U.S. National Science Foundation Research Traineeship (NRT) Program

The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Traineeship (NRT) Program is administered by the NSF Directorate for STEM Education, with contributions from multiple NSF directorates including Biological Sciences, Engineering, Geosciences, and others. This program is designed to catalyze institutional innovation in STEM graduate education by supporting comprehensive, interdisciplinary training environments for graduate students pursuing research-based master's and doctoral degrees. The primary goal is to prepare a diverse cohort of STEM professionals equipped with both disciplinary expertise and transferable professional skills, aligning with national workforce demands and emerging interdisciplinary fields. The NRT program operates through two primary tracks. Track 1 offers funding of up to $3 million over five years and is open to all U.S. Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) with research-based master's and/or doctoral STEM programs. Track 2 provides up to $2 million over five years, but is exclusively available to non-R1 institutions such as Master's Colleges, Doctoral/Professional Universities with fewer than 20 research doctoral degrees per year, and R2 institutions as classified by the Carnegie Foundation. A third option includes planning grants, which provide up to $100,000 annually for up to two years to facilitate future Track 2 proposals. The NRT program prioritizes interdisciplinary or convergent research themes of national importance. While proposers may define their thematic area, the themes must align with NSF strategic goals or national STEM research priorities. Each project is expected to incorporate a comprehensive traineeship model that emphasizes research integration, technical training, communication, ethics, teamwork, and broader professional development. Programs must benefit not only funded NRT trainees but also other STEM graduate students through participation in workshops, courses, and interdisciplinary projects. Proposals must be submitted via Research.gov or Grants.gov in accordance with NSF’s Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG). Required materials include a detailed project description, budget, institutional letters of support, letters of collaboration where applicable, and a data management and sharing plan. The maximum number of Track 1 and/or Track 2 submissions per institution is two per annual competition. PIs and co-PIs may only be listed on one proposal per cycle. Planning grants are exempt from these limits but require prior approval from an NSF program officer. Evaluation of proposals will consider intellectual merit and broader impacts, with additional criteria specific to NRT including the integration of research and education, degree of interdisciplinarity, professional development, diversity strategy, and a detailed plan for project evaluation. Proposals must include baseline demographic data, a plan for recruitment and retention of underrepresented students, and a comprehensive assessment strategy involving an external evaluator. Programs must also create an independent advisory committee to guide implementation. The next submission deadline is November 14, 2024, followed by September 8, 2025. The program is recurring with subsequent deadlines falling annually on September 8. Interested applicants may contact NSF program staff via email at nrt@nsf.gov or phone at 703-292-8630. Awards are standard grants with approximately 18 to 20 issued annually, contingent on available funding. The total anticipated program funding is $53 million.