NSERC
List of Evaluation Groups and Research Topics

Applicants to the Discovery Grants Program are asked to suggest an Evaluation Group, as well as Research Topics that best reflect the subject of their proposal. The Research Topics are identified along the lines of discipline groupings, and accordingly labelled (e.g., PHYS for Physics). Clicking on the Evaluation Group will provide the list of Research Topics and examples of the research evaluated within each. Applicants can select Research Topics from more than one Evaluation Group.

  • 1501 - Genes, Cells and Molecules
  • 1502 - Biological Systems and Functions
  • 1503 - Evolution and Ecology
  • 1504 - Chemistry
  • 1505 - Physics
  • 1506 - Geosciences
  • 1507 - Computer Science
  • 1508 - Mathematics and Statistics
  • 1509 - Civil, Industrial and Systems Engineering
  • 1510 - Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • 1511 - Materials and Chemical Engineering
  • 1512 - Mechanical Engineering
1501 Genes, Cells and Molecules
LSA01ImmunologyHost-cell interactions; immune response; antigens; antibodies; host-pathogen interactions; immunogenetics; innate immunity; cytokines and antimicrobials; antigen presentation; inflammation; lymphocyte; neutrophil; monocyte; macrophage; sinus; thymus epithelium; lymph node; spleen; chemokine; interleukin; dendritic cell; B cell; T cell; plasma cell; mucosal immunity; immunoglobin; ecological immunology; Toll-like receptors; evolution of immune responses
LSA02MicrobiologyMicrobial ecology: bacteriology, virology and protozoology; bioremediation; phytoremediation; environmental microbiology; parasitology; mycology; phycology; microbiome; mixed microbial populations; biofilms; differentiation of microbial populations; bacterial physiology; bacterial cell biology; microbial metagenomics; microbial genomics; infectious agents; microbial pathogenesis; microbial epidemiology; microbial communities; virology; classification and identification of viruses; evolution of viruses; viral structure and function; role of viral proteins in viral gene regulation; symbiosis and beneficial interactions
LSA03Organelle Function and Intracellular TraffickingCell-cell interactions; exocytosis; endocytosis; cell shape and movement; membrane transport mechanisms; mechanisms of cytotoxicity; cell secretion; extracellular matrix; membrane biogenesis; thermodynamics of membrane fusion; phagocytosis; glycosylation; intracellular trafficking; nuclear envelope; inner nuclear membrane proteins; cytoskeleton; intracellular matrix; organelle movements; intracellular targeting; endoplasmic reticulum; Golgi apparatus, transport vesicles
LSA04Cellular and Molecular NeuroscienceNeurophysiology; neuroelectrophysiology; electrophysiology; neuroanatomy; neurochemical receptor-linked processes; second messengers; neuronal regulation; neuroplasticity
LSA05Molecular GeneticsGene and chromosome structure; gene regulation and expression; signal transduction for gene expression; transcription factors; genome structure; DNA replication; meiosis; mitosis; DNA repair; genetic interactions; genome integrity; chromatin; quantitative genetics; genomics; linkage analysis; single nucleotide polyphormism (SNP); copy number variation; epigenetics; genome sequencing; genomic analysis; metagenomics; functional genomics; phylogenomics; gene regulation; small RNAs; gene silencing; non-coding RNA; functional RNA; post-transcriptional regulation; RNA degradation; RNA processing; RNA transport; transcriptomics; RNA sequencing
LSA06Evolutionary and Developmental GeneticsCell development; mutation; regeneration; gametogenesis; developmental neuroscience; metamorphosis; developmental epigenetics; morphology; organogenesis; cell movement; cell proliferation; stem cell; cell differentiation; tissue differentiation; embryogenesis; embryonic patterning; fate mapping; cell lineages; phylogenetics; population genetics; ontogeny; comparative genetics; molecular systematics; gene transfer
LSA07Cell Signals and Electrical PropertiesSignal transduction for protein expression; intercellular communication; membrane receptor; signalling pathways; protein-protein interactions; second messengers; ion channels; ion regulation; calcium regulation
LSA08Quantitative ApproachesBioinformatics; mathematical biological and physiological sciences; biomathematics; biostatistics; statistical genomics; genomic analysis; computational neuroscience; multiscale modelling; computer simulation of protein, nucleic acid and membrane structure/dynamics
LSA09BiochemistryMetabolic pathways; biochemical technique development; protein structure and function; enzymology; metabolomics; metabonomics; lipidomics; proteomics; glycomics; glycobiology; protein-protein interactions; nucleic acids; amino acids; peptides and proteins; lipids; enzymes; carbohydrates; X-ray crystallography; NMR spectroscopy; bioassays; bioimaging; biochemical techniques; membrane protein structure and function; biophysics; structural biology; chemical genetics
LSA10Cell CycleCytokinesis apparatus; cell cycle regulation; apoptosis; cell division; proliferation; stress response; chromosome structure and localization; cell division; senescence; regulation of cell differentiation; cytoskeleton
1502 Biological Systems and Functions
LSB01Plant BiologyPlant pathology; water and minerals in plants; plant morphology; plant nutrition and metabolism; photosynthesis; stress physiology; ecophysiology; morphology and development; symbiosis; C/N partitioning; secondary metabolism; tropisms; plant growth; hormone biology, plant growth regulation (metabolism and biosynthesis); plant breeding mechanisms, plant reproduction; seed biology, plant biomechanics, ethnobotany and economical botany; physiological genetics; yield component analysis; heterosis; plant chromosome and genome evolution
LSB02Food ScienceFood chemistry and analysis; nutraceutical; functional foods; structure-function relationships; food colloids; gels; emulsions; foams; food microbiology; food bacteriology; food virology; food mycology; food safety and risk analysis; food rheology; food texture; sensory evaluation; bioactives; nutraceuticals; functional foods
