Research Training Groups in the Mathematical Sciences

The National Science Foundation (NSF), an independent federal agency created by the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, supports research and education across science and engineering disciplines. Through its Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Division of Mathematical Sciences, NSF administers the Research Training Groups in the Mathematical Sciences (RTG) program. The RTG initiative has a long-term objective to strengthen the nation’s scientific competitiveness by increasing the number of well-prepared U.S. citizens, nationals, and permanent residents who pursue careers in the mathematical sciences. These careers may be in academia, government, or industry, with an emphasis on producing a new generation of highly skilled mathematical scientists. The RTG program focuses primarily on graduate training while encouraging vertical integration of undergraduates and postdoctoral associates, although inclusion of the latter groups is optional. The program aims to build structured, sustainable research and mentoring groups that enhance graduate research training and professional development. Submissions are invited across all fields of mathematical sciences, with particular emphasis for 2024–2025 on projects that integrate mathematics and statistics with artificial intelligence, biotechnology, quantum computing, and cybersecurity. A central requirement is that projects provide strong mentorship, professional skill-building, and institutional sustainability planning beyond the funding period. Funding for this program is awarded as standard or continuing grants. The program anticipates making between 3 and 10 awards, each sized between $400,000 and $600,000 annually for three to five years. The total anticipated funding amount is $12,000,000, subject to the availability of funds. Graduate trainees can receive stipends of $37,000 annually plus allowances for fringe benefits and tuition up to $16,000. Undergraduate stipends are at least $700 per week for summer research, with a cap of $5,000 during the academic year. Postdoctoral trainees may receive up to three years of support, with a fellowship valued at $147,000 in stipend and allowances. Faculty salaries are restricted to organizational and management purposes. Matching funds are not required. Eligibility to apply is limited to accredited U.S.-based institutions of higher education (IHEs) with campuses in the United States. Single-institution proposals must come from doctoral-granting departments in the mathematical sciences. For collaborative proposals, the lead institution must grant doctoral degrees in the field, while non-lead partners may include U.S. IHEs without doctoral programs. All NSF-funded trainees (undergraduate, graduate, or postdoctoral) must be U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents. Principal Investigators must include at least two and no more than eleven senior personnel for management and mentoring. An individual may only serve as PI or co-PI on one RTG award at a time. Applications are submitted electronically through Research.gov or Grants.gov and must follow the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide. Required proposal sections include a project description outlining goals, research themes, trainee development, recruitment and retention strategies, broader impacts, performance assessment, management plans, dissemination, and sustainability beyond NSF funding. Supplementary documents include an institutional letter of support, letters of collaboration if applicable, and a mentoring plan. Proposals are due annually on the second Tuesday in August by 5:00 p.m. local time of the submitting organization. The next deadline is August 13, 2024, and the program continues on this annual schedule. Applications are reviewed according to NSF’s two merit criteria: intellectual merit and broader impacts. Additional RTG-specific review criteria include the strength of the research theme, accomplishments of the team, mentoring capacity, recruitment and diversity strategies, professional development for trainees, sustainability plans, and the overall management framework. Reviewers also consider institutional commitment and collaborative linkages. Awards are administered under NSF’s general grant conditions and require annual and final project reports, with specific tracking of trainee progress and placement outcomes. Program contacts include multiple NSF program officers within the Division of Mathematical Sciences, such as Swatee Naik (snaik@nsf.gov, 703-292-4876), Stefaan G. De Winter (sgdewint@nsf.gov, 703-292-2599), Zhilan J. Feng (zfeng@nsf.gov, 703-292-7523), Hailiang Liu (hliu@nsf.gov, 703-292-2436), Jodi Mead (jmead@nsf.gov, 703-292-7212), Andrew D. Pollington (adpollin@nsf.gov, 703-292-4878), Andrew Raich (araich@nsf.gov, 703-292-7051), and Yong Zeng (yzeng@nsf.gov, 703-292-7299). Additional support is available from Research.gov and Grants.gov help desks for technical submission issues.