Workshop

1. Workshop • NSF Major Research Instrumentation grants program • NSF approach to research in undergraduate institutions • Supporting students on grants • Introduction to budget preparation Harold M. Hastings Nov. 17, 2005

2. Major Research Instrumentation Program

3. The basics Full Proposal Deadline Date(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitter's local time): January 26, 2006 Budget: $ 100K + (Hofstra funded proposals $ 250K +) Web site: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2005/nsf05515/nsf05515.htm

4. Introduction • designed to increase access to scientific and engineering equipment for research and research training in our Nation's organizations of higher education, • seeks to improve the quality and expand the scope of research and research training in science and engineering, and to foster the integration of research and education by providing instrumentation for research-intensive learning environments • encourages the development and acquisition of research instrumentation for shared inter- and/or intra-organizational use and in concert with private sector partners

5. MRI Program Goals(emphasis added) • Support the acquisition of major state-of-the-art instrumentation for research, research training, and integrated research/education activities at organizations; • Improve access to and increase use of modern research and research training instrumentation by scientists, engineers, and graduate and undergraduate students; • Enable academic departments or cross-departmental units to create well-equipped learning environments that integrate research with education; • Foster the development of the next generation of instrumentation for research and research training; • Promote partnerships between academic researchers and private sector instrument developers.

6. Evaluation criteria The NSF evaluates all proposals on the basis of • Scientific merit, and • Broader impacts (benefits for education, society, etc., student training, involvement of under-represented groups) • The project summary must address broader imapcts • I usually allocate 1/5 of the proposal to a discussion of broader impacts

7. Scientific merit Scientific merit is demonstrated by a combination of • Progress to date – what have you done with NSF grants and other • Your proposal – justify expected outcomes and significance • Your CV

8. Research in Undergraduate Institutions Web site: General: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5518&from=fund (I searched www.nsf.gov for RUI) Program announcement http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf00144

9. Synopsis (from NSF site) • RUI activity supports research by faculty members of predominantly undergraduate institutions through the funding of (1) individual and collaborative research projects, (2) the purchase of shared-use research instrumentation, and (3) Research Opportunity Awards for work with NSF-supported investigators at other institutions. • RUI proposals are evaluated and funded by the NSF programs in the disciplinary areas of the proposed research. • A Research Opportunity Award is usually funded as a supplement to the NSF grant of the host researcher, and the application is submitted by the host institution.

10. What this means • Proposals evaluated on research and contribution to undergraduate education. • 5 page (maximum) description of RUI activities • Be specific • The University • The Department, facilities, etc. • Past accomplishments • Expected impact

11. Sample budget (research proposal)

12. Time line • Planning – ideally 6 months before deadline • Review guidelines, talk with us • Contact program officer – after you have a 1-2 page outline, as early as possible • be prepared to respond to previous reviews if a resubmission • First draft – ideally 3 weeks before deadline • Review and rewriting has proven useful • Budget draft – ideally 3 weeks before deadline