SURE Awards

About RIO-NM

Research Infrastructure for New Mexico (RIO-NM) aims to positively impact New Mexico’s research ecosystem by 1) investing in higher education institutions to build cyberinfrastructure capacity and to strengthen research pathways, and 2) nurturing connections between and among ecosystem stakeholders across higher education, national laboratories, industry, non-profit organizations, and government.

Program Description

The Supporting Undergraduate Research Experiences (SURE) Award program enables transformative research and capacity building across New Mexico’s academic institutions by providing small scale awards to individual faculty. Funding can be used for student researchers, acquisition of research supplies, student conference travel, and summer salary/course buyout.

The program goal is to increase student and faculty access to meaningful research experiences. SURE award proposals should align with the National Science Foundation’s NSF’s Research Focus Areas and/or New Mexico’s Science and Technology Plan.

A few examples of projects this award could fund include: a research project for a faculty member and a small group of students, student research internship, developing and implementing a course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE), or other innovative approaches to supporting student engagement in research.

Eligibility

Preference will be given to faculty from New Mexico’s primarily undergraduate institutions, including two-year colleges, four-year comprehensive institutions, and branch campuses. Faculty from universities such as the University of New Mexico, New Mexico State University, New Mexico Tech, and Navajo Tech are also eligible to apply. Current or previous participation in an NM EPSCoR-funded project is not require

Award Information

Maximum Funding Per Award: $16,500 (including indirect costs)

Duration: 12 months

Estimated Number of Awards: Number of awards will be based on quality of proposals received and available funding; up to six awards will be funded in this round.

Anticipated Start Dates: June 1, 2025 / January 1, 2026

Proposal Preparation and Submission

Proposals must be submitted as a PDF file, using a standard font in 11 point or larger, with one-inch margins. A maximum of 6 pages, excluding appendices, is allowed and must include the information below. Proposals that exceed the page limit will not be reviewed.

Document

Process

Proposal Cover Page 
(1 page)

  • Proposal Title
  • Lead Investigator, Co-Investigator(s), primary affiliation, and all contact information
  • Date of Submission 

Project Description 
(3 pages max)

  • Outline the objectives of the proposed work and how it relates to supporting undergraduate research.
  • Describe the activities and include a timetable for their completion.
  • State anticipated outcomes and benefits (e.g., number and type of undergraduate research opportunities created, number of students impacted, links to further STEM education opportunities created)

Budget and 
1-page  Justification

  • Budgets are to be submitted in NSF format using the provided template.
  • Budgets may include: undergraduate student salaries, fees, and tuition; supplies; travel; and summer salary or course buy-out support for faculty members
  • Budgets must include appropriate fringe benefits on all personnel salaries.
  • Budgets must include allowable F&A. Proposers should use the approved F&A rate for their institution; F&A cannot be waived.

Appendices 
(not included in the 6 pages)

  • References cited
  • Curriculum vitae or NSF biosketch for all investigators

Proposal Submission

Proposals should be submitted electronically as a single complete PDF. Submit the proposal document online.

Reporting Requirements

Grantees are required to

  • Report on research results and impacts, including individuals supported, publications, presentations, conference proceedings, etc.
  • Complete final financial report within 90 days of the end of the award period
  • Register in the NSF EPSCoR online reporting system
  • Participate in program evaluation activities
  • Provide information for a short article to be featured in the NM EPSCoR newsletter

All outputs of your supported research must acknowledge NM EPSCoR.

Proposal Review

Proposals will undergo review managed by the NM EPSCoR State Office. Reviews will assess intellectual merit and broader impacts, alignment with SURE award program goals, and allowability/reasonableness of the budget.

Proposers are encouraged to contact the NM EPSCoR Associate Director Selena Connealy with questions or to discuss proposal ideas. Proposal development support is available for topics like undergraduate research and budgets.

Selena Connealy
505-217-5605
connealy@epscor.unm.edu

Key Information

Spring Deadline: April 25, 2025 
Fall Deadline: October 31, 2025

Download the call for proposals and supporting documents:

One file only.
20 MB limit.
Allowed types: pdf.