Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers 26-500

The Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers (MRSEC) program, administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF), provides significant support for innovative, interdisciplinary materials research conducted by campus-based centers. Managed by NSF’s Division of Materials Research within the Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences, MRSECs aim to address complex, fundamental problems in materials science and engineering that require large-scale, collaborative research efforts. The program facilitates the development of national research infrastructure and promotes integration across universities, industries, and international collaborators to enhance scientific discovery, technological advancement, and workforce development in the United States. MRSEC awards support two to three Interdisciplinary Research Groups (IRGs) per center, each composed of 6–12 faculty researchers. These IRGs are designed to pursue focused, high-impact research themes that benefit from interdisciplinary collaboration. Proposed research areas for the 2026 cycle include semiconductors and microelectronics, biomanufacturing, architected materials, non-equilibrium materials, extreme environment materials, and domestic critical materials development. Proposals are encouraged to integrate cutting-edge methods, such as theoretical, computational, and autonomous experimentation approaches, and to align with national science and technology priorities, including the CHIPS and Science Act and the Materials Genome Initiative. Funding is structured as cooperative agreements with an anticipated range of $3 million per year for 2-IRG MRSECs and up to $4.5 million per year for 3-IRG MRSECs. Awards are made for an initial duration of up to six years. Proposed centers must also include components such as education and outreach, seed funding mechanisms for high-risk or emerging research, shared facilities development, and institutional management structures. All proposals must include a strong integration of education and outreach with research, notably through a required Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program with at least 50% off-campus participation. Eligible applicants are U.S.-based institutions of higher education, including community colleges, with strong research programs in fields related to materials science. Each institution may submit only one proposal as a lead applicant. MRSEC proposals must be submitted through a preliminary proposal process, with full proposals accepted by invitation only. Collaborations with other institutions are permitted within a single proposal, but separate collaborative proposals are not allowed. Proposals must follow the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide applicable at the submission date. The preliminary proposal is due June 23, 2025, and the full proposal deadline is January 27, 2026. Proposals will be reviewed using NSF’s standard merit criteria—intellectual merit and broader impacts—along with MRSEC-specific review criteria. These include the quality of proposed research, the synergy within IRGs, the center's organizational structure, and the integration of research and education. Full proposal invitations will be extended in mid-October following panel and ad hoc review of preliminary submissions. Finalists may be required to participate in reverse site visits. For program-specific inquiries, applicants should contact Dr. Serdar Ogut at [email protected] or (703) 292-4429. The anticipated start date for new awards is September 1, 2026. This funding opportunity is part of NSF's ongoing commitment to support university-based materials research centers that not only generate cutting-edge science but also provide broad educational opportunities and collaborative engagement across disciplines and sectors.

Integrate research and education; demonstrate synergy across IRGs; ensure REU is 50% off-campus