Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology

The Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology (CREST) program is managed by the Directorate for STEM Education, specifically the Division of Equity for Excellence in STEM (EES) at the National Science Foundation (NSF). The program supports Minority-serving institutions (MSIs) that demonstrate significant potential to enhance research capabilities and promote the development of a diverse STEM workforce. These centers are expected to integrate research and education effectively, align with national priorities, and pursue long-term institutional transformation through research excellence and inclusive practices. The purpose of CREST is to strengthen the research environment at eligible MSIs through multi-year center grants that support the integration of STEM research, education, and workforce development. The centers must address systemic issues in STEM participation, particularly among underrepresented populations. They are required to demonstrate the potential to achieve national competitiveness in research and secure sustained funding beyond NSF support. Emphasis is placed on evidence-based approaches to mentorship, retention, and training, and the creation of robust partnerships with federal labs, private industry, K-12 schools, and other entities. There are two types of center awards: Phase I and Phase II. Phase I grants provide up to five years of support with a maximum total of $7.5 million, while Phase II is intended for existing awardees to further develop successful centers. Additionally, the program offers CREST Partnership Supplements for current awardees to establish or strengthen collaborations with nationally or internationally recognized research centers. These supplemental awards are capped at $100,000 and aim to enhance the impact of the core research themes. Eligible applicants must be MSIs that offer graduate degrees in NSF-supported STEM fields and have student bodies consisting of at least 50% members of underrepresented minority groups or students with disabilities. Proposals must come from institutions meeting these criteria and cannot be collaborative submissions. The principal investigator must be a full-time faculty member, and only one preliminary proposal may be submitted per institution per cycle. A full proposal can only be submitted upon NSF invitation following a successful preliminary application. The proposal process is rigorous, requiring a preliminary proposal with a detailed project summary, objectives, rationale, partnerships, and evaluation plans. If invited, the full proposal expands upon these elements and includes additional materials such as biographical sketches, mentoring plans, budgets, and facilities information. Proposals must adhere to strict formatting and submission guidelines via Research.gov or Grants.gov. Evaluation criteria include both NSF’s standard intellectual merit and broader impacts, as well as program-specific criteria such as alignment with CREST goals and potential for sustainability. For inquiries, the contact for the CREST program is crest@nsf.gov or by phone at (703) 292-8634. The preliminary proposal deadline is December 1, 2023, with full proposals due by December 6, 2024, both by 5:00 p.m. local time. These deadlines recur every other year. Supplement proposals are due annually on the first Friday in December.

Attend informational webinars. Strictly follow page limits and submission formatting. Institutional commitment letters must detail specific resource and policy support. Preliminary proposal is mandatory to receive invitation for full proposal.