Dear Colleagues,
UC Research Initiatives in the UC Office of the President is pleased to announce a research funding opportunity for UC multicampus collaborations.
Multicampus Research Programs and Initiatives (MRPIs) are multicampus or systemwide research collaborations that go beyond individual Principal Investigator (PI)-driven projects to: benefit the UC research enterprise; strengthen UC's position as a leading public research university; launch pioneering research in thematic, multidisciplinary, or inter-disciplinary areas; enhance education and training; inform policy; and benefit California and its people.
The MRPI opportunity is open to UC faculty and researchers in any field of research and scholarship. Proposals require collaboration among at least three UC campuses, and may include collaboration with one or more UC-affiliated national labs, the UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, and Hastings School of Law.
The 2023 Request for Proposals includes opportunities for both Planning/Pilot Awards and Program Awards: 1) Planning/Pilot awards (1-2 years) and 2) Program awards (2-4 years). Planning/Pilot awards are open only to new multicampus or systemwide collaborations. Program Awards are open to both new and established collaborations as well as prior recipients of MRPI Planning/Pilot awards. Applicants may apply for only one of the two award types, and key personnel may participate in only one proposal.
They anticipate approximately $16 million in total funding available across all awards. All proposals must conform to the requirements of this Request for Proposals, dated March 16, 2022, and be submitted through the SmartSimple online system.
Please review the Request for Proposals for information on eligibility, LOI and application requirements, and review and selection criteria. It also includes appendices on Instructions for Submission of Letters of Intent, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), and an LOI Submission Checklist. Additional information on theMRPI program is available on their website.
Key Dates
Applicant Webinar: They encourage applicants to attend one of the following webinars:
Wednesday, April 6, 2022, 1-2PM PDT, Register here.
Monday, April 11, 9-10AM PDT, Register here.
Required Letters of Intent (LOI) Due: Thursday, May12, 2022 at 12:00 Noon PDT
Notification of LOI Decision: Monday, June 6, 2022 (expected)
Invited Full Proposals Due: Thursday, August 4, 2022 at 12:00 Noon PDT
For questions on program scope and priorities, please contact them at: UCRI@ucop.edu. Administrative questions regarding the application procedures on SmartSimple may be directed to: RGPOGrants@ucop.edu.
Thank you.
Kathleen Nolan, Director, ANR Office of Contracts & Grants (OCG)