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NSF Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers (MRSEC)
WHAT: Limited submission proposal for the NSF Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers (MRSEC) Program.
WHO: Texas A&M University faculty, including TAES, TEES and TTI personnel.
WHY: Applicants may request budgets between $1.0 million dollars per year to a maximum of $5.0 million dollars per year. Awards will be made for an initial duration of up to six years.
WHEN: Internal proposal deadline of June 11, 2007.
HOW: Faculty should submit internal proposal via email for review by the internal selection committee.
THE FINE PRINT:The funding agency below has limited the number of proposals to two preliminary proposals per institution. If the number of faculty wishing to submit a proposal exceeds the number allowed by the agency, we will conduct an internal selection process. Below are due dates for the program, including the due date for the internal pre-proposal for review by the internal selection committee, the date for announcement of the internal selection, and the due date for submission to the agency.
AGENCY: The National Science Foundation (NSF)
AGENCY PROGRAM TITLE: NSF 07-563 Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers (MRSEC)
BRIEF PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: The Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers (MRSEC) Program is designed to support interdisciplinary materials research and education while addressing fundamental questions in science and engineering. The centers foster active collaboration between universities and other sectors, including industry, and may be located at a single institution or may involve two or more institutions in partnership.
A MRSEC may include one or more interdisciplinary research groups (IRG). Each IRG should involve several faculty members and associated researchers. Smaller MRSECs normally consist of a single IRG addressing a particular topic in materials research. Larger MRSECs may involve several IRGs and undertake a broader program of research and education.
MRSECs should undertake most or all of the following activities: have programs to stimulate interdisciplinary education and the development of human resources; actively cooperate with industry and other sectors such as national laboratories; share properly staffed, equipped and maintained experimental and computational facilities; and establish research collaborations and education activities at the international level.
NSF encourages MRSECs to include support for junior faculty, high-risk projects and emerging areas of interdisciplinary materials research. In addition, the MRSEC program enables specialized areas of interdisciplinary excellence to be integrated into a national network of centers. More information can be found here.
AGENCIES ELIGIBLE TO SUBMIT: The MRSEC Program is open to universities in the US with broad research and education programs in the areas of condensed matter physics, solid state and materials chemistry, materials science and engineering, and related areas of science and engineering.
AWARD INFORMATION: Individual MRSEC awards are expected to range in size from about $1.0 million per year to a maximum of $5.0 million per year. The average award of currently funded MRSECs is about $1.9 million per year. Awards are made for an initial duration of six years, but the level of funding for the last two years will be contingent upon the outcome of a thorough external review.
ELIGIBLE PROJECTS COSTS: Indirect Cost (F&A) Limitations: Not applicable.
COST SHARING: NONE.
Internal Selection Procedures and Deadlines
June 8, 2007: Deadline for an email of intent, including the names of the PI and co-PIs, title of internal proposal and a 1-3 sentence description of the project. Send email of intent.
June 11, 2007: Deadline to obtain signatures of approval from your department head and college dean and to submit an internal proposal to the Office of Sponsored Projects for review by the internal selection committee:
- An executive summary, up to three pages, based on the proposal description as outlined in the NSF Program Announcement;
- Summary budget;
- Project and Management Plans (including team members).
The form for completing the internal proposal is here.
This completed form should be submitted electronically for review by the internal selection committee.
Please read the RFP carefully for specific requirements of the program here.
Selection of pre-proposals will be based on NSF guidelines. Meeting the needs of the university’s reinvestment plan will also be taken into account.
During the selection process, the internal selection committee may contact
departments and colleges for their opinions and commitments. They may also
request additional information from PI’s.
June 22, 2007: The Internal Selection Committee will notify PIs of the result of the internal competition.
September 5, 2007: Deadline for Preliminary Proposal Deadline (due by 5 p.m. proposer's local time).