Posted April 3, 2025 by Tiffany Lee
The Office of Research and Innovation is offering an information session focused on the National Science Foundation’s Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program. University of Nebraska-Lincoln faculty interested in applying to this opportunity are invited to attend the Zoom event, from 2:30-3:30 p.m. on May 8. Registration is required to receive the Zoom link.
The MRI Program serves to increase access to multi-user scientific and engineering instrumentation for research and research training. An MRI award supports the acquisition of a multi-user research instrument that is commercially available through direct purchase from a vendor or for the personnel costs and equipment that are required for the development of an instrument with new capabilities. The program advances instrumentation capabilities and enhances expertise for instrument design and fabrication at academic institutions. MRI instruments are, in general, too costly and/or not appropriate for support through other NSF programs.
Institutions are limited to submitting no more than two Track 1 applications (proposals requesting $100,000-$1,399,999), one Track 2 application (proposals requesting $1,400,000-$4,000,000), and one Track 3 application (proposals requesting support for instrumentation to reduce the consumption of helium) per deadline. A limited submission competition is anticipated in May 2025 to select the UNL teams that will apply to the November 2025 NSF deadline.
During the session:
- McAllister & Quinn, a government relations and grant consulting firm, will provide an overview of the funding opportunity.
- A panel of PIs associated with currently or previously funded MRIs will share their experiences and lessons learned while leading their projects and address participant questions.
The May 8 information session is hosted by the University of Idaho and organized in collaboration with UNL; Montana State University; the University of Nevada, Reno; and Utah State University.
For more information, contact Heather Borck, research development program coordinator, 402-472-4090.
