Overview of the National ScienceFoundation (NSF) and the MajorResearch Instrumentation (MRI) Program
Office of Integrative ActivitiesOffice of Integrative Activities
National Science FoundationNational Science Foundation
Dr. Joan M. FryeProgram Directorjfrye@nsf.gov703-292-4953http://www.nsf.gov/od/oia/programs/mri/
National Science FoundationNational Science Foundation
Is an Independent Agency of the FederalGovernment.
Was established in 1950 to promote andadvance scientific progress in the UnitedStates by sponsoring scientific researchand by supporting selected activities inscience and engineering.
Does not conduct research itself.
NSF-1
Enabling the nation’s future through discovery, learningand innovation.
NSF-3
NSF’s VisionNSF’s Vision
Social,Behavioral, andEconomicSciences
National Science FoundationNational Science Foundation
Inspector General
National Science
Board
Director
Deputy Director
Staff Offices
Computer &Computer &
Info. ScienceInfo. Science
& Engineering& Engineering
EngineeringEngineering
Geosciences
MathematicalMathematical
& Physical& Physical
Sciences Sciences
Education &
Human
Resources
Budget,
Finance &
Award
Management
InformationResource
Management
Biological
Sciences
What to Look for in a Program AnnouncementWhat to Look for in a Program Announcement
Goal of program
Eligibility
Special requirements
Research &
Education
Communities
Proposal PreparationTime
Organization
submits
via:
FastLane
NSF
Program
Officer
Program
Officer
Analysis
&
.Recom.
Division
Director
Concur
Via
DGA
Organization
Minimum
of 3
Reviews
Required
DGA Review & Processing
of Award
Proposal Receipt to DivisionDirector Concurrence of ProgramOfficer Recommendation
NSF
Proposal
Generating
Document
Returned As Inappropriate/Withdrawn
Mail
Panel
Both
Award
NSF Proposal & Award Process &Timeline
Decline
90 Days
6 Months
30Days
Proposal Receipt
at NSF
DD Concur
Award
Proposal
Processing
Unit
NSFNSF
Getting Support in Proposal WritingGetting Support in Proposal Writing
•NSF Publications
•Program Announcements
•Grant Proposal Guide
•Web Pages
•Funded Project Abstracts
•Reports, Special Publications
•Program Officers
•Incumbent
•Former “Rotators”
•Mentors on Campus
•Previous Panelists
•Serve As Reviewer
•Sponsored Research Office
•Successful Proposals
MRI: PurposeMRI: Purpose
The MRI program is designed to increase access toscientific and engineering equipment for research andresearch training in U.S. academic institutions.
The MRI program seeks to improve the quality andexpand the scope of research and research training inscience and engineering, and to foster the integration ofresearch and education by providing instrumentationfor research-intensive learning environments.
The MRI program encourages the development andacquisition of research instrumentation for shared useacross academic departments, among researchinstitutions, and in concert with private sector partners.
MRI: Eligible InstitutionsMRI: Eligible Institutions
Ph.D. granting institutions
•academic institutions that have produced more than 20Ph.D.s or D. Sci.’s in all NSF supported disciplinesduring the previous two academic years
Non-Ph.D. granting institutions
•two and four year colleges and universities that haveproduced fewer than 20 Ph.D.s or D.Sci.’s in all NSFsupported disciplines during the previous two academicyears
Non-degree granting institutions
•independent non-profit research institutions, researchmuseums, and legally incorporated consortia of eligibleinstitutions
MRI: FY 2005 OverviewMRI: FY 2005 Overview
Instrumentation Acquisition or Development
Two proposals for acquisition or development; a thirdfor development. An institution may be part of aconsortium
Award size--$100,000 to $2 Million
•(exceptions for non-Ph.D. granting institutions and formathematical and social, behavioral and economic sciences)
Cost sharing--None required
Deadline for proposal submission: January 27, 2005
MRI: Evaluation Criteria
NSB Approved Merit Review Criteria:
•Intellectual merit of the proposed activity
•Broader impacts of the proposed activity
lincluding integration of research and education and integratingdiversity into the proposed activities
Additional Considerations:
•Plans for using the new or enhanced research capability in teaching,training or learning.
