[U.S. National Science Foundation](https://www.nsf.gov)

July 31, 2025 (Full proposals, annually)

Up to $600,000 per award (max 3 years) | ~$6M total annual program funding | ~10 awards/year

Supports immersive research experiences in biological sciences for cohorts of middle school, high school, and/or community college STEM teachers to enrich classroom teaching and broaden participation in STEM.

--- ## Description This opportunity, administered by the NSF Directorate for Biological Sciences, funds Research Experiences for Teachers Sites (RET Sites) focused on the biological sciences (BIORETS). The program aims to engage cohorts of middle school, high school, and/or community college STEM teachers in authentic, hands-on research experiences at U.S. institutions of higher education or non-profit research organizations. Projects should emphasize meaningful research participation, professional development, curriculum development, and sustained engagement with mentors and host institutions. A central goal is to broaden participation in STEM by involving teachers from groups and geographic areas underrepresented in science, and by fostering collaborations that inspire students to pursue STEM careers. The program expects teachers’ research experiences to translate into impactful classroom curricula and long-term educational partnerships. --- ## Due Dates - **Full Proposal Deadline:** July 31, 2025 (annually thereafter) - Proposals are due by 5:00 p.m. local time of the submitting organization. --- ## Funding Amount - **Award Size:** Up to $600,000 total per award for a maximum duration of 3 years. - **Annual Program Funding:** Approximately $6,000,000 per year (subject to availability of funds). - **Number of Awards:** Around 10 site awards are anticipated annually. - **Budget Requirements:** - At least $100,000/year must support 8–10 teacher participants. - Maximum $15,000/year per teacher (including stipends and up to $2,000 for classroom materials). - External evaluation costs must be included. - No cost sharing required. --- ## Eligibility - **Eligible Organizations:** - U.S.-accredited two- and four-year institutions of higher education (including community colleges), acting on behalf of their faculty. - U.S.-based non-profit, non-academic organizations (e.g., independent museums, observatories, research labs, professional societies) with educational or research activities. - **Principal Investigator (PI):** - Must be employed at the submitting institution with significant research and/or teaching responsibilities in fields supported by the NSF Directorate for Biological Sciences. - **Teacher Participants:** - Must be currently teaching a STEM subject. - Must be U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents. - **Proposal Limits:** - An individual may be PI/co-PI on only one BIORETS proposal per annual deadline. --- ## Application Process - **Submission Platforms:** Proposals may be submitted via [Research.gov](https://www.research.gov) or [Grants.gov](https://www.grants.gov). - **Required Documents:** - Project summary and project description (max 15 pages) including broader impacts. - Recruitment and selection plan for teacher participants. - Plan for curriculum development and academic-year follow-up. - Evaluation plan with an external evaluator. - Letters of collaboration from participating school systems or educational institutions. - Detailed budget and justification. - Biographical sketches for senior/key personnel (limit 12). - **Review Criteria:** - Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts (NSF standard). - Appropriateness of research experience and professional development for teachers. - Quality of research environment and mentoring. - Effectiveness of recruitment, especially for underrepresented groups. - Plans for curriculum translation and sustained engagement. - Strength of evaluation plan. --- ## Additional Information - Proposals should demonstrate a coherent intellectual theme and describe the research activities in detail. - Projects must include orientation, mentor training, and activities supporting a safe, inclusive environment. - The budget must focus on participant support and teacher experience. - Dissemination of curricular materials is encouraged. - Awardees may be required to participate in NSF-sponsored program evaluation and networking activities. --- ## External Links - [NSF Program Page & Solicitation](https://www.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/biorets-research-experiences-teachers-sites-biological-sciences/505902/nsf21-584/solicitation) - [NSF Publication 21-584 (Full Solicitation PDF)](http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf21584) - [Grants.gov Opportunity Synopsis](https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/359429) - [NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG)](https://www.nsf.gov/policies/pappg/24-1) --- ## Contact Information | Name | Email | Phone | |------------------------|------------------------------|-----------------| | Arcady R. Mushegian | amushegi@nsf.gov | (703) 292-8528 | | Sally E. O'Connor | soconnor@nsf.gov | (703) 292-8470 | | Aruna Kilaru | akilaru@nsf.gov | (703) 292-7481 | | Catherine O'Reilly | coreilly@nsf.gov | (703) 292-7934 | | NSF Grants.gov Support | grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov | - | | NSF Information Center | - | (703) 292-5111 | For technical questions about proposal submission, contact [Research.gov Help Desk](mailto:rgov@nsf.gov) or [Grants.gov Support](mailto:support@grants.gov). ---

Research Experiences for Teachers Sites in Biological Sciences

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