PFE: Research Initiation in Engineering Formation (PFE: RIEF)
This grant supports engineering faculty with little research experience to begin studying how engineers are trained, aiming to expand the community researching professional formation in engineering.
Funder: U.S. National Science Foundation
Due Dates: November 10, 2026: Full Proposal Deadline
Funding Amounts: Up to $200,000 per award; total program funding estimated at $3,000,000; project duration up to 24 months.
Summary: Supports engineering faculty new to education research to initiate projects on the professional formation of engineers and expand the community of engineering education researchers.
Key Information: PIs must not have received engineering education/professional formation funding through EEC in the past 3 years.
Description
This program aims to broaden and diversify the community of researchers examining the professional formation of engineers (PFE). It supports engineering faculty—especially those with limited or no prior experience in education or social science research—to initiate research projects focused on how engineers are educated, acculturated, and prepared for the profession. The initiative is part of a larger NSF effort to foster an innovative, inclusive, and responsive engineering workforce. Projects are expected to combine engineering with learning sciences, education, or social science approaches, and include a strong mentorship component for faculty new to this research area.
