Grants / National Science Foundation / U.S. National Science Foundation

NSF 23-544: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education Individual Postdoctoral Research Fellowships

Closed Closed Opportunity NSF 23-544 ☆ Save

This grant is closed. A newer notice from the same program is open now: Major Research Instrumentation Program: (MRI) (NSF 27-500). Status: Closes January 29, 2027 (83 days left). It is in our archive of U.S. National Science Foundation notices from 2025.

• Total funding$2.5 million
• Expected awards10
• Cost sharingNot required
• Funding typeGrant

Key dates

Who can apply

This opportunity was open to the applicants described in the notice.

• Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)

*Who May Submit Proposals: Proposals may only be submitted by the following: - Fellowship proposals must be submitted directly by the fellowship candidate to NSF. Each fellowship proposer must identify a sponsoring researcher(s) and must affiliate with a U.S. host organization. Appropriate primary host organizations include: <ul> <li>Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs)Two-and four-year IHEs (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the U.S., acting on behalf of their faculty members.</li> <li>Non-profit, Non-Academic OrganizationsIndependent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies and similar organizations located in the U.S. that are directly associated with educational research activities.</li> </ul> *Who May Serve as PI: To be eligible to submit a proposal to the STEM Ed IPRF Program, an individual must, as of the full proposal deadline date, meet the following criteria: <ul> <li>Be a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident at the time the proposal is submitted;</li> <li>Have earned a doctoral degree, or expect to have earned the doctoral degree in a field of Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM),STEM Education, Education, or a related discipline earned no more than 24 months before the proposal deadline or will earn such a degree within 10 months after theproposal deadline;</li> <li>Must not hold a tenure-track position,</li> <li>Present a project plan that falls within the purview of Directorate for STEM Education (EDU); and</li> <li>Not have submitted concurrently the same project to another program.</li> </ul> Individual fellowship candidates are encouraged to propose host organizations that differ from the organization that awarded their doctorate. However, PIs who choose to carry out the postdoctoral fellowship at the organization where they received their PhD or their current organization at the time of submission must present a strong justification and clearly explain the benefits of this choice to their research and educational goals. Proposals that fail to meet the above eligibility requirements will be returned without review. By signing and submitting the proposal, the fellowship candidate is certifying that the candidate meets the eligibility criteria specified in this program solicitation. Willful provision of false information in this request and its supporting documents or in reports required under an ensuing award is a criminal offense (U.S. Code, Title 18, Section 1001).

Is this a realistic fit?

• Most of the program's money (90% over five years) went to colleges and universities.
• No cost sharing or match is required.

What the grant funds

The Directorate for STEM Education (EDU) STEM Education Postdoctoral Research Fellowships (STEM Ed PRF) Program funds postdoctoral fellowship projects designed to enhance the research knowledge, skills, and practices of STEM Education research by recent doctoral graduates in STEM, STEM Education, Education, and related disciplines. This solicitation supports individual postdoctoral fellowship awards; a companion solicitation (STEM Ed OPRF) supports organizational postdoctoral fellowship programs. The STEM Ed PRF Program as a whole seeks to broaden the pool of researchers who can advance knowledge regarding STEM learning and learning environments, broadening participation in STEM fields, and STEM workforce development. The Program is designed tosupport postdoctoral fellows engaged in experiences that will advance their career goals by developing their expertise, skills, and competencies to conduct fundamental STEM education research. Principal Investigators who are women, veterans, persons with disabilities, and from groups underrepresented in STEM, or who have attended community colleges and minority-serving institutions (e.g., Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions, Alaska Native Serving Institutions, and Hawaiian Native and Pacific Islander Serving Institutions) are especially encouraged to apply. STEM Ed IPRF awards provide direct support to Fellows to enable them to engage in ongoing research, to develop independent research, and to implement an independent professional development plan under the guidance of a sponsoring researcher. Fellows must affiliate with an appropriate host organization and are expected to devote themselves full time to the fellowship activities for the duration of the fellowship.

Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development.

Applying now

This notice no longer takes applications. Apply under the newer notice, NSF 27-500, which is open now.

The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.