CCNY Guidelines for White Paper Submission
NSF 10-529
Major Research Instrumentation Program (MRI)
Program Synopsis
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, museums and science centers, and non-profit organizations. This
program especially seeks to improve the quality and expand the scope of research and research
training in science and engineering, by providing shared instrumentation that fosters the
integration of research and education in research-intensive learning environments. Development
and acquisition of research instrumentation for shared inter- and/or intra-organization use is
encouraged, as are development efforts that leverage the strengths of private sector partners as
appropriate for the goals of the MRI Program.
NSF 10-529 summary - http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5260
NSF 10-529 solicitation – http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2010/nsf10529/nsf10529.htm
NSF MRI program page – http://www.nsf.gov/od/oia/programs/mri/
Eligibility Information
An organization may submit - or be included as a funded subawardee/subcontractor - in no more
than three (3) MRI proposals. If three proposals are submitted, at least one (1) must be for
instrument development; no more than two (2) may be for instrument acquisition.
Deadlines
Notice of Intent:
White Paper:
Committee Decision:
NSF MRI Deadline:
February 5, 2010
February 18, 2010
March 5, 2010 (anticipated)
April 21, 2010
Notice of Intent (due February 5)
The newly required Notice of Intent to submit a white paper should include the following:
-
Project title;
PI, Co-PIs, and other collaborators, including affiliations
Proposal type (acquisition or development)
Brief description of the project
Please email Notice of Intent to the Dean of your School or Division (barba@ccny.cuny.edu,
dlemons@ccny.cuny.edu, or friedman@med.cuny.edu), with a cc to Laura Bartovics, Grant
Writer for Science & Engineering (lbartovics@ccny.cuny.edu).
White Paper (due February 18)
The committee members who will review your White Paper are scientists and engineers, but may
not have a background in the specific field related to your grant application. It is likely that
many of the Agency’s review panel members will also have general, not in-depth, knowledge of
your specific research area. Therefore, we strongly suggest that you take this into consideration
and present the technical aspects of your White Paper as clearly as possible.
White Papers must be written in size 11 font or larger, with the project description limited to
four (4) pages (budgets are not included in the page limit). The following sections must be
included in the white paper:
Title: concise and descriptive
Principal Investigator(s): at CCNY, CUNY as well as co-PIs from other institutions
Affiliation of PI(s): university, department, research center, etc.
Agency and Program: NSF 10-529 Major Research Instrumentation Program (MRI)
Acquisition or Development: white papers must be for either acquisition or development
Project Description: must not exceed four (4) pages
1. Purpose of the project – state your goals using language understandable to an audience
that is scientifically or technically literate, but not familiar with your specific field
2. Scope of the proposed work - address the NSF solicitation requirements specifically:
a) Research Activities to be Enabled;
b) Description of Research Instrumentation and Needs;
c) Impact on Research and Training Infrastructure;
d) Management Plan
3. Participants - particularly other CCNY and CUNY participants, including students
4. Prior experience - be specific about what makes the PI(s) well-suited for this program,
including past research, teaching and mentoring/advising of students. For HBCU/MI
targeted RFPs, experience with students is a required element of the White Paper.
Budget: be specific about all funds requested, especially those for infrastructure improvement,
student support and/or community outreach
Appendices: (optional) PIs are encouraged to submit relevant supporting documentation, such as
agency reviews of past proposals or letters of commitment from collaborators. Please include
only relevant information and limit appendices to 10 pages.
White Paper Submission
Please email White Papers to the Dean of your School or Division (barba@ccny.cuny.edu,
dlemons@ccny.cuny.edu, or friedman@med.cuny.edu), with a cc to Laura Bartovics, Grant
Writer for Science & Engineering (lbartovics@ccny.cuny.edu).