•For instrument acquisition proposals, management plan. Specifically,reviewers will evaluate whether the plan: 1) includes sufficientinfrastructure and technical expertise to allow effective usage of theinstrument; and 2) provides institutional commitments for operationsand maintenance.
•For instrument development proposals, management plan. Specifically,reviewers will evaluate whether the plan has a realistic schedule andmechanisms to deal with potential risks. In addition, the reviewers willevaluate the availability of appropriate technical expertise to design andconstruct the instrument and the cost of the new technology.
•For instrument development, rationale for development of a newinstrument.
MRI: Other Review Considerations
Integration of Research and Education
•A principle strategy in support of NSF’s goals
Integrating Diversity into NSF Programs,Projects, and Activities
•NSF is committed to the principle of diversity
PIs are expected to address these issues in theirproposal so that reviewers can fully respond toboth NSF merit review criteria.
FY 2005* SnapshotFY 2005* Snapshot
Number of Proposals Submitted: 786
Dollars Requested: $473,579,186
Number of Awards: 255
Dollars Awarded: $93,690,810
Success Rate: 34*%
Average Award: $367,415
Number of States that Participated: 52^
Number of Institutions that Participated: 437
Number of Institutions Awarded: 209
^all states plus Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia; *35 proposals still pending.
*incomplete: 9/28/2004
Puerto Rico
3
6
1
8
9
6
60
34
8
14
5
8
15
5
4
6
9
16
8
8
4
14
29
13
15
11
9
28
10
22
7
22
31
31
25
65
11
47
4
8
17
4
5
72
10
5
10
2
Hawaii
4
9
6
2
District of Columbia - 6
FY 2005 Proposals by StateFY 2005 Proposals by State
*incomplete: 9/28/2004
FY 2005 Map of Awards
*Data is as of September 20, 2005, when 35 proposals were still pending
FY 2005* Awards by DirectorateFY 2005* Awards by Directorate
*incomplete: 9/28/2004
MRI Proposal and Award Information byFiscal Year (FY 1998-2004)MRI Proposal and Award Information byFiscal Year (FY 1998-2004)
*incomplete: 9/28/2004
MRI: Non Ph.D. Granting InstitutionsMRI: Non Ph.D. Granting Institutions
FY 2005*
Number of ProposalsSubmitted: 282
Dollars Requested:$97,930,185
Number of Awards: 109*
Dollars Awarded:$26,116,4728*
Success Rate: 41%*
Average Award: $239,601*
Number of StatesRepresented: 45^
Number of InstitutionsRepresented: 202
FY 2004
Number of ProposalsSubmitted: 311
Dollars Requested:$160,417,484
Number of Awards: 128
Dollars Awarded:$45,432,193
Success Rate: 42%
Average Award: $354,939
Number of StatesRepresented: 44^
Number of InstitutionsRepresented: 253
^includes Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia; *35 proposals still pending
*incomplete: 9/28/2004
MRI: Minority Serving InstitutionsMRI: Minority Serving Institutions
FY 2005*
Number of ProposalsSubmitted: 80
Dollars Requested:$41,298,845
Number of Awards: 26*
Dollars Awarded:$9,241,854*
Success Rate: 35%
Average Award: $355,456*
Number of StatesRepresented: 21^
Number of InstitutionsRepresented: 52
FY 2004
Number of ProposalsSubmitted: 56
Dollars Requested:$30,771,608
Number of Awards: 24
Dollars Awarded:$8,063,111
Success Rate: 43%
Average Award: $335,963
Number of StatesRepresented: 16^
Number of InstitutionsRepresented: 54
^ includes Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia; 35 proposals pending
*incomplete: 9/28/2004