The Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation is requesting proposals for the development of new instrument designs to bring the most advanced mass spectrometry detection capabilities and sensitivity levels into lightweight, inexpensive, and easily operated systems that could be portable or deployed on airborne platforms, in unattended monitoring stations, or operated by citizen scientists, for long-term analysis of the chemical composition of the atmosphere. The intent of this program is to support scientists, with a focus on undergraduates, to become inventors and innovators in this compelling area of research by building tools and instruments.

The Foundation will provide support of up to $1 million per selected team over a 3-year development and testing program at awarded Institutions, which can be used flexibly to purchase materials for several prototype systems, consumables for testing, full-time support for undergraduate students to participate in the program, part-time support for other personnel, which could include research staff, graduate students and/or postdoctoral fellows, support for industry collaborations, and/or training courses or experiences for participating students.

More information is available online and attached: https://www.beckman-foundation.org/programs/mass-spectrometry-for-atmospheric-monitoring/

Proposals are due: November 18, 2022

Funding decisions announced: Spring of 2023

Questions? Contact Anne Hultgren at instrumentgrants@beckman-foundation.org.

Please start a routing sheet in Cayuse if you are interested in submitting a proposal. Please contact OSRP if you need assistance with Cayuse by phone to 312-567-3035 or by email to osrp@iit.edu