Limited Submission: NSF MRI Program
The National Science Foundation's Major Research Instrumentation Grant (MRI) Program accepts applications for projects to purchase major equipment in support of outstanding research initiatives in a region.
Eligibility
Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization:
Please note that Co-PIs on a proposal with someone outside of our institution are still required to submit proposal materials to the Office of Research and Projects. The NSF will count the collaborative proposal toward our institutional limit.
- Up to two (2) in Track 1.
- one (1) in Track 2
- one (1) in Track 3.
Award Description
Range of awards:
- Track 1: Track 1 MRI proposals are those that request funds from NSF greater than or equal to $100,000[1] and less than $1,400,000. Additional footnote page 3 of NOFO [1] Track 1 proposals requesting funds from NSF less than $100,000 will be accepted only from: a) eligible performing organizationsrequesting instrumentation supporting research in the disciplines of mathematics or social, behavioral and economic sciences; orb) non-Ph.D.-granting institutions of higher education requesting instrumentation supporting research in any NSF-supporteddisciplines.
- Track 2: Track 2 MRI proposals are those that request funds from NSF greater than or equal to $1,400,000 up to and including $4,000,000.
- Track 3 MRI proposals are those that request funds from NSF greater than or equal to $100,000[1] and less than or equal to $4,000,000 for requests that include the purchase, installation, operation, and maintenance of equipment and instrumentation to reduce consumption of helium.
Timeline for the SIUE Internal Competition Submission
- Notice of Intent Deadline: First Business Day of September by 4:30 pm submitted via Kuali Build Application.
- Should an internal Competition be required, you will receive a notification via email from Kuali Build to upload your Pre-Submission Materials (single pdf in order indicated) by 4:30 on the third Tuesday of September.
- Internal submissions will be reviewed by an ad hoc committee of experts. Only successful SIUE internal applicants will be invited by the 4th Wednesday in September to prepare and submit a full proposal to the NSF.
Selection Criteria for the SIUE Internal Competition
Please note that Co-PIs on a proposal with someone outside of our institution are still required to submit proposal materials to the Office of Research and Projects. The NSF will count the collaborative proposal toward our institutional limit.
Should an internal Competition be required, you will receive a notification via email from Kuali Build to upload your Pre-Submission Materials (single pdf in order indicated) by 4:30 pm on the third Tuesday of September.
- Project Summary (max 3 - 5 pages) with emphasis on how the instrument would enable or extend research on campus, where it would be housed, maintenance costs or issues associated with the instrument, and broader impact (see information below).
- Each PI or Co-PI must provide a 2-page C.V. with selected publications and activities that most relate to the projects conducted on this equipment.
*These must be submitted in a single pdf in the order indicated on application form.
All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply, including minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and protected veterans. Faculty with disabilities desiring accommodations in the application process should contact the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access at (618) 650-2333.
Stronger proposals will:
- address how the project meets the NSF MRI program goals and guidelines
- provide a strong plan and timeline for purchasing and installing the equipment, including a time chart outlining activities
- address how the equipment will be stored and in which location
- include a plan for training individuals to run and maintain the equipment
- contain a management plan for sharing the equipment among the PI’s and other researchers
- consider the importance of the broad impact statements.
- The MRI program includes a requirement in the full application that the applicant’s discuss the potential impact of the instrument: this may include issues related to how the project will 1) make a substantial improvement in the institution's capabilities to conduct leading‐edge research; 2) provide research experiences for undergraduate students using leading‐edge facilities; and/or 3) broaden the participation in science and engineering research by women, underrepresented minorities and persons with disabilities. Stronger proposals will not only address how the new instrument will enable research on campus and in the area, but also how the research conducted on the MRI instrument might address such “broader impact” concerns.
- Selected nominees from the internal program will work with the SIUE Office of Research and Projects to prepare the project budget and proposal for submission to the agency in time for the January deadline.
Timeline for Full Submission to NSF
- By the last business day in September, proposal to be created in Kuali.
- Proposal Routed in Kuali Research: First Business Day of November.
- NSF Full Application Deadline: on, or around, November 15 annually. Proposal is fully routed through Kuali Research and submitted in Research.gov with the assistance of the SIUE Office of Research and Projects.
Other Resources
For further information or questions regarding the competition, please contact siueresearch@siue.edu.
Previous Awardees
Gordon, Christopher, Jie Gong, Gary Mayer, Gregory Vogel, Kurt Schulz. "MRI: Acquisition of a 3D Laser Scanner to Support Multi-disciplinary Research in Data-driven Management of Cultural, Physical, and Biological Resources." September 1, 2011 - August 31, 2012. $100,000.
Cho, Sohung, H. Felix Lee, Kevin Hubbard, Luis Youn. "MRI: Acquisition of Major Components Required for Constructing Supply Chain Test-bed." September 1, 2009 - August 31, 2010. $169,347.
Zimmermann, Julie, Michael Shaw, Luci Kohn, Cory Willmott, Huichun Zhang. "ARRA: MRI-R2: Acquisition of Raman and Infrared Microscopes for Interdisciplinary Research." February 10, 2010 - February 10, 2011. $572,417.
Shaw, Michael, Eric Voss, Paul Wanda. "MRI: Acquisition of an EPR Spectrometer for Teaching and Research." September 01, 2008 - August 31, 2009. $173,865.
