The Electronic and Photonic Materials (EPM) program seeks to advance the field of electronics and photonics through basic, potentially transformative materials science research. The scope of the program encompasses the discovery and understanding of materials and material integration with potential for major technological innovations. A main focus of the program is on advanced materials and their integration that may offer new paradigms in computing, communication and sensing components, or enable advanced electronics, optoelectronics, photonics and plasmonics. The program covers identification and understanding of phenomena and fundamental mechanisms associated with growth and processing of electronic and photonic materials at atomic and molecular levels. Research on photovoltaics, materials with reduced dimensionalities and photonic metamaterials is also supported. In addition, development of new experimental techniques or novel approaches to explore electronic and photonic materials is encouraged. Research topics include, but are not limited to bulk, thin films and nanostructures; self-assembly and nanopatterning; interface-related phenomena and properties; defect and doping control; and relations between synthesis/processing, structure, and optical/electronic properties.

NSF Program Directors bear the primary responsibility for carrying out the agency's overall mission to support innovative and merit-reviewed activities in basic research and education that contribute to the nation's technical strength, security, and welfare. To fulfill this responsibility requires not only knowledge in the appropriate disciplines, but also a commitment to high standards, a considerable breadth of interest and receptivity to new ideas, a strong sense of fairness, good judgment, and a high degree of personal integrity.

The responsibilities of the NSF Program Director include, for example, long-range planning and budget development, the administration of the merit review process and proposal recommendations, the preparation of press releases, feature articles and material describing advances in the research supported, and coordination and liaison with other programs in NSF, other Federal agencies and organizations. Additional duties and responsibilities include:

PROGRAM PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT

• Maintains a healthy balance of support for all the needs of the research and education enterprise through program, division, directorate, Foundation, or interagency activities.
• Manages program resources to provide optimal appropriate scientific judgment to insure integrity and consistency in the grant/declination process without conflict of interests, and with balance among appropriate sub-fields and institutions, and participation of all qualified scientists.
• Incorporates cross-directorate responsibilities into program administration.
• Manages an effective, timely merit review process.
• Provides scientific expertise, evaluation and advice for other programs in NSF, including international programs, and other research programs, and cross-directorate programs.
• Advises and assists in the development of short-and-long range plans, establishing goals and objectives for support of research programs.
• Plans the budget for the program/programs considering past, present and future fiscal years, allocates resources within the budget by distributing scarce resources among major competitive programs, and manages post-award evaluation.
• Controls waste, fraud and abuse.

REPRESENTATION, COMMUNICATION AND LEADERSHIP

• Represents the Foundation within the scientific community accurately reflecting NSF policy and positions.
• Creates and maintains linkages to other NSF units and other Federal agencies in pursuit of the overall NSF mission.
• Participates in meetings, providing input relevant to program area and/or Division.
• Pursues affirmative action EEO goals.
• Pursues and/or is responsive to assignment on special projects and temporary function teams across the Foundation.
• Contributes ideas and effort to improving the quality of policies and NSF's performance of the overall mission.
• Develops policies and plans for strengthening support of research and education programs.
• Provides information to the community on how NSF is pursuing its mission and gathers data and impressions from the community on the effectiveness of NSF's performance of its mission.
• Prepares and disseminates a variety of informational documents which may include data on progress being made toward NSF goals, trends and opportunities, and budget plans.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

• Establishes contacts and maintains active involvement in Program and related areas through participation in professional activities.
• Maintains familiarity with salient current research developments.
• Pursues individual research as workload and travel funds permit.
• Expands administrative capabilities through training courses or assumption of new management.