Opportunity Information: Apply for 00 144
Apply for 00 144
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Research in Undergraduate Institutions" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.041 Engineering Grants 47.049 Mathematical and Physical Sciences 47.050 Geosciences 47.070 Computer and Information Science and Engineering 47.074 Biological Sciences 47.075 Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences 47.076 Education and Human Resources 47.078 Polar Programs.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 8, 2010 and posted on Apr 19, 2004.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Disciplinary programs accept proposals for this funding opportunity at varied intervals. See the full announcement for details.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Opportunity Summary:
The National Science Foundation (NSF) Research in Undergraduate Institutions (RUI) opportunity (NSF Publication/Funding Opportunity No. 00-144) is a grant activity designed to strengthen research at predominantly undergraduate institutions by directly supporting the scholarly work of faculty and creating meaningful research experiences in environments where undergraduate education is central. Rather than operating as a separate stand-alone program with its own review panel, RUI functions as an NSF-wide mechanism: proposals are submitted into the relevant NSF disciplinary program, reviewed using that program's normal merit review process, and, if selected, funded through that same disciplinary area. In practice, that means RUI spans the full range of NSF-supported fields and is intended to help integrate high-quality research with undergraduate training and mentorship.
RUI support can be requested in three main ways. First, the activity funds individual and collaborative research projects, allowing faculty to pursue original research while involving undergraduates in authentic research roles. Second, it supports the purchase of shared-use research instrumentation, which can be especially important for institutions that need key equipment to enable competitive research and hands-on student training across multiple projects or labs. Third, RUI includes Research Opportunity Awards (ROAs), which provide a pathway for faculty (and often their students) at undergraduate-focused institutions to participate in research with NSF-supported investigators at other institutions, helping build collaborations, expand access to specialized facilities or expertise, and strengthen long-term research capacity.
Because all NSF directorates participate, the opportunity aligns with a wide set of NSF funding activity categories under science and technology and other research and development. The listed CFDA areas cover major NSF domains, including Engineering (47.041), Mathematical and Physical Sciences (47.049), Geosciences (47.050), Computer and Information Science and Engineering (47.070), Biological Sciences (47.074), Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (47.075), Education and Human Resources (47.076), and Polar Programs (47.078). This breadth signals that RUI is not limited to a single discipline; it is meant to be used wherever a faculty member at an undergraduate institution is proposing competitive, field-appropriate research that also meaningfully engages undergraduates.
The program is categorized as a discretionary grant opportunity, and it includes a cost sharing or matching requirement. Timing is flexible: the RUI activity does not have a single fixed annual deadline and instead accepts proposals throughout the year, with actual submission windows governed by the receiving disciplinary programs, which may have their own target dates or cycles. Applicants are described as "unrestricted" in the announcement listing, although eligibility is ultimately subject to the specific clarifications in the full solicitation text and the norms of the relevant NSF program.
For practical next steps, prospective applicants typically identify the NSF program that best matches their research topic, review that program's submission guidance and any target dates, and then prepare an RUI proposal that not only makes a strong case for intellectual merit and broader impacts (as required across NSF) but also clearly explains the undergraduate institutional context and how the project will enhance research and student participation in that setting. The official reference for details is NSF Publication 00-144, and assistance is available through NSF Grants.gov support if there are access issues with the full announcement.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): NSF Research in Undergraduate Institutions (RUI) - NSF 00-144
What is the NSF Research in Undergraduate Institutions (RUI) opportunity?
The NSF Research in Undergraduate Institutions (RUI) opportunity (NSF Publication/Funding Opportunity No. 00-144) is a grant activity intended to strengthen research at predominantly undergraduate institutions. It does this by supporting faculty scholarly work and by creating meaningful research experiences for undergraduates in environments where undergraduate education is central.
Is RUI a stand-alone NSF program with its own review panel?
No. RUI is an NSF-wide mechanism rather than a separate stand-alone program. Proposals are submitted to the appropriate NSF disciplinary program and reviewed through that program's normal merit review process. If selected, the award is funded through that same disciplinary program.
Where do applicants submit an RUI proposal?
