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

NSF 23-545: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education Organizational Postdoctoral Research Fellowships

Closed Closed Opportunity NSF 23-545 ☆ 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 awards4
• 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: - Proposals may only be submitted by the following: <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 or research activities.</li> </ul> Fellows supported through organizational awards must meet the following eligibility requirements: <ul> <li>Be a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident;</li> <li>Have earned the 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 prior to the earned no more than 24 months; </li> <li>Must not hold a tenure-track position,</li> </ul> *Who May Serve as PI: PIs and co-PIs must hold full-time positions at the proposing organization in STEM, STEM education, Education, or a related discipline with a research emphasis in STEM education. This may include but is not limited to individuals with full-time academic or research appointments, those who hold positions at non-profit, non-academic organizations, such as museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies and similar organizations located in the United States.

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 organizational postdoctoral fellowship projects; a companion solicitation (STEM Ed IPRF) supports individual postdoctoral fellowship awards. The Program is designed 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. 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 OPRF awards provide support to organizations as they develop a STEM education postdoctoral research fellowship project and support a cohort of fellows. The program should enable fellows 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 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.