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Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers (MRSECs) - FAQ

What is the MRSEC funding opportunity?

The Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers (MRSECs) opportunity is a National Science Foundation (NSF) program designed to provide long-term, stable support for campus-based centers that address major, foundational problems in materials science and engineering. It supports integrated center activities that combine research, education, workforce development, and shared infrastructure.

What is the main purpose of MRSECs?

The program aims to fund research and education efforts that are not easily accomplished by individual investigators or small teams. MRSECs are intended for work that requires coordinated, larger-scale collaboration, shared facilities, and deep interdisciplinarity to produce outcomes stronger than isolated projects could achieve.

What kinds of projects are considered a good fit for MRSEC support?

Projects that require center-scale coordination, shared instrumentation or facilities, and interdisciplinary teams spanning departments and disciplines. The emphasis is on ambitious materials research themes where combined expertise and shared infrastructure enable progress that would be difficult to achieve through smaller, independent efforts.

How does MRSEC differ from a typical single-investigator or small-team NSF award?

MRSECs are structured as integrated, campus-based centers rather than isolated research projects. They are expected to support sustained interdisciplinary research, shared facilities and instrumentation, and coordinated education and workforce development activities. The program is specifically designed for scale and synergy beyond what small teams typically can provide.

What is meant by a "campus-based center" in this opportunity?

A campus-based center is an organized, institution-level entity that brings together researchers across departments and disciplines to pursue coordinated materials research themes, supported by shared resources and infrastructure. Proposals are expected to reflect the capacity to run a center-scale effort rather than a single-lab plan.

Is interdisciplinary research required?

Yes. A central emphasis of the program is sustained, high-quality interdisciplinary research. MRSECs are expected to integrate expertise from multiple disciplines and departments to tackle major problems in materials science and engineering.

What role do education and workforce development play in MRSECs?

Education and workforce development are core expectations of the program. MRSECs are expected to pair discovery-oriented research with meaningful training and development, preparing students and early-career researchers to work effectively across traditional disciplinary boundaries.

Does the program support research infrastructure and shared facilities?

Yes. The program places strong value on building and maintaining materials research infrastructure within the United States. This includes shared instrumentation, facilities, and organizational structures that enable collaborative research and broaden access to advanced tools and methods across a campus and sometimes beyond it.

Are collaborations with industry expected?

Active collaboration across sectors is an expected feature. MRSECs are intended to connect universities with partners in industry and with other institutions. International collaborators may also be included when appropriate.

Can a MRSEC be formed by more than one institution?

Yes. The structure can be flexible. A MRSEC may be housed at a single institution or formed as a partnership among multiple institutions, as long as the center model and proposed work benefit from the scale and synergy of a coordinated center.

What type of funding mechanism does NSF use for this opportunity?

This opportunity is a discretionary NSF funding opportunity offered through a cooperative agreement. A cooperative agreement generally indicates substantial NSF involvement during the award period compared with a standard grant.

What is the CFDA number and NSF category for this program?

The opportunity is listed under CFDA 47.049 (Mathematical and Physical Sciences) and falls under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category.

How many awards did NSF anticipate making, and what was the total estimated funding level?

NSF anticipated making about 10 awards with an estimated total funding level of $25,000,000 for this competition cycle.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No cost sharing or matching requirement is stated for applicants in the provided opportunity description.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to U.S. academic institutions with broad programs in materials research and education. This includes accredited two-year and four-year colleges and universities (including community colleges) with a campus located in the United States, applying on behalf of their faculty.

Does the eligibility language imply an institution-level commitment?

Yes. The framing indicates proposals should reflect an institution-level commitment and the capacity to run a center-scale effort, rather than focusing on a single laboratory or individual investigator plan.

What were the key dates for this announcement cycle?

The required preliminary proposal was due by 5 p.m. local time on August 26, 2013. The full proposal deadline was January 10, 2014.

When was the opportunity posted, created, and archived?

The opportunity was posted on April 18, 2013, with creation dated April 30, 2013, and it was archived on February 10, 2014.

What is the funding opportunity number and the referenced NSF publication?

The funding opportunity number is 13-556, and the full announcement is referenced as NSF Publication 13-556.

Who should be contacted for Grants.gov access issues related to the announcement?

For access issues related to the announcement on Grants.gov, the listed support contact is grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.

What broader impact does NSF expect MRSECs to have beyond individual research results?

In addition to advancing specific scientific goals, MRSECs are intended to strengthen a broader national ecosystem by contributing to a network of university-based centers focused on materials research, education, and shared facilities, while also reinforcing U.S.-based materials research infrastructure.