Professional Formation of Engineers
This grant supports projects that improve engineering education and training through formal and informal pathways, aiming to build an ethical, adaptable, and globally competitive engineering workforce.
Funder: U.S. National Science Foundation
Due Dates: Proposals accepted anytime
Funding Amounts: No specified ceiling or floor; award size varies by project scope and budget justification.
Summary: Supports research and education projects that improve and expand the engineering workforce through formal and informal training, professional development, and workforce pathways.
Description
The Professional Formation of Engineers (PFE) initiative, offered by the U.S. National Science Foundation, supports projects that integrate engineering research and education to enhance and broaden the nation’s engineering workforce. PFE encompasses the formal and informal processes and value systems by which individuals become engineers, aiming to foster an ethical, adaptable, and globally competitive engineering workforce.
The program funds research and education initiatives across a wide range of contexts, including:
- Formal classrooms, informal maker spaces, clubs, co-curricular activities, and workplaces
- Cooperative education, internships, community-based experiences, and research labs
- Mentor/mentee relationships, large-scale online learning, and professional development activities
Projects may address pathways to and through the engineering profession, such as education, apprenticeships, credentialing, licensure, and transitions between academia and industry. Proposals should demonstrate expertise in both engineering and social sciences to understand and improve the system of professional formation.
