This fall, we have several popular limited submission deadlines, including the National Science Foundation’s Major Research Instrumentation Program (MRI).

To be considered for these opportunities, please send a letter of intent to Beth Keithly or Alexandra Ferraris by the Letter of Intent (LOI) (internal deadline).

The LOI for any internal limited submission needs to be a one page document (it may be a bit longer or shorter, but it shouldn’t be longer than a page and a half) that answers the following questions:

• What is the project you want to propose?
• Why is it a good project and how does it fit the program you are applying to?
• Who is on your team?

Partnerships for Innovation: Building Innovation Capacity (PFI: BIC)

Internal LOI deadline: 11/1/2015
Sponsor: NSF/EMG/IIP
Abstract: National economic and societal prosperity is increasingly more dependent upon research and technology-based innovation. Thus, NSF’s role of supporting fundamental research across all fields of science and engineering has become ever more relevant to economic competitiveness and value creation. This program establishes and expands partnerships so that existing research discoveries can provide the motivation and foundation to develop technological areas with high potential for fruitful integration into service systems. These strategic partnerships, which create an academe-industry collaborative culture to build innovation capacity, are in a position to advance and adapt technologies elucidated by human factors research in the context of smart service systems so as to expand, as well as realize their market potential. Partnerships for Innovation: Building Innovation Capacity (PFI:BIC) program supports academe-industry partnerships, which are led by an interdisciplinary academic research team with at least one industry partner to build technological, human, and service system innovation capacity. These partnerships focus on the integration of technologies into a specified human-centered smart service system with the potential to achieve transformational change in an existing service system or to spur an entirely new service system.
Typical award size: Up to $1M for over 3 years
Solicitation link: Partnerships for Innovation: Building Innovation Capacity (PFI: BIC)
Number UTD may submit: Two

Theory Institute in Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics

Internal LOI deadline: 10/20/2015
Sponsor: NSF/MPS/PHYS
Abstract: The Theory Institute in Atomic, Molecular and Optical (AMO) Physics will be a center to advance theoretical AMO physics and lead in motivating and explaining new experimental work in AMO and other areas of science. The goal of this institute is to foster cutting-edge research, serve as a focus for theoretical AMO science, and to enhance the visibility of the field. It will bring together diverse groups both inside and outside of the AMO community to promote connections leading to frontier science, while fostering a vibrant environment at all levels from student to senior investigator. Funding for the institute is designed to foster major breakthroughs at the intellectual frontier of AMO physics by providing resources beyond those available to individual investigators or small groups, and by doing so in an environment in which the collective efforts of the larger group can be shown to be seminal to promoting significant progress in the science and the education of students. Although interdisciplinary aspects may be included, the bulk of the effort must fall within theoretical atomic, molecular, and optical physics within the purview of the Division of Physics.
Typical award size: $500k–$1M per year
Solicitation link: Theory Institute in Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics
Number UTD may submit: One

Science and Technology Centers: Integrative Partnerships (STC)

Internal LOI deadline: 10/1/2015
Sponsor: NSF/OD/OIA
Abstract: The Science and Technology Centers (STC): Integrative Partnerships program supports innovative, potentially transformative, complex research, and education projects that require large-scale, long-term awards. STCs conduct world-class research through partnerships among academic institutions, national laboratories, industrial organizations, and/or other public/private entities, as well as via international collaborations, as appropriate. They provide a means to undertake significant investigations at the interfaces of disciplines and/or fresh approaches within disciplines. STCs may involve any area of science and engineering that NSF supports. STC investments support the NSF vision of creating and exploiting new concepts in science and engineering and providing global leadership in research and education.
Typical award size: Unspecified
Solicitation link: Science and Technology Centers: Integrative Partnerships (STC)
Number UTD may submit: Three

Major Research Instrumentation Program (MRI): Instrument Acquisition or Development

Internal LOI deadline: 11/1/2015
Sponsor: NSF/OIA/OD
Abstract: 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. The program provides organizations with opportunities to acquire major instrumentation that supports the research and research training goals of the organization and that may be used by other researchers regionally or nationally.
Typical award size: $100k–$4M
Solicitation link: Major Research Instrumentation Program (MRI): Instrument Acquisition or Development
Number UTD may submit: Three

Please see the Office of Research Development for more information. Please send letters of intent to Beth Keithly or Alexandra Ferraris.

Also, please feel free to contact Beth or Alexandra with any questions.