MUREP — Minority University Research and Education Project
Funds Minority serving institutions with research and education capacity building in the United States.
MUREP is NASA's Minority University Research and Education Project, administered through the Office of STEM Engagement. It targets Minority Serving Institutions rather than individual founders, and its purpose is to strengthen research, academic, and technology capacity at HBCUs, HSIs, TCUs, AANAPISIs, and community colleges. The program includes multiple subprograms, including MPLAN awards, MUREP INCLUDES, MITTIC, the MUREP STEM Engagement Aerospace Academy, and MAIANSE. MPLAN awards can reach $50,000 with an annual deadline around late May, while broader capacity-building awards typically run from $250,000 to $1 million over multiple years. Applications go through NSPIRES, and the program continues under current NASA appropriations. MUREP works best for institutions that can point to a real capacity gap and a concrete plan to grow it. Winning projects usually connect campus strategy, faculty or student development, and a specific NASA-relevant activity so the award strengthens the institution beyond the life of the grant and leaves usable capacity for later competitions and partnerships.