LSB03Physiology and biomechanicsKinesiology; human biomechanics; muscle physiology; hypoxia; motor learning
LSB04Animal PhysiologyEndocrinology; animal physiology and metabolism; animal circulation; animal respiration; environmental stress; thermoregulation; ionic regulation; acid-base regulation; endocrine disruptors
LSB05Animal ProductionAnimal reproduction; animal breeding; animal welfare; animal nutrition; feeds and feeding; animal disease: pathology; etiology; toxicology; pharmacology; epidemiology; animal modeling
LSB06Behavioural NeuroscienceBehaviour; learning; reward; motivation; behavioural genetics; regulatory processes; thirst; hunger; sleep; rhythms; computational and cognitive neuroscience
LSB07Cognitive ScienceLanguage; word recognition; reading; psycholinguistics; speech; memory and cognition; attention; working memory; executive function; episodic and semantic memory; judgment and decision making; reasoning; problem solving; emotion; comparative cognition; human-computer interface; human learning
LSB08Sensory and Motor SystemsSensory systems and perception; visual; auditory; other senses multi-sensory; sensory integration; face and object perception; motor control; motor systems and performance; perceptual learning; motor learning
LSB09Nutritional SciencesNutritional biochemistry; dietetics; nutrigenomics; community nutrition
1503 Evolution and Ecology
LSC01Populations and CommunitiesCommunity assembly; community structure; competition; demography; indirect effects; metapopulations; multi-kingdom interactions; population dynamics; predator-prey dynamics; species interactions
LSC02Ecological and Evolutionary ApplicationsClimate change; conservation biology; conservation genetics; ecotoxicology; endangered species; fisheries, wildlife, and forestry management; habitat loss; harvesting; invasive species; resource selection; sylvics; population viability; species recovery
LSC03Evolutionary PatternsComparative method; genetic variance; genomics; population structure; sex ratios; species diversity
LSC04Evolutionary ProcessesAdaptation; character displacement; coevolution; density and frequency dependence; evolutionary genetics; life history; phenotypic plasticity; sexual selection; speciation
LSC05Ecosystem Patterns and ProcessesDecomposition; diversity and stability; ecological engineering; energy flow; food webs; isotope signatures; nutrient cycling; physical and chemical dynamics; size spectra
LSC06Spatial Patterns in Ecology and EvolutionBiogeography; dispersal; distribution; geographic information systems (GIS); geographic ranges; habitat fragmentation; island biogeography; landscapes; migration
LSC07Ecology and Evolution of BehaviourBehavioural syndromes; cooperation and conflict; foraging; habitat selection; information gathering; kin selection; mate choice; mating systems; patch use; sexual conflict; social organization
LSC08Ecological FunctionConstraints and tradeoffs; development; ecological stoichiometry; eco-physiology; life cycles; performance indicators
LSC09Mathematical and Statistical Models in Evolution and EcologyBioinformatics; capture, mark, recapture theory; ecological and evolutionary models; evolutionary games; model selection; resource models; statistical theory; stochastic processes
LSC10Systematics and TaxonomyBarcoding; biodiversity; molecular evolution; phylogenetics; phylogeography
1504 Chemistry
CH01Inorganic SynthesisMetal and organometallic chemistry; inorganic nonmetal; solid state inorganic; coordination chemistry; main group; green synthetic methods; synthesis; methodology; total synthesis
CH02Inorganic CatalysisMetal and organometallic chemistry; inorganic nonmetal; solid state inorganic; coordination chemistry; main group; transition metals; Homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis; ligand design
CH03Physical Properties and mechanisms of Inorganic CompoundsMechanistic chemistry; kinetics; spectroscopic studies; reactivity
CH04Organic SynthesisNatural products; organic reactions; green synthetic methods; synthesis; methodology; total synthesis; combinatorial chemistry; electrosynthesis; macromolecules; heterocycles
CH05Organic CatalysisNatural products; organic reactions; physical organic chemistry; homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis; ligand design; organocatalysis
CH06Chemistry of biological systemsBioorganic and bioinorganic; enzyme kinetics and mechanisms; enzyme engineering and biocatalysis; medicinal chemistry and drug design; bioassays; nucleic acid chemistry; peptide chemistry; carbohydrate chemistry; lipid chemistry; radiopharmaceuticals; proteins; protein engineering; proteomics; genomics; metabolomics; glycomics
CH07Characterization of biological systemsBiophysical chemistry and structural biology; membrane structure; membrane dynamic and function; receptors and channels; biomimetic chemistry; macromolecular structure and function; spectroscopy (NMR; IR; crystallography; mass spectrometry); microscopy; molecular imaging; macromolecular structure and function; phytochemistry
CH08Physical Properties and mechanisms of Organic CompoundsMechanistic chemistry; kinetics; spectroscopic studies; reactivity
CH09Photochemical reactivity and dynamicsPhotochemical reactions; photo-induced chemistry; flash photolysis
CH10PhotonicsLaser chemistry; ultrafast spectroscopies; photo-physics of chemical systems
CH11Theoretical physical chemistryQuantum chemistry; computational chemistry; statistical mechanics; thermodynamics; chemical physics; reaction dynamics; polymer theory; non-linear behavior; complex networks; molecular modeling; ab initio calculations; combinatorial chemistry; density functional theory; chemoinformatics; molecular dynamics
CH12Nuclear chemistryNuclear methods; radioactivity; nuclear processes and nuclear properties; radiation chemistry; detector development
CH13Development and applications of spectroscopic and structural techniquesNMR; Raman; IR; Auger; mass spectrometry; optical; laser; diffraction methods; magnetic resonance; crystallography ; positron emission tomography; scanning probe techniques; circular dichroism
