PFE: Research Initiation in Engineering Formation

The PFE: Research Initiation in Engineering Formation (PFE: RIEF) program, administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF) through its Directorate for Engineering, supports research in the Professional Formation of Engineers (PFE) and aims to expand the community of faculty conducting such research. The NSF, a key federal agency funding science and engineering research and education in the U.S., launched the PFE initiative to foster a more inclusive and innovative engineering profession aligned with 21st-century challenges. This particular program encourages faculty from engineering disciplines to undertake foundational education research while receiving mentoring in social science methodologies, thereby building their capacity to become contributors to the field of engineering education research. The PFE: RIEF program targets engineering faculty with limited or no background in social science or education research, offering them an opportunity to initiate research into engineering formation. The program explicitly excludes those already established in engineering education research or other social science domains. Instead, it supports faculty with strong disciplinary teaching or mentoring backgrounds or those seeking to pivot their research focus toward the study of how engineers are educated, socialized, and professionally formed. Engineering formation is defined broadly to include formal and informal educational contexts, development of engineering identity and ethical responsibility, and acculturation into professional norms. Proposals may address issues such as inclusive pathways into engineering, holistic skills development, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the social dimensions of engineering knowledge and practice. Applicants must clearly define a problem within engineering formation that requires interdisciplinary inquiry and pose research questions grounded in relevant theoretical frameworks. Proposals should include a detailed research design, evaluation strategy, and a mentoring plan to guide the faculty PI in conducting education or social science research. A strong emphasis is placed on the mentoring relationship, including its structure, content, and feedback mechanisms. The application must also convey the PI’s motivation, current involvement in engineering formation efforts, and plans for future research aligned with NSF’s broader educational goals. Eligibility for this program is limited to U.S.-based institutions of higher education and non-profit non-academic organizations engaged in education or research. At least one (co)PI must be a faculty member in an engineering department and must not have received PFE funding from the NSF’s Engineering Education and Centers (EEC) division in the past three years. There are no restrictions on the number of proposals an organization or individual may submit. The proposal must be submitted through Research.gov or Grants.gov and follow the guidelines outlined in the current NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG). Letters of intent and preliminary proposals are not required. Each award under the PFE: RIEF program may be up to $200,000 for a maximum duration of 24 months. The estimated total funding available for the program is $3 million, supporting approximately 15 awards. Cost sharing is not required, and indirect cost limitations do not apply. However, proposals must adhere to all budgetary guidelines and provide a clear and justified financial plan. The application deadline for the current cycle is December 3, 2025, due to an extension caused by a lapse in appropriations. The program operates on a recurring annual schedule, with proposals typically due on the second Tuesday in November. Applications must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. local time. Future cycles are expected annually, with the next cycle anticipated in November 2026. For questions, applicants can contact the cognizant program officer, Matthew A. Verleger, at [email protected] or (703) 292-2961.

Use a well-defined problem, research questions with theoretical grounding, and strong mentoring plan.