Major Research Instrumentation Program: (MRI)

Ideas: Characterization, synchrotron and neutron facilities Open topic (bring your own idea)

Funder: U.S. National Science Foundation
Deadline: 29 Jan 2027
Add to calendar: Add this deadline to my calendar (.ics) · Subscribe to every deadline on the site
Downloads an all-day reminder on the listed date (not a confirmed cutoff time). Check the funder’s time zone, exact deadline and any institutional sign-off.
Amount: Award: Up to $4,000,000
Checked: 12 Nov 2026 against the Grants.gov listing (listing facts confirmed; not every eligibility interpretation re-derived)
Region / eligibility: United States
Career stage: early-career, established / PI
Fields: chemistry
Reference: 27-500
Official call: Grants.gov listing · Program page

Application timeline

Dates only, as published in this listing. Confirm the funder's cutoff time and time zone. Today is marked for orientation; it is not a deadline.

Opened06 Nov 2026
Deadline29 Jan 2027
Today12 Nov 2026

View as a table

Stage	Date
Opened	06 Nov 2026
Deadline	29 Jan 2027
Today (not a deadline)	12 Nov 2026

Eligibility in plain language

US-accredited universities/colleges and US non-profit research organisations apply on behalf of their researchers.

At a glance

Who submits: You (the researcher) apply, usually with a host or employer that supports the application.
Your role: Personal / PI-led application where the funder allows individual researchers to apply (usually with a host).
Funding figure: Stated as per-award / award-size wording: Award: Up to $4,000,000.
Next required milestone: 29 Jan 2027 (application deadline)
Unresolved conditions: None flagged from structured rules; still confirm on the funder page.

Listing facts checked: 12 Nov 2026. Eligibility interpretation date: not separately recorded (do not treat the listing check as a full rules re-audit).

Report a problem with this call

Who should apply

Synthetic, physical and analytical chemists — best fit for postdocs and early-career researchers or PIs and research groups.

Summary from source

The Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program ( MRI Website ) increases access to multi-user scientific and engineering instrumentation for research and training in the operation of the proposed equipment. An MRI award supports the acquisition of a multi-user research instrument through direct purchase from a vendor, or for the personnel and components required to develop an instrument with new capabilities that opens new opportunities to advance the frontiers in science and engineering research. MRI instruments are generally too costly and/or not appropriate for support through other NSF programs. MRI encourages proposals from early-career researchers, from all geographic regions, including EPSCoR jurisdictions , and from emerging research institutions, where MRI can significantly build capacity for research. Full text on the official call

Raw eligibility text

*Who May Submit Proposals: Proposals may only be submitted by the following: -Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs): Two- and four-year IHEs (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members. Special Instructions for International Branch Campuses of US IHEs: If the proposal includes funding to be provided to an international branch campus of a US institution of higher education (including through use of sub-awards and consultant arrangements), the proposer must explain the benefit(s) to the project of performance at the international branch campus, and justify why the project activities cannot be performed at the US campus.Non-profit, non-academic organizations: Independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies and similar organizations located in the U.S. that are directly associated with educational or research activities.Tribal Nations: An American Indian or Alaska Native tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, or community that the Secretary of the Interior acknowledges as a federally recognized tribe pursuant to the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994, 25 U.S.C. §§ 5130-5131.