CH14Atmospheric and Environmental ChemistryBiocompatible chemistry; green chemistry; chemical analysis; atmospheric; aquatic and soil chemistry; aerosols; geochemistry
CH15Analytical chemistryBioanalytical; analytical mass spectrometry; separation methods and technologies; sensors; electrochemical methods; chemometrics; lab on-a-chip; instrumentation development; high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)
CH16Combustion and Fuel ChemistryChemical aspects of recovery of oil from tar sands; upgrading of light feed stock for fuel; use of alternative fuels; pyrolysis reactions; combustion; desulfurization of coal; coal liquefaction; use of biomass as fuel
CH17Functional MaterialsLayered and porous materials; photonic crystals; molecular magnets; organized organic and biomaterials; light emitting diode; intercalation compounds and batteries; fuel cells; plasmonic devices; piezoelectric and photorefractive materials; molecular machines: sensors; switches; actuators; inorganic solid state compounds; photovoltaic cells; electrochromism; nonlinear optical materials
CH18Polymer and Colloid chemistryBiopolymers; polymer solution; synthesis; characterization; films; dendrimers; colloids; conducting polymers
CH19Surface and Interfacial ChemistrySurface spectroscopy; characterization; catalysis of surface; surface chemistry
CH20ElectrochemistryEnergy storage; techniques and applications; surface functionalization; surface imaging; electrospectroscopy; electrosynthesis
CH21NanomaterialsCarbon-based materials; semiconductor materials; metallic materials; polymer nanocomposites: quantum dots; nanowires; tubes; belts and ribbons; characterization and synthesis; conjugated oligomers; macrocyles
CH22Supramolecular chemistryLiquid crystals; amphiphilic molecules; supramolecular assemblies; hydrogen bonding; molecular self-assembly; folding; molecular recognition; host-guest chemistry
1505 Physics
PHYS01Astronomy, Astrophysics and CosmologyFundamental astronomy; fundamental aspects of astrophysics; dark matter (stellar, interstellar, galactic and cosmological); dark energy; cosmology; stellar systems; interstellar medium; galactic and extragalactic objects and systems; stars; solar system; planetology; astrobiology and astrochemistry of the solar system and interplanetary space; astronomical and space-research instrumentation; astronomical observations; observation and data reduction techniques
PHYS02Near-Earth and Space PhysicsSpace plasma physics; physics of the ionosphere; physics of the magnetosphere; instrumentation for space plasma physics, ionosphere and magnetosphere; interplanetary physics; solar physics; solar-terrestrial physics; planetology (atmospheres, magnetic fields and magnetism, interactions with particles and fields)
PHYS03Subatomic PhysicsNuclear physics; nuclear structure; nuclear reactions and scattering; nuclear astrophysics; radioactive decay and in-beam spectroscopy; properties of specific nuclei; physics of elementary particles and fields; particle astrophysics; intermediate energy reactions, electroweak and strong interactions; general theory of fields and particles (field theory; gauge field theory; strings and branes; extended classical solutions; symmetry and conservation laws; currents and their properties; S-matrix theory; relativistic scattering theory); specific theories and interaction models (unified field theories and models; electroweak interactions; quantum electrodynamics; quantum chromodynamics; phenomenological quark models; other models for strong interactions; models beyond the standard model); specific reactions and phenomenology; properties of specific particles; experimental methods and instrumentation for elementary-particle and nuclear physics
PHYS04Quantum Condensed MatterElectronic structure of materials; electronic transport in condensed matter; electronic structure and electrical properties of surfaces, interfaces, thin films and low-dimensional structures; superconductivity; magnetic properties and materials; magnetic resonances and relaxations in condensed matter; dielectrics, piezoelectrics and ferroelectrics and their properties; semiconductors; optical properties, condensed matter spectroscopy and other interactions of radiation and particles with condensed matter; quantum fluids and solids; low temperature physics
PHYS05Statistical, Soft Condensed Matter, and Mesoscopic PhysicsStructure of solids, liquids and complex fluids; materials properties and testing; materials processing and fabrication; lattice dynamics; equations of state, phase equilibria, and phase transitions; mechanical and acoustical properties of condensed matter; thermal properties of condensed matter; non-electronic transport properties of condensed matter; structure and non-electronic properties of surfaces, interfaces, thin films, and nanosystems; statistical mechanics and phase transition; statistical mechanics and thermodynamics; soft condensed matter; liquid crystals; mesoscopic physics; colloid and polymer physics; disordered solids; granular matter
PHYS06Theoretical/Mathematical PhysicsClassical and quantum mechanics; classical field theories; special relativity; general relativity and gravitation (classical general relativity; approximation methods; gravitational waves; self-gravitating systems; higher-dimensional gravity and other theories of gravity; quantum gravity; quantum fields in curved spacetime; physics of black holes); mathematical and relativistic aspects of cosmology; quantum computing and quantum information; statistical physics; mathematical methods in physics
PHYS07General PhysicsAtomic and molecular physics (electronic structure of atoms and molecules: theory; atomic properties and interactions with photons; molecular properties and interactions with photons; atomic and molecular collision processes and interactions; exotic atoms and molecules, macromolecules, clusters; mechanical control of atoms, molecules, and ions); electromagnetism; electron and ion optics; optics; lasers; laser applications; plasmonics; nano-photonics; metamaterials; physics of gases; physics of plasmas and electric discharges; plasma applications; fluid dynamics; stochastic and nonlinear processes
