Funder: U.S. National Science Foundation
Due Dates: Proposals accepted anytime
Funding Amounts: Up to $200,000 per award; up to 20 awards annually; total program funding approx. $1.5M/year; project period up to 1 year
Summary: Supports workshops in EPSCoR-eligible jurisdictions to foster multi-jurisdictional research, education, and partnerships in STEM fields aligned with NSF and EPSCoR priorities.
Key Information: Submission of a Concept Outline and invitation from NSF EPSCoR Program Officer is required before full proposal submission.
Description
The EPSCoR Workshop Opportunities program aims to stimulate competitive research by supporting workshops that build research capacity, foster multi-jurisdictional collaborations, and address themes of regional or national importance in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Workshops should engage a broad community, promote the participation of underrepresented groups, and catalyze new partnerships or center-level initiatives relevant to the NSF and EPSCoR missions. Both in-person and virtual/hybrid workshops are eligible.
Due Dates
- Proposals accepted anytime
- A Concept Outline must be submitted via email and an invitation received from an NSF EPSCoR Program Officer before submitting a full proposal.
- It is recommended to begin the Concept Outline process at least 12 months prior to the intended workshop date.
Funding Amount
- Maximum award: $200,000 per workshop proposal
- Estimated number of awards: Up to 20 annually (pending quality and available funds)
- Total program funding: Approx. $1,500,000 per year
- Project duration: Up to 1 year
Eligibility
- Eligible applicants:
- Only institutions or organizations within EPSCoR-eligible jurisdictions (states, territories, commonwealths)
- Within these jurisdictions:
- Accredited U.S. higher education institutions (PhD- and non-PhD-granting), acting on behalf of their faculty
- Non-profit, non-degree-granting U.S. organizations (e.g., museums, science centers, research labs, professional societies) with 501(c)(3) status and a permanent U.S. administrative presence
- Federally recognized Tribal Nations
- No restrictions on the number of proposals per organization or per PI/co-PI
- Who may serve as PI: No restrictions
Application Process
- Step 1: Prepare and submit a Concept Outline (max 5 pages) to nsfepscor@nsf.gov or to a listed Program Officer at any time.
- The Concept Outline should describe workshop rationale, goals, participants, anticipated outcomes, budget estimate, and plans for broader engagement and dissemination.
- Step 2: Await invitation from an NSF EPSCoR Program Officer to submit a full proposal.
- Step 3: Upon invitation, submit a full proposal via Research.gov or Grants.gov, following the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) and the solicitation’s instructions.
- Proposal type: Select "conference" proposal type.
- Supplementary documents: Include the Program Officer invitation email as a required document.
Additional Information
- Workshops must be multi-jurisdictional and not focused solely on a single institution.
- Allowable activities: Workshops may address emerging research themes, center-level partnership development, workforce development, or other NSF/EPSCoR priorities.
- Budget notes: No cost sharing or matching is required. Proposals requesting less than $200,000 are welcome.
- Reporting: Each funded workshop must produce a publicly available workshop report.
- Review criteria: Standard NSF merit review (Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts).
External Links
Contact Information