Launching Early-Career Academic Pathways in the Mathematical and Physical Sciences (LEAPS-MPS)

The Launching Early-Career Academic Pathways in the Mathematical and Physical Sciences (LEAPS-MPS) program, administered by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), is designed to support pre-tenure faculty conducting research in the Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS) at institutions that typically receive lower levels of NSF MPS funding. Eligible institutions include those classified as Carnegie Research 2 (R2) universities, minority-serving institutions (MSIs), and predominantly undergraduate institutions (PUIs), but exclude those classified as Research 1 (R1) universities. This funding opportunity aims to increase participation in STEM fields among underrepresented and underserved communities and to foster faculty who can serve as future role models within the scientific community. The LEAPS-MPS program provides awards for up to 24 months, with a maximum funding amount of $250,000 (inclusive of direct and indirect costs). These grants are intended to enable early-career researchers to establish productive research programs, generate preliminary results, and submit competitive applications to traditional NSF funding opportunities. Proposals must be aligned with the disciplines supported by one of five MPS Divisions: Astronomical Sciences, Chemistry, Materials Research, Mathematical Sciences, and Physics. A central objective of the program is to prepare students for STEM careers while enhancing the research capacity of the applicant’s home institution. To apply, eligible principal investigators must hold a doctoral degree in an MPS-supported field, be in a tenure-track or equivalent pre-tenure position expected to last at least three years from the award start, and must not have previously served as a principal or co-principal investigator on an NSF research award. Institutions must be accredited and located within the United States. Only one proposal per PI or co-PI is allowed, and co-principal investigators are not permitted. Applications are submitted through Research.gov or Grants.gov. The next deadlines are April 17, 2025, and January 22, 2026, with future annual deadlines set for the fourth Thursday in January. Required application materials include a project description aligned with long-term research goals, a LEAPS-MPS Impact Statement of two to three pages, and a signed letter from a department chair or dean confirming the PI’s eligibility and institutional support. Cost sharing is not required and must not be included voluntarily. Evaluation criteria include NSF's standard merit review principles of intellectual merit and broader impacts, as well as specific criteria such as the potential impact on the PI’s research trajectory and institutional research environment, and the plan for broadening participation in STEM. Applicants must follow the current NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) applicable to their submission date. Successful applicants will be notified through the standard NSF process, and awards are subject to NSF’s standard conditions and reporting requirements.

Follow the current NSF PAPPG, select the appropriate MPS division, and ensure narrative addresses both intellectual merit and broader impacts. Ensure that budget includes required PI travel to the LEAPS meeting.