PHYS08Medical PhysicsRadiation therapy; medical imaging; X-ray imaging; magnetic resonance imaging; medical uses of ultrasound; non-ionizing radiation physics and techniques; spectroscopy and microscopy in medical physics; biomedical optics; laser applications in medical physics; acoustical medical instrumentation and measurements
PHYS09Biological PhysicsGeneral theory and mathematical aspects; membranes; biomolecules: types, structure, and physical properties; subcellular structure and processes; cell processes; biological complexity; properties of higher organisms; effects of electromagnetic and acoustic fields on biological systems; effects of stochasticity and noise; spectroscopic and microscopic techniques in biophysics; biophysical techniques
1506 Geosciences
GS01Petrology and MineralogyIgneous and metamorphic petrology; experimental petrology; crystal chemistry; crystallography
GS02Sedimentology and StratigraphySedimentary processes; basin analysis; diagenesis; sedimentary geochemistry; sedimentary mineral resources; petroleum geology; coal geology; chemostratigraphy; lithostratigraphy; lacustrine sedimentology
GS03Paleontology and PaleobiologyInvertebrate and vertebrate paleontology; paleoecology; micropaleontology; paleobotany; paleozoology; paleobiogeography; biostratigraphy
GS04GeophysicsEnvironmental geophysics; exploration and engineering geophysics; geodesy; geomagnetics and paleomagnetics; geothermometry; gravimetry; rock and mineral physics; marine geophysics; seismology; tectonophysics
GS05Economic GeologyMining geology (mineral and ore); igneous and metamorphic ore deposits; mineral exploration (chemical and biological); metallogeny; gemmology
GS06Tectonics and Structural GeologyStructural analysis; tectonic modeling; tectono-thermal modeling; geodynamics; neotectonics; crust and mantle evolution; tectonostratigraphy; geochronology applied to tectonics
GS07Geochemistry and GeochronologyCosmochemistry; aqueous geochemistry; fluid geochemistry; low pressure and temperature geochemistry; exploration geochemistry; environmental geochemistry; mineral geochemistry; isotope geochemistry; trace-element geochemistry; organic geochemistry; analytical geochemistry; thermochronology; U-series geochronology; Ar-Ar and K-Ar geochronology; fission track studies; tracer isotope studies (Sm-Nd, O, Rb-Sr, Hf); carbon 14; thermoluminesence
GS08VolcanologyPhysical volcanology; chemical volcanology; geothermal processes
GS09Planetary sciencesMeteoritics; impact geology; lunar geology; astrogeology; remote sensing of planetary bodies
GS10Surface ProcessesDating methods; glacial deposits; karst; eolian geomorphology; mass wasting; tectonic geomorphology; fluvial geomorphology; coastal geomorphology; landform and landscape evolution; weathering
GS11Paleo-environmental SciencesQuaternary studies (paleoclimatology, paleopedology, paleoseismology, paleolimnology, paleoceanography, paleohydrology, geochronology); terrestrial records (coral and tree rings - dendroclimatology); ice cores; climate change; geoarcheology
GS12BiogeosciencesBiogeochemistry; element cycling; organism-mineral interactions
GS13Global Geological ProcessesEarth-systems science; early Earth evolution; global glaciation; supercontinent breakup and amalgamation
GS14Atmospheric SciencesAtmospheric physics; atmospheric dynamics; atmospheric chemistry; atmospheric instrumentation; atmospheric evolution; boundary layer processes; meteorology; micrometeorology; hydrometeorology; biometeorology; numerical weather prediction; numerical modeling and simulations; air quality; planetary atmospheres; climatology and climatological statistics; greenhouse gas cycles; agrometeorology; chemical and physical composition
GS15HydrologyGroundwater (modeling and geochemistry); surface water chemistry; hydrogeology; water resources; water quality; water management; watershed studies; hydrogeochemistry, hydrometeorology; evapotranspiration; chemical hydrology; isotope hydrology; physical hydrology; surface hydrology
GS16OceanographyPhysical, dynamical, chemical, coastal, satellite and basin-scale oceanography; ocean pollution; ocean circulation; ocean acoustics; ocean climatology; land-ocean-atmosphere interaction; oceanic instrumentation, ocean data assimilation; ocean optics; marine geology; marine biogeology; marine chemistry
GS17Soil SciencesSoil physics; soil chemistry; soil mineralogy; soil water; soil erosion; soil gases; soil fertility; soil organic matter; soil contamination; soil micromorphology; soil instrumentation; pedology; edaphology; bioremediation; plant-soil interactions; pedogenesis
GS18Geomatics and Earth Systems ObservationsRemote sensing applications; geographic information system (GIS and GPS) applications; detection; optical, laser and radar spectroscopy applications; LIDAR applications, spatial analysis; spatial statistics; geostatistics; cartography; modeling and simulations; complex systems; physical geography
GS19CryologyPhysics of snow and ice; glaciology; cryosphere processes; sea ice; permafrost; periglacial studies; cryobiology; glacial dynamics
1507 Computer Science
CS01Web-Enabled Applications and Services (E-*)E-health; e-business; e-government; e-learning; e-commerce; e-culture; e-education; e-science; mobile applications
CS02User Adaptive SystemsUser modelling; mechanism design; user adaptive interaction; artificial intelligence and education; adaptive learning systems; educational data mining
CS03Mathematical ComputingSymbolic computing; scientific computing; numerical optimization; computer algebra; numerical modelling and simulation
CS04Theory of ComputingTheoretical foundations of computation; complexity theory; structural complexity; logic and proof complexity; descriptive complexity; automata theory; information theory; coding theory
CS05Algorithms and Data StructuresAnalysis of algorithms; data structures; parallel and distributed algorithms; graph algorithms; computational combinatorics; computational geometry; randomized algorithms; computational game theory; theoretical cryptography.
