Unlock $50K+ for Precision Measurement Research

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announces that the Precision Measurement Grants Program is soliciting applications for financial assistance for FY 2009. The Precision Measurement Grants Program is seeking proposals for significant research in the field of fundamental measurement or the determination of fundamental constants. NIST sponsors these grants and cooperative agreements primarily to encourage basic, measurement-related research in universities and colleges and other research laboratories and to foster contacts between NIST scientists and those faculty members of academic institutions and other researchers who are actively engaged in such work. The Precision Measurement Grants are also intended to make it possible for researchers to pursue new ideas for which other sources of support may be difficult to find.

There is some latitude in research topics that will be considered under the Precision Measurement Grants Program. The key requirement is that the proposed project is consistent with NIST’s ongoing work in the field of basic measurement science. Applicants should propose multi-year projects for up to three years at no more than $50,000 per year. NIST anticipates spending $100,000 this year for two new grants at $50,000 each for the first year of the research projects.

NIST may award both, one, or neither of these new awards. Second and third year funding will be at the discretion of NIST, based on satisfactory performance, continuing relevance to program objectives, and the availability of funds. Award start dates for new grants are expected to be October 1, 2009. NIST plans to fund the awards as grants.

If collaboration by NIST scientists in the scope of work is appropriate for any award, a cooperative agreement will be issued instead.