[Beckman Foundation](https://www.beckman-foundation.org)

Closed (Last: November 18, 2022)

Up to $1 million per team over 3 years; no overhead or indirect costs supported.

Funding to develop advanced, portable mass spectrometry instruments for real-world atmospheric monitoring, emphasizing undergraduate involvement.

Program teams must actively engage undergraduate students and address a specific use case for atmospheric monitoring.

--- ## Description This program supports the development of novel, lightweight, and portable mass spectrometry instruments designed for advanced atmospheric chemical analysis. The Beckman Foundation aims to catalyze the creation of instruments with sensitivity and performance comparable to laboratory systems, but suitable for deployment on ground-based or airborne platforms, unattended monitoring stations, or by citizen scientists. A central goal is to engage undergraduate students as active participants and future innovators in instrument development, fostering interdisciplinary teams to design, prototype, test, and refine their systems over a three-year period. Proposals should address a specific atmospheric monitoring use case, justify performance metrics, provide initial design concepts and cost analysis, and present a comprehensive plan for iterative instrument development and undergraduate training. --- ## Due Dates - The most recent competition closed on November 18, 2022. - No new competition cycle is currently announced; check the [program page](https://www.beckman-foundation.org/programs/mass-spectrometry-for-atmospheric-monitoring/) for updates. --- ## Funding Amount - Up to $1 million per selected team, distributed over a 3-year development and testing period. - Funds may be used for: - Materials for prototype systems - Consumables for testing - Full-time support for undergraduate students - Part-time support for other personnel (e.g., research staff, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows) - Industry collaborations and student training experiences - No overhead or indirect costs are allowed. - Applicant institutions must demonstrate commitment to provide any additional funding necessary to complete the proposed objectives. --- ## Eligibility - Lead Institution must be a nonprofit US university or research institution (including Primarily Undergraduate Institutions). - Individual institutions or consortia (with a designated Lead Institution) are eligible. - Program teams must be able to engage undergraduate students in research. - Multiple proposals from a single institution are allowed if submitted by different lead PIs and teams, with institutional support for all awarded proposals. --- ## Application Process - Proposals must be submitted via the [Beckman Foundation application portal](https://beckman-foundation.smapply.io/). - One faculty member or senior research scientist must be designated as the Program Lead. - The application should include: - An initial instrument design concept and cost analysis - A detailed plan for engaging undergraduates and other team members - A 3-year iterative development plan (design, prototyping, testing, refinement) - A training plan for undergraduate participants - Incorporation of industrial partners is encouraged (required in later project stages). - Annual reports are required, including technology transfer and commercialization plans. --- ## Additional Information - Proposals must focus on the development of mass spectrometry instruments (other detection modalities may be included, but are not required). - Performance metrics should target real-world deployment scenarios (e.g., airborne, ground-based, citizen science). - At the end of the program, successful prototypes may be invited to a Foundation-funded testing event. - Awardees are expected to publish advancements and results in relevant scientific journals. - For more details, review the [full RFP PDF](https://www.beckman-foundation.org/documents/231/Mass_Spec_for_Atmospheric_Monitoring_RFP_July2022.pdf). --- ## External Links - [Program Overview and Details](https://www.beckman-foundation.org/programs/mass-spectrometry-for-atmospheric-monitoring/) - [Full RFP PDF](https://www.beckman-foundation.org/documents/231/Mass_Spec_for_Atmospheric_Monitoring_RFP_July2022.pdf) - [Application Portal](https://beckman-foundation.smapply.io/) - [Awarded Scientists](https://www.beckman-foundation.org/awarded-scientists/?award_program=Mass%20Spec%20for%20Atm%20Monitoring) - [General Award Processes and Terms](https://www.beckman-foundation.org/programs/general-award-processes-and-terms/) --- ## Contact Information | Contact | Email | Phone | |-----------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|------------------| | Anne Hultgren (Program Lead) | instrumentgrants@beckman-foundation.org | +1 949-531-0400 | | Beckman Foundation General | [Contact Form](https://www.beckman-foundation.org/contacts/) | |

Mass Spectrometry for Atmospheric Monitoring

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