Each year, Appalachian is permitted to submit up to three proposals to the NSF Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) program. An internal competition is held annually to select Appalachian’s three applicants. This year, the NSF has changed this program's deadline from Mid-January to Mid-November. This means that Appalachian's annual competition has been moved back a few weeks. This year's internal deadline to compete for a proposal slot is noon on September 12, 2023.
See below for details about the internal competition:
Funding opportunity for major research instrumentation
The National Science Foundation Major Research Instrumentation (NSF MRI) program serves to increase access to multi-user scientific and engineering instruments for research and research training. The NSF limits the number of MRI proposal submissions per institution to three. No more than two proposals may be submitted to Track 1, no more than one proposal may be submitted to Track 2, and no more than one proposal can be submitted to Track 3.
- Track 1: Track 1 MRI proposals are those that request funds from NSF greater than or equal to $100,000 and less than $1,000,000.
- Track 2: Track 2 MRI proposals are those that request funds from NSF greater than or equal to $1,000,000 up to and including $4,000,000.
- Track 3: Track 3 MRI proposals are those that request funds from NSF greater than or equal to $100,0001 and less than or equal to $4,000,000 that include the purchase, installation, operation, and maintenance of equipment and instrumentation to conserve or reduce the consumption of helium.
Proposal submissions may be either for acquisition or development of a research instrument.
Deadline
Individual faculty members and researchers or teams of researchers are invited to submit internal applications by 12 noon on September 12, 2023. Applicants can be the lead on only one proposal but may be included as co-investigators on other applicants’ proposals.
Competition Calendar
- 12 p.m. September 12, 2023: applications due to GRS
- 12 p.m. September 26, 2023: internal review completed by faculty reviewers
- 5 p.m. September 27, 2023: all applicants notified of status
- 5 p.m. September 30, 2023: selected applicants confirm intent to apply
- 5 p.m. November 1, 2023: complete proposals and all supporting materials due to the Office of Sponsored Programs via Cayuse
- 5 p.m. November 15, 2023: complete proposals due to the NSF
Conditions & requirements for selected applicants:
Applicants who are selected in this internal competition to develop full proposals must agree to meet with their Sponsored Programs representative prior to submission
Applicants who are selected in this internal competition to develop full proposals must agree to participate in discussions via e-mail or by telephone with NSF program officers regarding the viability of the project idea and its fit with the NSF MRI program goals.
Applicants who are selected in this internal competition to develop full proposals must submit their final grant materials in Cayuse two weeks in advance of the project deadline.