army research office - louisiana state university · 2020. 3. 6. · u.s. army combat capabilities...

UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED

U.S. ARMY COMBAT CAPABILITIES DEVELOPMENT COMMAND –ARMY RESEARCH LABORATORY

20 FEB 2020

Brainstorming Ideas with Program Managers:The Truth about the DoD Extramural Research Enterprise

Dr. Dawanne Poree

Program Manager, Polymer Chemistry

Army Research OfficeDISTRIBUTION A. Approved for public

release: distribution unlimited.

[email protected]

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE


2

The Truth about Funding

MYTH #1:DOD IS ONLY INTERESTED IN APPLIED RESEARCH

3APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE


The Army’s Future Force Modernization Enterprise

Futures and Concepts Command

Combat Systems Command

Combat Capabilities Development

Command (CCDC)

U.S. Army Futures Command (AFC)

Armaments Center

Chemical Biological Center

Data and Analysis Center

C5ISR CenterArmy Research

Laboratory (ARL)

Army Research Office (ARO)

Aviation and Missile Center

Soldier Center

Ground Vehicle Systems Center

Army Applications Lab

AI Task Force

Cross-Functional Teams (x8)

ARL discovers, innovates, and transitions S&T as thenation’s premier laboratory for land forces.

ARO is ARL’s principal conduit to engage the university research community.



CCDCArmy Contracting

Command –APG RTP Division

Special Assistant

Legal Counsel

Chief Scientist

Military Deputy

Scie

ntifi

c D

ivis

ions

Physical Sciences Directorate

Director

Engineering Sciences

DirectorateOperations Directorate

Network Sciences Division

Life Sciences Division

Electronics Division

Mathematical Sciences Division

Computing Sciences Division

Mechanical Sciences Division

Materials Science Division

Physics Division

Outreach Division

Chemical Sciences Division

Information Sciences

Directorate

Information Management

Division

Support Management

~80 employees at RTP, NC40 PhD Program Managers

ARO Organizational Structure



To discover and understand the fundamental properties and processes governing molecules and their interactions to provide the scientific

foundation for creating revolutionary new materials, sensors, batteries, munitions, and other unrealized capabilities for the future warfighter

Chemical Sciences DivisionVision

Polymer Sequence - Properties studies:Kevin Noonan, Carnegie Melon

Enzyme-triggered liquid crystal reorganization:Nathan Gianneschi, UCSD; Nick Abbott, U Wisconsin

Focus on Discovery and Innovation……..Not Applications!!



Myth #1:DoD is only interested in Applied Research

Truth:

• DoD has a strong interest in fundamental, basic research

• Prioritize research that is High Risk, High Reward

• Broad DoD Relevance vs Specific DoD applications



7

The Truth about Funding

MYTH #2:DOD HAS LARGE BUDGET; VAST RESOURCES FOR

RESEARCH FUNDING



FY 2017 DoD Funding for Research

DoD Base Budget in FY 2017 = ~ $523B

Allocation to Research and Development = ~ $45BBasic and Applied

Allocation to Universities/Colleges for Research = ~ $2B

Air Force: ~$782M

Basic and Applied

Army: ~$574M Navy: ~$693M



FY 2017 DoD Funding for Research

Allocation to Universities/Colleges for Research = ~ $2B

Air Force: ~$782M Army: ~$574M Navy: ~$693M

ARO funding for Extramural Basic Research = ~ $75M

$1.875M per program

LIMITED FUNDING; PROGRAMS VERY FOCUSED!



Other AgenciesAF,

Navy

Army

Catalysis

Precisionpolymers

Responsive Materials

Electrochemistry

Bio/Abio Interfaces and Hybrid Materials

Diffusion/transport

in polymers

Energetic ignition/combustion

Acoustic materials Electronic

smaterials

Inorganic semi-/superconductor

s

Minimally adhesivesurfaces

IR materials

Organiccomposite

s

Biomimeticcatalysis

(CBW)

