CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
BECKMAN INSTITUTE
CALLS FOR PROPOSALS
Please note:
These programs are exclusively
for support of research
at Caltech, not for the public
at large.
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Call for proposals: Beckman Institute Resource Centers
The Beckman Institute considers establishment of new Resource Centers on a biennial basis. The next due date for proposals will be January 31, 2009.
The mission of a Resource Center is to develop and provide access to cutting edge technology in Biological Sciences and Chemistry. Resource Center programs often include major components of engineering, computation and applied physics. The focus of a Beckman Resource Center is to be an area of technology, research methodology and/or instrumentation that is of major potential benefit to the Caltech research community and which contributes directly to the overall mission of the Beckman Institute (see cover letter). Resource Centers are major programs housed partly in the Beckman Institute building. They typically consist of equipment, scientists and technicians supported in part by Beckman Institute endowment income. A resource center can be initiated and led by one or more Caltech professors. The following general guidelines apply:
a. The focus of each Resource Center should be relevant to a significant cross-section of research interests at Caltech. Establishment, operation and maintenance of a user-friendly facility available to the research community will comprise an important part of the activities of each Center.
b. Resource Centers will be involved in advancing the state of the art in their area with emphasis on cutting edge, high impact development. Such activities may include fundamental research and/or development of new instrumentation or instrumental applications.
c. Resource Centers are established in areas that are expected to be critical for ~5-10 years. However, Centers are reviewed periodically and a Center may be expanded, reduced in scope, or eliminated as a result.
d. Available funds, space, and scientific opportunity determine the number and size of Beckman Resource Centers. Centers generally increase the scope of their activities by seeking outside funding to supplement support from the Beckman Institute.
As a frame of reference, current centers range in size from ~1500 to 6000 square feet, and annual support from the BI between ~$50K and $300K. Proposals should be concise (20 pages maximum), provide a scientific plan, and outline how it will function as a Beckman Resource Center. If appropriate, anticipated synergy with other BI centers should be described. Explicit description of space and budget needs for a five-year period should be given. This might include a ramp-up plan over several years, if appropriate. The funding plan should include requested BI funding and expectations from other sources. Resource Centers may be partially housed in space outside the Beckman Institute building if appropriate and available, and any plan involving external space should be made explicit in the proposal.
Potential applicants are invited to consult with Beckman Institute Director, Prof. Barbara Wold; Beckman Institute Administrator, Dr. Jay Labinger, and/or members of the Beckman Institute Executive Committee with any questions before preparing and submitting a proposal.
Call for proposals: Beckman Institute Pilot Program
The Beckman Institute announces a new pilot program designed to foster the establishment of future Resource Centers that are presently in earlier stages of development. The purpose of this new program is to increase the BI's flexibility and responsiveness to new directions and innovations from the Caltech community. Most BI activities are organized around the Resource Center model outlined above. Projects that appear to be promising candidates as future Resource Centers, but are still at an early stage of development, may apply for support during an exploratory period, after which they may enter the competition for support as a regular Resource Center.
Pilot Program Proposal Guidelines
1. Proposals should be concise (10 pages maximum), and should clearly indicate the potential of the proposed project as a future Resource Center, plan for the exploratory period, rational for BI funding, and and how BI funding is leveraged by other sources if that is the case.
2. Deadlines for submission of proposals will be normally be at the beginning of each year. The next deadline is January 31, 2009 .
3. Requests will be considered for funding up to $200K per year for a period of 1-3 years. No space in the BI building can be provided.
4. Potential applicants are invited to consult with one or more member(s) of the BI Executive Committee; BI Director, Prof. Barbara Wold; and/or BI Administrator, Dr. Jay Labinger before preparing and submitting a proposal. Proposals that demonstrate potential synergy with existing Resource Center programs are welcome; information on current BI activities may be found elsewhere on this website.
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