Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers
Limited submission
The MRSECs program supports high-quality materials research and education at campus-based research centers, promoting collaboration and network development.
This grant is no longer accepting proposals
U.S. National Science Foundation has archived this opportunity.
Funder: U.S. National Science Foundation
Due Dates: June 23, 2025 (Preliminary proposal, required) | November 24, 2025 (Full proposal, by invitation only)
Funding Amounts: $3M–$4.5M per year for up to 6 years; total program funding estimated at $27M; 8–10 awards expected.
Summary: Supports campus-based centers for multidisciplinary, high-impact materials research and education addressing fundamental science and engineering problems.
Key Information: Full proposals are by invitation only after review of required preliminary proposals.
Description
This program offers substantial, sustained support for Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers (MRSECs) to advance fundamental materials science and engineering through multidisciplinary, collaborative research and education. MRSECs are expected to address complex, high-impact problems requiring the scale and synergy of a campus-based center, and to build national materials research infrastructure and networks. Centers must be organized around two or three Interdisciplinary Research Groups (IRGs), each focused on a major materials research topic aligned with the NSF Division of Materials Research (DMR) portfolio.
MRSECs are also expected to:
- Foster integration of research and education, including undergraduate research experiences.
- Promote broadening participation in STEM, with targeted outreach and diversity initiatives.
- Encourage partnerships with industry, government, and international organizations.
- Develop and maintain shared research facilities accessible to the wider scientific community.
- Contribute to a national network of university-based centers in materials research.
Research areas of particular interest include, but are not limited to: advanced materials for semiconductors, biotechnology, biomanufacturing, architected materials, materials far-from-equilibrium, structural materials under extreme conditions, and sustainable materials development.