Tribology

Thin-filmgrowth

processes

Ceramics

Organic superconductors

Biotechnology/biosythesis

Chemical

lasers

Corrosionchemistry

Atmospheric & space

signatures

Energetic

materials

Biocorrosion

Analytical

chemistry

Surfacechemistr

yInorganicchemistr

y

Bioinorganicchemistry

Organometallicchemistry

Biogeochemistry

Stoichiometric &homogeneous

catalytic reactions

Organicchemicaldynamic

s

Mass spectroscopy

Elastic/inelastic

scattering

Quantummechanic

sStatisticalmechanic

s

Dynamics

Thermodynamics

Elemental/molecular

macrocomposition

X-ray/UVspectroscop

y

Biocatalysis

Chemometrology

Particleanalysi

s

Gas metrology

Spectrochemical

methods

Chromatography

Capillaryelectrophoresi

s

Isotopegeochemistr

y

Army, DoD, and other AgenciesBasic Research Topics in Chemistry

MechanochemicalTransduction

Nanocomposites



Myth 2:DoD has large budget; vast resources for

research

Truth:

• Less than 10% DoD budget goes to R&D

• Less than 1% is allocated to research conducted at universities/colleges

• Extramural basic research programs are highly focused in specific areas within their respective disciplines

To learn the specific focus areas within a program –

Read the Broad Agency Announcement (BAA)

Engage the Program Manager



12

The Truth about the Funding Process

Myth #3:DoD Program Managers are Hard to Engage



13

Ways To Engage

TIPS:• BE PATIENT

• Don’t be afraid to email several times

Email preferred for most PMs Phone (hit or miss due to travel)

• DO YOUR HOMEWORK• Read the BAA • Be prepared to discuss YOUR work and research ideas that fit

program scope



14

2-4 “Idea” Paragraphs• Ideas that align with

program as outlined in BAA

• Ideas that are far-out, high-risk, possibly crazy

• Submit anytime

Development of Ideas

White Papers

PM interactions with potential

PIs

Proposal Development



15

White Paper:What PMs Want to Know?

Is it basic research?• What’s the scientific question?• What foundational knowledge is to be gained?• Proposals focused on specific devices/components/technologies are

beyond the scope of our mission.

Why now? Where’s the Risk? • What’s been done before? Why wasn’t it successful?• What new advance provides opportunity to make new progress?

So what? Who cares?• If successful, what impact will the research make on the scientific

community?• What are the potential implications for the future of technology?

What will it take?• What resources (time, money, infrastructure, personnel,

partnerships) are required to pursue the research?

4pg max; Submit anytime via email



16

2-4 “Idea” Paragraphs• Ideas that align with

program as outlined in BAA

• Ideas that are far-out, high-risk, possibly crazy

• Submit anytime via email

Development of Ideas

White Papers

PM interactions with potential

PIs

Proposal Development and Selection

Evaluate scientific merit,Army relevance

Proposal Submission

Science Peer Review Army Lab Review

PM Analysis

PM Recommendation Management Assessment

Evaluate scientific merit

Submit anytime via grants.govMay-Nov optimal

Funding decision is based on:• Balancing needs and

opportunities• Evaluator feedback• Program portfolio• Potential for scientific

discovery and transition



17

PM works with PI and interested DoD S&Es to

determine next step

PM maintains awareness of progress

PM communicates results, transition opportunities, and breakthroughs to interested

DoD S&Es

PM facilitates interactions with DoD S&Es and other

PIs

Grant is Awarded

ARO PM Monitors Program

Discussions via Phone, Email,

and at Conferences

Grant Ends

Annual PI Reviews and Site Visits

Annual Progress Reports, Manuscripts

Proposal Monitoring



18

Myth 3:DoD PMs are hard to Engage

Truth:

• Email is best as an initial starting point

• Be persistent…….but not overly so ☺

• Be ready to talk about your research, why it’s important, and relevant to the PMs portfolio

• DoD PMs are risk-tolerant so bring your best ideas, even if they are far-fetched

• Heed PMs advice – they are their agency’s lead authority and advocate in their research area



1919

TAKE HOME TRUTHS

• DoD has a strong interest in fundamental, basic research

• DoD Extramural Basic Research programs prioritize High Risk, High Reward research

• Limited funding for extramural basic research so programs are highly focused

• DoD PMs are eager to engage• Be patient• Be persistent• Do not shy away from risk



20

Questions?

army research office - louisiana state university · 2020. 3. 6. · u.s. army combat capabilities...

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