Applicants submit RUI proposals into the relevant NSF disciplinary program that best matches the research topic. The proposal is handled under that program's standard submission and review processes.
What is the main purpose of RUI within NSF's broader funding structure?
RUI is designed to integrate high-quality research with undergraduate education, training, and mentorship. It supports competitive research while emphasizing authentic undergraduate participation in the research environment of predominantly undergraduate institutions.
What types of support can be requested through RUI?
RUI support can be requested in three primary ways: (1) individual and collaborative research projects, (2) purchase of shared-use research instrumentation, and (3) Research Opportunity Awards (ROAs) that connect faculty (and often their students) with NSF-supported investigators at other institutions.
What does RUI support for individual or collaborative research projects typically involve?
It supports original faculty-led research projects and encourages involving undergraduates in authentic research roles. The intent is both to advance the research itself and to provide meaningful undergraduate research experiences.
How does RUI support shared-use research instrumentation?
RUI can support the purchase of shared-use research instrumentation, particularly when equipment is needed to enable competitive research and hands-on student training across multiple projects, labs, or research groups at an undergraduate-focused institution.
What is an RUI Research Opportunity Award (ROA)?
An ROA is a pathway for faculty at undergraduate-focused institutions (and often their students) to participate in research with NSF-supported investigators at other institutions. ROAs are intended to build collaborations, expand access to specialized facilities or expertise, and strengthen long-term research capacity.
Which NSF fields or disciplines does RUI cover?
RUI spans the full range of NSF-supported fields because all NSF directorates participate. Proposals are routed to the relevant disciplinary program, so the opportunity is not limited to a single discipline.
What CFDA areas are associated with this RUI opportunity?
The listing references major NSF domains, including Engineering (47.041), Mathematical and Physical Sciences (47.049), Geosciences (47.050), Computer and Information Science and Engineering (47.070), Biological Sciences (47.074), Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (47.075), Education and Human Resources (47.076), and Polar Programs (47.078).
Is RUI limited to certain directorates or does it involve the entire NSF?
It involves the entire NSF. Because all NSF directorates participate, RUI can be used wherever a faculty member at an undergraduate institution is proposing competitive, field-appropriate research that also meaningfully engages undergraduates.
How are RUI proposals reviewed?
RUI proposals are reviewed using the normal merit review process of the disciplinary program to which they are submitted. The expectation is that proposals address the standard NSF review criteria, including intellectual merit and broader impacts, while also explaining the undergraduate institutional context.
Does this opportunity require cost sharing or matching?
Yes. The opportunity is described as including a cost sharing or matching requirement.
What kind of grant opportunity is RUI categorized as?
It is categorized as a discretionary grant opportunity.
Is there a single fixed annual deadline for RUI proposals?
No. RUI does not have a single fixed annual deadline. Proposals can be accepted throughout the year, but actual submission windows are governed by the receiving disciplinary programs, which may have their own target dates or cycles.
How do applicants determine when to submit an RUI proposal?
Applicants typically identify the NSF disciplinary program that matches their research topic and then follow that program's submission guidance and any target dates or cycles that apply.
Who is eligible to apply for the RUI opportunity?
The announcement listing describes applicants as "unrestricted." However, eligibility is ultimately subject to the specific clarifications in the full solicitation text (NSF Publication 00-144) and the norms and requirements of the relevant NSF disciplinary program.
What should an RUI proposal emphasize besides the research itself?
In addition to making a strong case for intellectual merit and broader impacts (standard NSF requirements), an RUI proposal should clearly explain the undergraduate institutional context and describe how the project will enhance research and student participation in that setting.
What are the recommended next steps for prospective applicants?
Common next steps include: (1) identifying the NSF program that best matches the research topic, (2) reviewing that program's submission guidance and any target dates, and (3) preparing an RUI proposal that addresses NSF merit review criteria and clearly describes how the work strengthens research and undergraduate engagement at the institution.
What is the official reference for detailed requirements and instructions?
The official reference is NSF Publication 00-144.
Where can applicants get help if they cannot access the full announcement?
Assistance is available through NSF Grants.gov support if there are access issues with the full announcement.
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