Mathematical and Physical Sciences Ascending Faculty Catalyst Awards

The National Science Foundation (NSF), through its Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS), administers the Ascending Faculty Catalyst Awards (MPS-AFCA) to support early-career faculty members transitioning from MPS-Ascend Postdoctoral Fellowships into tenure-track or equivalent positions. NSF is an independent federal agency that funds a significant portion of fundamental research in science and engineering in the United States, and this program aligns with its mission to develop a diverse and inclusive scientific workforce. The MPS-AFCA program is designed exclusively for former MPS-Ascend Postdoctoral Fellows who have completed at least 12 months in their fellowship and are beginning tenure-track appointments at institutions of higher education (IHEs) in the United States. The program offers financial support intended to supplement institutional start-up packages. It provides awardees with resources to further their research in any area falling under the five MPS divisions: Astronomical Sciences, Chemistry, Materials Research, Mathematical Sciences, and Physics. In addition to advancing scientific inquiry, the program emphasizes leadership in broadening participation, encouraging awardees to engage in mentorship and activities that foster diversity in STEM. Eligibility for the MPS-AFCA program is strictly limited. Applicants must be invited to apply by the program director overseeing their prior MPS-Ascend Fellowship, following direct consultation. Proposals must be submitted within 12 months of the fellowship’s conclusion and within six months of the start of the tenure-track faculty position. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, but only after the required draft documents—project summary, description, budget, and institutional letters—are submitted and reviewed by NSF program staff. These materials must be approved before an invitation to apply is issued. Each award offers up to $150,000 annually for two years, inclusive of direct and indirect costs. While budgets may include items like equipment or course release funding to reduce teaching loads, they cannot be used to replace start-up packages. The awards are intended to catalyze research and leadership in inclusion and diversity, and as such, proposals must include a research vision, a concrete research plan, a broadening participation strategy, and a report on prior NSF support. A department chair or dean’s letter is required to affirm the tenure-track status, institutional support, and consistency of startup packages with those of similarly appointed faculty. Applications are submitted via Research.gov or Grants.gov following NSF’s Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG). Invited proposals are reviewed internally and assessed based on NSF’s two merit review criteria: Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts, with special emphasis placed on research scope alignment with MPS divisions and the potential to broaden participation in STEM. NSF provides notification of awards after internal review and budgetary approval. Awards cannot be transferred to substitute principal investigators and are generally not eligible for extensions, except in rare circumstances related to equity or temporary incapacity. This opportunity is available to institutions nationwide. There are no restrictions on the number of proposals per organization, but individual eligibility is capped at one submission per PI. Interested postdoctoral fellows must contact their program director immediately upon accepting a tenure-track appointment to begin the pre-application process. Given the highly specific eligibility and invitation-based nature of the program, applicants are expected to follow all guidelines closely to ensure compliance and consideration.