University Research Initiatives

University Research Initiatives supports the Office of Naval Research's (ONR) mission to ensure the technological advantage of U.S. Naval forces by fostering scientific research necessary for the discovery, development, and delivery of new technologies. This program includes support for multidisciplinary basic research in a wide range of naval relevant scientific and engineering disciplines that enables the U.S. Navy to maintain technological superiority. It also provides support for the university research infrastructure to acquire the research instrumentation needed to maintain and improve the quality of university research important to the Navy. The program also supports graduate students and postdoctoral fellows who will lead Department of the Navy (DON) Science and Technology (S&T) efforts in the future.

The Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI) efforts involve teams of researchers investigating high priority topics that intersect more than one traditional technical discipline, stimulating innovation, accelerating research progress, and laying the foundation for transition of results into Naval applications. The Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP) supports university research infrastructure essential to high-quality, Navy-relevant research by funding the purchase of high-cost research instrumentation necessary for cutting-edge research. The program also supports Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), providing national recognition and research grants to outstanding academic scientists and engineers early in their research careers, as well as supporting graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in DON-related research critical to national security. These efforts collectively provide the knowledge base, scientific concepts, and technological advances for the maintenance of Naval power and national security.