CS06Computer NetworksNetwork protocols; protocol performance; data communications; simulation and emulation of networks; multimedia systems and networks; network management; wireless and mobile networks and ad hoc networks; sensor networks; optical networks; overlay networks and peer to peer networks; information and communication theory; network algorithms; pervasive computing (ubiquitous computing); green networks; cognitive networks; protocol testing.
CS07Quantum ComputingQuantum complexity; quantum cryptography; quantum algorithms; quantum devices; quantum information, models of quantum computation; quantum coding
CS08Information SystemsModels and principles; database systems information; storage and retrieval; information systems; information interfaces and presentations; information integration; visual data analysis; geographic information systems; management information systems; decision support systems; health information systems; medical informatics
CS09Security and PrivacyAuthentication, authorization and access control; anonymity and privacy; information and application-level security; biometrics; cryptographic protocols; database security; denial of service; intrusion detection and prevention; formal methods for security; formal models and provable security; network security; operating system security; language-based security; malicious code detection and emerging threats; design and verification of cryptographic protocols; privacy requirements; privacy policies; privacy preference languages; language-based privacy; private data management; privacy in Web services and semantic Web; secure multi-party protocols; cryptographic algorithms; security and privacy auditing; security and privacy in the cloud; security metrics, information flow control
CS10Data ManagementDatabase management; text management; information organization and retrieval; semi- and unstructured data; managing uncertain information; data warehouses; business intelligence (information collection, data mining and analysis, business activity monitoring, business process management, decision analysis); digital libraries; community information management; stream data management; caching; data cleaning; text and multimedia mining; information extraction from text; sentiment analysis; prediction; clustering; graph and network analysis; temporal and sequence data mining; collaborative filtering and social information sharing; model complexity; quality metrics; spatial databases; temporal databases; scientific databases; data mining; data security and privacy; data management in the cloud; autonomic data management; mobile data management; distributed data management
CS11Programming LanguagesCompilers; semantics; type systems; semantic analysis; static analysis; programming paradigms; programming techniques; imperative programming; object-oriented programming; logic programming; functional programming; concurrent programming; event-driven programming; scripting languages; generative programming, domain-specific languages; modelling languages (semantics of, compilers for); multi-paradigm programming/modelling; dynamic analysis
CS12Software EngineeringRequirements; specification; software design; software architecture; software implementation; quality management-testing; validation; verification; software development environments; software analysis; evaluation; reliability; maintenance; user interface development; re-engineering and migration; user interfaces; software evolution; process life-cycle models; agile methods; model-driven development; reactive, embedded, and cyber-physical systems; software product lines; data mining from software repositories
CS13Formal MethodsVerification; state and logic models; temporal logic; model checking; theorem proving; refinement; testing; semantics; formal languages; formal specification notations and languages; run-time monitoring; discrete event systems; synthesis and correctness-by-construction
CS14Computing SystemsMiddleware; architecture; real-time systems; embedded systems; operating systems; file and storage systems; input and output architectures; high-performance computing systems; system reliability and fault tolerance; virtualization; peer-to-peer systems; virtual machines; power management; cache; memory; green computing; enterprise systems; performance models and evaluation; reconfigurable computing; programmable matter
CS15Parallel and Distributed ComputingDistributed models and algorithms; distributed architectures; distributed and parallel programming and languages; design, validation and verification; distributed storage; file systems; management; fault tolerance; performance analysis; parallelism and concurrency; parallel processing; parallel models and algorithms; high-performance computing; clusters; symmetric multi-processors; applications; peer-to-peer; grid computing; pervasive computing; map-reduce paradigm; cloud computing; multi-core architectures; service-oriented computing
CS16Web-Based SystemsSocial computing; social media; social networks; internet theory; Web services; standards; Web architectural styles (e.g., REST); design of Web systems; Web security; portals and portal frameworks; wikis; blogs; crowdsourcing; recommender systems
CS17Human Computer InteractionUsability engineering; user interface design and evaluation; multi-modal user interaction; computer-supported cooperative work; haptics; HCI in visualization; virtual reality; human-robot interaction; computer game interfaces; entertainment computing; mixed reality; HCI for mobile devices, modelling/simulation/synthesis of user interfaces
CS18Artificial IntelligenceKnowledge representation and reasoning; machine learning; natural language processing (understanding); natural language generation; machine translation; evolutionary computation; genetic algorithms; genetic programming; cognitive science; cognitive modelling; intelligent agents; knowledge-based systems; constraints and search; planning and scheduling; agent-based and multi-agent systems; reasoning under uncertainty and sequential decision making; semantic Web; ontologies; speech understanding; artificial intelligence in games; neural networks
CS19Computer Graphics and VisualizationComputer animation; geometric, procedural and volumetric modelling; rendering; visualization; interactive techniques; computational photography
CS20Bioinformatics and Bioinspired ComputingAlgorithms and computational genomics; data management, integration and visualization; software and database systems; computational biomodelling; computational neuroscience; DNA computing; molecular and atomic computing; evolutionary computation; genetic algorithms; genetic programming; neural networks
