Limited Submission Opportunities
NSF Major Research Instrumentation Program
The Major Research Instrumentation Program (MRI) serves to increase access to shared scientific and engineering instruments for research and research training in our Nation’s institutions of higher education, not-for-profit museums, science centers and scientific/engineering research organizations.
Any MRI proposal may request support for either the acquisition or development of a research instrument or an upgrade of an existing research instrument. Within their submission limit, NSF strongly encourages an organization to submit proposals for innovative development projects.
Track 1 MRI proposals are those that request funds from NSF greater than or equal to $100,0001 and less than $1,400,000.
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.
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 for requests that include the purchase, installation, operation, and maintenance of equipment and instrumentation to reduce consumption of helium.
This is a limited submission opportunity, with only two submissions for Track 1, one for Track 2, and one for Track 3 allowed per institution. Therefore, interested faculty must submit a one-page summary of their proposal to the BYU Research Development Office. These summaries will be reviewed by the Associate Deans for Research, and selected proposals will be invited to submit a full application to the funding institution.
The one-page summary must include:
BYU Internal Deadline: July 23rd (one-page summary)
NSF Submission Window: October 15 - November 14 (full proposal)
BYU Internal Deadline: July 23rd (one-page summary)
NSF Proposal Deadline: October 15 - November 14 (full proposal)
If your proposal is selected to move forward with submission, you will be required to have the final proposal complete and ready for internal approvals within Kuali Research 10 business days before the institutional deadline.
Any MRI proposal may request support for either the acquisition or development of a research instrument or an upgrade of an existing research instrument. Within their submission limit, NSF strongly encourages an organization to submit proposals for innovative development projects.
Track 1
Track 1 MRI proposals are those that request funds from NSF greater than or equal to $100,0001 and less than $1,400,000.
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 $100,0001 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.
Pre-Proposal Process
This is a limited submission opportunity, with only two submissions for Track 1, one for Track 2, and one for Track 3 allowed per institution. Therefore, interested faculty must submit a one-page summary of their proposal to the BYU Research Development Office. These summaries will be reviewed by the Associate Deans for Research, and selected proposals will be invited to submit a full application to the funding institution.
The one-page summary must include:
- Name of Principal Investigator and Co-Principal Investigators
- Names of all other faculty at the university who would benefit from the equipment
- Cost of the equipment, including the purchase price, ongoing maintenance costs, training, etc.
- Planned or potential instructional applications of the equipment
- Description of what the equipment does, in terms understandable to a general technical audience
- What related devices already exist on campus and what additional functionality would the proposed device allow?
- How much would the proposed device be used?
- NSF track record of the proposing team members
- Information about the remaining lifespan of the existing equipment, if you are seeking a replacement or upgrade to existing equipment
Deadlines
2025
BYU Internal Deadline: July 23rd (one-page summary)
NSF Submission Window: October 15 - November 14 (full proposal)
2026 (anticipated)
BYU Internal Deadline: July 23rd (one-page summary)
NSF Proposal Deadline: October 15 - November 14 (full proposal)
If your proposal is selected to move forward with submission, you will be required to have the final proposal complete and ready for internal approvals within Kuali Research 10 business days before the institutional deadline.