Scholarships in STEM Network

The Scholarships in STEM Network (S-STEM-Net) program, administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF) through its Directorate for STEM Education and Division of Undergraduate Education, seeks to support and coordinate a national network of stakeholders focused on advancing the academic and professional success of low-income students pursuing careers in STEM disciplines. As part of this mission, NSF is funding the development of S-STEM Research Hubs (S-STEM-Hubs), which will serve as focal points for rigorous research, collaboration, and dissemination of effective practices that enhance the educational outcomes of this population. The vision underlying the S-STEM initiative is rooted in equity, inclusion, and the belief that every individual, regardless of economic background, should have the opportunity to contribute to the American innovation economy. The primary goal of the S-STEM Research Hubs is to generate high-quality, innovative research on the structures, barriers, and interventions that impact the success of low-income STEM students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. These hubs are expected to organize and facilitate collaborations among researchers across institutions, promote shared methodologies, and support longitudinal studies and data analysis. Through these efforts, the Hubs will investigate pressing issues such as the effectiveness of specific support programs, challenges faced by first-generation students, and strategies to promote the persistence and graduation of low-income learners in STEM. Research themes may be organized around topics like discipline-specific challenges, geographic regions, or student demographics such as veterans or rural students. Each funded Hub will receive up to $3 million over a five-year period, and up to five Hubs may be awarded under this solicitation, depending on the availability of funds. Proposals must demonstrate that the lead organization has significant experience with the S-STEM program or with research related to supporting domestic low-income STEM students. Additionally, all Hubs must include both formative and summative evaluations conducted by independent evaluators external to the project. The activities funded under this initiative must be inclusive, engaging a broad collection of institutions including two-year colleges, predominantly undergraduate institutions, minority-serving institutions, and research-intensive universities. The required activities of each Hub include identifying and developing promising research ideas; analyzing data from existing S-STEM projects; disseminating effective practices and research outcomes; building intellectual infrastructure for collaboration; and ensuring national-scale impact. Hubs must also describe a clear project management plan, demonstrate a commitment to cross-institutional collaboration, and outline plans for dissemination, evaluation, and stakeholder engagement. Participation in the biennial S-STEM Principal Investigator meeting is also expected, with travel for the leadership team budgeted for years 1, 3, and 5. Furthermore, reverse site visits are anticipated in years 3 and 5 to review accomplishments, challenges, and project adaptations. Proposals must be submitted through Research.gov or Grants.gov and must adhere to the requirements specified in the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) effective at the time of submission. Letters of intent and preliminary proposals are not required. No cost sharing is allowed, and indirect cost limitations are not applicable. All submissions must include letters of collaboration from participating institutions and a detailed plan for external evaluation. The program operates under the CFDA number 47.076 and utilizes standard NSF merit review procedures. The full proposal deadlines for this funding opportunity are March 29, 2023; March 27, 2024; and August 14, 2025. The solicitation further specifies that proposals will be due annually on the second Thursday of August thereafter. The program is national in scope and is open to U.S.-based accredited institutions of higher education (including community colleges) and nonprofit, non-academic organizations engaged in education or research. For general inquiries, applicants can contact the program at [email protected]. Additional support is available through the Research.gov and Grants.gov help desks.