CS21Computer Vision and RoboticsImage understanding; computer vision; document image analysis; image processing; robotics; video analysis; medical image analysis
1508 Mathematics and Statistics
MS01AlgebraAlgebraic structures; Galois cohomology; linear and matrix algebra; representation theory; commutative algebra and homological algebra; ring theory; field theory; Hopf algebras; representation theory of Lie groups; invariant theory; group theory and generalizations; universal algebra and lattice theory; algebraic K-theory; algebraic geometry; computational linear algebra
MS02Foundations and logicCategory theory; set theory; mathematical logic; proof theory; recursion theory; symbolic logic; formal logic; infinitary combinatorics; relational structures; set theoretic topology; model theory
MS03Classical AnalysisComplex variable analysis; fractal geometry; real analysis; measure and integration; summability theory; functional equations; classical harmonic analysis; asymptotic and applied classical analysis; approximation theory; nonlinear analysis; Fourier analysis; potential theory; special functions; convex analysis
MS04GeometryConvex; integral; geometric measure theory; differential geometry; Laplace operators; general relativity; geometric partial differential equations; analytic geometry; geometric control theory; symplectic geometry and topology; hyperbolic geometry; moduli spaces; complex algebraic geometry; geometric evolutions
MS05Modern AnalysisBanach space theory; functional analysis; operators theory and operator algebras; theory of partial differential equations (PDE); spectral and microlocal analysis; abstract harmonic analysis; continuous optimization; Banach algebras; operator spaces; convex optimization; geometrical analysis; analysis on Wiener space; infinite dimensional stochastic equations
MS06Number TheoryAlgorithmic, elementary, algebraic, analytic and combinatorial number theory; modular forms; automorphic forms; elliptic curves; diophantine equations; diophantine approximation; exponential sums; arithmetic algebraic geometry; computational number theory
MS07TopologyAlgebraic topology; general topology; knot theory; low-dimensional topology and geometry; differential topology and group actions; homotopy theory; topological groups; geometric group theory; topological K-theory
MS08Discrete mathematicsGraph theory; algebraic combinatorics; enumeration; combinatorial identities; design theory; finite geometries; matroid theory; extremal combinatorics; transversal theory; combinatorial algorithms; combinatorial optimization; combinatorial group theory; Ramsey theory; orders and lattices; computational discrete mathematics and discrete structures; additive combinatorics; analysis of algorithms
MS09Continuum Mechanics and modelingFluid and gas dynamics; solid mechanics; elasticity, hydrodynamics and hydrodynamic stability; computational fluid dynamics; turbulence theory; Navier-Stokes problems; hypersonic fluid dynamics; random oscillations;  wavelet approximation; multiphase flow; complex fluids; homogenization theory; multiscale analysis
MS10Mathematical PhysicsStatistical mechanics, quantum mechanics, quantum field theory, quantum groups, many body theory; cosmology; Schrödinger operators; statistical physics; geometric and Hamiltonian mechanics; string theory; particle spin systems
MS11Mathematical Biology, Computational BiologyMathematical ecology and evolution; resource management; population biology; population dynamics; host cell modeling; mathematical physiology, immunology, cell biology and genetics; modeling of infectious diseases; modeling of bioprocesses; biofluid dynamics
MS12Numerical AnalysisNumerical approximation and integration; numerical linear algebra; initial and boundary-value problems for ordinary and partial differential equations; integral equations; wavelets and spectral methods; inverse problems; Hamiltonian systems; computational geometry; scientific computing
MS13Dynamical systemsDynamical systems; chaos theory; complex systems; ergodic theory; partial differential equations; fractal behaviour; Hamiltonian systems and control; non-linear analysis; control theory; bifurcation theory; difference equations; functional differential equations; mathematical systems theory; pattern formation; stochastic dynamical systems
MS14Optimization and Optimal Control TheoryCalculus of variations; variational methods; maximum principles for optimal control; discrete and stochastic control; differential inclusions; mathematical programming and operations research; decision theory; numerical methods for optimization problems
MS15Wave PropagationNon-linear wave phenomena; inverse problems and scattering; conservation laws; reaction-diffusion; applied differential equations (ordinary and partial)
MS16Biostatistical MethodsSurvival analysis; longitudinal and life-history analysis; generalized linear mixed models; case-control studies; design of clinical trials; infectious disease modeling; quantitative methods in health sciences; meta-analysis; physiological models; epidemiological methods; statistical methods for health policy research
MS17Statistical Theory and ModelingFoundations of statistics; information theory; distribution theory; state-space models and dynamical systems; model assessment; mixture models; order statistics
MS18Statistical InferenceParametric inference; bayesian inference; nonparametric inference; inference from stochastic processes; semi parametric inference; robust inference; estimating functions; regression; inference under constraints
MS19ProbabilityProbability theory; stochastic processes; martingales; limit theorems; particle systems; applied probability; queueing theory; Markov processes; stochastic analysis; stochastic differential equations; random media
MS20High Dimensional Data AnalysisCausal models; classification; covariance estimation; graphical models; pattern recognition; algebraic statistics; geometric and topological methods; quantum statistical computing
MS21Statistical MethodologyBayesian methods; Monte Carlo methods; measurement error; multi-level and hierarchical data; functional data analysis; time series analysis; resampling methods
MS22Computational MethodsSymbolic computing; computational nonparametric and semi-parametric techniques; algorithms; data visualization; machine learning; image interpretation; data mining; resampling methods
MS23Statistical Methods in Engineering and IndustryDesign of experiments; quality improvement; computer experiments; reliability
MS24Actuarial Science and Mathematical FinanceActuarial science; credibility theory; quantitative methods for insurance; risk modeling and analysis; financial mathematics; computational finance; quantitative finance; investment science
