Call for Proposals 2021: Materials Characterization Projects

A Call for Proposals of the University of Colorado’s COSINC-CHR (Characterization Facility) is now open until April 30, 2021. This program aims to encourage new and innovative projects, enabled by the instrumentation within the COSINC-CHR facility. It is also an opportunity for selected participants to obtain hands-on training and learn about the various material characterization techniques. Each selected project will receive up to $500 of equivalent instrument time and 100 hours of assisted usage fee ($3,500 equivalent, some restrictions apply), for a period of six months.  A total of 3 projects will be competitively selected and applications will be accepted from any academic disciplines and research areas.

Selection Criteria: 

• Project must be novel (such as investigation of new materials or creative applications of characterization techniques).
• Project must involve a collaboration between the PI and COSINC facility.
• A clear plan should be provided of future instrument usage in the facility after the project has ended.

Requirements for Principal Investigators (PIs): 

• A PI must be faculty/staff.
• Selected PIs must provide their active University of Colorado speed-type (or equivalent) to cover any instrument usage and related fees exceeding $500 at the beginning of the project duration.
• Selected participants are expected to give at least a talk in the COSINC-CHR monthly user meetings.

Important Dates: 

• Application submission deadline: April 30, 2021 (by noon)
• Announcement of the selected projects: May 31, 2021
• Start date of the selected projects: July 1, 2021
• End date of the selected projects: December 31, 2021

Application: 

Applications are submitted from this webpage

• PI information.
• Description of project and objectives.
• A short and descriptive budget as to how the funding will be utilized.
• A plan that demonstrates future instrument usage at the COSINC-CHR and other COSINC facilities (if any) after the project has ended.

Additionally, a project summary in a pdf format (up to 2 pages) should be uploaded here.

Award Details:

• Each selected project will receive up to $500 of equivalent instrument time over a period of six months. 
• Grant will be used only for the instrument usage fees, training fees and consumables at the COSINC-CHR facility. (Usage fees are calculated using the CU internal user-fee rates)
• Participants will receive technical and scientific assistance in characterization and related processes during the project period from the COSINC-CHR staff. This support must not involve any routine characterization tasks. Restrictions are: 10 hours per week maximum, 30 hours per month maximum, and total 100 hours.