Research on the Science and Technology Enterprise: Indicators, Statistics, and Methods (NCSES S)

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is a pivotal federal agency that supports fundamental research and education in all non-medical fields of science and engineering. One of its sub-agencies, the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES), is responsible for the collection, analysis, and dissemination of statistical data related to the science and technology (S&T) enterprise. The NCSES aims to enhance the availability and quality of data relevant to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in the United States, contributing critical insights to researchers, educators, policymakers, and the public. Through its program “Research on the Science and Technology Enterprise: Indicators, Statistics, and Methods,” NCSES supports methodological and analytical research that advances the use and understanding of S&T data. The program welcomes a wide range of research activities including the development of new S&T indicators, improvements to data collection and survey methodologies, exploration of alternative data sources, analysis of globalization impacts on science and technology, and innovative dissemination techniques such as interactive visualizations. It also funds doctoral dissertation improvement grants to encourage the training of emerging scholars in the use of large-scale nationally representative datasets. Funding is structured as either standard or continuing grants, with an expected 5 to 10 awards made each year, contingent upon the quality of proposals and available funds. The total anticipated funding amount is $1.5 million annually. The program does not allow voluntary committed cost sharing and indirect cost limitations are not applicable. Proposals that seek access to restricted-use microdata must comply with NCSES’s licensing procedures, and a comprehensive Data Management and Sharing Plan is required for all projects developing new data. For those accessing restricted data, application must be made through the federal SAP Portal, and further data security protocols must be met as outlined by NCSES. Eligible applicants include U.S.-based institutions of higher education, non-profit research organizations, and Tribal Nations. Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grant proposals must be submitted by doctoral-degree granting institutions on behalf of their students. The advisor serves as the Principal Investigator (PI) and the doctoral student is listed as co-PI. There is no limit on the number of proposals submitted per institution or per individual PI. The solicitation does not require letters of intent or preliminary proposals, and submissions may be made through Research.gov or Grants.gov following the NSF’s Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide. Proposals will be evaluated based on NSF’s standard merit review criteria of intellectual merit and broader impacts. Additional program-specific criteria include alignment with NCSES’s mission to support research that enhances the development, quality, or understanding of the S&T enterprise. Proposals that do not align with these goals will be returned without review. The award period may include multi-year funding, and selected applicants must present their project outcomes to NCSES virtually. The program operates on a recurring annual schedule. Full proposals are due by the third Tuesday in January and June each year. The next upcoming deadlines are January 21, 2025, and June 17, 2025. The program is currently in an early engagement stage, with the next expected cycle opening in January 2025. Researchers with questions can contact the program officer, Sharon A. Boivin, via phone at (703) 292-4263 or email at [email protected].