Read this section if your department wishes to apply for Montana NSF EPSCoR funding of an infrastructure assessment award.

Several non-PhD and some PhD granting UM science departments lack integrative programs or clusters that would enable them to become competitive for NSF EPSCoR funding and advance their science and technological infrastructure. To ensure they are in a competitive position and ready with program plans and initiatives for the 2007 EPSCoR application round, pilot infrastructure planning awards will be granted.

Awards of up to $25,000 will be given for support of an on-site analysis of a program by panels of experts (e.g., AAAS, professional organization) in given disciplines and assist in developing a vision plan and charting a course for program projects and infrastructure building. Outcomes could either lead to an entirely new focus area, or better integrate the program with a more broadly developed research focus area so that the department could partner with EPSCoR. Several departments at UM have been preliminarily identified for development, including psychology, geology, mathematics, computer science and physics however, all departments with interests in NSF funding are eligible.

• Identify departmental needs and growth potential.
• Evidence of grant activity (requested, pending or funded).
• Complete the NSF EPSCoR Infrastructure Assessment Application. (See Applications)