Please read the answers to these “Frequently Asked Questions” before writing and submitting your MURI proposal.

1) What is MURI?

MURI is an acronym for Multidisciplinary Undergraduate Research Institute.

2) What are the goals of the MURI program?

The program has three primary goals:

• provide substantive multidisciplinary research experiences for IUPUI students;
• encourage multidisciplinary research among IUPUI faculty; and 
• serve as a catalyst for innovation and sustained funding from external agencies.

3) Who is eligible to propose a MURI project and serve as a mentor?

Any IUPUI faculty member from any school may propose a MURI project and serve as a principal mentor. A project may have up to three paid mentors. Preference will be given to projects that include mentors from multiple disciplines.

Senior researchers, graduate students and/or post-doctoral students may serve as co-mentors. We are not able to pay hourly employees as mentors according to University fiscal policy.

4) Who is able to participate as an undergraduate researcher on a MURI team?

Any IUPUI student may apply to participate on a MURI team as long as they are working on their first undergraduate degree and have a minimum GPA of 3.0.

5) What other individuals may be involved?

Proposals may also include other consultants, staff members, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers as unpaid team members. These personnel do not need to be listed on the cover page of the proposal but their roles should be explained in the proposal where appropriate.

6) What is the time frame for MURI?

MURI proposals are solicited twice each year – once in September for 2013 summer projects, and once in November for academic year projects for 2013-2014 (see detailed schedule below).  Summer projects run from May 31 to August 2; and academic year projects run from the beginning of October through the end of April.

The Center for Research and Learning is calling for MURI proposals earlier in the semester than in the past in order to allow students the opportunity to apply to projects that correspond to their specific research interests. 

7) What is the current schedule for submitting proposals?

Summer 2013
Call for faculty proposals	September 12, 2012
Deadline for faculty proposals	November 16, 2012
Proposal Review Meeting	December 7, 2012
Funded Proposals Announced	December 14, 2012
Student application Deadline	March 1, 2013

AY 2013-2014
Call for faculty proposals	November 28, 2012
Deadline for faculty proposals	March 22, 2013
Proposal Review Meeting	April 12, 2013
Funded Proposals Announced	April 16, 2013
Student Application Deadline	September 10, 2013

8) How should proposals be submitted?

All completed proposals must be submitted electronically as a single file, preferably in pdf format, to CRLGrant@iupui.edu no later than midnight on the day of the deadline. 

9) How many proposals may be submitted by a mentor?

A mentor may submit one proposal for summer and one for academic year (fall and spring semesters together).

10) What format is required for the proposal?

The proposal should be formatted on 8-1/2 x 11 paper with at least 1 inch margins and a minimum of 12 pt font size.

Page Description	Maximum No. of Pages
Cover Page	1
Request for Students	1
Body of Proposal	5
References/Bibliography	1-2 as necessary
CVs/Resumes	2-pages maximum per mentor
Support Letters (maximum 2)	2
Appendix --1 page summary (see sample template) per example of previous successful project(s)	5 TOTAL
Signature Page	1
TOTAL	23

*Please note that proposals that do not follow specified format guidelines will not be reviewed.

11) How are proposals selected for funding?

Proposals are sent to faculty reviewers who use the following form to rate proposals: http://surveycentral.uc.iupui.edu/muriproposalreview2012SAMPLE.aspx
Reviewers are also invited to attend a MURI Review Committee Meeting where the merits of each proposal are discussed. Based on the rating scores and the discussion at the meeting, the top proposals are selected and sent as recommendations to the Vice Chancellor for Research.

12) When is the deadline for students to apply for MURI projects?

Students should apply to MURI by September 14 to participate in academic year (fall and spring) projects.

Students should apply to MURI by March 1 to participate in summer projects.

13) How do students select a MURI project?

Students are asked to rank their project choices from the list of funded projects as part of the application process.

14) Are students paid a stipend?

Currently students are paid a stipend of $3200 for the full-time, nine-week intensive summer program and $1200 total for both semesters of the AY 2012-2013 program. Stipends are contingent upon students meeting the requirements of the program.

15) When do students receive their stipends?

Summer	One $3200 installment approximately the third week of June.
Academic Year	Two $600 installments. The first $600 installment is disbursed approximately the third week of January and the second $600 installment is disbursed approximately the third week of May for a total amount of $1200.

16) Do mentors and co-mentors receive a stipend?

Faculty mentors and co-mentors (up to three per proposal) are each paid a total stipend of $500 for each MURI project they mentor. Payment is made via academic overload and disbursed in the mentors’ paychecks. Graduate students who serve as co-mentors will be paid during the same semester that they are serving as a mentor and before they terminate their studies at IUPUI.

17) When do faculty mentors receive their stipends?

Summer	One $500 installment with September paycheck.
Academic Year	One $500 installment with June paycheck.

18) If I have questions regarding the proposal writing or review process, whom should I contact?

Questions should be directed to one of the following individuals:

Elizabeth Rubens
Program Leader for MURI and CTSI
IUPUI Center for Research and Learning
Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research
erubens@iupui.edu / (317) 274-4590

Dr. Paul Salama
Co-leader for MURI and Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Purdue School of Engineering and Technology
psalama@iupui.edu / (317) 278-1682

Dr. Rick Ward
Executive Director
IUPUI Center for Research and Learning
Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research
reward@iupui.edu / (317) 274-0419