# Mathematical and Physical Sciences Ascending Faculty Catalyst Awards

Source: https://welltoldgrants.com/grants/23-628-mathematical-and-physical-sciences-ascending-faculty/  
Official notice: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/350369

> U.S. National Science Foundation offered grants to the applicants described in the notice. It expected to make about 25 awards worth $7.5 million in total. It is no longer open on Grants.gov.

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Opportunity number | 23-628 |
| Agency | U.S. National Science Foundation |
| Status | Forecast |
| Deadline | not set |
| Award ceiling | not stated |
| Award floor | $300,000 |
| Expected awards | 25 |
| Total funding | $7.5 million |
| Cost sharing | not required |
| Assistance Listings | 47.049 |

## Who can apply

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

*Who May Submit Proposals: Proposals may only be submitted by the following: -Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs): Two- and four-year IHEs (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members. Special Instructions for International Branch Campuses of US IHEs: If the proposal includes funding to be provided to an international branch campus of a US institution of higher education (including through use of sub-awards and consultant arrangements), the proposer must explain the benefit(s) to the project of performance at the international branch campus, and justify why the project activities cannot be performed at the US campus. *Who May Serve as PI: Only prior recipients of MPS-Ascend Postdoc Fellowships (those awarded under NSF 21-573, NSF 22-501, or NSF 23-501) who completed no less than 12 months as an MPS-Ascend Postdoc Fellow, are eligible for MPS-Ascend Faculty Catalyst Awards. Applications for MPS-Ascend Faculty Catalyst award are accepted by invitation extended by the Program Director who manages or is cognizant of their MPS-Ascend Postdoc Fellowship award. The invitation to apply for theMPS-Ascend Faculty Catalyst award can be extended by themanaging or cognizant Program Director of the MPS-Ascend Postdoc Fellowship Award only after theMPS-Ascend Postdoc Fellows contacted and communicated with them. Invited MPS-Ascend Faculty Catalyst proposals must be received no more than 12 months after the close of the MPS-Ascend Postdoc Fellowship, and no more than six months after the start of the first tenure-track appointment of the applicant at an Institution of Higher Education (IHE). Hence, it is strongly advised that MPS-Ascend Postdoc Fellows contact their managing or cognizant Program Director as soon as they accept the offer of the tenure-track appointment.

## What the grant funds

The purpose of the Mathematical and Physical Sciences Ascending Faculty Catalyst Awards (MPS-Ascend Faculty Catalyst Awards, MPS-AFCA) is to support successful MPS-Ascending Postdoctoral Research Fellows (MPS-Ascend Fellows) as they transition into tenure track (or equivalent) faculty positions at Institutions of Higher Education (IHE) inany scientific area within the purview of the five MPS Divisions: the Divisions of Astronomical Sciences (AST), Chemistry (CHE), Materials Research (DMR), Mathematical Sciences (DMS), and Physics (PHY).The program is intended to support these investigators of significant potential by providing them with resources for research and broadening participation activities that are in addition to initial resources typically provided through institutional start-up packages. This support is strategically designed to enable their continued scientific contributions and their exemplary leadership in the area of broadening participation. MPS-Ascend Postdoc Fellows are invited to apply for an MPS-Ascend Faculty Catalyst Award after consultation with the managing or cognizant Program Director of theMPS-Ascend Postdoc Fellowship Award.

## Questions people ask

### Is NSF 23-628 still open?

No. It is no longer open on Grants.gov. A newer notice is open: NSF 27-500, closes January 29, 2027 (83 days left).

### Who can apply for Mathematical and Physical Sciences Ascending Faculty Catalyst Awards?

U.S. National Science Foundation accepted applications from the applicants described in the notice. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.

### What is the deadline for Mathematical and Physical Sciences Ascending Faculty Catalyst Awards?

Closed. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.

### How much funding is available?

About $7.5 million in total across about 25 awards.

### Who has won Mathematical and Physical Sciences grants before?

The largest recipients over five fiscal years were Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., Associated Universities Inc, California Institute of Technology. The program made 14,898 awards worth $8.5 billion in that time.