User programs

The NSF iBioFoundry is dedicated to providing the scientific community with access to state-of-the-art AI/ML tools, and laboratory automation capabilities for synthetic biology and related fields.
We offer access through two distinct proposal tracks:

Service & Facilities Utilization (Rolling Call)
⌾ Direct utilization of automation services, budget <$25,000.
⌾ There is no external disbursement of funds, only access to services and capabilities.
⌾ Please contact the center to discuss project feasibility prior to formal submission.
⌾ New submissions are reviewed every three months.

Synergistic Research Projects (Annual Call)
⌾ Large-scale research projects, budget <$100,000.
⌾ This project can be a collaboration or a subaward.
⌾ Experimental as well as computational projects are welcome.
⌾ Annual call for proposal opens early March.
⌾ Project period: Sep 2026 – Aug 2027
⌾ Deadline to submit proposal: April 17, 2026

Please send your enquiry/proposals to contact@ibiofoundry.illinois.edu

Proposal Scope
The scope of projects should either 1) broadly align with mission and vision of the center or 2) fill a specific need or gap in its research and services portfolio, which includes:
➢ Foundational tools for design and development of engineered biological systems.
➢ Automated workflows for design, construction, characterization, and engineering of biological systems.
➢ Foundational high-throughput and automated workflows for synthetic biology applications such as protein and metabolic engineering.
➢ Discovery, characterization, and engineering of genetic parts and tools for new chassis organisms for synthetic biology.
➢ AI/ML advances in synthetic biology, protein engineering, metabolic engineering, and laboratory automation.
➢ Cloud biofoundry tools that integrate synthetic biology, AI/ML, and laboratory automation.
➢ Development of autonomous experimentation and self-driving laboratories.

Eligibility
➢ User proposals must originate from researchers outside of UIUC.
➢ Principal investigators (PIs) are limited to one proposal annually, renewals allowed.
➢ PIs must be based in the United States. Awards are not made directly to individuals.

Proposal Review Criteria
➢ Impact / Significance
➢ Innovation / Intellectual Merit
➢ Alignment with iBioFoundry mission and vision
➢ Technical Feasibility
The center encourages proposals from a broad range of institutions and investigators including early career investigators.