Funder: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Due Dates: March 2, 2023 (Pivots & Beginnings Tracks only) | Second Thursday in September, Annually Thereafter (All tracks)
Funding Amounts: Up to $1,000,000 total per award over up to 3 years; estimated program budget $30 million for 25-35 awards
Summary: Supports inclusive experiential learning programs to broaden access to emerging technology careers for diverse individuals, including adult learners, through cross-sector partnerships.
Key Information: Proposals must address barriers to STEM access, include mentorship, cohort building, and sustainability plans; submission via Research.gov or Grants.gov only; voluntary cost sharing prohibited.
Description
The National Science Foundation’s Experiential Learning for Emerging and Novel Technologies (ExLENT) program aims to expand the STEM workforce in emerging technology fields by funding experiential learning opportunities for individuals from diverse professional and educational backgrounds. The program targets fields such as advanced manufacturing, advanced wireless, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, quantum information science, semiconductors, and microelectronics.
ExLENT focuses on increasing access and interest in career pathways for a broad and diverse population, including adult learners seeking to reskill or upskill, and those who have faced barriers to formal STEM education. The program emphasizes "learning-by-doing" through authentic workplace experiences, internships, co-ops, service-based learning, and research opportunities.
Key goals include:
- Expanding access to career-enhancing experiential learning for diverse populations.
- Promoting cross-sector partnerships among industry, government, nonprofits, educational institutions, and professional organizations.
- Developing a workforce aligned with regional economies and emerging technology sectors.
The program recognizes the dynamic nature of emerging technologies and the need for workforce preparation that includes considerations of security, safety, and privacy.
Proposal Tracks
ExLENT offers three tracks to accommodate varying levels of participant experience and education:
- Pivots: For individuals not currently enrolled in post-secondary education who have transferable skills and seek to pivot into emerging technology careers.
- Beginnings: For individuals with some STEM competencies (e.g., stackable certificates, associate degrees) aiming to deepen skills and advance careers.
- Explorations: For individuals with limited or no specialized STEM education interested in exploring emerging technology career paths.
Key Features of Funded Projects
- Pathways into emerging technology careers with competitively compensated, in situ professional experiences or career exploration.
- Inclusion of individuals from historically underrepresented or underserved groups in STEM.
- Partnerships that demonstrate integrated collaboration and shared goals.
- Cohort models to build community and STEM identity.
- Mentorship by peers and experienced professionals.
- Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) instruction.
- Sustainability and scalability plans for continued impact beyond the award period.
- Robust evaluation and dissemination plans.
Due Dates
- March 2, 2023: Full proposals due for Pivots and Beginnings tracks only.
- Second Thursday in September, Annually Thereafter: Full proposals due for all tracks (Pivots, Beginnings, Explorations).
Funding Amount
- Awards are cooperative agreements expected to last up to 3 years.
- Individual awards may be up to $1,000,000 total.
- The program anticipates funding 25 to 35 awards with a total budget of approximately $30 million, subject to availability.
Eligibility
- Eligible proposers are those identified in the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG), Chapter I.E.
- Unaffiliated individuals are not eligible.
- No restrictions on who may serve as Principal Investigator (PI).
- No limits on the number of proposals per organization or PI.
Application Process
- Proposals must be submitted electronically via Research.gov or Grants.gov; submission via FastLane is not accepted.
- Letters of Intent and preliminary proposals are not required.
- Proposals must include a one-page Project Summary and a Project Description (maximum 15 pages) addressing all program requirements.
- Budgets must predominantly support participant costs (stipends, transportation, subsistence).
- Mentoring Plan (up to 2 pages) and Letters of Collaboration are required supplementary documents.
- Appendices are not permitted.
- Voluntary committed cost sharing is prohibited.
- Major research equipment purchases are not supported; limited equipment purchases allowed for project implementation.
- Proposals must include a detailed evaluation plan and a data management plan.
Additional Information
- The program encourages addressing barriers such as financial, social, and occupational challenges to ensure equitable participation.
- Projects must include plans for building inclusive STEM communities and fostering STEM career identity.
- Awardees must comply with federal policies including Build America, Buy America and COVID-19 safety protocols.
- Annual and final project reports are required, with specific reporting formats provided by NSF.
External Links
Contact Information