Innovations in Graduate Education (IGE) Program

The Innovations in Graduate Education (IGE) Program, administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF), aims to promote transformative changes in graduate education within the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. The IGE program operates under the Directorate for STEM Education through the Division of Graduate Education and seeks to support pilot projects and systemic research that enhance career preparation and student success in STEM graduate programs. This initiative responds to evolving workforce needs, national reports on graduate education, and growing recognition of the importance of inclusive, interdisciplinary, and innovative graduate training models. The program provides two distinct funding tracks. Track 1 supports pilot projects that test new approaches to career readiness and graduate student success. These can include professional development, mentoring, international experiences, entrepreneurship, and pedagogical innovations such as the use of artificial intelligence tools in education. Track 2 supports research examining the broader effects of systemic policies and practices across institutions and programs. Focus areas for Track 2 include funding models, mental health, mentoring policies, research environments, diversity and inclusion strategies, and credentialing systems. Both tracks prioritize generating actionable knowledge that can inform and be adopted across the national graduate education landscape. Eligible applicants include U.S.-based accredited institutions of higher education, non-profit non-academic organizations directly involved in research or education, and federally recognized Tribal Nations. Individual investigators may only serve as a PI or Co-PI on one proposal per annual competition, and institutions may submit up to two proposals per cycle. All proposals must align with NSF’s Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) and adhere to the guidelines specific to this program solicitation. Track 1 projects may request between $300,000 and $500,000 for up to three years, while Track 2 projects can request up to $1,000,000 for up to five years. Approximately 16 to 20 awards are anticipated for fiscal year 2024, with a total program budget of $14 million. Funding for subsequent years is contingent on budget appropriations. All project budgets must include funds to support biennial attendance at NSF IGE meetings in Washington, DC, and Track 2 proposals must include letters of collaboration from senior administrators at all participating institutions. Applications are submitted through either Research.gov or Grants.gov and are due annually on March 25, beginning in 2025, following an April 22, 2024, deadline. The program operates on an annual cycle. Proposals are reviewed based on NSF’s core merit review criteria: intellectual merit and broader impacts. Proposals must clearly articulate research questions, theoretical frameworks, methods, and mechanisms for evaluation, replication, and dissemination. For more information or assistance, potential applicants can contact NSF staff via email at ige@nsf.gov or phone at 703-292-8630. Additional support for application processes is available through NSF’s Help Desk for Research.gov and Grants.gov platforms. The IGE program also encourages collaborations with the NSF INCLUDES initiative and welcomes participation from early-career investigators, minority-serving institutions, and emerging research institutions.