Funder: National Science Foundation
Due Dates: Proposals accepted anytime (by invitation only)
Funding Amounts: Up to $150,000 per year for 2 years (max $300,000 total); 5–25 awards annually
Summary: Supports MPS-Ascend Postdoctoral Fellows transitioning to tenure-track faculty positions in the mathematical and physical sciences, providing resources for research and broadening participation activities.
Key Information: Application is by invitation only and must be submitted within 12 months of fellowship end and within 6 months of starting a faculty position.
Description
This program provides targeted support for early-career researchers in the mathematical and physical sciences who have completed an MPS-Ascend Postdoctoral Fellowship and are transitioning into tenure-track (or equivalent) faculty positions at U.S. institutions of higher education. The award is designed to supplement institutional start-up packages, enabling recipients to advance their independent research and to lead activities that broaden participation in their fields. The program covers all scientific areas within the five MPS Divisions: Astronomical Sciences (AST), Chemistry (CHE), Materials Research (DMR), Mathematical Sciences (DMS), and Physics (PHY).
Due Dates
- Proposals are accepted at any time (no fixed deadline), but:
- Submission is by invitation only after consultation with the relevant NSF Program Director.
- Proposals must be received within 12 months of the end of the MPS-Ascend Postdoc Fellowship and within 6 months of starting the faculty appointment.
Funding Amount
- Award size: Up to $150,000 per year (direct + indirect costs), for a maximum of 2 years ($300,000 total).
- Estimated number of awards: 5 to 25 per year, subject to availability of funds and proposal competitiveness.
- Total program funding: $1.5M–$7.5M annually.
Eligibility
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Who may apply:
- Only prior recipients of MPS-Ascend Postdoctoral Fellowships (awarded under NSF 21-573, 22-501, or 23-501) who have completed at least 12 months as an MPS-Ascend Postdoc Fellow.
- Applicants must have started a tenure-track (or equivalent) faculty position at a U.S. institution of higher education (IHE) within 12 months of completing their fellowship.
- Proposals must be submitted by the IHE on behalf of the eligible faculty member.
- Application is by invitation only—the invitation is extended by the Program Director managing or cognizant of the applicant’s MPS-Ascend Postdoc Fellowship, after the fellow initiates contact.
- Only one proposal per eligible PI; co-PIs are not allowed.
- Awardees are not eligible for LEAPS-MPS awards.
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Additional requirements for tenure-track equivalency:
- The position must be a continuing appointment expected to last the duration of the award, with substantial research and educational responsibilities, and full faculty rights and privileges.
- Non-tenure-track faculty must provide a letter from the Department Chair or Dean affirming equivalency.
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Ineligible:
- Associate Professors (with or without tenure), adjunct, visiting, or similar appointments.
Application Process
- Contact Program Director: Upon accepting a qualifying faculty position, the MPS-Ascend Postdoc Fellow must contact their managing or cognizant NSF Program Director to discuss eligibility and the application process.
- Pre-application materials: Submit drafts of the project summary, project description, budget, Department Chair/Dean’s letter, and appointment/startup documents to the Program Director for review.
- Invitation: If the materials are satisfactory, the Program Director will issue a formal invitation to submit a full proposal.
- Full proposal submission:
- Proposals must be submitted via Research.gov (strongly encouraged) or Grants.gov.
- The proposal must include all required NSF sections, a detailed project description (max 8 pages), a plan for broadening participation, and required supplementary documents.
- The invitation email and appointment/startup letters must be uploaded as single-copy documents.
- Review: Proposals are reviewed internally by NSF (external review is generally waived for this program).
- Award administration: Standard NSF reporting and award conditions apply.
Additional Information
- Scope: Research must fall within the purview of one of the five MPS Divisions (AST, CHE, DMR, DMS, PHY).
- Broader Impacts: A significant component of the proposal must address broadening participation in the mathematical and physical sciences.
- Budget: No cost sharing required; budgets may include course releases if justified.
- Special conditions: Awards cannot be supplemented except for equity-related reasons (e.g., disability accommodations, career-life balance).
- Transfers: Awards may transfer with the PI to a new eligible institution, subject to approval and submission of new documentation.
External Links
Contact Information
For technical support with proposal systems:
- Research.gov Help Desk: 1-800-381-1532, rgov@nsf.gov
- Grants.gov Contact Center: 1-800-518-4726, support@grants.gov