Call for NSF Major Research Instrumentation Program Internal Competition

Preliminary competition for limited submission instrumentation grant opportunity

The Division of Research and Innovation is pleased to announce the preliminary proposal competition for submissions to the NSF Major Research Instrumentation Program. The University is limited to two track 1 submissions ($100,000 - $1,000,000) and one track 2 submission ($1,000,000 - $4,000,000). In alignment with the effort to increase our research expenditures and sustain our Carnegie R1 status, we would like to work with faculty to put forth the strongest applications to the MRI program. Interdisciplinary teams that engage interinstitutional collaborators will be prioritized. Please be sure to fully review the call in the link above. 

In order to evaluate potential proposals for this year's call, we are asking that interested teams provide the following information in a single word document or PDF via email (researchdev@memphis.edu; subject: MRI Submission) no later than close of business October 15th:

* Name of the instrument to be acquired;

* Approximate cost (quote not necessary, an estimate is sufficient);

* Proposed location of instrument;

* Name of proposed PI and name of the individual(s) who will have day-to-day responsibilities for the instrument, if different;

* Brief description of the NSF fundable research enabled if this instrument is acquired

• Please provide a 1-3 sentence layman's description of the research to be enabled and identify the academic units and faculty associated with each major research thrust that will be included in the proposal;
• Please provide a description of any student research training the instrument will support

* List of current/ongoing or recently completed research funded by NSF related to the proposed research thrust(s)

* List of external collaborators who may be involved (we understand this may not yet be confirmed);

* For proposals that are resubmissions from a prior year, please include a copy of the review comments from the prior submission, a summary of any communications held with their program officer regarding how to improve the proposal, and a statement (up to 1 page) as to how the team will address the primary issues raised by reviewers.
 

Pre-proposals will be reviewed by a committee of faculty researchers. 

For 2023 Submissions: Selected proposals will be required to submit for external review 30 days before the NSF deadline (NSF Deadline expected to be January 19, 2023). 

Thank you, and please don't hesitate to reach out if you have questions or want to discuss an application idea.