Research in the Formation of Engineers

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Description

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Engineering Directorate's initiative on the Professional Formation of Engineers (PFE) aims to create and support an innovative, inclusive engineering profession for the 21st century. This program supports research and development projects that deepen our understanding of how engineers are formed—through both formal and informal processes—and how these processes can be transformed to meet national priorities, workforce needs, and societal challenges.

The program welcomes proposals in two categories:

• Research Projects: Address fundamental questions about the professional formation of engineers.
• Design and Development Projects: Develop and test new approaches to engineer formation.

Projects should describe how their results will be translated into practice and scaled, identifying target audiences, communication channels, and partnerships for effective dissemination.

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Due Dates

• Proposals are accepted at any time (no fixed deadlines).

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Funding Amount

• Typical award size: $350,000 for up to 36 months.
• Larger budgets: Proposals requesting more than $350,000 require prior approval from a cognizant program officer.
• Estimated total program funding: $5,600,000.

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Eligibility

• Eligible applicants: Unrestricted; open to all types of organizations, including universities, colleges, non-profits, and other research entities.
• No cost sharing or matching required.
• Principal Investigators (PIs) without engineering education or social science research experience are encouraged to consider the Research Initiation in Engineering Formation (RIEF) program.

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Application Process

• Submission: Proposals must be submitted via NSF FastLane, Research.gov, or Grants.gov.
• Guidelines: All proposals must comply with the current NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG).
• Proposal titles: Must begin with either "Research:" or "Design and Development:" to indicate the project category.
• Consultation: PIs seeking to submit proposals with budgets above $350,000 must contact a program officer before submission.

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Additional Information

• Research focus areas include:

  • Lifelong learning in the engineering workforce
  • Impact and scaling of engineering education research
  • Culture change and inclusivity in engineering education
  • Engineering formation at two-year colleges, graduate, and P-12 levels
  • Transitions between educational and professional stages
  • Social impact and public engagement in engineering
  • Novel methodologies, especially for minoritized or underserved populations
  • Effects of new technologies (e.g., AI, machine learning) on engineering education
  • Integration of environmental and social sustainability in engineering curricula

• Restrictions: The program does not support projects focused solely on developing tools, curricula, or laboratories, or on implementing classroom innovations already proven effective.

• Evaluation: Proposals are evaluated based on intellectual merit, broader impacts, and cost-effectiveness.

• Resources:

  • Common Guidelines for Education Research and Development
  • FAQ for the RFE program
  • Responsible and Ethical Conduct of Research (RECR)

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External Links

• NSF RFE Program Page
• NSF Program Description PD-24-1340
• Apply via Grants.gov
• Browse funded RFE projects
• Directorate for Engineering (ENG)
• Division of Engineering Education and Centers (ENG/EEC)

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Contact Information

For general inquiries, see the NSF Contact page.