Limited Submission Opportunity – NSF Major Research Instrumentation (MRI)

NSF Major Research Instrumentation Program (MRI): Limited Submission Opportunity

Internal Notification of Interest Deadline to the Office of Research Administration: Tuesday, November 30, 2021, 5:00 pm.

NSF Proposal Submission Window: January 1, 2022 – January 19, 2022

The Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program serves to increase access to multi-user scientific and engineering instrumentation for research and research training in our Nation’s institutions of higher education and not-for-profit scientific/engineering research organizations. An MRI award supports the acquisition or development of a multi-user research instrument that is, in general, too costly and/or not appropriate for support through other NSF programs.

MRI provides support to acquire critical research instrumentation without which advances in fundamental science and engineering research may not otherwise occur. MRI also provides support to develop next-generation research instruments that open new opportunities to advance the frontiers in science and engineering research. Additionally, an MRI award is expected to enhance research training of students who will become the next generation of instrument users, designers and builders.

An MRI proposal may request up to $4 million for either acquisition or development of a research instrument. Beginning with the FY 2018 competition, each performing organization may submit in revised “Tracks” as defined below, with no more than two submissions in Track 1 and no more than one submission in Track 2.

  • 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.

Cost sharing is required for Ph.D.-granting institutions of higher education and for non-degree-granting organizations. Non-Ph.D.-granting institutions of higher education are exempt from cost-sharing and cannot provide it. National Science Board policy is that voluntary committed cost sharing is prohibited. When required, cost-sharing must be precisely 30%.

Limit on the Number of Proposals per Organization:

Each performing organization is now limited to a maximum of three (3) proposals in revised “Tracks” as defined below, with no more than two (2) submissions in Track 1 and no more than one (1) submission in Track 2.

Any MRI proposal may request support for either the acquisition or development of a research instrument.

For full details on this program, please visit the NSF MRI webpage and the NSF MRI Solicitation, 18-513.

For additional details regarding The University of Akron’s limited submission process, visit the ORA Limited Submission webpage.

If you are interested in submitting a NSF MRI proposal, please visit the ORA Limited Submission webpage and complete step 1: Notification of Interest, by the deadline above.

  • Individuals interested in applying to a limited submission program must submit a Notification of Interest no later than 5pm on the internal deadline. To submit this notification applicants must email limitedsubmissions@uakron.edu (cc’ing emily@uakron.edu) with the subject line of the email formatted as follows: “Last name, First name; Limited Submission Notification of Interest”. Notifications will be emailed, and applicants will either be approved to apply or will be prompted to provide a white paper.
  • If ORA receives internal notices of interest in excess of the NSF limit on the number of proposals per organization, an internal competition will be necessary and additional information will be sent to those who submitted a notice of interest.

Important Research on Biopsychosocial Factors of Social Connectedness on Wellbeing

The Department of Health and Human Services is offering grants for three varying research projects involving social relationships and how they affect human wellness. They are accepting applications for mechanistic clinical studies, research not involving clinical studies, and basic experimental studies with human participants. It is well-established that social-ties, or lack thereof, impact overall health and wellbeing and the Department of Health and Human Services seeks to understand why more clearly. They hope that they can use this research to apply in the improvement of multiple domains of health research, which can then be implemented in the medical field. 

MAXIMUM AWARD AMOUNT

“Application budgets are not limited but need to reflect the actual needs of the proposed project”

OPEN TO

IHEs, Nonprofits, For-Profit Organizations, Local Governments, State Governments, County Governments, City or Township Governments, Special District Governments, Indian/Native American Tribal Governments, Federal Governments, Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government, U.S. Territory or Possession, Other, Independent School Districts, Public Housing Authorities/Indian Housing Authorities, Native American Tribal Organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Faith-based or Community-based Organizations, Regional Organizations, Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

Up to 5 years

APPLICATION DUE

Earliest Submission Date: May 21, 2022
View attachments at the bottom of this post for more information on deadlines.

EXPECTED NOTIFICATION DATE

TBD

PROJECT START DATE

TBD

For more information about how these grants differ and other questions you may have, visit the grant pages PAR-21-352, PAR-21-350, PAR-21-349.

PAR-21-352
PAR-21-350
PAR-21-349

Eradicating Racial and Ethnic Inequality in the Justice System

The National Institute of Justice is launching the W.E.B. Du Bois Program, which is offering grants to eligible applicants and encouraging a diverse group of applicants, including women and people of color, to increase perspectives offered in research. The program’s goal is to help create a fair and effective judicial system in he United States and protect civil rights, support victims of crime, protect the citizens of America and create a better relationship between law enforcement and the public.

MAXIMUM AWARD AMOUNT

TBD

OPEN TO

City or township governments, County governments, For profit organizations, Independent school districts, Native American tribal governments, Nonprofits (other than institutions of higher education), Private institutions of higher education, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Small businesses, Special district governments, State governments, and others

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

5 years

APPLICATION DUE

Grants.gov Deadline: December 30, 2021, 11:59 pm Eastern
Application JustGrants Deadline: January 13, 2022, 11:59 pm Eastern

EXPECTED NOTIFICATION DATE

On or before September 30th

PROJECT START DATE

July 1st, 2022 at 12:00 a.m. EST

For more information, visit the grant page or view the document attached to the bottom of this page.

Omnipreneurship Awards for a Better Sustainable Global Ecosystem

Al-Dabbagh Group (ADG) and Petrolube Oil Company are working together to award grants for their solutions in minimizing overall resource use and the environmental impacts of company operations. The main goal of this challenge is to find a way to repurpose or biodegrade vegetable cooking oils to increase profits while simultaneously mitigating any negative environmental effects, creating a better global ecosystem. 

MAXIMUM AWARD AMOUNT

Phase I: Up to 5 Finalists to win $20,000 each
Phase II: One winner to win $1 Million.

OPEN TO

No restrictions

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

TBD

APPLICATION DUE

November 30th 2021, 11.59 pm CET

EXPECTED NOTIFICATION DATE

March 2022
June 2022

PROJECT START DATE

TBD

For more information, visit the grant page.

Bio-Manufacturing Omics Data Challenge For Promising Researchers

GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK) is awarding grants to proposals who meet their needs within appropriate analysis of pharmaceutical bio-manufacturing and may fund future joint collaborations for the winners who show potential for GSK biomanufacturing or research. They are permitting third parties who are interested in this research to view these dataset to analyze. GSK’s goal with this project is to find promising researchers who will discover a fix to bio-manufacturing problems and come up with innovative solutions to analyzing large datasets, resulting in medical advances improving the lives of the general population.

MAXIMUM AWARD AMOUNT

Three winners to win 7000 Euro each

OPEN TO

Academic researchers, companies, research institutes, start-ups and individuals

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

TBD

APPLICATION DUE

October 14, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. EST

EXPECTED NOTIFICATION DATE

December 2021

PROJECT START DATE

TBD

For more information, visit the grant page.