MUREP Institutional Research Opportunity (MIRO) Group 7 | NNH18ZHA008C MIROG7

Opportunity Information: Apply for NNH18ZHA008C MIROG7

The MUREP Institutional Research Opportunity (MIRO) Group 7 is a NASA funding opportunity that supports Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) in building stronger, more sustainable aerospace research programs that directly connect to NASA mission needs. Offered by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration under CFDA 43.008, this opportunity uses a cooperative agreement structure, which typically means NASA expects substantial involvement during the project (for example, collaboration, technical engagement, and coordination with NASA priorities and assets). The program is positioned within NASA's broader education and workforce pipeline efforts, with an emphasis on expanding who participates in NASA-relevant research and increasing institutional capability at eligible schools.

At the core of MIRO Group 7 is a capacity-building approach tied tightly to NASA research priorities. Proposals are expected to help expand the nation's aerospace research and development base by fostering new scientific, engineering, and technology concepts aligned with NASA Mission Directorates. These include Aeronautics Research, Human Exploration and Operations, Science, and Space Technology, and they are also meant to connect with the work of NASA's ten Centers. A key program expectation is that the MSI does not simply conduct a short-term project, but instead develops meaningful research infrastructure and expertise that can persist. This is reflected in goals like establishing or strengthening significant research centers at the institution and improving the lead institution's ability to contribute to NASA's priorities over time.

Another major focus is building institutional advancement through partnerships. MIRO encourages MSIs to form strategic collaborations that can include other academic institutions, NASA research assets, and industry partners. The intent is to create durable relationships that help the institution sustain research activity beyond the life of the award, strengthen competitiveness for future funding, and increase the institution's ability to leverage resources at multiple levels (project, department, college, or university). In practical terms, successful proposals are expected to show how partnerships will be used not only to support the proposed research, but also to improve long-term grant-seeking capacity, diversify funding sources, and raise the institution's overall research profile in NASA-aligned areas.

MIRO Group 7 also places strong emphasis on people: increasing the participation of MSI faculty, researchers, and students in NASA-related research. The opportunity highlights professional development and research engagement opportunities for faculty and researchers so they can deepen their NASA-relevant expertise. On the student side, it supports strengthening academic preparation through curriculum enhancement, redesign, or development at the course, degree, or department level, with the goal of building stronger learning pathways into NASA-related fields. It also explicitly encourages expanding student access to NASA internships and similar experiential opportunities, which are often critical for building workforce readiness and making direct connections to NASA and its contractors.

A further stated goal is improving diversity outcomes in NASA-related education and employment. The opportunity aims to help ensure that the diversity of the NASA workforce, and the diversity of undergraduate and graduate degrees awarded in NASA-relevant fields, more closely reflects the diversity of the nation. A specific objective under this goal is increasing the number of undergraduate and graduate degrees awarded to students from MSIs in NASA-related disciplines, tying research capacity investments to measurable education and workforce pipeline outcomes.

Eligibility is restricted to U.S. colleges and universities officially designated by the U.S. Department of Education as Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs). Applications must originate from an eligible MSI. Institutions that are not MSIs are encouraged to participate as partners rather than as lead applicants. The announcement also notes that if an awardee uses a third party for fiscal management or administration (such as a university system, board of regents, or foundation), that arrangement is handled between the awardee and that third party, but the proposing institution must still meet the MSI eligibility requirement. Proposals must also comply with requirements in the MIRO appendix and the broader EONS announcement that this opportunity falls under.

From an administrative standpoint, the Funding Opportunity Number is NNH18ZHA008C MIROG7, the opportunity category is discretionary, and the instrument type is a cooperative agreement. The award ceiling is listed as $3,000,000, with an expectation of about five awards. The original closing date for submissions was December 10, 2018, and the opportunity was created on September 17, 2018.

• The National Aeronautics and Space Administration in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "MUREP Institutional Research Opportunity (MIRO) Group 7" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 43.008.
• This funding opportunity was created on Sep 17, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 10, 2018. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $3,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

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