Engineering Research Initiation
This funding opportunity provides financial support to early-career engineering researchers at non-R1 institutions, helping them establish their research programs and increase diversity in engineering fields across the U.S.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has released a funding opportunity under the Engineering Research Initiation (ERI) Program, detailed in solicitation NSF 24-590. This program supports new academic investigators who are beginning their research programs in engineering fields and have not yet received significant federal research funding. The aim is to broaden participation in engineering research across the U.S., particularly from institutions that are not classified as having "very high research activity" (R1 institutions). This funding is targeted at enabling early-career investigators to establish a foundation for their research and become more competitive for future grants. The ERI program seeks to increase participation from a diverse range of institutions, including community colleges, Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs), Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and institutions located in EPSCoR (Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research) jurisdictions. Key details of the program include: - Estimated Funding: Approximately $11,000,000, supporting up to 55 awards - Award Amount: Up to $200,000, with a project duration of up to 24 months - Eligibility: Investigators must be affiliated with institutions not classified as R1, and must not have received $200,000 or more in research funding from federal agencies within the past five years - Proposal Deadlines: Proposals are due on October 9, 2024, and September 16, 2025 Applications should outline research that will significantly contribute to engineering, include broader societal impacts, and may also involve partnerships to enhance collaboration. Full proposals can be submitted through Research.gov or Grants.gov, and the program emphasizes inclusion and diversity in research.
Award Range
$200,000 - Not specified
Total Program Funding
$11,000,000
Number of Awards
Not specified
Matching Requirement
No
Eligible Applicants
Additional Requirements
Proposals may only be submitted by the following: - In line with the program goals, ERI welcomes the submission of proposals to this funding opportunity from Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) not currently classified as a Doctoral University with Very High Research Activity (R1 institutions) according to the 2021 Carnegie Classification: https://carnegieclassifications.iu.edu/. These include 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. Eligibility is based on Classification on the date of proposal submission deadline. The participation of non-R1 institutions from the full spectrum of diverse talent in STEM are encouraged including historically under-represented or under-served populations, diverse institutions including Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), Primarily Undergraduate Institutions (PUIs), and two-year colleges. Proposals from EPSCoR jurisdictions are especially encouraged. The PI of an ERI proposal must hold a doctoral degree in a field supported by NSF and must hold an appointment at an ERI-eligible institution. Postdoctoral fellow researchers are not eligible to serve as PI on an ERI proposal. At the time of the proposal submission deadline,the PI maynothave been a PI or Co-PI on any current or prior awarded NSF research grant (including subaward) or have had research support from any other Federal Agency (within the United States or abroad) totaling $200,000 or more within the past five (5) calendar years from the proposal submission deadline date, with the following exceptions: Grants not directly for research purposes such as workshops, conferences, travel, instrumentation and equipment (e.g., Major Research Instrumentation; MRI), Research Experiences for Undergraduate Students (REU) and Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) Sites, etc.; Awards that exclusively support pre-tenure-track activities (postdoctoral fellowships and Graduate Research Fellowships/GRFP) I-Corps, Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR), or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) awards; and; Awards that originated as NSF or other Federal funds but were distributed locally without naming the submitting ERI PI in the Federal funding proposal (such as: NASA Space Grant Project or other non-NSF federally-funded opportunities, NSF EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement Program.). The Department Chair's/Dean's letter must explicitly verify each of the PI eligibility criteria. See Section V.A. for additional information.
Geographic Eligibility
All
Application Opens
July 12, 2024
Application Closes
September 16, 2025
Grantor
National Science Foundation
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