Funding Opportunities

National Science Foundation Major Research Instrumentation

The Major Research Instrumentation Program (MRI) catalyzes new knowledge and discoveries by increasing access to multi-user state-of-the-art scientific and engineering instrumentation for research and research training. An MRI award supports the acquisition or development of a multi-user research instrument that is, in general, too costly and/or not appropriate for support through other NSF programs. The MRI Program especially seeks broad representation of PIs in its award portfolio, including women, underrepresented minorities and persons with disabilities, and also encourages proposals with early-career PIs and proposals that benefit early-career researchers.

Note that the MRI solicitation is one with limits on the number of proposals that may be submitted by one organization. As such, please apply internally through InfoReady.

(pulled from: https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2018/nsf18513/nsf18513.htm)

Drexel University Equipment Grant

The Scholarly Materials and Equipment Research Awards provide tenured and tenure-track faculty the opportunity to apply for funds for the acquisition and/or development of equipment, software, systems, or library collections that will enhance their research portfolio as well as increase their contributions to Drexel. The awards are intended to increase access to shared scholarly materials and research equipment for faculty research and research training innovation efforts and to enhance our infrastructure at the University in support of research and research training goals. Awards are generally between $5,000 and $30,000 depending on need.

Please note the following in regards to any equipment purchased:

Per Drexel Procurement policies, purchases over $25,000 must be made with formal solicitation of bids/proposals, unless exempted by Procurement.
Any proposed contract for purchases of equipment must follow the University’s Contract Protocol Policy and be approved by OGC.
See full Procurement policies and OGC policies

(pulled from: https://drexel.infoready4.com/#competitionDetail/1805312)

NIH Shared Instrumentation Grant and High-End Instrumentation Grant

NIH Instrumentation Grants (SIG and HEI) provide a mechanism for NIH-supported investigators to obtain high end instrumentation.

Instruments that are awarded are typically too expensive to be obtained by an individual investigator with a research project grant. Every instrument awarded by an S10 grant is used on a shared basis, which makes the programs cost-efficient and beneficial to thousands of investigators in hundreds of institutions nationwide. Types of instruments supported by S10 funding include, but are not limited to X-ray diffraction systems, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectrometers, DNA and protein sequencers, biosensors, electron and confocal microscopes, cell-sorters, and biomedical imagers.

Applicants can see the NIH’s FAQ page on these grant opportunities

(pulled from: https://orip.nih.gov/construction-and-instruments/s10-instrumentation-programs)