Historically Black Colleges and Universities - Excellence in Research

The Historically Black Colleges and Universities – Excellence in Research (HBCU-EiR) program is administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF), a federal agency dedicated to promoting the progress of science and education across all domains of science and engineering. The HBCU-EiR initiative is rooted in legislative direction from Senate Report 115-139, aimed at strengthening research capacities at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), especially those that have faced challenges securing NSF research funding. The overarching goal of the program is to increase the competitiveness of HBCU researchers and institutions in NSF research funding and expand the nation’s STEM research enterprise. The HBCU-EiR program supports individual research projects that align with NSF’s core research programs, including areas in biological sciences, engineering, computer and information science, geosciences, mathematical and physical sciences, social sciences, education, and STEM innovation. Projects must be led by full-time faculty or researchers at accredited HBCUs. The program facilitates stronger institutional research capabilities and student engagement in research, ultimately aiming to transition supported researchers toward future submissions to disciplinary NSF programs. Interdisciplinary projects and those incorporating preliminary data are encouraged. Applicants must submit a required Letter of Intent by the second Thursday in July annually, followed by a full proposal due on the third Tuesday in October each year. Letters must specify the project's title, synopsis, key personnel, institutional details, and the secondary NSF research program believed to best align with the proposed work. Full proposals must comply with NSF's Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide, addressing both intellectual merit and broader societal impacts. A maximum of 30% of the budget may be allocated toward equipment purchases, and costs for travel to an annual grantee meeting in Washington, DC must be included. Voluntary cost sharing is not permitted. Evaluation of proposals adheres to NSF’s standard merit review criteria, focusing on intellectual merit and broader impacts. Proposals undergo peer review by subject matter experts and may involve both ad hoc and panel evaluations. Successful proposals will demonstrate a clear plan for research execution, student engagement, and scholarly dissemination, along with institutional support for the investigator’s research. The program anticipates awarding 30 to 35 grants annually, subject to the availability of funds and quality of proposals, with a total funding pool of approximately $28 million. Both standard and continuing grant types may be awarded. An individual can serve as a PI or co-PI on only one submission per cycle and can receive a maximum of two HBCU-EiR awards over their career. Collaborative proposals are permitted only among HBCUs; collaborations with non-HBCUs must be managed through subawards with strict budget justifications. For assistance, applicants are encouraged to contact the HBCU-EiR team by email at EIR@nsf.gov or by phone at (703) 292-2757. Additional support is available through Research.gov and Grants.gov help desks. The program opens annually in July, with recurring cycles expected. Applicants must remain compliant with updated PAPPG guidelines for each funding year.

Proposals should be well-grounded in literature, include preliminary data if possible, and align with NSF research program goals. Consult NSF liaison officers to determine appropriate secondary unit of consideration.