MS25Spatial StatisticsSpatial statistical methods; spatio-temporal methods; disease surveillance; epidemic models; geomatics; satellite image analysis; spatial clustering methods; syndromic surveillance; spatial dynamic models; brain imaging
MS26Complex Survey AnalysisSurvey sampling theory and methods; multi-level models; complex survey analytical techniques; longitudinal and cross sectional analysis; methods for confidential surveys; data security; probabilistic matching; data integration
MS27Statistical methods for high throughput dataBioinformatics; statistical genetics; evolutionary genetics; quantitative genetics; population genetics; gene-environment interactions; genetic epidemiology
MS28Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences and EconomicsPsychometrics; latent variable models; item response theory; quantitative psychology; social network modeling; econometrics; time series and financial econometrics
MS29Quantitative Methods for Environmental SciencesQuantitative methods for ecology; population estimation; modeling animal movement; environmetrics; toxicological analysis; quantitative analysis and implications of climate change; simulation of process models; climate models
1509 Civil, Industrial and Systems Engineering
ENA01Hydrotechnical EngineeringCoastal and ocean engineering; engineering of water flow and/or ice in rivers and lakes; engineering hydrology; watershed systems;  water resources engineering and management (groundwater, surface water); hydraulic engineering
ENA02Environmental EngineeringGeo-environmental; air pollution; production, distribution, infrastructure and quality of potable water; waste water treatment; solid waste management; remediation of contaminated soils and groundwater; recycling
ENA03Biosystems and Agricultural EngineeringSoil, irrigation and drainage; odour pollution; pesticides and sprays; food preservation and grain storage; precision agriculture; transformation of agricultural products; renewable and alternative energy (ethanol production)
ENA04Geotechnical EngineeringSoil-structure and foundation interaction; pavement; slope and excavations; soil properties and behavior; rock mechanics; geotechnical materials; landslides; geomechanics; geostatistics; geosynthetics; permafrost and cold regions engineering; foundations; soil dynamics and liquefaction; earth dams; microzonation
ENA05Structural EngineeringStructural materials; structural design (safety and loads); earthquake engineering; effects of natural elements (wind, waves, fires, ice, water); offshore engineering; ice mechanics; building, foundation, bridge and dam engineering; pipeline engineering; infrastructure repair and rehabilitation engineering; structural health monitoring
ENA06Mining EngineeringRock mechanics; surface mining; underground mining; mine automation and process control; mine environmental engineering; mine water management, mining planning and optimization; mining design; mining health and safety; mine ventilation; mine waste, rock fragmentation and blasting; mining sustainability
ENA07Construction and Building EngineeringBuilding materials (roofs, walls, underground); durability of buildings; building automation systems; building and project information models; project management processes; infrastructure asset management and facilities management; construction management processes; construction methods; construction information technologies; construction automation and robotics; energy efficiency
ENA08Transportation EngineeringTransportation systems; traffic engineering; highway, railway and airport engineering; public transport; road safety; demand modeling; pavement materials and structures; terminals
ENA09Geomatics EngineeringPhotogrammetry; mapping; geodesy; cadastral systems; global navigation satellite systems (GNSS); geospatial information system (GIS); remote sensing; high precision surveys; hydrography; navigation (outdoor, indoor); mobile mapping; unmanned vehicle systems; 3D modelling; vision metrology; digital terrain modelling; spatial decision support systems; digital imaging; geo-informatics (Web standards, system architectures, networks, software engineering, artificial intelligence, ontologies, visualization, etc.)
ENA10Human factorsRehabilitation engineering; brain-computer interfaces; physical, environmental and cognitive ergonomics; control design; occupational health and safety; assistive technologies; human-computers systems and interfaces; human error; anthropometry; psychophysics
ENA11Production Systems EngineeringEnterprise resource planning systems; computer integrated manufacturing; manufacturing systems and automation; facilities design, material handling and storage systems; production scheduling; reliability and maintenance; quality control; machine and process monitoring; machinery health management; condition-based diagnosis and prognosis; maintenance systems; sustainable manufacturing, smart machines and factories, RFID and sensor network applications
ENA12Operations Engineering and LogisticsFacilities location; supply chain management; supply chain design; production planning and inventory control; logistics and distribution (including reverse logistics); modeling and simulation of production and distribution systems; quality systems engineering; intelligent agent applications in operations and logistics
ENA13Operations ResearchProgramming (linear and non-linear; combinatorial, integer and networks); dynamic and stochastic optimization; metaheuristics; artificial intelligence; stochastic models; queuing; decision and risk analysis; data envelope analysis and game theory; algorithms and simulations
ENA14Systems EngineeringDesign and analysis of systems (e.g., energy, health care, forestry, mining, aquaculture, infrastructure, environment, transportation and telecommunications); modeling and applications, intelligent renewable energy systems; intelligent transportation systems
1510 Electrical and Computer Engineering
ENE01Computer Hardware and architectureChip architecture; computer architecture and embedded systems; multi-core systems; system components; production yields and optimization; microelectronics and very-large-scale integration (VLSI) electronic design automation; parallel and distributed systems; multiprocessor systems; algorithms; models of computation and systems; reliability and fault tolerance
ENE02Bioelectrical EngineeringBiomedical signal and image analysis and processing; biomedical and diagnostic instrumentations; medical devices; medical robotics; image guided surgery systems; biomedical sensors
ENE03Communications and NetworksMobile and personal communication; wireless communication systems; cognitive radio systems; coding theory; cryptography and security; information theory; broadband packet switch networks; data communication; information and communication theory; MIMO and multiantenna communications; ultra wideband communications; wireless multiple access techniques; fibre-optical communications; sensor and ad-hoc networks; network coding; network information theory
