Department of Defense Multi Disciplinary Research Program of the University Research Initiative | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the DoD MURI program?

The Department of Defense Multidisciplinary Research Program of the University Research Initiative (MURI) is a competitive grant program that funds basic science and engineering research at U.S. universities when the work has clear long-term relevance to national security.

What kind of research does MURI fund?

MURI supports high-payoff, foundational basic research that expands fundamental understanding across physical, engineering, environmental, and life science phenomena. The program does not require a near-term product or system as the end goal.

Does MURI require a prototype, product, or deployable system?

No. The opportunity is framed as farsighted basic research. The emphasis is on fundamental understanding rather than delivering a near-term product or system.

Why does DoD invest in this kind of basic research?

DoD describes MURI as “seed corn” for future defense capabilities and a way to stay aware of emerging scientific knowledge early in its development, before it matures into applied technologies.

Is MURI intended for single-investigator projects?

No. A defining feature of MURI is that it is built for multidisciplinary teams rather than single-investigator projects.

What does “multidisciplinary” mean for this solicitation?

Proposals are expected to cross more than one traditional discipline and integrate expertise in a way a single lab or department often cannot (for example, materials science with photonics, autonomy with control theory, or biology with analytical chemistry).

Can a team include multiple universities?

Yes. Teams can be assembled across departments within one university or across multiple universities.

Do we need a single lead institution?

Yes. Each proposal must designate one institution as the primary awardee responsible for execution.

Do we need a single Principal Investigator (PI)?

Yes. Each proposal must designate one Principal Investigator (PI) as the responsible technical lead.

Where must the PI be based?

The PI must be based at the primary institution (the institution serving as the primary awardee).

How should partner roles and funding splits be handled?

Any partner roles, subawards, and how funds are divided must be clearly described in both the narrative and the budget materials.

How is this FY 2010 MURI solicitation organized?

This FY 2010 competition is organized around 30 specific research topics, and submissions are routed to different DoD basic research offices depending on topic area.

Are applicants required to follow a specific method described in the topic write-ups?

No. The topic descriptions are intended to guide proposers but are not meant to lock teams into a single method. DoD encourages innovative approaches as long as they directly address the topic goals and fit the basic-research character of the program.

What is the typical submission process?

Applicants generally submit white papers and then full proposals, following the instructions in the Broad Agency Announcement and any topic-specific guidance.

Which DoD office receives Topics 1 through 10?

Topics (1) through (10) are submitted to the Office of Naval Research (ONR).

What kinds of research areas are included in ONR Topics 1-10?

ONR topics emphasize areas such as advanced electromagnetic and sensing science, autonomy, and environmental understanding. Example topics listed include optical metamaterials; adaptive cognitive maps for autonomous systems; nonlinear media for frequency conversion of electromagnetic and pressure waves; microbial communities and surface interactions relevant to biofuels; electro-active polymers for dielectric energy storage; reasoning for image understanding under uncertainty; high- and low-k dielectrics for III-V electronic devices; provably safe perception-based control for autonomous unmanned aircraft operations in complex terrain; dynamical systems theory applied to four-dimensional geophysical fluid dynamics; and hyperspectral, radar, and EO/IR signatures in littoral (coastal) environments.

Which DoD office receives Topics 11 through 20?

Topics (11) through (20) are submitted to the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR).

What kinds of research areas are included in AFOSR Topics 11-20?

AFOSR topics cover a mix of chemistry, optics, materials, human-machine interaction, and information science. Example topics listed include novel catalytic mechanisms to reduce carbon dioxide into energy-dense liquids; third-order nonlinear optical organic materials; high-temperature gas-surface interaction fundamentals; ultrashort laser pulse propagation through transparent media; superconducting semiconductors; human-machine adversarial networks; bioengineered adherent microstructures that can be interrogated spectroscopically; control of information collection and fusion; stable metrics for global inference in social networks aimed at predicting collective behavior; and solid-state cooling.

Which DoD office receives Topics 21 through 30?

Topics (21) through (30) are submitted to the Army Research Office (ARO).

What kinds of research areas are included in ARO Topics 21-30?

ARO topics lean into biological effects, language and social network modeling, autonomy in harsh settings, and next-generation materials and device concepts. Example topics listed include neuronal behavior in primary blast; mathematical signatures of prokaryotic activity in DNA and theory for predicting DNA stability; tomography of social networks of asymmetric adversaries; adaptive perception and agile autonomy in severe environments; structured modeling for low-density languages; directed self-assembly of reconfigurable materials; atomtronics (generalized electronics concepts using atoms); bioelectronic templates for nanoscale interfacing; ion transport in complex heterogeneous organic materials; and defect reduction in superlattice materials.

Is this opportunity a grant or a contract?

This opportunity is a discretionary grant (not a contract).

What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?

The CFDA is 12.300 (Basic and Applied Scientific Research).

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants are U.S. public/state-controlled and private institutions of higher education.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The announcement indicates there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.

What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number is ONRBAA10-002.

Which agency is listed as the issuing agency?

The issuing agency listed is the Office of Naval Research (ONR), even though the program spans ONR, AFOSR, and ARO for submission routing by topic.

When was this opportunity posted?

The posting date is October 9, 2009.

What is the application deadline?

The original and current closing date is March 2, 2010.

When is the archive date?

The archive date is April 1, 2010.

Who should be contacted for Grants.gov access issues?

For practical access issues with the full announcement on Grants.gov, the contact provided is Matt Ferebee, Contract Specialist, at 703-696-1474.

Is the contact listed intended for scientific questions about topics?

The provided contact is specifically listed for Grants.gov access problems with the full announcement.