by 5:00 PM on May 20, 2026.
Evaluation Criteria
- The proposal should introduce new users or users with limited experience to the NDNF.
- Feasibility: The proposed work must be feasible within the proposed budget and the available NDNF tools and capabilities.
- Future Funding Impact: The proposal must identify specific external funding targets employing data from this project and explain how these future proposals will integrate continued use of the NDNF.
Award Expectations
- Submit at least one research proposal for external funding that includes utilization of the NDNF and incorporates data generated from the NDNF Support Grant research.
- Draft a report summarizing the research that was supported by the grant. A template will be provided.
- Periodically provide updates on publications and funding related to research funded by the NDNF support grant.