The U.S. National Science Foundation is an independent federal agency that supports science and engineering in all 50 states and U.S. territories. NSF was established in 1950 by Congress to promote the progress of science, advance the national health, prosperity and welfare, and secure the national defense.
The CMMT program's overarching aim is to support theoretical and computational materials research within the scope of DMR's Topical Materials Research Programs. It targets fundamental research to progress understanding of both hard and soft materials, alongside materials-related phenomena. The grant fosters the advancement in analytical, computational, and data-centric techniques, and encourages predictive materials-specific theory, simulation, and modeling. Key research methods include first-principles electronic structure, quantum field theories, statistical mechanics, and molecular dynamics among others. CMMT prioritizes research that sheds light on material properties, processes, behavior, anticipates new materials and states of matter, and unveils new materials phenomena. It supports a wide array of materials research, from quantum systems to biologically inspired materials, emphasizing innovative approaches across various scales.