Funder: U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)
Due Dates: April 8, 2025 | Second Tuesday in April, annually thereafter
Funding Amounts: Up to $300,000 per award for up to 24 months; total program funding estimated at $15,000,000
Summary: Supports research fellowships to build research capacity and foster career development for investigators in EPSCoR-eligible jurisdictions through collaborative visits to premier research institutions.
Key Information: Only single-PI proposals from eligible EPSCoR jurisdictions; two tracks: NSF and @NASA (with additional requirements for @NASA track).
Description
This program aims to strengthen research infrastructure and workforce development in EPSCoR-eligible states and territories by supporting individual researchers through extended or periodic collaborative visits to leading research institutions or centers. The goal is to build sustainable research capacity, advance the professional development of investigators, and enhance the competitiveness of their home institutions and jurisdictions. Two tracks are offered: the general NSF track (open to a broad community) and the @NASA track (focused on faculty collaborating with NASA research centers).
Due Dates
- Next deadline: April 8, 2025 (second Tuesday in April)
- Thereafter: Annually on the second Tuesday in April
Funding Amount
- Maximum per award: $300,000 (including both NSF and @NASA tracks; @NASA track recipients receive an additional $60,000 from NASA)
- Project duration: Up to 24 months
- Estimated total program funding: $15,000,000
- Number of awards: Approximately 50 per year (up to 40 NSF track, up to 10 @NASA track)
Eligibility
Eligible Organizations
- Only organizations in EPSCoR RII-eligible jurisdictions may apply. See current eligibility list.
- Eligible organizations include:
- U.S. accredited institutions of higher education (Ph.D.-granting and non-Ph.D.-granting)
- Not-for-profit, non-degree-granting U.S. organizations (e.g., museums, research labs, professional societies) with 501(c)(3) status
Eligible Individuals (PIs)
- Must be in an early- or mid-career position at an eligible organization
- Must hold a non-tenured or tenured faculty position at the Lecturer, Research Faculty, Assistant, or Associate Professor rank (or equivalent)
- Non-tenured research assistant professors or lecturers are eligible if they have a long-term appointment
- PIs must be positioned to build sustainable research capacity at their home institution
- Only single-PI proposals (no co-PIs)
- Transitional fixed-term postdoctoral appointees are not eligible
- Current or prior EPSCoR Research Fellows are not eligible
Additional @NASA Track Requirements
- PI must be employed by:
- A Primarily Undergraduate Institution (PUI)
- An institution dedicated to students with disabilities (see NSF 2008 Broadening Participation report, Table 1)
- A Minority-Serving Institution as defined in 42 USC 18901
- Some NASA centers require PIs and trainees to be U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents
Application Process
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Submission platforms: Research.gov or Grants.gov
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No letters of intent or preliminary proposals required
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Full proposal required (see NSF 24-528 solicitation for details)
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Required proposal components:
- Project summary and description (including research plan, outcomes, and broader impacts)
- Budget and justification (salary, travel, trainee, and direct costs)
- Letters from home institution administrator, host site collaborator, and host administrative manager (NSF track); or home administrator and NASA EPSCoR coordinator (NASA track)
- Additional documentation as specified in the solicitation
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Proposal limits:
- Up to 4 proposals per organization per track (max 8 if eligible for both tracks)
- One proposal per PI per cycle
Additional Information
- Fellowship activities: 1–6 months of travel to the host site (can be spread over 24 months)
- Trainee support: Funding for one additional trainee (student, postdoc, or justified staff) from the EPSCoR jurisdiction is allowed
- No cost-sharing required
- Awards are standard NSF grants
- Indirect costs: "Off campus" rates may apply
External Links
Contact Information