PRF Science Panels & Areas of Research Support
Petroleum and the Environment: These topics are considered under the relevant panels and fundamental areas 1-10 below. Contact prfinfo@acs.org or any program officer for assistance in determining the appropriate fundamental area.
| Panel | Discipline and Areas of Research Support |
|---|---|
| 1 | Synthetic Organic Chemistry: Organic synthesis, including organic and organometallic reagents and catalysts, and asymmetric synthesis. |
| 2 | Geochemistry and Biogeochemical Cycling: Isotope, organic and sedimentary geochemistry, marine geochemistry, diagenesis, chemostratigraphy, research on atmospheric methane and carbon dioxide, CO2 capture and sequestration, sedimentary geochemistry of microplastic particles. |
| 3 | Inorganic Chemistry: Coordination and organometallic chemistry, homogeneous catalysis, small soluble clusters, new ligands, main group, transition metal, and lanthanide and actinide metal chemistry. |
| 4 | Physical Organic Chemistry: Reaction mechanisms, kinetics, photochemistry, organic radical chemistry, reactive organic species, enzymes in non-aqueous media working on petroleum molecules. |
| 5 | Surface Science: Surface phenomena and reactions, heterogeneous catalysis, and characterization of surfaces directly relevant to petroleum and petroleum products. |
| 6 | Chemical Physics/Physical Chemistry: Theoretical chemistry, quantum/statistical mechanics, and molecular dynamics; optical, laser, ultrafast, and mass spectroscopies; and gas phase reactions. |
| 7 | Polymer Science: Synthesis, characterization, and properties of polymers and organic materials derived from petroleum sources. |
| 8 | Geology and Geophysics: Stratigraphy, sedimentology, paleontology, geomorphology, structural geology, and geophysics. |
| 9 | Chemical and Petroleum Engineering: Engineering studies including process and operations control and design, fluid flow and multiphase flow dynamics, and related computations. |
| 10 | Materials Science: Synthesis, characterization, bulk properties and solid-state science of petroleum materials. |
Potential Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact a program officer prior to preparing an application to determine if their proposed research falls within the current scope of PRF funding as the research must be “fundamental” and directly related to petroleum as determined by ACS PRF.
As determined by ACS PRF, the phrase "fundamental research" excludes research that aims to develop new experimental or theoretical techniques, analytical methods, and devices. It also excludes research focused on applications or patentable research and applied research topics. Further the research must be directly related to petroleum. Examples of types of research that ACS PRF does not consider due to insufficient direct relationship to petroleum are the areas of Alternative Energy (such as batteries, fuel cells, biomass, hydrogen technologies, thermal and solar); Biosystems, Biochemistry, Biomedical/pharmaceutical; Environmental Remediation; Pollution; and Non-Petroleum Topics. As these listed areas are examples and not a comprehensive list, please contact a program officer or call 202-872-4481 to ascertain compliance of the proposed research with ACS PRF funding scope.
Please note proposals deemed to be outside of the ACS PRF funding scope are withdrawn from consideration without review.
