OVERVIEW
The Shared Materials Instrumentation Facility (SMIF) is an interdisciplinary shared resource providing researchers with high-quality and cost-effective access to advanced materials and device characterization, imaging and fabrication capabilities. To give investigators the opportunity to utilize these services for research that is not yet externally funded, yet has high probability for external funding with results obtained utilizing SMIF resources, the Vice Provost for Research is pleased to announce the 2017-2018 SMIF Voucher Program. This program will offer vouchers in amounts ranging from $500 to $7,000, redeemable for SMIF fees. A summary of SMIF’s capabilities and equipment can be found at: http://smif.pratt.duke.edu/capabilities.
There are multiple ways to access SMIF, including:
(1) As a user (SMIF Staff training is available);
(2) Collaborate with a SMIF user;
(3) Service by SMIF Staff.
Researchers interested in exploring how SMIF can enable or enhance their research are encouraged to contact SMIF Executive Director Professor Nan Jokerst (nan.jokerst@duke.edu) or SMIF Director Dr. Mark Walters (mark.walters@duke.edu) to discuss SMIF’s capabilities and facilitate introduction to potential collaborators.
REQUIREMENTS
SMIF vouchers in any category of research will be awarded to Duke regular rank faculty. Primary investigators for the voucher proposals are limited to a single application per cycle; co-investigators are unlimited per cycle. Award recipients will be required to submit a one-page progress report within 1 month of the voucher end date detailing how the funds were used, publications resulting from the work, and target dates for submitting external funding applications based on the work.
FUNDS
Vouchers may range from $500 to $7,000 and must be spent by the voucher end date (about twelve months from the award date). Awarded funds are not renewable or transferable, and are solely provided to cover the costs of services incurred at SMIF.
PROCESS
Application packets should include the following: 1) A one-page cover sheet with PI and co-PI name, department, contact information, proposal title, and total funds requested; and 2) A one-page proposal describing the research to be investigated, rationale, proposed plan, and justification for the dollar amount requested. Documents should have 0.5” margins at a minimum with font size of at least 11 points. Applications should be submitted as a single PDF file. The deadline for submission is April 10, 2017.
AWARDS
Proposals will be reviewed by a faculty panel led by the Vice Provost for Research. The committee will be charged with selecting innovative proposals that will benefit substantially from the use of SMIF. Awardees will be announced by email on or around May 15, 2017. We regret that reviewer comments and scores will not be available for applications that are not chosen for funding.
IMPORTANT DATES
• Submission Open: March 13, 2017
• Submission Close: April 10, 2017
• Voucher Start: May 15, 2017
• Voucher End: April 30, 2018
Please submit completed applications to SMIF-vouchers@duke.edu by 5 pm on April 10, 2017.
Questions about the RFP? Please contact Chris Freel, Ph.D., Associate Vice Provost for Research at christopher.freel@duke.edu
Questions about SMIF? Please contact Professor Nan Jokerst, Ph.D., Executive Director, Shared Materials Instrumentation Facility at nan.jokerst@duke.edu, or Dr. Mark Walters, Director, Shared Materials Instrumentation Facility at mark.walters@duke.edu.