Limited Submission Funding Announcement

Internal Applications due June 11, 2025

Before applying to the MRI LSO competition, please review the MRI Program Page, as well as the Program Solicitation. 

The WSU LSO competition for the MRI program has a two-step process: 

1. Pre-submission meeting with DORI Research Development staff 

 A brief meeting with DORI Research Development staff is required before submitting a proposal to the limited submission MRI competition. The purpose of this meeting is to answer any questions, discuss the potential submission, identify pitfalls, and strategize how the proposal may best address the requirements for a full proposal to NSF. No down-selection of project teams will occur at this stage. 

REQUEST A MEETING @ https://airtable.com/app94ikpkUtl0CKXk/pagrFKsNTGFxl9ztT/form (Please note you may need to copy and paste link into your website browser.)

2. WSU Limited submission opportunity competition proposal deadline: Due June 11, 2025, 5 pm 

The LSO proposal should be no more than 2 to 3 pages, including figures. A preliminary budget and letters of support are also required. Please see full details and requirements in the competition in InfoReady [https://wayne.infoready4.com/#manageCompetitionsDetail/1972245].  

The limited submission proposals will be reviewed by an internal committee. 

APPLY HERE 

Full proposal preparation: The research teams selected to move forward to preparing a full MRI proposal will be notified by Friday, August 22, 2025.  

DORI will share details for preparing full proposals with teams selected to move forward. 

Sponsor application deadline: November 14, 2025 

DORI requires the full proposal to be submitted to SPA by November 7, 2025, 5 pm. 

If you have questions about limited submissions, please contact rifs@wayne.edu. 

MRI Program Description 

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program (MRI Program Website) serves to increase access to multi-user scientific and engineering instrumentation for research and research training in our Nation's institutions of higher education and not-for-profit scientific/engineering research organizations. 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, thereby advancing instrumentation capabilities and enhancing 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.

MRI provides support to acquire critical research instrumentation, without which advances in fundamental science and engineering research may not otherwise occur. MRI also provides support to obtain next-generation research instruments by developing instruments with new capabilities that open new opportunities to advance the frontiers in science and engineering research. Additionally, an MRI award is expected to enhance research training of students who will become the next generation of instrument users, designers and builders.

An MRI proposal may request from NSF up to $4 million for either acquisition or development of a research instrument. Each performing organization may submit in revised "Tracks" as defined below, with no more than two (2) submissions in Track 1 and no more than one (1) submission in Track 2. For the newly defined Track 3, no more than one (1) submission per competition is permitted.  As a result, it is now possible for an institution to submit up to four MRI proposals within the Track limits as described above. 

• Track 1: Track 1 MRI proposals are those that request funds from NSF greater than $100,000 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: Track 3 MRI proposals are those that request funds from NSF greater than or equal to $100,000 and less than or equal to $4,000,000 that include the purchase, installation, operation, and maintenance of equipment and instrumentation to conserve or reduce the consumption of helium. Institutions may submit no more than one Track 3 proposal. Submission of a Track 3 proposal does not impact limits that apply for Track 1 and Track 2 proposals.