ENE04Electromagnetics; photonics and micro/nanotechnologyElectricity and magnetism theory; applied electromagnetics; numerical methods in electromagnetics; microwave theory and techniques; RF/microwave and millimeter-wave devices and circuits; terahertz studies; antennas; propagation; radar; optics; photonics; optoelectronics; integrated optics; applied optics; optical spectroscopy; semiconductor devices; micro/nano-fabrication techniques; thin films; lab-on-a-chip; microelectrical mechanical systems (MEMS)/microsystems design, technology and integration; bio-MEMS; physical and chemical sensors; quantum electronics; photovoltaics
ENE05Electrical Energy SystemsPower systems; power electronics; wide-area monitoring, control and protection; electric machines; power generation, transmission and distribution; PWM techniques; renewable energy systems; speed drive systems; power quality; power system stability; smart grids; fault detection, maintenance and management; control systems; intelligent control; robotics
ENE06Electrical Circuits and ElectronicsElectrical circuits; electronics; microelectronic devices; circuits and systems; mixed-signal integrated circuits; very large-scale integrated circuits (VLSI); circuit theory; circuit modeling techniques
ENE07Video and Display technologiesVideo analog-digital digital-analog; computer vision; video storage and retrieval; packet video; high-speed real-time video circuits; multi-dimensional filters and transforms; image sensors; video interfaces
ENE08Signal ProcessingDetection and estimation theory; sampling theory; signal processing for communications; compressed sampling; acoustic signal processing; radar and sonar signal processing; imaging systems; scanning; architectures for coding, filtering, enhancement of images; image formation in various applications; remote sensing; intelligent and integrated systems
1511 Materials and Chemical Engineering
ENC01Renewable and alternative energyBatteries; hydrogen; clean energy; membrane separation processes; biomass; fuel cells; electro-chemical reactors/cells; alternative fuels and feedstocks
ENC02Process EngineeringProcess control; process development; process optimization; process safety; rheology; process control; process development; organic and inorganic chemicals; industrial gases; pharmaceuticals; polymers; pulp and paper; mineral processing
ENC03Polymers EngineeringPolymers and additives; plastics and synthetic resins; manmade fibers; synthetic elastomers; plasticizers; paint; sealants; natural fiber; hybrid polymer structures
ENC04Biomaterial EngineeringBiochemical engineering; tissue engineering; drug delivery; biomaterials
ENC05Food processingFood and beverage processing; packaging food additives; analysis and preservation
ENC06Fossil fuel energyConventional oil and gas; production and exploration; utilization technology; natural gas hydrates; oil sands and heavy oil – technology for exploitation; processing; separation and refining; microbial enhanced oil recovery; coal and processing; heavy oil; gasification; carbon capture and storage; catalysis
ENC07MetallurgyIron; steel; other metals and alloys; corrosion; ore extraction; structure; properties; casting; forming; welding and joining
ENC08Surface ScienceMicroscopy; diffraction; spectroscopy techniques; properties of surfaces and interfaces; material characterization (excluding bulk); thin films
ENC09Materials EngineeringCeramics; plastics; rubbers; textiles; composites; non-metallic mineral products (glass; clay; etc.); surface treatments; coatings; ceramic and polymer processing; material devices; nuclear materials; degradation; structure; properties
ENC10Forestry EngineeringForest operations and management; wood science and engineering
1512 Mechanical Engineering
ENB01Building SystemsIndoor air quality; heating, ventilation, and air conditioning; acoustics; day lighting; window technology; control theory; building integrated solar systems; heat and moisture transfer
ENB02Fluid MechanicsGas dynamics; hydrodynamics; turbomachinery; turbulence; bluff body flow; viscous flow; boundary layers; single and multi-phase systems; computational fluid dynamics; wind engineering; shocks and waves
ENB03Energy SystemsThermodynamics; thermodynamic cycles; thermophysical properties; second law and energy; heat pumps; refrigeration; geothermal; hydrogen; propulsion; solar, wind and tidal energy
ENB04Nuclear EngineeringReactor design and operation; nuclear safety and reliability; thermal hydraulics
ENB05Heat TransferConduction; convection; radiation; combined modes; phase change; reacting and multiphase flows; heat pipes; heat exchanger
ENB06CombustionFlaring; fires; internal combustion engines; gas turbines; engines; explosions and implosions; real gas effects; dusty gas flow; alternative fuels
ENB07Fluid-Structure InteractionFlow-induced vibrations; underwater vehicles; naval architecture
ENB08Aerospace and Aeronautical EngineeringAerodynamics and aeroacoustics; gas turbines; viscous flows and boundary layers; compliant and aeroelastic surfaces; multidisciplinay design optimization; flight dynamics and control; structures and materials; satellite dynamics and control; aircraft and spacecraft design; space robots; human factors; unmanned aerial vehicles
ENB09Design and ManufacturingEngineering design; computer-aided design; computer-aided manufacturing; environment; process planning; prototyping; tolerance; machining; forming; manufacturing; computer-integrated manufacturing; systems and automation
ENB10Industrial AutomationDynamics; control; intelligent systems; robotics; vibration; smart structures; mechatronics; sensors and actuators
ENB11Mechanical Characterization; Modeling; Testing and monitoringMechanical behaviour; elasticity; creep; fatigue; fracture mechanics; durability; plasticity; stress analysis; structures; non-destructive techniques; solid mechanics; environmental degradation; mutli-scale mechanics; interface mechanics; non-linear mechanics; damage analysis; failure analysis; finite element analysis; dynamics response; tribology; coatings; composites materials; structural integrity; defect and inhomogeneity; new measurements methods
ENB12Biomechanical EngineeringBiomechanics; hemodynamics; orthopaedics; medical devices; kinematics; tissue mechanics; cell mechanics; mechanobiology
ENB13Mechanical Systems and InstrumentationAutomatic control systems; fluid power control systems; microfluidics; microelectrical mechanical systems (MEMS); instrumentation; system identification; agricultural power and machinery; automotive powertrains and hybrid electric vehicles