The National Science Foundation (NSF), through its Directorate for STEM Education, invites proposals for the EPSCoR Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology (EPSCoR CREST Centers) program. This initiative seeks to enhance the research competitiveness of jurisdictions identified under the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR). The program supports institutions in these jurisdictions that offer doctoral degrees in NSF-supported STEM disciplines and qualify as Emerging Research Institutions with less than $50 million in research expenditures over three of the last five years.
The EPSCoR CREST Centers program aims to establish multi-year centers that integrate education and research in STEM. These centers must be situated in EPSCoR jurisdictions and will focus on expanding participation in STEM fields and increasing institutional research capacity. The centers are expected to use evidence-based strategies for workforce development and mentorship, address recruitment and retention challenges, and generate sustained non-CREST funding from federal, state, or private sources.
There are two funding phases: Phase I for new centers and Phase II for continuation of existing centers. Phase I awards support five years of research with budgets up to $1.5 million annually, not exceeding $7.5 million over the project period. Institutions may also apply for CREST Partnership Supplements, capped at $100,000, to enhance collaborations with research centers, K-12 schools, museums, and other entities. Each center proposal must include 3 to 5 interrelated subprojects aligned with a unifying research theme.
Eligibility is restricted to institutions of higher education located in EPSCoR jurisdictions that offer doctoral degrees in NSF STEM areas and are classified as Emerging Research Institutions. Only one proposal per eligible institution is allowed per deadline, and each institution may hold only one active EPSCoR CREST Center award at a time. The Principal Investigator must be a full-time faculty member at the proposing institution.
Applicants must submit proposals through Research.gov or Grants.gov and follow the current NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide. Proposals must include a detailed project description, budget, facilities description, and plans for evaluation, management, education integration, and broadening participation. Letters of support from institutional leadership and collaborative partners are required. Compliance with all proposal requirements is strictly enforced, and non-compliant proposals will be returned without review.
The next full proposal deadline is December 6, 2024, with a subsequent deadline on July 7, 2025, and annually on the first Monday in July thereafter. Supplement proposals are due July 7, 2025, and on the same date annually. For general inquiries, applicants may contact the program via email at epscor-core@nsf.gov or by phone at 703-292-8640.
